Beverley Town Council is asking for residents to suggest names for new streets in the town.
When new housing developments are built, each street needs a name. The bank of potential street names for the Parish of Beverley, which is managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, currently contains only one suggestion – Thomas Davie, who was the long-serving Medical Superintendent of the former Broadgate Mental Hospital from 1927 to 1954.
Beverley Town Council has been asked by East Riding of Yorkshire Council to submit suggestions to the name bank, but it want ideas from residents – it wants to know who and what you would like to see remembered in a street name.
The Mayor of Beverley, Councillor David Boynton, explained the importance of street names connecting with local history:
“Whenever we walk down a street, we are walking through history. Every street name means something and when you look into it, they open up a door to the past. They are named after old trades, nearby buildings or the nature of the area immediately around them. Many are titled after local people who played a role in the community, ensuring their names still live on. Town Councillors think it’s important for residents to have the opportunity to submit their suggestions. Every street name will help to tell future generations the story of our town.”
In Beverley, there are streets both old and new christened after trades, businesses and industries, such as Butcher Row, Ropery Close, Armstrong Way, Hodgson Ave and Old Walkergate, named after the medieval “walkers” who softened and cleaned newly woven cloth.
There are ones connected to nearby locations like Minster Moorgate, North Bar Within, Swinemoor Lane, St Mary’s Terrace, St Nicholas Road, Beckside North and Westwood Road.
Local people are also remembered, such as a residential estate with old family names connected to the Beck area – Holgate Close, Tattersall Drive and Gillyon Close – or late notable dignitaries like (John) Champney Road, (William) Spencer Street and (Eric) Bielby Drive.
The official rules regarding what can be put forward are quite strict, such as preference being given to names which refer to local heritage and landscape features, whilst surnames of people (living or deceased) may be allowed if it can be shown they have or had a connection to the local area where the development is proposed.
If you have a suggestion for the Town Council to consider submitting to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, please send an email or letter with your name and contact details, along with the proposed street name and a short reason explaining why you are submitting it. You can also suggest a proposed suffix to describe the sort of street if you have a specific development in mind (e.g. avenue, drive, road, close, etc.), but this is not essential. Alternatively, complete and submit the electronic form on the Town Council’s webpage for new street names.
More information, including criteria, guidance and the electronic form can be found on: https://www.beverley.gov.uk/street-names/
