There are over three hundred streets in St Albans' east end, from major trunk routes to country lanes, closes and avenues.

Almost all are named in Volume 2 of St Albans' Own East End, and an explanation given about the name's origin, or probable origin.

Just a few have not. If you have some information to add, please email us with your comments and suggestions.

Wormleighton Road

You won't find this on a modern street plate; today it is Gainsborough Avenue; but the 1924 map, drawn before development began, has it labelled Wormleighton, after the Warwickshire estate owned by the Spencer family before the Civil War. Much of its manor building was destroyed by fire, and the family acquired and developed the Althorp estate instead.


Gresford Close

A house was demolished at the Hatfield Road end of Colney Heath Lane to give access to a small estate of homes, completed in 1973. The road is named after E Michael Gresford Jones, Bishop of St Albans between 1950 and 1970. Note: this corrects the definition given in St Albans' Own East End: Insiders.


Haig Close, Wingate Way, Gordon Close, Kitchener Close

A group of roads off Cell Barnes Lane, was built c1976 partly on former allotments, a playing field and the old circus field. In addition twenty-five homes (numbers 53 to 97) built as part of the 1928 Springfield estate, were demolished in 1975. Note: this is in addition to the information given in St Albans' Own East End: Insiders.


Chandlers Road

Update: St Albans' Own East End: Insiders notes a former field called Chandlers Grove Field. The Chandler family held land to the north-east of St Albans, finally selling their interest near Sandridge in the 1970s. The road between Hazelmere Road and The Ridgeway is named in recognition of this farming family.


Cavendish Road

William Cavendish, the Sixth Duke of Devonshire, and one-time President of the (Royal) Horticultural Society, developed one of the country's finest orchid collections. The Cavendish estate, begun in the 1880s was a development by Friederick Sander, "the orchid king"


Shirley Road

This road celebrated a one-time Master of St Albans School. James Shirley was an established seventeenth century playwright and poet, who lived in St Albans during his association with the school.


Oaklands Grange

In a new development on the south side of Sandpit Lane, opposite Barnacres, a group of seven raptors is represented for roads in the residential area. They are:
Harrier End
Osprey Drive
Milvus Road
Kestrel Way
Falcon Way
Eagle Way
Peregrine Way

Gurney Court Road

The link between Gurney Court and Charmouth was established by the land owner and the developing agent. Assuming this to have remained with the Spencer estate until the 1920s the connection with the names chosen was likely to have been with the Spencer family. Allegedly, Charmouth in Devon was a favoured location and the Gurney Court as a favoured hotel there.

This is a frequently repeated account with no alternatives suggested; it is therefore likely to be correct, but I have yet to discover any evidence for this, hence using the term "allegedly".

Charmouth Road

For further information about Charmouth Road please refer to Gurney Court Road.

Beresford Road

In Volume 2 of St Albans' Own East End the sources of most of the road names on the Camp estate were explained. Other roads were named after places in Cambridgeshire associated with the family of the developer Arthur E Ekins. A Cambridgeshire author or an Admiral of the Fleet, both with the name Beresford had been tentatively suggested.

However, a place name is more likely, in common with the other road names (Ely, College, Cambridge, Royston and Sutton). Recent inquiries revealed archaeological research into medieval and post-medieval artefacts at a place known as Beresford, Caldecote in South Cambridgeshire. Unfortunately, the Museum of London Archaeology unit has not published the detailed investigation.

Detail added 28 May 2023.

Kingsbury Gardens

In a new development on the north side of Hatfield Road, occupying the former front field of Beaumont School a group of three roads with a literary theme are:
Austen Way
Bronte Close
Shakespeare Close

Unexplained names

Ashbourne Court
Charlotte Close
Church Croft
Craiglands
Cranbrook Drive
Crosby Close
Eaton Road
Elizabeth Court
Faircross Way
Leave Close
Glenferrie Road
Howard Close
Kensington Close
Merryfields
Sandfield Road

