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The Street Names of Dover - K to M

Kearsney Avenue - Gets it name from the Kearsney Manor, which was formally part of the Barony of Saye being a Knights fee for the guarding of Dover Castle.

Kentucky Walk - Another of the streets on the Buckland Valley named after American States.

Kimberley Terrace - This was the name originally to the 32 houses on the right hand side approaching South Road of Douglas Road. They were built at the turn of the century a year or two before the houses on the other side of the street and were named after the diamond-mining district of South Africa much in the news in those days. 

King Lear’s Way - The association of Shakespeare Cliff and the area with the world’s most famous dramatist is further perpetuated in this name.

Kings Road - Together with Queens Avenue this road was being laid out at the time when King George V. and Queen Mary were celebrating their Silver Jubilee in 1935.

King Street - Kings Lane were terms used in Dover Deeds and charters in the Norman period. The name originated from the fact that from the Conquest and probably earlier the whole of the property thereabouts was held from the King. The adjoining lane now called Fishmongers was called Kings Lane. Before 1829 this street was only a narrow lane, with hardly room for two people to pass on the pavement. 

Kitchener Road - Named after Earl Kitchener of Khartoum whose military success in South Africa were still fresh in memory when this road was laid out.

Knights Way - The Knights of Canterbury Tales.

Ladywell - In this road there was a well “The Well of Our Lady” whose waters were supposed to be very beneficial in cases of sickness and said to work many cures.  It was one of the chief water supplies of the town and pure Ladywell water was often sold in the streets to those who believed in it’s virtue.

Lambton Road - Lambton is the family name of the Earl of Durham whose seat is Lambton Castle but why it should have been used for this street in the Union Road district is not clear.

Last Lane - This Lane has often puzzled people, for is not the last of the lanes leading from Market Square into Snargate Street, but the fact of the matter is that the name should be Lass Lane, for in it was a Public House with an elaborate sign-board called “The Lass” which was taken down about 1776 and this later became the “Criterion Inn.”

Laureston Place - Mrs. Fector, the wife of the much-esteemed banker was a Miss Laurie, of Laureston N.B. and the property belonged to Mr. Fector who gave it the name. In old books of Dover this land is called “Up-Market,” which modern critic suggest meant “Tup Market” or the place where “Tups” (young rams) were sold.

Leighton Road - This road and Millais Road was laid out just before the end of the last century on what was till then Dover cricket field by Mr. W. J. Adcock a well-known local builder who was Mayor of the town in 1885 and again in 1890. Mr. Adcock did a great deal of work on Dover churches.  He carefully restored old St. James Church built St. Bartholomew's Church and helped in the enlargement of Buckland Church. He also built Castlemount and Leyburne House.  The latter was for his own use and here he and Mrs. Adcock entertained the Comte and Comtesse of Paris.  During his Mayoralty he negotiated the purchase of the Danes Recreation Ground.  It may have been his interest in the arts spurred by work on the local churches, which inspired him to name these two streets after famous painters, both of whom died at the time the roads were being built.

Lewisham Road - This highway was not named as might be supposed after the London suburb.  It is another street to which Mr. Fred Lewis gave a corruption of his name.  It will be recalled that we recorded that Halisfredd Terrace was so called by amalgamation of Mr. Lewis’s christian name and that of his daughter Alice.     

Leyburne Road - Named after Roger de Leyburne one of the greatest Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports, whose heart is preserved in a famous heart shrine in Leyburne Church .

Leyburne Terrace - This terrace is another instance of the name of one of our Lord Wardens being called into requisition.  He lived in the reign of Henry III and rejoiced in the name of Roger de Leyburne being a Knight of Leyburne Castle once in the possession of Odo Earl of Kent.

Lime Cottages - This was a row of six cottages on Buckland Terrace with lime trees in front of them.

Limekiln Street - Before the houses were built there were Limekilns at the base of the cliffs and in olden times the sea washed their base.

Liverpool Street - This street was built in 1817 and named after R. B. Jenkinson Esq. who was Governor of Dover Castle and the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports . He was raised to the peerage first with the title of Lord Hawkesbury and then of Lord Liverpool.  His nephew R. H. Jenkinson Esq. was Lieutenant Governor of the Castle afterwards and had the honour of receiving Queen Victoria and her Royal Consort as his guest in 1842.  Before this street was built it was a promenade and called Orange Walk probably given it to celebrate the fact of the Prince of Orange anchoring with his fleet close by in 1688 and perhaps landing and walking here for it is in history that he stayed in Dover one night.  What are now the little back gardens belonging to the houses in Liverpool Street were within the memory of man a little stream which it was supposed added to the safety of the town in case of invasion.  But when there was discussion about it being filled in and one of the party offered to jump it for five shillings it was proved to be no use and promptly filled in.  Near the turning which joins Liverpool Street this stream was bridged over by a few boards for the convenience of the public and called Bunkers or Brungers Bridge whether Bunker was the tradesman who supplied the planks or the workman who put them down, history saith not.

