I was thinking today about how many British street names and areas are named after Military defeats and victories. Especially in the Victorian times. From Grantham I can remember an Alma Park, Ladysmith Rd. Petoria Rd. all from the Boer War. I know there are more. What can you come up with? What's the most recent? Oldest? Blenheim for oldest?
Great idea for a thread. There are some sad ones, too. Cambrai Avenue in Chichester, an old haunt of mine, is named after the battle in which the buildier's son died, in 1917.
I always like the pubs named for the 'Marquis of Granby', fine way to treat old soldiers; help them open boozers. Fair few Granby streets including a main street in Leicester. 'Victory Avenue' always tickled me, presume it was named for the flagship but it could be any other military Victory,significant or otherwise. Then there's Waterlooville, reputedly named for where a large percentage of the troops bound for there stopped on the way out and then stopped on their way home, there's an excellent painting of the whole area covered in conical military tents & the pubs carry names like 'The Heroes of Waterloo' and 'The Wellington'.
St Valery Drive in Stirling, named after the Argylls' last stand in 1940. Blenheim Court in Stirling, named after one of the local Barnwell brothers who designed the Blenheim bomber. Argyll Avenue & Sutherland Drive, Stirling, named after the local regiment. Dargai Avenue (?), Dunblane, named after one of the many British battles on the NW Frontier. Randolph Rd, Field, Terrace & Place, Stirling, named after the Scottish noble who drew first blood in the Battle of Bannockburn in that area, 1314.
How about the Fosse way? Each of those Roman roads represents a long trail of victory to me but the Fosse is the only one I'm reasonably sure still bears the Roman name.
Jutland Road in Catford, SE London. Mons Way in Petts Wood, Kent. Ladysmith Road, Eltham [Boer War] Sutlej Road, Plumstead [Indian Mutiny] The Arnhem Centre - the main theatre in Croydon. Churchill Theatre - the main one in Bromley. The old A2 (now by-passed) is still known by its Roman name of Watling Street where it passes through Dartford.
While not UK, the city of Melbourne and surrounding suburbs are laced with historical street names not only of battles but the participants. Whole suburbs are named that way. Melbourne city streets for example show the ties to the monarchy and Great Britain (East/West) and the famous explorers who opened up the Australian continent (North/South) The suburb where I grew up was built after WW2 for returned soldiers and streets were named after the likes of Jellicoe, Beatty, Kitchener and to keep up with London, Bond & Green streets thrown in.
How about the Fosse way? Each of those Roman roads represents a long trail of victory to me but the Fosse is the only one I'm reasonably sure still bears the Roman name. Ermin Street goes through Swindon. (Remember my thread on Canadian Airman's crash? That is Ermin St.) Sergeant Roger's Way, Devizes named after Wilts Regt VC winner. Kennet House – Sergeant Rogers Way, Devizes Old Chiseldon Camp has Aisne Rd, Cambrai Rd, Ladysmith Rd, Sambre Rd, to name a few. Oldest named road has to be The Ridgeway. WW2 related names in Swindon , Caen View, Juno Way,Utah Close, Sword Gardens,Gold View, Rhine Close, seems they forgot Omaha though. Tried to put link from Google Maps in but takes Juno way to Saramento not Swindon.
Off the top of my head, we have Mountbatten Way in Congleton, opened late 60's early 70's to my knowledge. Also Woolston Avenue for our adopted ship: don't go up there with your doors unlocked. Think theres a road for the Towns VC 'hero' but can't recall his name right now. In Stoke-On-Trent there is Mitchell Way opened in the late 90's with concrete silhouettes of Spits on the bank sides. Will have to think about this.
There is a Tebourba Way in Southampton which commemorates the actions of the Hampshire Regiment in North Africa, I seem to recall there is also a memorial along side the road.
Peacehaven in East Sussex was created after WW1 with the intentions of selling plots of land to soldiers returning from the war. Its original name was New Anzac on Sea but was changed in 1921 through perceived bad taste. Two roadnames have associations with that war; Malines and Cavell Avenue.
No heroes welcome: No heroes welcome What was it eventually called Owen? Blooming heck, Geoff, I'd forgotten that one. I've checked on Royal mail postcode finder and Google maps, I think you'll all be pleased. Google Maps= http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/postcodefinder;jsessionid=DD0ZUBP1ANF3WFB2IGVUQ3QUHRA0UQ2K?catId=400145&pageId=pcaf_pc_ma_results&_requestid=150309&gear=postcode
I'd thought Watling & Ermine street bore Saxon names rather than Latin but apparently only Watling is really Saxon?? Trafalgar Square! (resisting the urge to follow with 'Mornington Crescent')
I suspect the Victorians renamed them Watling Street and Ermine Street after a long gap with no such name Around Biggin Hill Airfield we have: From WW1: Haig Rd, Allenby Rd, Ashmore Lane, Henderson Road, Crossley Road (the latter after the standard RFC/RAF motor tender) From WW2: Dowding Road, Mouchotte Close, Grice Ave, Keith Park Crescent, Vincent Sq., Eagles Drive (could be the American Fighter squadron or Crystal Palace FC!), and probably other names I haven't recognised. The airfield perimeter road is Churchill Way. And off the A10 just after the M25, near Cheshunt, Herts, there is Lieutenant Ellis Way - named after the USAAF pilot who is thought by some to have steered his crashing B24 away from that town. (Almost the first thread I started on this site was about that incident).
Adrain, Hadn't seen thread, it was posted before I joined. If anyone else wants a read,click >>>here. Also the Ermin St in Swindon isn't the other Ermine Street. Roman roads in Britain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia <TABLE class=wikitable><TBODY><TR><TD>Ermin Street</TD><TD>48 miles 77 km</TD><TD>CIRENCESTER (Corinium) to SILCHESTER (near Reading; Calleva Atrebatum)</TD><TD>Swindon (Durocornovium?)</TD><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD>Ermine Street</TD><TD>200 miles 322 km</TD><TD>LONDON (Londinium) to YORK (Eboracum)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Adrain, Hadn't seen thread, it was posted before I joined. If anyone else wants a read,click >>>here. Also the Ermin St in Swindon isn't the other Ermine Street. Roman roads in Britain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia <table class="wikitable"><tbody><tr><td>Ermin Street</td><td>48 miles 77 km</td><td>CIRENCESTER (Corinium) to SILCHESTER (near Reading; Calleva Atrebatum)</td><td>Swindon (Durocornovium?)</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td>Ermine Street</td><td>200 miles 322 km</td><td>LONDON (Londinium) to YORK (Eboracum)</td></tr></tbody></table> Or just plain Roman road in Bow. Used to be called Drift Street until 100 or so years ago when they excavated and found/assumed it was the "paved" road to Colchester.
I had friends who lived on Mafeking Road in Brighton, named after the Siege of Mafeking, Boer War. I thought some other names were going to spring to mind, but they haven't! Chelmsford has a Tobruk Road, Alamein Road, Cassino Road, Salerno Way, St. Nazaire Road, all adjoining each other.. ;o)
