Topic ID 4867
Forgive me if this has been asked before - and I feel I should know the answer... ...but why is Church Road in Bengeo called Church Road with no evidence of a religious establishment in sight?
Reply ID 69494
I could be wrong (frequently am) but I think it was a Road / Track used to get from Goldings (or Panshanger?)to St Leonards, if you think about the area before the churches were built in Waterford etc then St Leonards would have been the one they used.If the staff wanted to go to church they had to walk they would not have been allowed in the private chapels of the houses. I think The Drive was possibly simialrly a drive used to get to the Goldings area and Westfield Road is possibly what was the west field of the estate? The footpaths that still exist at the end of The Drive and Chuch Road take you in the direction of Goldings. If you are interested enough it would be worth looking at the old maps they have at HALS and see hat they show, I have the bryant map of 1820 and the Adndrews map of 1766but it is not detailed enough to be sure.
Reply ID 69528
The path with the steps up from Molewood Road to Church Road is in fact called Church Road, so no doubt used to be a track. Our house in Molewood Road, when built, had an address of Church Road, as we have it on the deeds.
Reply ID 69539
quote:I seem to remeber that Fanshawe Street was called Molewood Road at one point as well, as the houses were built and roads made up they added new names and diverted the old ones, could be that Molewood Road was once one track with Church Road coming up the hill that way.
Originally posted by cassie414
The path with the steps up from Molewood Road to Church Road is in fact called Church Road, so no doubt used to be a track. Our house in Molewood Road, when built, had an address of Church Road, as we have it on the deeds.
Reply ID 69540
quote:Probably even simpler than that. Roads just being identified casually by where they went. A road used to get to church becomes Church Road for those who use it. A road used to get to Mole Wood or passing it, becomes Molewood Road. There became several of each because of different starting points to Mole Wood and more than one church.
Originally posted by Marilynquote:I seem to remeber that Fanshawe Street was called Molewood Road at one point as well, as the houses were built and roads made up they added new names and diverted the old ones, could be that Molewood Road was once one track with Church Road coming up the hill that way.
Originally posted by cassie414
The path with the steps up from Molewood Road to Church Road is in fact called Church Road, so no doubt used to be a track. Our house in Molewood Road, when built, had an address of Church Road, as we have it on the deeds.
Reply ID 69541
I am sure you are correct, pre 1850 there was St Leonard's, All Saints and St Andrew churches so there will have been "Church Road" to all of them, even earlier there were two more chuches in Hertford St Mary the less and St Nicholas (I think!)
Reply ID 69882
Not sure if you get Molewood Outlook Arty but there is a piece in there about Bengeo boundaries by peter Ruffles and he confirms my thoughts that Church Road was a track used to get from Goldings to St Leonards.
Reply ID 69928
quote:No. I don't see the magazine. If someone has a spare copy, I'd be interested in reading the article.
Originally posted by Marilyn
Not sure if you get Molewood Outlook Arty but there is a piece in there about Bengeo boundaries by peter Ruffles and he confirms my thoughts that Church Road was a track used to get from Goldings to St Leonards.
Reply ID 69937
quote:I will copy it and try to get it to you..................
Originally posted by Artyquote:No. I don't see the magazine. If someone has a spare copy, I'd be interested in reading the article.
Originally posted by Marilyn
Not sure if you get Molewood Outlook Arty but there is a piece in there about Bengeo boundaries by peter Ruffles and he confirms my thoughts that Church Road was a track used to get from Goldings to St Leonards.
Reply ID 69970
Thanks, Marilyn. I guess I'd better join the Association!
Reply ID 69971
quote:I am sure they will be more than happy to have you...............hope the article was of interest
Originally posted by Arty
Thanks, Marilyn. I guess I'd better join the Association!
Reply ID 94151
I know this is VERY old but to update I have now obtained a map of 1832 updated in 1868 which has Church Path marked from Bengeo Street to Molewood Mill so that's where Church Road's name came from. Yesterday found a Mercury from 1902 offering "The West Field Estate" bordering Church Road and Duncombe Road. It was being offered by Ware Park Estates as building land on gravel soil within 10 and 15 minutes walk of the North and East Stations (North was then Cowbridge) in a proverbially healthy location commanding extensive views ! So that's where Westfield Road got its name though building was later than that date I am sure but possibly when Mr Graveson bought the land for "Little Molewood" which was the first house built in The Avenue.. Fascinating stuff. Doing some research for something next year which I will let you know about if it works out!
Reply ID 94158
I love this sort of thing. Living very close to Church Road (Eleanor Rd) anything you can dig up on our road/the area i'd love to hear more about.
Reply ID 94159
Marilyn, Sorry, should have also said thanks for the update.
Reply ID 94160
I believe that some of The Avenue were allotments, hence the reason for the electricity sub station name of "Onion patch" I also know there was a Pig Farm where the very large 5 bed houses are at the back of The Avenue (always makes me laugh that one!) and then it became a builders merchants and gravel extraction pit.. even nicer! I believe that a lot of people could horseride around Bengeo then as it was all fields and now all houses.. sad the price of progress, but I guess I have somewhere to live so mustn't complain... interesting stuff...
Reply ID 94167
quote:The Onion patch I remember just about, if you have not been to the exhibition in the museum and bought the book it is well worth doing so. It was sold by the Bengeo Workingmen's Club and the funds from that paid for the new clubhouse on Bengeo Street. It made national newspapers at the time for the amount it was sold for per acre. It interesting that "Woodville Place" is not in Bengeo Parish! Can't give everthing away till next year but I am finding fascinating stuff!
Originally posted by Drama Queen
I believe that some of The Avenue were allotments, hence the reason for the electricity sub station name of "Onion patch" I also know there was a Pig Farm where the very large 5 bed houses are at the back of The Avenue (always makes me laugh that one!) and then it became a builders merchants and gravel extraction pit.. even nicer! I believe that a lot of people could horseride around Bengeo then as it was all fields and now all houses.. sad the price of progress, but I guess I have somewhere to live so mustn't complain... interesting stuff...