faringdon-online
community web site
home		 history & natural history

Commemorative Street Names
Arthurs Hill - H. N. Arthur, a coach and harness maker, whose business was located there.
Bennet Road - the Bennett family owned Faringdon House during the 19th century and the last member of the family died there in 1918.
Berners Way - Lord Berners' mother rented Faringdon House from about 1910 and later on Lord Berners bought the property and came to live here around 1931. His heir was Robert Heber-Percy and Lord Berners built the Folly Tower in 1935. This had its grand opening on Nov 6th 1936, Robert Heber-Percy's 21st birthday
Cadels Row - the family of Cadel or Cadel have been recorded in the Parish Registers of Faringdon since the 16th Century. The firm of Cadel the builder had premises in Church Street and in Southampton St.
Carter Crescent - the Carter family began their grocery/supermarket business in 1848. They also owned land and property around the town. Frederick Carter was chairman of the FRDC from 1946-48 and again from 1952 to 1958.
Cromwell Close - Oliver Cromwell came to Faringdon in April 1645 and summoned the Governor of Faringdon House, which was held for the Royalists, to surrender. The Governor refused and Cromwell attacked on April 30th. He failed to subdue the garrison and left a few days later.
Eaton Close - there was a family called Eaton here during the 18th Century.
Fletcher Close - James Fletcher was chairman of the FRDC from 1904 to 1911.
Goodlake Avenue - the Goodlake family lived at Wadley House during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries and left money to the Westbrook Blanket Charity for the benefit of the poor. Mrs Mary Goodlake gave some stocks and shares to The Cottage Hospital in 1909.
Hampden Close - Sir Robert Pye married John Hampden's daughter a year or so before the Civil War broke out and one of his sons was named after him. John Hampden was a Member of Parliament and brought differences between King and Parliament to a head by his refusal, on principle, to pay Ship Money, a subsidy which the King was demanding without the consent of Parliament for the maintenance of the Royal Navy.
Harris Yard* - Gravel Walk had a small yard leading off it which was called Harris Yard, perhaps because a member of the Harris family lived there or owned it.
Lansdown Road - Douglas Warren Lansdown was chairman of the FRDC from 1950 to 1952
Liddiards Row - the Liddiard family owned grocery and wholesale businesses in the town, and gave land to various clubs. Both George Ernest Liddiard and Leslie Ernest Liddiard became Chairman of Faringdon Rural District Council, the former in 1929-1930, 1931-1935, and the latter from 1968 to 1970.
Nichol Court - Elsie Nichol was Town Mayor from 1983 to 1987 and was greatly involved with local events and charities.
Parkers Close - a business man named Parker owned a corn store, tea rooms and shop in Marlborough St from around 1895 to the early part of the 20th Century.
Pulling Close - the family of Pullen or Pulling can be traced back to the early part of the 18th Century.
Pye Street - the Pye family bought the Manor of Faringdon in 1623. Sir Robert Pye, the second of that name, supported Parliament during the Civil War while his father sympathised with the Royalists. Another member of the family, Henry James Pye, built the present day Faringdon House in the mid-18th century and was Poet Laureate about 1790. It is said that the nursery rhyme 'Sing a song of sixpence' was written because of his constant references to vocal groves and feathered choirs in an ode to the King's birthday. Pymans or Peymans Yard* - led off Southampton Street and was probably named after the family who owned it or lived there. The Pyeman family can be found in the Parish Registers of the parish church during the 17th and 18th Centuries.
Rawdon Way - Sir Marmaduke Rawdon was a famous Cavalier soldier. A slab in the church has an inscription, partly obscured by a choir stall, that says 'this stone was placed here by Marmaduke Rawdon Esquire', but it is not clear whether it marks the grave of Sir Marmaduke. The Governor at the time of the surrender of Faringdon House, June 1646, was Sir George Lisle, but he was in Oxford so the acting Governor at the house was Sir William Courtney. He was also in command of Sir Marmaduke Rawdon's Regiment.
Spinage Close - Russell Spinage owned a building firm and was also involved in setting up a Youth Club in the town.
Untons Place - the Unton family owned Wadley Manor and became Lords of the Manor of Faringdon in 1590. The last male member of the family to hold the manor was Sir Henry Unton. He was a courtier at the court of Queen Elizabeth. He fought against the Spanish in the Netherlands earning his knighthood at the battle of Zutphen in 1586. He became the Ambassador to France in 1591. He gave the Portwell to the town and left money to be used in charitable causes for the relief of impotent and poor people of the town.

* indicates streets and names no longer extant.

next top