Linden & St. Paul's

Linden

Linden could be named after several possible meanings. One could be the fact the land the neighbourhood is built on, was once occupied by Linden or Lime trees. Another possible source could be that "lin" was the Old English word for flax, the den suffix could refer to a pasture where flax was grown. But these are only two of the many possible interpretations. The first official naming of Linden as a location was granted in 1881 when Linden Road made its first appearance in August of that year. 

Alma Place
Samuel Lysons a well-known philanthropist owner of Hempstead Court decided to respond to the shortage of housing in the city in 1854. He laid out a long terrace called “Alma Place”. This road comes from the Battle of Alma fought that year. In 1856 a water supply was installed to serve 52 houses in Clarence Town. Which included both Alma Place and Theresa Place now street. The earliest building records come from 1879  when 2 houses were built by J. Nicholls, work continued over 20 years with the last 4 houses being built by S. Hancock in 1896. Architect J.P. Moore of Medland & Maberley designed cottages for a local developer T. Freeman Esq. Alma Place is one example of Samuel Lyson's work throughout the city and shows that even in the 19th century kindness still prevailed. Alma Place was cleared for demolition as part of the slum clearance in 1958-60, GBR/L6/23/B6994.

Balfour Road c1895-

Possibly named after Rev. W. Balfour part of the Gloucester Church Schools committee. He was recorded as being the secretary to the committee. (Gloucester Journal - Saturday 25 November 1876). The road would have been laid out c1895-96 time. The first houses listed on the building control files are from 1895 built by T. Hancock. 11 years later in 1906 12 more houses were constructed by R. Fream & Co. A local developer who had a hand in the creation of the Wotton Court Estate and Calton Road. 

Bloomfield Court 2006-08

Built by Matthew Homes.

Bloomfield Road, 1889

Originally laid in 1889 by Mr. Townsend, work didn’t occur until 1904 when Messrs Kingscott & Winfield constructed 2 houses. Whether there was any development between 1889 and 1904 is unclear. But sometimes developments would not always go to plan and roads would be left for a while before development. According to N. Herbert Gloucester, domestic streets were built piecemeal bit by bit. Work continued until 1911 when 2 houses were built by the developers listed above. The largest development took place in 1906 when 34 houses were built possibly by J. Byard & Sons. Possibly named after Rev. J. Bloomfield who was a member of the Gloucester School Board GC 08/11/1890. Named after Rev. J. Bloomfield (chairman of Gloucester School Board) GC 08/10/1892.

Bloomfield Terrace 1895-

Mysteriously the file on Bloomfield Terrace was not within the planning permissions log. In the papers, the street first appeared with the rent of three houses in 1895 GC 23/05/1895. In 1896 the street was referenced within a report where 8 houses were recorded, 6 of which were inhabited GJ 09/05/1896. Two properties came up for grabs in 1897 then numbered as Nos. 122-124 Linden Road. The rents were recorded at £14 6s (£1,173.30) and £14 9s (£1,185.61). GC 29/03/1897.

Bowly Road, The Oval Estate 1920-

Named after a famous son of Gloucester Samuel Bowly. Officially named by the City Council on 8th July 1921. 

Calton Road, 1895

This road is possibly named after auditor Edwin Calton who used to work for the Gloucester Gas-Light Company. The name was adopted as Calton Villa in Linden Road, after its occupants. The road was probably named after the family as Linden Road runs across Calton Road halfway up the street. This was sold as a 5-bedroom villa in 1893 by Clutterbuck. Building sites were offered for sale with frontages in Calton Road, plans were prepared by local architect J. Fletcher Trew in January 1895. The first two houses were developed by Mr. R. Fream. He developed 5 more houses between 1895-97. Builder J. Halls developed 26 houses in 1897. Nos.98-100 were specifically noted in the directory of plans. The school was developed by the Gloucester Education Committee in 1904 and built by J. Byard & Sons. Following these various other developers added to the street from 1904 to 1924. 

Cecil Road, c1890

Off Bristol Road, Cecil Road is split into two distinct sections by Seymour Road. Unlike many of the streets built in Gloucester at this time, Cecil was developed within a few years of the street being laid out. Reference to the laying of water supplies was noted in council minutes from on 20th May 1890 (GC 21/05/1890). Most developments like this would have been constructed piecemeal over 10 years or more. According to building control records the first development of this street took place in 1892 when a plan for 20 houses was submitted Mr. L. Thomas. A year took place before the building started in earnest with the construction of 97 houses between 1894-96. A huge project for that time. Developers included: E. Ellis, C. Hunt, P. Ind, Cole & Guy and A Inace. In total 117 houses were constructed. 

