Street names

STREET NAMES

The following section covers the streets in the area of the medieval town as they were before the construction of the inner relief road in 1973. Except where otherwise stated it is based on: E. Blaxill, Street Names (1936); J. B. Harvey's Report of 1889; P.N. Essex; Speed, Map (1610); Morant, Colch. 3-4, and map (1748); Chapman and André, Map of Essex (1777); Benham, Colch. Map (1848); MS. notes on Colch. street names by Philip Laver, in E.S.A.H. Libr., Hollytrees, Colch.

Abbeygate Street, 1836: (fn. 1) Lodders or Ladders Lane, mid 13th cent.; (fn. 2) Clothiers Lane, 1748.

Arthur Street, 1845, named after Arthur Thomas Osborne. (fn. 3)

Balkerne Lane, 1429, (fn. 4) from Crouch Street to Middleborough: it was Balkerne Hill north of Popes Lane by 1848.

Ball Alley, 1748, because it led to a bowling alley.

Butt Road formerly Lane, 1676, (fn. 5) because it led to the shooting butts: earlier Holmer, Holmere, Holmer's Lane, 1407; (fn. 6) also Lyard Lane, leading to Layer-de-la-Haye, 1748; Holmers Lane, later 18th cent.; Butt Lane, 1818; (fn. 7) also Mill Street, 1839, because it led to Butt mill; (fn. 8) Butt Road, 1856. (fn. 9)

Castle Road, 1861. (fn. 10)

Chapel Street, 1845. (fn. 11)

Childwell Alley formerly Lane, 1748: Cheldervelle Lane, 1340; by 1936 the northern end was Ernulph Walk.

Church Lane, 1399 (fn. 12) and St. Mary's Lane, 1386 (fn. 13) refer to the lanes leading to the church of St. Mary-at-the-Walls, later called Church Street or Church Walk.

Church Street formerly Lane, 1777, 1848: St. Mary's Lane, 1748; Church Street North, 1861; (fn. 14) Church Street, 1933. (fn. 15)

Church Walk formerly Lane, 1748: Church Street South, 1861; (fn. 16) perhaps Noah's Ark Lane later 18th cent. from an inn at the junction with Head Street; Church Walk, 1933. (fn. 17)

Crouch Street, 1748: Croucher Street, 1385: (fn. 18) part may have been known as Maldon Lane, 1389, 1427; (fn. 19) cf. Maldon Road.

Culver Street, or Lane, 1334-7: probably also Master John's Lane, 1332; (fn. 20) Culver Lane or Back Lane, 1748.

East Hill, 1748, from High Street to East Bridge. Earlier not distinguished from East Street which extended to Harwich Road.

Eld Lane, 1482: (fn. 21) (le) Oldelond, 1341; (fn. 22) Oldelane, 1405; perhaps Thelstreet, 1406; part was Almshouse Lane, 1748; Beast Lane or Stone Street before 1748; also Poor Row (from Trinity Street to Lion Walk), 1848.

George Street formerly Lane, 1823: (fn. 23) George Yard, 1748.

Head Street, 1173 (Have[d]strata): (fn. 24) possibly also Headgate Street, 1458. (fn. 25)

High Street, 1399: (fn. 26) the western end was called Cornhill, 1337; (fn. 27) Hevedstreet, 1412; (fn. 28) in front of All Saints' Church was King Street, 1748; in front of Greyfriars was Friars Street, 1388. (fn. 29)

Land Lane, 1841: (fn. 30) Porthawe, 1477; (fn. 31) Lincoln Way, 1976, when the estate was developed. (fn. 32)

Lion Walk, 1748: formerly Cat Lane, 1357.

Maidenburgh Street, Maidenborough, 1312: (fn. 33) cf. Rob. de Maydenburg, 1248; (fn. 34) also St. Helen's Lane, 1387; (fn. 35) or St. Helen's Street, 1438; (fn. 36) Tennants Lane, a corruption of St. Helen's, 1610; St. Helen's Lane or Maidenburgh Street, 1758. (fn. 37)

Maldon Road, formerly Lane, 1408: (fn. 38) the northern end was sometimes Schrebbe Street; probably also Crowcherche Lane, 1389, 1427. (fn. 39)

Middleborough, 1352.

Museum Street, 1851: (fn. 40) earlier the entrance to the castle bailey.

North Hill, 1511: North Street, 1196. (fn. 41)

Northgate Street, 1854: (fn. 42) Duck Lane, 1729; (fn. 43) Duck Lane and Little Hill, 1748.

