Neighbourhoods Child's Hill: The Child in question was Richard le Child, a 14th century landowner. Joyden's Wood: The Joyden in question was William Jordayne, a 16th-century resident of Dartford. Pratt's Bottom: The Pratt in question was Stephen Pratt, another 14th century Kentish landowner. Shooter's Hill: The shooters in question may have been medieval bowmen practising archery or may have been highwaymen with pistols. St Luke's: The Luke in question was the evangelist Luke, after whom the church off Old Street was dedicated. St Paul's Cray: The Paul in question was St Paulinus, the 7th century missionary and Archbishop of York after whom the local church is dedicated. (n.b. St Mary Cray is not possessive)
see also: Earl's Court, King's Cross, Queen's Park, St James's, St John's Wood, Shepherd's Bush
Tube stations Earl's Court: The earl in question was the Earl of Oxford, the head of the de Vere family whose medieval manor included Kensington. King's Cross St Pancras: The king in question was George IV, whose monument stood here for just 15 years before being demolished. Queen's Park: The queen in question was Queen Victoria after whom a local estate was named in the 1870s. Regent's Park: The regent in question was George IV who was Prince Regent when the royal park was laid out in 1810s. St James's Park: The James in question was St James the Less, after whom a medieval leper hospital was dedicated. St John's Wood: The John in question was Saint John of Jerusalem, whose Knights Hospitaller owned a wood in the vicinity in the 14th century. St Paul's: The Paul in question was the apostle Paul, to whom the City's cathedral is dedicated. Shepherd's Bush/Shepherd's Bush Market: The shepherd in question may have been a typical user of the common land hereabouts or might have been a man called Sheppard, nobody's sure.
...and formerly: Collier's Wood (until 1987), Paddington Bishop's Road (until 1933), Queen's Road (until 1946, now Queensway), St James' Park (until 1951) ...but NOT: Barons Court, Bounds Green, Canons Park, Gants Hill, Golders Green, Knightsbridge, Parsons Green, Rayners Lane ...and definitely not: Arnos Grove, Theydon Bois
[n.b. anorak level tube apostrophe history here and here]
Other stations Walthamstow Queen's Road: The queen in question was Queen Victoria, after whom a new road to Walthamstow Cemetery was named in 1872 (but that's Queens Road, not Queen's Road)
...but NOT: Bowes Park, Crews Hill, Devons Road, Elmers End, Gallions Reach, Gants Hill, Haydons Road, Highams Park, Palmers Green, Petts Wood, Phipps Bridge, Ponders End, Raynes Park, Queens Road Peckham, St James Street, St Johns or St Margarets
Waterways Counter's Creek: The countess in question may be Matilda, after whom the bridge carrying Kensington High Street across the river was perhaps named. Duke of Northumberland's River: The duke in question was lord of the manor of Isleworth during the reign of Henry VIII. Earl's Sluice: The earl in question was the Earl of Gloucester during the reign of Henry I. Regent's Canal: The regent in question was George IV who was Prince Regent when the canal was dug in the 1810s.
...but NOT: Deans Brook, Frays River, Pymmes Brook, Salmons Brook.
Green spaces Grim's Ditch: The Grim in question was possibly the devil, or perhaps Grimnr the Old English equivalent of the Norse god Odin. Lincoln's Inn Fields: The yellowbelly in question was Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, who encouraged lawyers to move to Holborn in the 15th century. Lord's: The Lord in question was Thomas Lord, a professional cricketer who moved his cricket ground here in 1814. Myatt'sFields Park: The Myatt in question was Joseph Myatt, a Camberwell market gardener famed for his rhubarb (after whom 'Myatt’s Offenham compacta' cabbage was named). Postman's Park: The postmen in question were Victorian workers on lunch break from the General Post Office nextdoor. Queen's Wood: The queen in question was Victoria because in 1898 this sounded better than Churchyard Bottom Wood.
Museums and attractions Claridge's: The hoteliers in question were William and Marianne Claridge who expanded into six houses on Brook Street in 1854. Gray's Inn: The Gray in question was Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey of Wilton, a 13th century nobleman. Hay's Galleria: The Hay in question was Alexander Hay, a merchant who acquired the former brewhouse in 1651. King's Road: The king in question was Charles I who used this private road to nip between Whitehall and Kew. Lloyd's of London: The Lloyd in question was Edward Lloyd, owner of Lloyd's Coffee House on Tower Street where the insurance market began. Queen's House: The queen in question was Anne of Denmark, wife of James VI of Scotland and James I of England and Wales. Sadler's Wells: The Sadler in question was Richard Sadler who opened a "Musick House" alongside springs in Clerkenwell in 1683.
see also: Butler's Wharf, Carlyle's House, Cleopatra's Needle, Dennis Severs' House, Dr. Johnson's House, Hogarth's House, Keats' House, Nelson's Column, Ranger's House, St Bartholomew's Hospital, St James's Palace, St Paul's Cathedral, Sir John Soane's Museum
...but NOT: Harrods, Selfridges ...and no longer: Madame Tussaud's
