Elizabeth Steynor (formerly Toppin)
I am a transplanted ex-American who has been a writer and editor, both freelance and a in a ‘proper job’ for many years. I have written about a number of different topics from real estate to fashion and finance to Blu-ray manufacturing and online technology.
Along the way I have also written about local history, when I developed a fascination and passion for weird and wonderful London street names and the even weirder and more wonderful stories and people behind them. What started as a hobby took on a life of its own and after time I had compiled enough information to fill a whole book on the subject.
Traditional publishers at the time (nearly two decades ago) did not believe that it was a topic that would interest readers and so I shelved the whole project for a while until the rise of the internet, the blog and the ebook provided what shows every sign of being perfect medium for this book.
I hope that this book will see the light of day some time.
thestreetnames 
Hi, Elizabeth.
I love the etymology of street names, and was interested in your blog.
I was rather struck by the “renaming” of Tooley Street, particularly its timing. I’ve always found it very interesting, the close proximity of Tooley Street to the Globe Theatre. The original Globe was built on Maiden Lane (now Park Street) a few hundred yards Westwards…towards Tooley Street.
Nicholas Tooley was an actor, and executor of Richard Burbage’s will at just about the time of the renaming of the street. Burbage rebuilt and had half-shares in the Globe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Tooley
Tooley was his stage name…his birth name was Wilkinson. I find the synchronicity of his name, given the theatre was yards away from the road, striking. Was Tooley street renamed for the actor…or did the actor take his stage name from the street? Interesting coincidence, either way.
Dear Peter, I’m glad you like my blog and that you share my fascination with the etymology of street names. Thank you also for the interesting information about Nicholas Tooley – I must learn more and add that to the text. All the best.
Hello Elizabeth,
I just discovered your great streetnames blog and have enjoyed exploring it today.
I am researching street names of Westminster in the 1600s-1800s, and I wonder if you can suggest a current-day historian who might help me with a few questions I have.
Thanks in advance.
Thank you for your kind comments. I’m afraid the historians of my research are more historical themselves, so I am not au fait with current historians. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
Hi, again, Al, apologies for the brevity of my last reply. What are you working on? Perhaps we can help each other. If there are any particular street names I can help with, please let me know.
Elizabeth, are you familiar with the book “A Wanderer in London,” by E.V. Lucas (1913)? Starting on page 247 he devotes a few pages to explaining the origin of the names of numerous London streets and neighborhoods. You’d like it.
Thanks for the tip, Al. That’s one I’ve not come across – I’ll see if i can lay my hands on a copy. All the best, Elizabeth
It’s now copyright free, so you can download it here:
https://books.google.com/books?id=psQXAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP6&dq=%E2%80%9CWanderer+in+London%E2%80%9D+by+E.V.+Lucas&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwisnaPn6rPhAhVjuVkKHZuzAGIQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q=%E2%80%9CWanderer%20in%20London%E2%80%9D%20by%20E.V.%20Lucas&f=false
Ooh, thanks, Al – I’m on it! E
Hi Elizabeth. Fascinating to find that we are working on a very similar project (street name histories of London). I have been going down the Amazon self publish route which makes things a lot easier! Not saying I’ve sold any yet though!
It is certainly a fascinating subject – worthy of many books. Good luck with yours!
Hi Elizabeth,
Further to your ‘Horse and Dolphin’ blog – here is an explanation for the derivation of the tavern name.…
Connections between OLD PUB SIGNS, the STARS and the SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC.
Red Lion – Leo
Bull’s Head – Taurus
Golden Fleece – Aries
The Goat Inn – Capricorn
The Bear, The Plough – Ursa Major
The Golden Swan – Cygnus
The Green Dragon – Draco
The Greyhound – Canis Major
Fox and Goose – Vulpecula and Anser
The Punchbowl – Crater
The Angel – Virgo
The Ship – Argo Navis
Robin Hood – Sagittarius (the Archer)
Eagle and Child – Aquila and Antinous
The Horse and Dolphin constellations fit into this category and are located next to each other in the star charts.
See the Equleus and Delphinus star chart (Horse and Dolphin) as depicted by Johannes Hevelius (published 1690)
I’ve found three historical pubs in London with this name:
The first is most likely the one in your blog.
Horse and Dolphin, Maxfield Street, near St. Ann’s, London 1737
Black Horse and Dolphin, Mansfield Street, Soho, London 1765
Dolphin and Horseshoe, Lamb’s Conduit Passage, Red Lion Street, Holborn, London,
England 1765
Looking forward to reading your blog in more detail now that I’ve found it!
Thanks,
Drew
http://PubAstrology.Com
Hi Elizabeth;
Regarding Pinchin Street – It is my name and I was told by family members that Pinchin Street in Whitechapel was named after a great great grandfather who was a doctor who invented a type of penicillin so they named the street after him.
I was also told that we emigrated from France to England at some point so your comment about the name origin is correct.
My grandfather then immigrated to Manitoba Canada in the early 1930s or 1940s.
Hi, Vicki, that’s fascinating. I haven’t ‘met’ anyone else whose family has had a street that I’ve mentioned named after them! Thanks for that piece of information. All the best, Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth, I’m fascinated by your blog and grateful for your research.
Anna-Liza
Hi Elizabeth
Every month on CabbieBlog I featured a piece entitled the ‘London Grill’ which gives the same 10 questions appertaining to London to our guest contributor:
https://cabbieblog.com/2019/12/14/the-london-grill-boris-johnson/
After finding your street names blog I thought that writing for CabbieBlog might interest you.
If you should so choose to participate, contact me, I will, of course, give full attribution, background information and links with the post.
Hi, Gibson Square. I’m so glad to ‘meet’ a reader of my blog. Now that I have discovered yours I shall follow it with interest. Yes, that sounds fun. I’d be delighted to take part. All the best, Elizabeth
That’s great. Please contact me via my blog at:
https://cabbieblog.com/contact/
I’ll reply using my personal email address with all the details.
Dear Elitabeth,
I stumbled over Your very interesting blog while searching about any connections between mermaids and prostitutes. You write that in the 16th century this had been a common naming. Not being a native speaker, could You tell me where to look for some more ethymological evidence? That would be very kind. Thanx,
jan
Dear Jan, thank you for your interest in my blog and your kind remarks. I’m afraid I have no etymological evidence as such, merely historical quotes and references. Here is one example: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/elizabeth-monarchy/sketch-of-mary-queen-of-scots/. Sarah Peverley has written extensively on mermaids and some of her articles and essays can be found here: https://sarahpeverley.com/author/sarahpeverley/. Sorry I can’t be of more help.