Street names of Bridgwater beginning with the letter K.
Keltings: Wembdon. Modern (1980s? TBC). Built over Mount Radford Orchard and adjoining the site of the medieval Holy Well. Possibly named after Louis Kelting OBE (1903-1978 – see page 3 of the research guide), Engineer to the Drainage Board in the War years and later. The enlargement of the King Sedgemoor Drain as water storage for ROF was nicknamed ‘Kelting’s Cut’.
Keyling’s/Keeling’s Cross: See Cross Rifles
Kendale Road: Named after Bridgwater’s first mayor (1469-1473 – Jarman). This road was laid and built in 1927-8, as part of the Newtown Estate by Pugsley of Bristol (Locke).
Kensington Gardens: Modern Bower estate – date TBC. Named after the part of London, no obvious connection to Bridgwater, presumably the result of the developer seeking a prestigious and marketable name.
Kent Avenue: Part of an old lane, redeveloped in the 1930s. Called ‘Row’s Lane’ on the 1835 Borough Boundary Map. As most new roads on this estate were named for royal titles, this probably refers to Prince George, Duke of Kent, who was given the title in 1934, which may help date the redevelopment. Road appears in the 1939 Town Guide. Housing shown complete on the 1946 RAF survey.
Kerry Close: Post 2006 Stockmoor Estate, date TBC. Probably named after a type of cattle, fitting the Livestock theme of the rest of the estate.
Kestrel Close: Westonzoyland Road Estate, laid out and built between 1967 and 1968 (Town Guide Street Plans). Presumably named after the bird type.
*Kidsbury Road: Medieval Settlement. Council Housing built in about 1927 (Locke) With what is now Victoria Road was called Kidsbury Lane on 1835 Boundary Reform Map (see Kidsbury Road) and Malt Shovel Lane on the 1868 Boundary Reform Map and 1889 OS Map, in reference to the pub (dates). Called Hillgrove Avenue on the 1904 OS Map (see Hillgrove Close). First part of terrace on the north corner with Church Path built by 1888 OS Map. Five more added to that terrace by 1904, now called ‘Newton Terrace’, and central portion of the southern terrace also built. In thirteenth and fourteenth century documents this place was spelled Keordesbury or Kerdesbury, which gives us some idea of its original meaning. The latter part, ‘bury’ is Old English for ‘fortified enclosure’. The first element appears to be an Anglo-Saxon personal name, Keorda or Kerda. So Kidsbury appears to have been Kerda’s fort (Wembdon).
Kilburn Drive: Modern Bower estate – date TBC. Named after the part of London, no obvious connection to Bridgwater, presumably the result of the developer seeking a prestigious and marketable name.
Kiko Drive: Post 2006 Stockmoor Estate, date TBC. Probably named after a type of goat, fitting the Livestock theme for the rest of the estate.
Kimberley Terrace: Follows the route of an old Rhyne, shown on the 1889 OS Map, dividing Castle Fields from the ‘Great Wild Marsh’, upon which this terrace was built. Appear built on the 1904 OS Map. Most likely commemorates the Siege of Kimberly 1889-1900, during the second Boer War.
Kinder Way: Post 2006 Stockmoor Estate, date TBC. Possibly refers to a type of goat, fitting with the Livestock theme of the etate.
King George Avenue: Follows the line of a very old lane, which does not appear named on any map. The housing estate appears in the 1939 Town Guide. Presumably refers to King George VI.
*King Street: Called King Street on the 1888 OS Town Plan. Earliest mention found so far Bridgwater Mercury 15 September 1858. Probably named as a later counterpart to Queen Street (itself named as a counterpart to King Square) as it once included Court Street, opposite (and Called ‘Queen Street’ on the 1888 OS Town Plan). Called Ball’s Lane on the 1810s and 1840s Town Plans. The Balls were an influential Quaker family who built the twelve almshouses there and lived on the corner where the Wesleylan Chapel was built in 1816. Joesph Ball was a tobacconist and small-scale manufacturer. By 1836 ‘Ball’s Lane’ was apparently used by the poorer people of the town, while it was more officially known as Dampiet Street – modern Dampiet Street being called Dampiet Ward. (Metford) The two Dampiets were probably considered the same routeway, akin to Friarn Street.
Kings Road: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. Presumably a reference to the Kings Sedgemoor Drain nearby, otherwise just a generic name. Several roads on this estate take aristocratic or royal designations.
King Square: Once part of the Upper Bailey of Bridgwater Castle. The larger internal gatehouse stood in the south east corner. A small cottage, part of the County Club’s west-most side, seems to have sat just inside the curtain wall and is the oldest building in the square. The square itself was laid out circa 1807, when the south side was built. The east side was begun in 1813. A small section of the north side built in 1850. The king in the name refers to is George III.
Kings Place: Back lane to the 1807 houses of King Square, although older – appears unnamed on the 1777 Anderdon Plan. Mentioned in 1735 as ‘a way allotted and marked out leading from the upper or west end of the said Chandos Street to the passage leading towards the Cross in the market’, which implies it was a new creation at that time. Appears on the 1819 Town Plan. Called ‘Back of Square’ on the 1888 OS Town Plan.
Kings Walk: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. Subsidiary of Kings Road.
Kingfisher Close: Westonzoyland Road Estate, laid out and built between 1961 and 1967 (Town Guide Street Plans). Presumably named after the type of bird.
Kingscliff Terrace: Part of the old routeway south of Bridgwater. Orchard on the 1840s Tithe Apportionment Map. Open field by the time of the 1889 OS Map. Houses built by the 1930 OS map. Kingscliff is a beauty spot to the west of North Petherton.
Kingsdown Close: Modern Bower estate – date TBC. Named after the part of Bristol(?), no obvious connection to Bridgwater, presumably the result of the developer seeking a prestigious and marketable name.
Kiss Arse Causeway: Part of the original Moot’s Lane, the site now under Avalon Road. Unknown significance.
Kitch’s Court: See Jones’ Buildings
Korresia Walk: Post 2006 Willstock Estate, date TBC. Named after a type of plant.
Knightsbridge Way: Modern Bower estate – date TBC. Named after the part of London (along with others on this section of the estate), no obvious connection to Bridgwater, presumably the result of the developer seeking a prestigious and marketable name.
Knight’s Buildings: A small court on the north side of Prickett’s Lane/Market Street, located just to the north behind numbers 34 and 36, which survive. Seem to be shown on the c.1853 Town Plan, and named on the 1889 OS map. Still standing in 1930. Called No.4 Court in the 1937 Whitby Light and Lane Directory. Presumably demolished in the 1980s to make way for the Angel Crescent shopping centre. Presumably named after the builder/owner, the Knight family of Bridgwater being noted brewers at Northgate. Possibly cottages for brewery workers?
Knowle Road: The northern portion meeting Wyndham is shown in the 1939 Town Guide plan: shown under construction on the 1946 RAF aerial photographic survey. Complete by 1953 (BFA: EAW051177). Named as it points towards Knowle on the Polden Hills: the name just means hill (with thanks to David Baker).