Creativity in road names (From Bucks Free Press)
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Creativity in road names
7:52pm Thursday 4th February 2010
I used to think being creative meant composing a piano concerto or painting a masterpiece. Not anymore. For on my travels round Wycombe I’ve picked up quite an unusual hobby; road name spotting. No, don’t worry- I’m not being daft. I actually think it’s quite interesting!
Before I’m branded with that awful word ‘sad’ let me explain. Since I’ve been driving I’ve taken a lot more notice of the names of the roads I’m driving down. Then I started to notice patterns. Here I’d like to share two groups of quite clever road names which follow certain themes.
The first is most appropriate for High Wycombe. These roads are on the north side of the valley towards Downley to the south of The Pastures hill. The planners of the day could have just named the roads after local councillors or other boring things. Instead they decided to name them after hill ranges in the UK:
• Mendip Way
• Cumbrian Way
• Brecon Way
• Cotswold Way
• Malvern Close
• Cheviot Close
I think that’s a very nice set of names and very befitting to the roads themselves which are extremely steep.
Another set is very close to the first. These ones aren’t named after hills but, for some reason, famous engineers:
• Telford Way, after Thomas Telford
• Brunel Road, after Isambard Kingdom Brunel
• Brindley Avenue, after James Brindley
• Kelvin Close, after Lord Kelvin
• Rennie Close, after the Rennie family of engineers
• Stephenson Close, after George and Robert Stephenson
I think it’s rather wonderful that these famous engineers who made such an impact on our lives (for instance- Brunel and the Stephenson designed much of our present railway network) are remembered here in Wycombe. I would be interested to know if there is any special connection, or if maybe it was done purely by the town planners because they were feeling inventive.
If you know any interesting sets of road names in Wycombe or the district, please do share!
IX © MMX
Comments(26)
Plus ça change...
says...
9:17pm Thu 4 Feb 10
A bit more variety between street names in different towns, more local connections and more inventiveness would be more exciting...
Is there a 'Pothole Alley' yet?
'Grit View'?
Probably not...
Would be amusing to know what the namers think sounds 'upmarket'?
tom.marlow
says...
11:25pm Thu 4 Feb 10
.
When I was a student and lived in West Hampstead there was a group of roads nearby named after ancient greek heroes, Ulysses Rd, Achilles Rd, Ajax Rd, and my favourite Agamemnon Rd. There was also the Nautilus FIsh Bar which at the time was one of the best Fish and Chip shops in London. I quite liked living there, but on balance prefer Marlow.
Lorrainej
says...
6:24am Fri 5 Feb 10
~
Just of Hatters lane, you have, Hillary Road, Everest Road, Hunt Road, Burma Close and Tenzing Drive. These houses were built about the same time as Everest was conquered by Hillary and Tenzing.
~
There is also a Lorraine Close in HW, I would be intrigued to know why.
Eris
says...
7:32am Fri 5 Feb 10
tom.marlow wrote:Actually, Tom, Ulysses is the Roman form of Odysseus, the actual Greek name for that shining example of resourcefulness and cunning :-p
There's a Dog-pooh alley in Marlow. . When I was a student and lived in West Hampstead there was a group of roads nearby named after ancient greek heroes, Ulysses Rd, Achilles Rd, Ajax Rd, and my favourite Agamemnon Rd. There was also the Nautilus FIsh Bar which at the time was one of the best Fish and Chip shops in London. I quite liked living there, but on balance prefer Marlow.
Tharus Bond
says...
8:24am Fri 5 Feb 10
tom.marlow
says...
9:07am Fri 5 Feb 10
Eris wrote:Looks like some late Victorian councillors in Hampstead made a bit of a mistake. There's a lovely cemetary there too which I think dates from the same era.
tom.marlow wrote: There's a Dog-pooh alley in Marlow. . When I was a student and lived in West Hampstead there was a group of roads nearby named after ancient greek heroes, Ulysses Rd, Achilles Rd, Ajax Rd, and my favourite Agamemnon Rd. There was also the Nautilus FIsh Bar which at the time was one of the best Fish and Chip shops in London. I quite liked living there, but on balance prefer Marlow.Actually, Tom, Ulysses is the Roman form of Odysseus, the actual Greek name for that shining example of resourcefulness and cunning :-p
.
Lorraine, call me pedantic, but poets corner is off Marlow Hill, not Amersham Hill
Melanie1
says...
9:53am Fri 5 Feb 10
.
I'm often intrigued by road names when I see them but by the time I've got home and am near to a computer to google them I've forgotten the names!
.
Good to have you back Ollie with another cracking blog.
Lorrainej
says...
10:18am Fri 5 Feb 10
tom.marlow wrote:Yes, sorry, old age I'm afraid.
