Street names of Bridgwater beginning with the letter R.
Raglan Close: (modern development, date TBC) One of a series of roads in a new estate to be named after historic palaces, although this is a castle in Wales.
Raleigh Close: Still open fields in 1953 (BFA: EAW051177) Shown on the 1967 Town Guide Plan. Presumably named after Sir Walter Raleigh.
Rambler Way: Modern NDR development, complete by 2006. Of of a group of names celebrating local carnival clubs. Ramblers Carnival Club was founded in 1961.
Ravello Mews: NDR development, under construction in 2006. One of a series of names taken from places in Italy.
Reedmoor Gardens: NDR development, complete by 2006. Named after the moorland (marshes) this road is built over. The name means either the red moor or the moor with lots of reeds. Noted as both ‘Red Moor’ and ‘Reed Moor’ on the 1840s Tithe Apportionment Map, Reed-moor on the 1889 OS map.
Redgate Street: Named after Redgate House. The house was occupied in the 1860’s by Mr Bennett, a local cattle dealer (Squibbs No 168). In turn named after a red gate/because it had a red gate. Previously called Wellington Place, presumably after the victor of Waterloo. Wellington Place is mentioned by 1873 (Somerset Heritage Centre DD/SC/G1393/53)
Reed Close: Part of the Wills Road ‘Quantock View’ Estate, which was being built from at least 1986 onwards (see Wills Road). Most of the streets on this development were named after Bridgwater worthies. Presumably named after notable Town Clerk Paul Octavious Haythorne Reed. Reed had lived at nearby Hamp House. Or Frederick John Reed, Mayor of Bridgwater in 1934, 1935 and 1936 (with thanks to Laura Bailey).
Regal Walk: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. Little apparent significance: just a pleasing name to sound grand. Built over a field called Lower Blind Yeo (TAM), suggesting that this was the site of a silted up tributary or course of the Parrett – Yeo being a common river name, blind meaning it came to a dead end.
Regent Way: Part of the Wills Road ‘Quantock View’ Estate, which was being built from at least 1986 onwards (see Wills Road). Name of unknown significance. Given nearby Buckinham Close, this may be a link to George IV, Prince Regent, although that has no association with Bridgwater.
Regents Court: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. Little apparent significance: just a pleasing name to sound grand. Built over a field called Lower Blind Yeo (TAM), suggesting that this was the site of a silted up tributary or course of the Parrett – Yeo being a common river name, blind meaning it came to a dead end.
Rhondda Place: A small court off of Market Street, at the end of Theatre Place. Appears on the 1888 OS Town Plan, name of unclear significance, but presumably relating to the place in Wales. Presumably demolished in the 1960s to create a car park, then in turn redeveloped for Angel Place.
Rhode Lane: A very ancient lane leading to the settlement of Rhode. Spelled ‘Road’ on the 1888 OS maps. The name probably refers to the Old English ‘Rod’ meaning ‘clearing’, suggesting this area was once wooded (Ekwall). Council Housing Scheme c.1929, Samson & Colthurst architects (Gibson A\CMY/157). Called ‘West Road’ on the 1835 Borough Boundary Map. Called ‘Hamp Road’ in the 1891 census.
Rhyne Bridge: Literally the location where a bridge crosses a rhyne, rhyne being a local word for a man-made drainage channel (never ‘water-filled-ditch’). The Rhyne is question is the Srockmoor Rhyne, which was crossed at this point by the main route to North Petherton. Housing appears to have been built here by the 1946 RAF photographic survey.
Rich’s Court: a court on the north side of Eastover, somewhere to the east of Bath Terrace and east of the Devonshire Arms pub, but west of the Sloop Inn. Mentioned in the 1891 census
Richmond Close: Modern development, date TBC. Name of unknown significance. Adjoined a field to the east of former clay puts of the Saltland Brick and Tile Works.
Ringwood Road: Called Ringwood Close on the 1974 Town Guide plan, when it was newly built. Site of an orchard on the 1940s Tithe Apportionment Map, part of the property of Hamp House. Name of unknown significance, presumably chosen as it sounds pleasant.
Risedale Close: Wembdon. Built by 1972 (Town Guide, 1972). Other names in this development had Cumbrian or north western origins, such as Brantwood and Grasmere (both Cumbria), Silverdale (Lancashire). Unclear relationship to Wembdon.
