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London Streets and Squares: Lowndes

Lowndes Street, Lowndes Square, and Chesham Street, Pimlico, are indebted for their title to Lowndes of the Bury, near Chesham, Buckinghamshire, the ground landlord, a descendant of William Lowndes, secretary to the Treasury during the reign of Queen Anne.

Vauxhall Bridge Road forms a connecting link between Vauxhall Bridge and Victoria Street, a gloomy modern thoroughfare named in honour of our present sovereign. Birdcage Walk comprised the place where the aviary of Charles II. was permanently located, under the superintendence of Master Edward Storey, the royal keeper, whose house covered the spot now styled Storey's Gate in his memory. Queen Anne's Gate derived its name from Queen Anne's Square, in whose reign this characteristic enclosure was built. York Street was designated in honour of Frederick, Duke of York, son of George III., who lived in it for a short time. Delahay Street compliments a family of this name long resident in St. Margaret's parish. 1 Rochester Row was denominated after the Bishopric of Rochester, anciently combined with the Deanery of Westminster, but separated in the reign of George III. New Bridge Street leads to the handsome bridge over the Thames, opened May 24, 1862. Cannon Row is properly "Canon Row," formerly the residence of the Canons of St. Stephen's Chapel. King Street received its title because it was the direct road between the Court and the Abbey. Princes Street, a modern thoroughfare, occupying the site of Old Westminster Mews, was so called on account of its proximity to King Street. Parker Street perpetuates the memory of Archbishop Parker, one of the principal benefactors of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. This street was formerly known as Bennet Street, the old name of the College. Great George Street covers the ground originally occupied by the stable-yard of "The George and the Dragon," a well-known coaching house in bygone days. The name of Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, reminds us of the protection which in olden times was afforded to criminals of all degrees so long as they remained beneath the shadow of a monastery or cathedral. Abingdon Street contained the mansion of the Earls of Abingdon. Holywell Street owes its title to the name of an estate of the Grosvenors in Flintshire, whose town residence was displaced by the formation of this street. Barton Street and Cowley Street were both built by Barton Booth, the actor; to the former he gave his christian name, to the latter the name London Streets and Squares. of his favourite poet. Marsham Street, Earl Street, and Romney Street comprise the property of Charles Marsham, Earl of Romney; while Old Pye Street and New Pye Street commemorate the existence of Sir Robert Pye, who lived in the more modern portion of this neighbourhood known as The New Way. Great Peter Street recalls the fact that the Abbey of Westminster was dedicated to St. Peter. Vine Street marks the situation of the vineyard, and Orchard Street the orchard, anciently possessed by the Abbots. Tothill Street received its name from Tothill Fields, comprising the old manor of Tothill, a corruption of Toothill, or beacon hill; toot being derived from the Welsh twt, a rising. Horseferry Road needs no comment.

Millbank derived its name from an old mansion belonging to the Grosvenor family, that stood on the site of an old mill which alone graced this portion of the Thames bank.

On the site of Carlisle Lane, Lambeth, stood Carlisle House, the residence of the Bishops of Rochester from the thirteenth century downwards.