This is a mighty long post. But I enjoyed working on this for Madras Musings. You can also download all these street names as a pdf from here
Some Chennai Street Names and their History
With the Corporation of Chennai taking a decision that it will rename, after Tamil scholars, all those streets that still sport the names of colonial masters, a whole host of re-christenings is just around the corner. Madras Musings has already highlighted the futility of such an exercise, for street names are hardly the way to commemorate anyone in these modern times. It has also pointed out that those who live on streets that are being renamed will be put to enormous hardships, having to notify various agencies and institutions about change of address. But as all these are likely to fall on deaf ears, especially when populism is likely to receive big dividends, our publication had appealed that before the old names are all changed in one sweep, it would be best to look at what had led to the streets being named after a particular person in the past. In many cases roads and streets were named after obscure Company/Government servants and businessmen to whose properties and garden houses these thoroughfares had once led. But in a few instances, the names so commemorated are still worthy of retention thanks largely to the individual’s service to the city, to the world at large or even, as in the case of FW Ellis, to the cause of Tamil. These, Madras Musings opines, deserve to be retained.
Having said that, we, at Madras Musings. embarked on an exercise of identifying the streets named after Europeans and colonial servants. We used the Eicher City Map of Chennai (2008 edition) as our basis, referring to the index of street and locality names section at the back of the book. In this activity, we decided to concentrate only on those localities that existed in Madras city in 1947, for the Corporation has made it clear that it wants to rename only those streets that commemorate British names. Our boundaries were therefore clear- Tiruvottiyur/Washermanpet/Royapuram in the North, T Nagar/West Mambalam to the West, Adyar to the South and of course, the sea to the East. We have however included Guindy and Saidapet in our listing, as these are old areas, which were however not within the city in 1947.
In our search, we found a few streets in different localities, having the same names. In such cases, we have tried to identify if the streets commemorate the same person or different people. We have therefore given the locality in which the street is to be found, in parenthesis and therefore if a street name is common to various localities, the name will be listed repeatedly, each time with a different locality in brackets. In all, we found that there are 189 roads/streets/localities that still bear colonial names. This does not include roads that have already been renamed (though it must be pointed out that the old names are still in currency). You will thus not find Lloyds Road or Moubrays Road in this list.
This was the easier part of the exercise. The more difficult task was to identify who was being commemorated in each instance. In this task we were greatly helped by Henry Davision Love’s Vestiges of Old Madras (referred to as Love in this article), in which the third volume has a list of some street names with the history behind each one of them. It must be pointed out here that even when Love wrote the book, several names had become obscure and he too had difficulty in definitely attributing a street to a particular individual. Today, it has become an even more speculative exercise. In addition to Love’s work, we referred to J Talboys Wheeler’s Madras In the Olden Time (First Published in 1882, Asian Educational Services reprint 1993, identified here as MIOT), J Chartres Molony’s A Book of South India (First Published in 1926, Methuens Ltd., London, Asian Educational Services reprint 2004, identified here as JCM ), The Madras Tercentenary Commemorative Volume (Aug 4, 1939, Asian Educational Services reprint 1994, identified here as MTV), Southern India, Its History, People, Commerce and Industrial Resources by Somerset Playne (The Foreign & Colonial Compiling & Publishing Co., London, 1914/15, Asian Educational Services reprint 2004, identified here as SI), The High Court of Madras, Centenary Commemoration Volume (1962, identified as HCM). We also found a resource on the internet to be most useful. This is a Madras Notebook of 1833 (identified as MN) which is featured in the web site http://valmayukuk.tripod.com/index.html. This has some names and their places of residence. In some places, we have made our own guesses and these have been marked MM. This list does not include names of street within Fort St George.
Based on these resources, we have put together a list. Against each name we have given the details that have been obtained. We have also given the source in each instance from where we have obtained this information. There are several about whom no details were found and these have been left blank. In particular, we found ourselves at a loss to explain the names of several streets in Perambur. Possibly many of them commemorate officers of the railway workshops going by the few names we were able to identify. We invite readers of Madras Musings to send in any information that they may have on streets where we have drawn a blank. It is also worth pointing out that Chennai is a city with countless streets and maps do have streets without names. These would also be left out here and we request readers to fill us in.
Adams Street (George Town): Possibly after Sir Frederick Adams, Governor of Madras from 1832-1837
Adams Street (Washermanpet)
Adams Street (Mylapore) MM: Love quotes from the 1784 work Genuine Memoirs o Asiaticus whose author Philip Dormer Stanhope writes of having dined in June1775 with Mr Reynold Adams, Free Merchant and by then Master Intendant at Fort St George, who has a “most elegant mansion in the parish of St Thomas” (this being San Thome now.
Adams Street (Triplicane) MTV: Reynold Adams who came in 1764 as a free merchant and later became Master Attendant, owned a house here
Alexander Road (Choolai) :
Anderson Road (Nungambakkam/Egmore) Love: Dr James Anderson, Physician General in 1786. Renowned botanist who had his botanical gardens in the area.
Anderson Street (George Town) Love has it that this street too was named after Dr James Anderson but it is quite likely that it was John Anderson, the Founder of the General Assembly school which later became the Madras Christian College
Anderson Road (Ayanavaram)
Annie Besant Street (Tondiarpet) Freedom fighter, thesophist, women’s rights activist, educationist
Arathoon Road (Royapuram) Old Armenian family of John Arathoon c 1819
Arundale Street (Mylapore) Sir AT Arundale, President, Madras Corporation in the 1890s and the man who ensured VP Hall became a reality
Aspiran Garden Colony (Ayanavaram)
Atkinson Road (Vepery) Love: Is believed to take its name from Edward Atkinson, a civil servant of 1783 and Secretary to the Hospital Board in 1788 who appears to have had a house in this street.
