London Street Stories

Street Stories: The Origins of Famous London Names

Did you know?

• One of the most famous streets in the world, Piccadilly is named after the "picadil", a stiff collar sold by Robert Baker, a local tailor early in the 17th century
• The name Chalk Farm is a corruption of the long destroyed Chalcot’s Farm
• The market street Portobello Road, takes its name from a local 18th century farm. Originally called Barley Shotts, it was renamed "Portobello" in the mid-18th century in honour of Admiral Vernon's capturing of Puerto Bello in the Gulf of Mexico from the Spanish in 1739
• Houndsditch is named after the ditch in which people left their dead dogs in medieval times
• St James's Park took its name from a hospital in St James dedicated to lepers in the 13th century
• The name Knightsbridge comes from the story of two knights. According to legend, the knights staged a duel on the bridge that spanned the river Westbourne, which is now underground
• The name Spitalfields is a contraction of "hospital fields"
• Fitzroy Square is named after Henry FitzRoy the 1st Duke of Grafton and illegitimate son of Charles II
• Paddington is named after Padda, an Anglo-Saxon chief who lived in the vicinity
• Belsize Park takes its name from the French "bel assis" meaning "beautifully situated"
• The word "cheap" derives from an Old English word meaning market. Some of the street names in the Cheapside area indicate the goods that were once sold there: Wood Street, Milk Street, Bread Street, Honey Lane, Poultry and Friday Street (for fish), to name a few

Paille Maille on Pall Mall

Paille Maille is a 17th century game similar to croquet. To celebrate the unique heritage behind London’s highways and byways, a section of Pall Mall was turfed over on 16 June to host a version of Paille Maille. 

The game of Paille Maille dates back to 1603. It was played by King Charles II on London's very own Pall Mall. 

Find out more about London's history at the Story of London

Paille Maille in Pictures

Click on the thumbnail images below to check out Visit London's recreation of the ancient game of Paille Maille.