 

London Road - Is another of the many changes of name which, the main street undergoes between the Sea Front and the borough boundary and although it was the main turnpike route to London it was not the ancient outlet to the Metropolis. In ancient times the road from London left the line of the present route at Crabble Hill and entered the town near the old harbour under the Castle.

Longfield Road - There appears to be no other reason for this name than there may in years gone by have been a meadow here under the hills, which was known as the Long Field.  A little further on behind Maxton and Farthingloe the hill is known as Long Hill.

Lorne Road - The Marquis of Lorne was M. P. for Dover from January 1762 until December 1766 when he was raised to the Peerage as Baron Sundridge.  There was a Lorne Villa in London Road some years before the Lorne Road houses were built.

Lower Road - Was probably so-called merely to distinguish it from the London Road Rive, which was often referred to as the Upper Road.

Lowther Road - Parallel with Douglas Road and Wyndham Road this thoroughfare took the name of the Tory Member of Parliament for Thanet

MacDonald Road - Laid out just after the turn of the last century this street was named after a British General who made his name in the Boer War. 

Magdala Road - This road was laid out and built upon very soon after the Abyssinian War when Lord Napier as General had distinguished himself. And it was named in honour of him when he was given the extra title of “Magdala”

Maine Close - Named after another of the United States of America.

Maison Dieu Place - Was no doubt so-called from it’s proximity to the Maison Dieu. When the houses here were built in 1860 Charlton Back Lane had not been re-named Maison Dieu Road so there was then no danger of confusion.

  

Maison Dieu Road This road is built through what used to be Maison Dieu Fields part of the ancient possessions of the Maison Dieu.  Before houses were built there it was known as Charlton Back Lane.

Malmains Road - The Malmains were a well-known Kentish family whose name appears in the old records of many parishes around Dover and further afield.  They possessed many manors in Kent including Waldershare, Alkham, Elvington and Lenacre Court Whitfield.  The original Manor house at Waldershare some distance from the present mansion was known as Malmains.  A member of the family came over with William the Conqueror and his descendent William de Malmains was buried in St. Radigund’s Abbey in 1224.  Other owners of Lenacre Court included the Monins who gave their name to another road in the Maxton district

Malvern Meadow - Until about 1930 this road just outside the borough boundary at Kearsney was considered part of Egerton Road .  When it was named separately it took the name of Malvern House which stood in the woodland there for many years and was for at least 30 years before the First World War conducted as a “school for young gentlemen” by Mr. R. H. Hammond.  Kearsney Sports Ground until recently known as Chitty’s was the boys playing field.  The house is still there but has been renamed “Cotswold”    

Mangers Lane - Several Mangers lived in Dover in the 18th century but whether any of them owning property in the area gave their name to this land and the adjoining Mangers Place is unknown.

Manor Road - Takes its name from Maxton Manor the ownership of which can be traced back to the time of Henry III, when it was held by Sir Stephen Mannequin for Knights service in the defense of Dover Castle. The Manor House set back from the Folkestone Road and occupied in the early part of the 19th century by the Worthington's of Dover was recently demolished.

Mansfield Corner - This is a name which has disappeared in lapse of ages but is one which occurs in old records of Dover and apparently was close to the Churchyard of old St. James Church and therefore near to the site of Eastbrook Gate. In one old record of 1625 mention is made of a watch house to be built here with all speed and the Market Bell to be hung up until the fear of danger shall be past. What this notice means we cannot determine nor do we know who Mansfield was.

Marine Parade Dover

Marine Parade - Every seaside place must necessarily have its walk by the sea and there are therefore many Marine Parades around our coasts. Before this part of Dover was built upon in 1821 it was a dreary looking waste piece of land with nothing but rather tumble down sheds, herring hangs, boat houses, and a whitening manufactory. In this manufactory the grinding of the material was done by large dogs who turned a wheel.

Mariner’s Court - Was a small opening in Commercial Quay when this was lined with properties, which together with those of the seaward side of lower Snargate Street were removed after the First World War.  The name needs no explanation. 

Market Lane - This was in early time’s part of the precincts of the Monastery of St. Martin-le-Grand, which some time after the dissolution became a Market Place.

