Wandering around Mayfair on Monday looking at Christmas decs, I noticed there is a gated cul-de-sac on the western side of Davies Street called Three Kings Yard. How very Christmassy. I mused at why this might have been given this name.
I haven't done a deep dive into the whys and hows, I just did a quick bit of basic googling which says what I sort of expected, that the name probably comes from a pub or inn that was here in the 18th-century. It's Christmas Eve and I'm too lazy right now to double-check through the old directories and maps, but reference to a pub makes sense, as per the one off Clerkenwell Green that used to be fab and quirky but has since been sanitised, and the other one in West Kensington.
It got me wondering about other Nativity-related street names in London...
Mary Street is not far from Angel, Islington, but Joseph Street is in Bow and Jerusalem Passage is in Clerkenwell. Sheep Lane in E8 is miles away from Shepherds Bush and/or Shepherds Market, and you need to go all the way to Enfield to find Donkey Lane. The Three Kings from Leyton Orient might have travelled from Star Street in Paddington to Jesus Green in E2, but they wouldn't find a Pret a Manger there. There are lots of roads beginning with Gold but, unlike Bolton, we don't have a Myrrh Street here and, as for Frankincense, the nearest we have is Frank St in Canning Town.
I'll stop now!
Wishing you health, wealth and happiness for he coming year, Jane
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Thanks, Jane