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history & natural history |
The Street Names
of Faringdon |
| Faringdon's importance came from the crossing of two ancient
ways: one from London, via Oxford and Abingdon, to Cirencester and on to
Gloucester and South Wales, or to Bristol, Bath and Somerset; the other from
the North of England, via Coventry and Burford, to Marlborough, Winchester and
Southampton. These routes were of such importance that the main streets were
named after the places that they were leading to: for example Southampton
Street, London Street, Gloucester Street and Marlborough Street. The earliest reference that has been found to Southampton Street has been in a deed of 1815, before that it was simply called Suthstrete in 1399 and South Street in 1464 and then from 1537 it was known variously as Hampton Street or Southampton Street. London Street was referred to in a deed of 1689 and at various times up to the late 18th century when it changed its name to Bull Street after a public house in the road. By 1881 it was being referred to in a deed as London Street otherwise Bull Street The other two streets do not seem to have changed their names. Faringdon was divided into two tithings, the boundary being the brook which now runs under the Narrows dividing the Market Place and the Corn Market. The tithing to the east of this brook was called Port and the one to the west was called Westbrook. For a long period of time deeds only referred to these two tithings and the main streets. In 1551 the centre of Faringdon was referred to as Highe Strete als Chepe Strete. Later it became Market Place presumably because the market, a Charter being granted by Henry III, was held there. Part of it however was referred to as Port Well in deeds of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The other streets leading from the outskirts of town indicate the direction in which they are heading, such as Lechlade Road, Coxwell Road, Stanford or Wantage Road, Highworth Road, Fernham Road and Radcot Road. Most of the names of the roads and streets of Faringdon fall into four main categories: Location; Commemorative - of people, family, businesses; a Combination of the two; The Natural World. |
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