Market Square - This name needs no explanation for the market is still held there though the days have altered the market days used to be Wednesdays and Saturdays. Until 1860 there was an old building called the Court Hall or Guildhall where all kinds of business was transacted such as is now done at the Maison Dieu.  It consisted of a large room supported on grotesquely carved wooden pillars.  On the front of the building the bye-laws were inscribed and under it were market stalls.  After the Dover Fair was put down in 1874 there were a few extra stalls by the pillars where “Fairings” could be bought. When the fair flourished the booths stretched from Queen Street turning on both sides of the road and also filled the Square.  In 1825 the saving’s Bank was established at the residence of Mr. Baker the secretary and in 1828 the dispensary was in the Square.  In 1858 a Penny Bank was started for the boys and girls who paid their pennies to the managers at the Guildhall.

Market Street - When the town was walled this road formed a connection between the Market Place and St. Martin’s Gate, running under the northern wall of the monastery.  The line of this street has recently been changed by carrying it’s entrance to Cannon Street some yards northward of the old road.  Just off this street old chalk coffins were unearthed in 1892 and again in 1956. 

Markland Road - Until about 1906 this street was called St. Martins Road.  That served well enough while the school was almost the only building there.  But when housing development increased some confusion arose with St. Martin's Hill and St. Martin’s terrace.  A change of name was agreed and the choice fell upon a name associated with the Eaton family who were prominent in Dover in the eighteenth century.   There is in St. Mary’s Church a large memorial to Peter Eaton who died in 1769 erected by Mrs. Hannah Markland his cousin and heir. 

Marlowe Road - Another street in “poets corner” on the Buckland Estate named after the Canterbury dramatist who some claim was really the author of the works attributed to Shakespeare.

Matthew's Place - One of the streets off the north side of Bridge Street rebuilt in the second half of the last century probably took its name from Alfred Matthews who built many of the houses in Godwyne Road and others in the town. He was elected to the Town Council in 1873.

Maxton Road - Takes its name from the Manor of Maxton. In the 13th century the Lord of the Manor was a William Archer the chief of the 21 Dover Master Mariner's who provided the 21 ships for the Kings Service and worked the channel passage.

Melbourne Avenue - This one of the main thoroughfares on the Buckland Valley estate takes its name from the capital of Victoria and gave direct communication with most of the other roads on this estate, which bear Commonwealth names.

Michigan Crescent - Another of the streets on that part of the Buckland Valley estate where the names of states and cities of the United States of America are employed. 

Middle Row - There are three little streets parallel to each other near the South Eastern Railway, and this is the middle one at the end of which stands the Sailors Home founded in 1855 by the Rev. W. Yate, and in it is St. Johns Mariner’s Church erected in 1823 for independents.

Military Hill - This road was made by the military when the fortifications and barracks on the heights were improved and enlarged to lead to the said barracks.

Military Road - Was given its name when opened up about 150 years ago to give access to the new military installations on the Western Heights.  Until then the area was agricultural land with access by a pair of giant gates opposite the end of Worthington Street for the convenience of the farmer who occupied the land and his barn stood in a field above York Terrace.

Mill Lane - The name given to this lane is a very obvious one as it is bounded on one side by a large mill worked by our busy little River Dour.  The mill being the eleventh which is worked by the same stream in it’s three mile course from Watersend to the sea.  This narrow thoroughfare connecting Townwall Street with Fishmongers Lane obtained its name from the old Town Mill recently demolished. 

Minerva Avenue - Minerva was the Roman Goddess of Wisdom, but how she came to give her name to this road is unknown.

Millais Road - Named like Leighton Road by the late Mr. W. J. Adcock after famous painters.  Millais best-known work is probably “Bubbles” made famous by it’s use for advertising soap.

Milton Close - Another of the roads in “poet’s corner” of Buckland Valley estate.

Minnis Lane - Is another of the approaches to River Minnis once common land.

Monin's Road - John Monin's Lieut. Governor of Dover Castle held land in this area after the dissolution of the Priory of St. Martin.  He also obtained the Manor of Charlton. Some of the land in Elms Vale remained in the ownership of the Monin's family until the area was developed at the turn of the century.

Monks Way - Although this off shoot of the old Buckland housing estate was not laid out until the end of the Second World War the association of the estate with the pilgrims was maintained.

Montreal Way - One of the Buckland Valley estates roads named after Canadian cities.

Mount Pleasant - Was the name of the uppermost road between Cowgate Hill and Military Road, it joined the latter to Hartley Street.  Throughout most of it’s life as a thoroughfare surrounded by very modest dwellings the name must have seemed not very appropriate.  But before developments began around here the beginning of the last century there were pleasant walks in this elevated district, which once looked down on the Mount Pleasant Bowling Green where officers of the garrison and local gentlemen enjoyed their sport.  


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