Author Archives: lytteltonwitch

Percival Street in Sydenham – Named after Westby Brook Perceval (1854- 1928). Perceval was a lawyer, politician and agent general. He was member of parliament for Christchurch South from 1887. Percival Street is first mentioned in the Star in 1908 when land for sale there is advertised. First appears in street directories in 1910. A …

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Severn Street in St Albans- formerly Severn’s Road Named after Joseph Samuel John Severn(1821?-1909).Severn was a baker who lived in Church Road (later Rutland Street).Among a number of streets laid out in 1910 by the owners, the Church Property Trustees, and later dedicated to the council. First appears in street directories in 1912. It was …

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Aylesford St in Mairehau – Part of Shirley Road (from Hills Road to Westminster Street).Named after Aylesford, a village and civil parish on the River Medway in Kent, England A section of Shirley Road was re-named Aylesford Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were renamed. A small amount of information from the library …

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Thames Street in Mairehau – Formerly Toons Road. Named after John Toon (1835?-1918). Re-namedThames Street. Named after the Thames River which passes through London. Tenders were called for the forming and metalling of Toon’s Road in 1870. Toon won the contract. Toon’s Road first appears in street directories in 1892. Toon, a farmer of St …

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Squire Street in Mairehau- formerly Spence Street. Spence Street first appears in street directories in 1905. Re-named Squire Street on 1 September 1948 when 120 streets were re-named. A small amount of information from the library website. Not a lot of information on Papers Past. The earliest mention I could find was a death notice …

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Millar Street in Sydenham – Named after John Andrew Millar (1855-1915). Millar, a seaman, trade union leader and politician, was an MP in the 1891-1912 Liberal Government, chairman of committees under R. J. Seddon and a Cabinet minister after Seddon’s death in 1906, First appears in street directories in 1908.A small amount of information from …

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Seddon Street in Sydenham- Named after Richard John Seddon (1845- 1906). Seddon was the Prime Minister of New Zealand 1893-1906. First appears in street directories in 1909.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. I didn’t get a lot of information from …

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Southey Street in Sydenham- Named after Robert Southey (1774-1843). Southey was Poet Laureate for 30 years. One of the “poets and writers” streets of Sydenham, Addington and Waltham named by a committee of the Sydenham Borough Council on 19 January 1880. Made a public street from 1 January 1888. First appears in street directories in …

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Wembley Street in Sydenham- Named after the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1924 Named in 1927. First appears in street directories in 1929.A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the naming of the street. All I found on Papers Past about the name was …

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Caton Street in Sydenham – Named after John Henry Caton (d. 1870). Caton owned a number of properties in Montreal Street. This land was advertised for sale in The Press after he drowned in the McLachlan River near Sydney. His death is registered at Coonbarabran in New South Wales. The construction of Caton Street was …

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