London Place Names - Real or Really Made Up Quiz

Answer: De Beauvoir Town

De Beauvoir Town is in north London, postcode N1. It was named after Richard De Beauvoir from Guernsey who settled in the area in 1680. Until 1840 De Beauvoir Town was just open country with a few mansions. It has now been swallowed up by London's sprawl and is part of the bustling city.

Answer: Tooting Bec

Tooting Bec is in south London and is neighboured by Tooting Graveney. Apparently it is now more correct to refer to it as Upper Tooting now. But, as a Londoner, I don't know many people who don't still refer to it as Tooting Bec. The underground station is called Tooting Bec. The road signs still say 'Tooting Bec'. The local green is still called 'Tooting Bec Common'. Probably the only people who call it 'Upper Tooting' are estate agents who want it to sound posh. I intend to ignore them. Tooting Bec is a much better name for a place.
And now to the history...
The origin of the name 'Tooting' is uncertain. Some historians believe that the word originates from an ancient Saxon tribe who settled in the area who were called the Totingas after Tota, their chief. Others believe it was originally a hamlet where Roman slaves were lodged, alleging that 'toot' is derived from 'theou' meaning slave added to 'ing' meaning dwelling. Historians can't seem to agree about it. The first recording of the village's name was in AD 675 and it was recorded in the Chertsey Abbey register as 'Toting-cum-Streatham' (Streatham is the larger area that Tooting is a part of). Tooting Bec appears to have been a planned linear village, and it was probably laid out by the monks of Bec following their acquisition of the estate (Hence Tooting Bec, you see?).
One of the more interesting things in modern day Tooting is that the old cinema, Tooting Granada, which is now a bingo hall became the first grade 1 listed cinema in the UK in the year 2000. It opened in 1935, it sits on Mitcham Rod and it certainly deserves its listed status.

Answer: Sands End

Another historical discrepancy here. Sands End is either named after the sandy banks of the outlet of the creek at the town. Or it's named after its earliest recorded owner (in the reign of Edward I), John de Sanderford. There is no evidence of settlement until the end of Queen Elizabeth I's reign.

In the 17th century residents were few, the land was marshy and only suitable for grazing. By 1900 the fields had been replaced by a region of poverty and squalor. But by the time of the 1916 ordnance survey it was a fully developed industrial area.

It is now as thriving as any town in south west London.

Answer: Old Ford

Old Ford is in east London (E3). Old Ford was, quite logically, named because it was a ford over the river. It's thought that this is the lowest point of the river that could be crossed by foot. It was used by the Roman road from the city to Colchester. There is evidence of a Roman settlement in the third of fourth century.
The ford eventually became dangerous and a bridge was built in Bow, south of Old Ford. The story goes that the bridge was ordered after Queen Matilda fell into the water at Old Ford and almost drowned.

Answer: Nine Elms

This town in in SW8 (south west London) was first named in 1645 after a row of trees that bordered a road. At the time it was a rural area, windmills lined the riverbank, fields stretched around the small community. It eventually became an industrial centre for brewing, lime kilns, potteries, woodyards and timerdocks. Nine Elms was also the London terminus of the London and South West Railway Company until 1848 when Waterloo was made the terminus and Nine Elms was left as a goods yard.

After the war, factories and railway yards closed down and Nine Elms went a little downhill.

In 1975 the town was revitalised when the vegetable market moved from Covent Garden to Nine Elms and it is still there today. The flower section of the market is where the old train station used to be and is worth a look.

Answer: Ladywell

Ladywell was named after a well called the Lady Well, obvious really. The well was used until the 1850's and was beside Ladywell Rd and was still marked and named on a map of the area from 1592. Ladywell is now an area in south east London (SE13).

Answer: Kidbrooke

The name is said to be an Anglo-Saxon word for 'the brook where kites were seen'. It was not settled by the Saxons though, because of its heavy clay soil. By the 11th or 12th century Kidbrooke had a chapel. By 1494 it was derelict. It managed to hang on by the skin of its teeth as a farming community until as late as the 1930's.

Then the roads spread out from London and engulfed it. Ancient greens and roads were covered by the Rochester Way in the 1980's.

Answer: Shooter's Hill

This is the highest point in south London (at 432 feet) and does offer some grand views over the city. There was a Roman road linking Dover to London (later the Canterbury Way) that ran over Shooter's Hill. Despite that it was feared by travellers. Its high and isolated position meant that travellers were vulnerable to attack by highwaymen.

The name of the town was first recorded in 1226 and may have origins in its long standing criminal associations. A burial group of (possibly) Bronze Age was found on the northern side of the summit of the hill. Development started in the 18th century. And, in a story that is too familar, the farms and countryside were covered in concrete. Miraculously Woodland Farm survived the development of Shooter's Hill and it remains today as a community farm wish sheep, cows and horses grazing in fields bordered with ancient hedgerows.

As with all of London's city farms it is a lovely place to visit.

Answer: Cubitt Town

Cubitt Town was reclaimed, developed and named after William Cubitt (who was also Lord Mayor of London). It was built to house workers from the shipyards and docks in 1840 - 1850. Cubitt Town is on the Isle of Dogs and I recommend a visit to this fascinating area of London. Arm yourself with a history book.

Answer: The Hyde

I don't have much to say about The Hyde, a small parcel of land, apart from the terrible admittance that I lived literally up the road from this place (in Burnt Oak) and I never even knew it existed until I started researching for this quiz. This, if nothing else, goes to show that London is an ever-changing, ever-expanding city that constantly surprises even those who live there.

There are towns hiding away in its suburbs. Many of which are very pretty communities that don't feel like they are part of the greatest city in the country. Most Londoners won't know they exist.

A great way to spend a day is to pick outer-lying underground stations. Ones that sound exotic or interesting. Go the station, get off and explore the place. It's usually worth it. London has hidden treasures.