Risemoor Road: Shown newly built on the 1974 Town Guide plan. Risemoor is the name of the floodplain between Bridgwater and Hamp, bounded by the Durleigh and Hamp Brooks. The name probably means the moor (or marsh) covered in brushwood (probably brambles bushes) (Ekwall).
River Drive: See West Quay
Riverside: Extension of the 1930s Riverview development. Appears on the 1939 Town Guide Plan.
Riverview Terrace: Incorporates River View and Riverview Terrace. The south portion, started by the time of the 1930s OS Map, occupies the site of Nation’s ship building yard, while north, complete by the time of the 1946 RAF survey, was the site of a birckyard in the 1840s (TAM), although open fields by 1889.
Roberta Walk: Post 2006 Willstock Estate, date TBC. Name of unclear significance.
Roberts’ Court: See Anstice Place.
Robins Drive: Castlefields Industrial Estate. Modern. Name of unknown significance. Site of a football ground on the 1946 RAF photographic survey. Part of Great Castle Field in the 1840s (TAM).
Robinson’s Buildings: a small court somewhere behind the Volunteer Arms in Union Street, mentioned in the 1881 census.
Roe Close: Westonzoyland Road Estate, not yet built in 1968, but presumably very soon after (Town Guide, 1968). Partially built over part of Dunwear Farm. Name of unknown significance, presumably after the type of deer.
Roman Lane: A very ancient trackway, which connected Haygrove to Durleigh, although it seems to have diminished to a footpath over the nineteenth century. The tarmacked portion is shown on the 1967 Town Guide Plan. Name of unknown significance, presumably thought to be a roman feature, which is certainly possible, although not a ‘Roman’ road in the classical sense.
Romney Road: Post 2006 Stockmoor Estate, date TBC. Name of unclear significance.
Rope Walk: Road appears, unnamed on the 1961 Town Guide Plan. Named on the 1963 Town Guide Plan. Now lost to the c.2003/4 supermaket development. Occupied part of the site of Waddon’s Rope Walk, which extended from Church Street to near the Clink.
Roper’s Lane: See Albert Street
Rosa Way: Post 2006 Willstock Estate, date TBC. Name of unclear significance. Built over a field called ‘Long Rap’ (TAM).
Rosary Drive: Part of the cooperative housing state: built between the 1972 and 1974 Town Guide plans. Takes its name from the Roman Catholic Rosary Convent/Nursing Home, over which grounds this road was built. The rosary is an important part of Roman Catholic prayer.
Rosebery Avenue: Built between the 1889 and 1904 OS maps. The lower part of Bailey Street was once called ‘Upper Rosebery Avenue’. Presumably named after the liberal Prime Minister Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. It is not clear by such a figure would be so honoured, as his ministry was largely a failure, although liberal members of the Town Council may have pushed for this. An early picture c.1904, appears in Fitzhough and Loudon, Bygone Bridgwater, p.21.
Rosevean Close: (modern development – date TBC?) One of a group of names remembering Bridgwater ships, including Irene, Severn and Petrel. The Rosevean, a schooner, was built in 1846 and survived until 1906 when it was hulked on the banks of the Parrett. It was mentioned in James Joyce’s Ulysees (Reference Index p.35). Rosevean is a rock off the Scillys, and a Cornish Hamlet, so the ship was presumably named after one of these. Built over fields called Pill’s or Poll’s Door on the Tithe Apportionment Map.
Royal Drive: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. Little apparent significance: just a pleasing name to sound grand.
Ruborough Road: Westonzoyland Road Estate, east portion laid out and built between 1961 and 1967 (Town Guide Street Plans). West portion added by 1968. Presumably named after the Hillfort on the Quantocks.
Ruby Drive: Modern Little Sydenham Estate, post 2006 – date TBC. A number of roads on this estate are named after pretty stone types. Built over a field called Lower Blind Yeo (TAM), suggesting that this was the site of a silted up tributary or course of the Parrett – Yeo being a common river name, blind meaning it came to a dead end.
Russell Place: The Docks. This row of cottages appear on the 1835 Borough Boundary Map, and so predate the Docks of c.1840. Unclear who this was named after.
Ryland Walk: Post 2006 Stockmoor Estate, date TBC. Name of unclear significance.