Eris wrote:Looks like some late Victorian councillors in Hampstead made a bit of a mistake. There's a lovely cemetary there too which I think dates from the same era. . Lorraine, call me pedantic, but poets corner is off Marlow Hill, not Amersham Hilltom.marlow wrote: There's a Dog-pooh alley in Marlow. . When I was a student and lived in West Hampstead there was a group of roads nearby named after ancient greek heroes, Ulysses Rd, Achilles Rd, Ajax Rd, and my favourite Agamemnon Rd. There was also the Nautilus FIsh Bar which at the time was one of the best Fish and Chip shops in London. I quite liked living there, but on balance prefer Marlow.Actually, Tom, Ulysses is the Roman form of Odysseus, the actual Greek name for that shining example of resourcefulness and cunning :-p
maharaja47
says...
8:12pm Fri 5 Feb 10
When I lived in Hampshire there was a Neilson Close, Paulson Close and Nickson Close, all named after the builder's sons.
An interesting topic Oliver, well done!
demoness
says...
11:14pm Fri 5 Feb 10
tom.marlow
says...
12:16pm Sat 6 Feb 10
tom.marlow
says...
1:44pm Sat 6 Feb 10
demoness wrote:This blog is bringing out the worst of my pedantry. Its actually Cucumber Lane.
There is a Cucumber Avenue in Norwich I think - that is made of win!
.
It joins the imaginatively named "The St".
.
Why am I wasting my time looking this up?
Lorrainei
says...
11:00am Sun 7 Feb 10
.
In Hazlemere there are many roads named after trees - Rowan Close, Pine Close, Orchard Drive, Elder Way etc.
.
There are more named after birds -
Swallow Drive, Pheasant Drive, Lark Rise, Nightingale Close, Kestrel Drive.
.
All nice names reminding us of flora and fauna whose habitats were destroyed to make way for the houses?!
Rebecca Leon
says...
10:36pm Sun 7 Feb 10
:
One of the few things that grates on my otherwise kindly temperament is new roads and estates taking on grand names.
:
I don't mind them being named after people who were known lcally or farms or what the land was in ancient times but new roads (and their 'olde worlde' look signs) exasperate me.
Oliver Newbury
says...
10:25pm Mon 8 Feb 10
J B Blackett
says...
1:01am Tue 9 Feb 10
.
At Daws Hill they have :
a First Street, a Second Street, a Third Street, a Fourth Street, a Fifth Street, a Sixth Street and then a Florida Street.
.
Perhaps they ran out of numbers or mathematical know-how.
Oliver Newbury
says...
1:59am Tue 9 Feb 10
J B Blackett wrote:So they do. How amazing.
Here's a really uninteresting fact :
.
At Daws Hill they have :
a First Street, a Second Street, a Third Street, a Fourth Street, a Fifth Street, a Sixth Street and then a Florida Street.
.
Perhaps they ran out of numbers or mathematical know-how.
-
Maybe a councillor's relative lived in Miami.
Lorrainej
says...
1:18pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Oliver Newbury wrote:They also have, Kennedy Ave, Alabama Drive, Alabama Circle and California Circle. It made the Yanks feel at home.
J B Blackett wrote: Here's a really uninteresting fact : . At Daws Hill they have : a First Street, a Second Street, a Third Street, a Fourth Street, a Fifth Street, a Sixth Street and then a Florida Street. . Perhaps they ran out of numbers or mathematical know-how.So they do. How amazing. - Maybe a councillor's relative lived in Miami.
Oliver Newbury
says...
5:27pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Lorrainej wrote:I forgot that RAF Daws Hill was used by the US Navy. I suppose that makes a good connection.
Oliver Newbury wrote:They also have, Kennedy Ave, Alabama Drive, Alabama Circle and California Circle. It made the Yanks feel at home.
J B Blackett wrote: Here's a really uninteresting fact : . At Daws Hill they have : a First Street, a Second Street, a Third Street, a Fourth Street, a Fifth Street, a Sixth Street and then a Florida Street. . Perhaps they ran out of numbers or mathematical know-how.So they do. How amazing. - Maybe a councillor's relative lived in Miami.
Lorrainej
says...
5:41pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Desperate Housewife
says...
1:56pm Thu 11 Feb 10
I haven't been for years either- I went bowling there once or twice though!
Lorrainej
says...
4:54pm Thu 11 Feb 10
Desperate Housewife wrote:Yes I vaguely remember a bowling alley, I had a glass of coke with loads of tiny ice balls, as a kid, I thought it was really great. They supposed to have had great parties there as well. I suppose it will all be demolished now, along with some great housing.
Hi Lorraine, I haven't been for years either- I went bowling there once or twice though!
billsheppard
says...
10:54am Fri 12 Feb 10
cressexpert
says...
1:21pm Fri 12 Feb 10
Oliver Newbury
says...
5:55pm Fri 12 Feb 10
cressexpert wrote:I think you'll have to spell that one out for us!
I think there is a **** Lane somewhere
maharaja47
says...
8:38pm Fri 12 Feb 10
Oliver Newbury wrote:Adult male chicken?
cressexpert wrote: I think there is a **** Lane somewhereI think you'll have to spell that one out for us!
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