Harpsfield and Airfield Business Park

Albatross Way: after the DH91 Albatross
Aviation Avenue:
almost defines the former function of the current Airfield site.
Barlow Close:
Test pilot Peter Barlow killed on Trident test flight.
Bishop Square: Ronald Bishop, designer of the DH98 Mosquito.
Chipmunk Chase: after the single engine trainer aircraft.
Comet Way: after DH88 Comet Racer; road leads to Comet Hotel and display model of aircraft.
Cunningham Avenue: Chief test pilot at DH.
Derry Leys: John Derry, test pilot, broke the sound barrier.
Devon Mead: after twin engine DH104 Dove (Devon).
Dragon Road: after twin engine DH84 Dragon biplane.
Errington Close: George B S Errington, Chief test pilot for Airspeed.
Fillingham Way: winner King's Cup Air Race; DH test pilot.
Flamingo Close: DH's first all-metal biplane, the Flamingo.
Frobisher Way: DH91 Albatross sold to BOAC who named the first to be delivered Frobisher.
Goldsmith Way: Walter Goldsmith is credited with saving Salisbury Hall and protecting the prototype Mosquito after WW2.
Gypsy Moth Avenue: the single engine biplane, the company's early success product.
Halford Court: Maj Frank B Halford, DH engine designer.
Harpsfield Hall Parade: Nearby was the medieval farm and manor of Harpsfield, whose land was acquired by de Havilland's.
Hearle Way: Francis Hearle was Geoffrey de Havilland's earliest aviator colleague and friend.
Horse Gardens: Airspeed's Horse glider played a key role in the D Day landings.
Jetliner Way: DH106 Comet jet airliner, world's first passenger jet.
Mosquito Way: celebrating the "Wooden Wonder" DH98 Mosquito.
Nimrod Drive: based on the DH106 Comet Jet airliner.
Oxford Place: an Airspeed model Oxford produced in large numbers during WW2.
Parkhouse Court: William Parkhouse was owner of Devon's first airfield and aspired to become a de Havilland dealership.
Queen Bee Street: DH82B Queen Bee was a pilotless version of the Tiger Moth.
Richards Street: Anthony Richards, flight test observer, killed at Farnborough Air Show 1952.
Salisbury Hall Drive: the HQ of the preparatory work on the Mosquito aircraft and its prototype were carried out at the house near London Colney.
Tamblin Way: William Gamblin, wing designer for DH98 Mosquito; Airspeed's chief designer.
The Runway: named, inevitably, after the airfield's runway, even though the road is not on its route.
Tiger Moth Way: DH71 and DH82 Tiger Moth training aircraft
Waight Close: Robert Waight, chief test pilot; killed on test flight above Hatfield 1937.
Walker Grove: Charles C Walker, founder director and Chief Engineer DH.

The newer roads to the north of Hatfield Avenue are named after wild flowers and field plants, all of which excited Geoffrey de Havilland's interest:
Campion Road
Clover Way
Cornflower Way
Daisy Drive
Gorseway
Ivy Walk
Lavender Close
Poppy Walk
Thistle Drive

The Manor estate roads have traditional land- and field-based names related to nearby Astwick Manor:
Astwick Avenue
Broad Acres
Green Lanes
Holme Road
Manor Road


Development and road naming is not yet complete, and certain roadways are privately owned.

Detail added April 2023.

Update November 2024

Pickford Road. For much of its history it has been a private road and in its early days was recalled as being a parking base for vehicles belonging to Pickfords Removals (verification required however).
Sefton Close: probably named after the army horse named Sefton which was critically injured at Hyde Park, London, in a bomb attack in 1982. It is thought the houses in this road were constructed at about the same time.
Luna Place: Luna, meaning moon, and may refer to the half-moon detailing on the roof lines of the buildings. (Verification required).
Bryn Way: a topographical reference of Welsh origin for hill. It is a short road leading from Puddingstone Drive.
College Road. A Giffen and Ekins development, the latter growing up in Cambridgeshire. It refers to the city of colleges, Cambridge.
Wellington Road. One of the Cambridge colleges was Wellington. Another Cambridgeshire referenced road. (Verification required)
Downes Road. Ralph Downes was known to have been a regular judge at the St Albans International Organ Festival.