Central Road

Described as one of the healthiest roads in Gloucester by local press from 1911. Central Road is a product of the Edwardian era. Stretching south from Stroud Road, the street was laid out over an allotment garden on OS Map from 1894-1903. This was prime building land due to its land terrain and its location close to the docks and city center. The first houses recorded were from 1905 when a pair of semi-detached houses were built by W. Byard. The street was added too from that day onwards until 1908 when a large development of 24 houses was built by W.J.B. Halls (builder). 

Clegram Road, 1888

Clegram Road was originally laid out in 1888 as a further addition to the Bristol Road. Building started that year with the development of 2 houses built by Mr Freeman. More developments took place between 1889 to 96 by several local builders. These included: John Simmonds, J. Kilminster, J. Turner, W. Woody, J. Hancock, J. Allen, and A. Baldwin. The road is named after William Brown Clegram, harbor master and general superintendent of The Gloucester & Berkeley Canal from 1826-61. He worked alongside legendary engineer Thomas Telford to complete the project. The canal was completed in 1827. 

Crown Green Court 2011-13

Designed by DNS Planning Design. 

Henley Place, The Oval Estate

Officially named by the City Council on 8th July 1921.

Ivy Mews, Stroud Road 2002-04

Designed by Barton Willmore Partnership, built by Barrett Homes. GCC.

Ladysmith Road

Larkspear Close 1985-87

Developed by Lovell Homes in a select development called "The Robins". GC 27/03/1986. An extension to the cul-de-sac included 6 houses built by Longthorn Estates. GC 01/02/1998. 

Lewisham Road, c1905

Originally called meant to be called Nicholson Road, the street was laid out in c1905. The first 6 houses were built by Mr. P. Lewis. But only four houses were ever completed. 19 years later development took place with the construction of 4 houses by Swindon-based builder A. J. Colborne, he then built another 4 the next year. 

Linden Road, 1881

Laid out in 1881, Linden Road runs through the heart of the Linden district of Gloucester. Its course runs east-west linking Bristol Road with Stroud Road. Unusually the street has three distinct parts. The western end follows the late Victorian and Edwardian era, but the central section runs through the Linden Council Estate which dates from the 1920s. The eastern end dives into the late Victorian and Edwardian eras again. The first houses were developed as a group of 9 in 1886 and were built by Morgan Long. The street originally started the Stroud Road end with four houses shown on the 1880s OS map. As a result of the road’s length, it has a full page of building control plans listed from 1886 onwards. 

Lysons Avenue, 1898

Named after Rev. Samuel Lysons of Hempstead Court, the street made its first appearance in 1898 when it was laid out on land between Seymour Road and Bristol Road. The street was christened in 1901. Unfortunately, the listing of developments didn’t occur so only two houses were recorded to have been by Mr Hayden. The next records date from 1927. However, many more houses of late Victorian and Edwardian appearance popped up. Whether permission is granted is a mystery. 

Milo Place, 1921

Officially named by the City Council on 8th July 1921.

New Street, 1867

All towns have a road called New Street whether it is indeed new or not. Gloucester’s New Street was laid out by Richard Cherrington a local house proprietor in 1867. It was recorded that 66 houses had been built by 1871. In 1874 the city boundary was extended to include the three streets between the park and Stroud Road. Hence records of housing starts from 1879 in the Gloucester Borough Records. Developments included: 4 houses built by Mr. Wibby, 4 houses built by Mr. J. Mogs in 1883, and two more built by William Nicholls in 1907. On 1871 census it is recorded that No. 66 New Street was registered as a public house called "The Parkend Inn", in the charge of Henry Vaughan (a house carpenter). 

Newark Road, 1933

The name Newark refers to a farm which lies on the opposite side of the canal in Hempsted Lane. The farm itself lies just north of a Roman camp which was called Wycham originally. The name Newark may refer to the fact that the Llanthony Priory could have used the farm as a summer residence. The farm was first recorded in 1577 and is still in situ today. Newark Road was laid out in 1933 by A.J. Colborne of Swindon. The original plan was for the estate to have 43 houses and was the first to be submitted at the start of the year. 

Philip Street, 1870.