Nunns Road formerly Cut, 1860, (fn. 44) named after Roger Nunn, mayor 1842: perhaps Grafton Street, 1880.

Osborne Street, 1851: (fn. 45) named after Arthur Thomas Osborne whose brewery was nearby.

Pelham's Lane, 1748, named after William Pelham, common councillor 1623-43, who had a shop there: Whitefoot's Lane, 1306. (fn. 46)

Popes Lane, 1787: (fn. 47) it apparently led to land called Popes Head, 1521; unnamed, 1748; Workhouse Lane or Union Lane, 1876; (fn. 48) Popes Lane, 1921. (fn. 49)

Priory Street, 1818: (fn. 50) More Street, 1275; More Elm Lane, 1610; Moor Lane, 1690. (fn. 51)

Quakers Alley, 1748: St. Martin's Lane, 1876. (fn. 52)

Queen, or Queen's Street, 1748: South Street or Southgate Street, 1333, 1438, because it led to the south gate (St. Botolph's gate); not distinguished from St. Botolph's Street, 1610; perhaps also Silver Street, 1629-30. (fn. 53)

Roman Road, 1861: (fn. 54) built in the 1850s.

Ryegate Road, 1891: (fn. 55) earlier an unnamed common way.

St. Botolph's Street, 1401: (fn. 56) South Street, 1339; (fn. 57) St. Botolphs Street, 1610; Southgate Street, Brook Street, or Botolph's Street, 1628; (fn. 58) St. Botolph's Street, sometimes called South Street, 1748.

St. Helen's Lane, 1841: (fn. 59) Bekelerysbery Lane, 1423; (fn. 60) Bucklersbury Lane, Peacock Alley, or Meeting House Alley, 1748.

St. John's Avenue, 1897. (fn. 61)

St. John's Street, 1818: (fn. 62) Southsherde Street or Southsherdegate Street, 1384; (fn. 63) Gutter Street, 1748, from the gutter which ran down the middle of the street.

St. Nicholas Street, 1841: (fn. 64) earlier not distinguished from Wyre Street.

St. Peter's Street, 1844: (fn. 65) possibly Fowles Lane, 1330; (fn. 66) Dead Lane, 1702, or Deadman's Lane, 1748; (fn. 67) Dead Lane, 1840; (fn. 68) Factory Lane, 1851, after Brown and Moy's silk factory there. (fn. 69)

St. Runwald Street, 1936: possibly Hospital Yard, 1748.

Sheepen Road, formerly Lane, 1550, because it led to Sheepen farm: Reyners Lane, 1411; (fn. 70) Water Lane, 1748; also Water Lane North, 1848; Sheepen Road, 1936.

Shewell Road, 1936, named after a member of the Society of Friends, Joseph Shewell (d. 1875): formerly a private cul-de-sac.

Short Cut Road, 1871: (fn. 71) unnamed in 1848.

Sir Isaac's Walk, 1811: (fn. 72) Sir Isaac Rebow's Walk, 1748, paved by Sir Isaac Rebow c. 1690; earlier part of Eld Lane.

Stanwell Street, 1341: (fn. 73) the southern end was Brewery Road in 1876. (fn. 74)

Stockwell, Stockwell Street, 1329. (fn. 75)

Stockwell Street East, 1311: (fn. 76) also called Calayse Street c. 1380; (fn. 77) Beirs Lane, 1692; (fn. 78) Bear Lane, from an inn on the corner with High Street, also St. Martin's Lane, 1748; East Stockwell Street, 1841. (fn. 79)

Stockwell Street West, 1327: (fn. 80) Angel Lane, 1687; (fn. 81) West Stockwell Street, 1841. (fn. 82)

Trinity Street, formerly Lane, 1610: Trinity Lane or Schere Street, 1748; Trinity Lane or Shiregate Street, 1777.

Vineyard Street, 1861: (fn. 83) Beres Lane, 1312; (fn. 84) Bere Lane, 1504; (fn. 85) Black Boy Lane, 1678; (fn. 86) Blackboy or Bear Lane, 1767, (fn. 87) 1777; also Brickyard Street, 1861; (fn. 88) in 1963 the middle section was closed to make a car park and the western end was incorporated into Osborne Street.

Whitewell Road, 20th cent: Stanwell Road, 1876; (fn. 89) perhaps Whitewell Street, 1767.

Williams Walk, 1848.

Wyre Street, 1311: (fn. 90) Wyre or Weir Street 1748; Long and Short Wyre Street, 1841. (fn. 91)