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.
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!