Philip Street first made its mark on the landscape in 1868, according to deeds. However, the street itself did not appear in the local press until 1870 when plots were staked out for people to buy and build cottages on (GC 11/06/1870). The name is unusual, being spelled with a single "l". The establishment of the street involved several parties, including William Jones (Esq), William Clegram, Sammy Moreland, and John Smart (contractor). The land built on was known as Windmill Field, indicating that there must have once been a mill of some sort in the area. Building control files are scarce for this particular street, but we do know that a plan for eight houses was submitted by J. Simmonds in 1894. These houses still stand together as two terraces of four cottages at the eastern end of the road. Additionally, a semi-detached set of cottages, developed around the same period, stands at the far end of the road. These ten houses are the only remaining original structures after a block of flats called St. Philip's Court was built for elderly residents in the 1980s.

Raikes Road, 1921

Named after Sir Robert Raikes who founded the Sunday School movement in the UK. This narrow street was laid out as part of the Linden Local Authority Housing estate constructed in 1927 by various local builders. Officially named by the City Council on 8th July 1921. 

Ribston Mews 2002-03

Designed by ASTAM, built by Cox Homes. GCC.

Robinson Road

Named after Alderman Robinson. GC 19/06/1880. 

Robinhood Street

Most likely a misspelling for Robinswood, this street was developed off Bristol as a neighbourhood for artisans and port workers operating from Gloucester Docks. Oddly the street does not appear in the local press until 1877 at the earliest. According to property deeds for Nos. 52, 54 and 56, the earliest date of foundation is dated as 1873. 

Seymour Road, 1882

Laid out in 1882, this extremely long street took over 10 years before it was developed into a residential suburb. Looking at the building control files directory it states that the first houses on the road were developed by J. Hancock who built 2 houses in 1894. J. Hancock was one of the main developers of Seymour, others include E. Clutterbuck who built 7 houses and 1 shop in 1894, and R. Young who built 8 houses between 1904-07. It is now a major thoroughfare linking Stroud Road with Tuffley Avenue. According to Darryl Kirby’s Pubs of Gloucester book, the street takes its name from Thomas Seymour’s brother to Jane, the third ill-fated wife of Henry VIII. 

Cavendish Flats, Seymour Road 2003-05

Designed and built by Cavendish Park Builders Ltd. GCC.

St. Paul’s Road, 1882

This street made its first appearance in the newspaper in 1882. From the OS 1879-88 town plans it appears as a dashed highway with no housing on it. Development started in 1888 with the building of 2 houses. In 1889 6 houses were built by William Nicholls (builder). He built several other properties within the street from 1889-97. Other principal developers include Mr. W. Jay and T. Clarke. The street takes its name from the nearby church of St. Paul & St. Stephen. 

Stanley Road (Castle Street) 1877

Originally called Castle Street, Stanley Road started its life in 1877. Why it was called Castle Street before is a mystery, due to being 2 miles away from the original site of Gloucester Castle in the centre. Castle Street only refers to its northern section which was largely developed by Edwin Tanner with the development of 6 houses first on the directory of plans. 22 properties in the street were developed by local builder William Nichols who is responsible for many Gloucester building projects. Development took place between 1877-1935. On the 1879-88 town plan, it shows Castle Street on its own, with little development around it. 

Stroud Road

Taynton Terrace (Nos. 2-12)

Erected in 1877. 

Weston Villas (Nos. 

Erected in 1877.

The Oval, 1921

Officially named by the City Council on 8th July 1921.

Tweenbrook Avenue, 1894

This street was laid out in 1894  as a development off Stroud Road. Like many late Victorian and Edwardian properties, these are red brick and have a distinctive style. The first ten houses were built in 1895  however no developer was provided. The second plan was submitted by Mr H Fry who developed four houses. Further development took place in 1895 by Mr W. Winning. The name of the street refers to a house that stood on the site originally, which took its name from a branch of the Sudbrook called Stils Ditch or “Tweenbrook” which was culverted to help drain the land. 

Weston Road, 1877

This attractive street opposite the park is one of the finest Victorian roads within Gloucester. The trees have now grown up dividing the street from the busy by-pass. This road would have once been parallel to the rail link to the docks, so it would have been very noisy. The street was laid out in 1877 and named the following year. The first two houses were built by Mr. H. Cook. Building continued from 1877 to c1912. The principal developers were Lewis Bros, and Mr. W. Wibby, The name could derive from Weston Super Mare due to its Victorian grandeur and its position opposite the spa now the park. 

Wilton Road

Possibly named after Mr. J. P. Wilton Gloucester's medical officer. GJ 24/03/1877.