Austin Nagar (Alwarpet)
Baker Street (George Town): From a reading of Love, this street was probaly named after George Baker who owned property in Peddanaickenpet and who first mooted the Seven Wells scheme for water supply to Madras. He was Master Attendant
Bishop Wallers Avenue (Mylapore): Church of South India records: Archbishop Waller of the Diocese of Madras from 1922
Blavatsky Avenue (Adyar): Madame Blavatsky, Founder of the Theosophist Movement
Ballard Street (Perambur):
Balfour Road (Kilpauk) Dr Edward Green Balfour who in the 1840s came to Madras as Surgeon General and founded the Madras Zoo and Museum. He also helped found the Mohammedan Library in Triplicane and helped in making the Nawab’s Madrasa a public school
Bamford Road (Ayanavaram)
Barnaby Road (Kilpauk): Probably Burnaby after Henry Burnaby, partner in the firm of Kindersely, Watts & Co who bought land in the area from one Hall Plumer. This is as interpreted from a reference in Love. But even in 1921 this road had the name Barnaby.
Barton Wright Road (Ayanavaram): William Barton Wright, Locomotive Superintendent of Perambur Loco Works in the 1860s. His son EW Barton Wright was a jujitsu exponent and created a new style – the Bartitsu (Barton Wright’s Jujitsu). Ref: http://www.bartitsu.org
Besant Avenue Road (Adyar) : Named after Annie Besant
Besant Gardens, Theosophical Society: Named after Annie Besant
Besant Road (Triplicane): Named after Annie Besant
Binny Road (off Mount Road) Love: This short thoroughfare connecting the Mount Road with Commander-in-Chief’s Bridge takes its name from John Binny whose residence afterwards became the Imperial Hotel (This is today’s Connemara Hotel). About 1797 John Binny like predecessors of his name (there were at least three Binnys prior to him) entered the Nawab’s service. He founded a firm which was described in 1803 as Binney Dennison and before 1814 as Binny & Co.
Binny Colony (Madhavaram)
Binny Gardens (Pulianthope): Possibly because the Binny mills stood here
Binny Road (Poes Gardens): So named as several bungalows here were residences of Binny Directors.
Bishops Garden (RA Puram)
Blackers Road (Chindadripet):Love: Was probably named after H Blacker who in 1837 owned a house at the junction of that thoroughfare with Mount Road
Branson Garden Street (Kilpauk):
Brethaupt Road (Vepery):Love: Takes its name from Mr Christopher Breithaupt, free merchant who received a grant of five acres in that locality in 1798. In 1816 he was a partner in the firm of Pugh & Breithaupt
Brightons Road (Pulianthope)
Brooks Road (Perambur): MM: Probably after Horatio G Brooks of New York, pioneer locomotive manufacturer who in the 1860s began the Brooks Locomotive Works which supplied locomotives and carriages all over the world.
Burkit Road (T Nagar): Harold Hamilton Burkitt, Assistant Collector & Magistrate of Madras, 1900. (ref: India Office List – 1905, Google Books)
Casa Major Road (Egmore):Love: Existed in 1798. Was probably named after James Henry Casamajor (son of Noah Casamajor) who arrived as a Writer in 1762 and was still serving till 1811. Later members of his family belonging to the Civil Service were John Casamajor, who entered in 1792, James Archibald in 1802 and George James in 1812
Clemens Road (Vepery)
Coats Road (T Nagar): JCM: James R Coats, Engineer of the Corporation of Madras c 1914-1920
Cochranes Basin Road (Basin Bridge): The Hon. Basil Cochrane, the engineer who created the navigable channel between Ennore and Madras. This later became a part of the Buckingham Canal
Collettpet (Tiruvottiyur):Love: Joseph Collet, President of Fort St George 1717-1720
Conran Smith Nagar (Choolai): Conran Smith, first ICS Commissioner of the Madras Corporation Conran Smith Road (Gopalapuram): same as above
Cooks Road (Ayanavaram)
Constable Road (Ayanavaram) SI: Col. WV Constable, Director on the Board of the Madras & South Maratha Railway, circa 1900
Cox Street (Park Town)
D’Monte Colony (Alwarpet): John De Monte – 19th century business magnate and philanthropist of Madras
D’Silva Road (Mylapore): Love: Called so after Francis De Silva, a publican, who in 1798 received a grant of 6 acres in St Thome at Luz.
Dams Road (off Mount Road):
Davidson Street (George Town): Love: Doubtless named after Mr Alexander Davidson, Acting Governor of Fort St George in 1785
DeCaster Main Road (Ayanavaram):
Demellows Road (Ayanavaram):
De Monte Street (San Thome): Probably after John D’Monte (see D’Monte Colony above)
Doomingkuppam (San Thome)
Dooming Street (San Thome):
Duncan Road (Ayanavaram)
Edward Park Road (Choolai)
Eldams Road (Teynampet) Love: Yeldham’s Road: Was laid out before 1816. It is named after Mr Richard Yeldham, a free merchant who in 1801 was the last of a long line of Mayors of Madras. In 1803 he was a Commissioner for the Recovery of Small Debts and Muster Master of the Kings Troops and in 1811 was Treasurer of the Government Bank. He acquired one and a half acres in Teynampet in 1796 and built the residence now called Luz House (this is confusing as the Luz House of today is in Luz and belongs to the Buchi Babu family).
Ellis Road (off Mount Road): FW Ellis – Civil Servant, Orientalist and the man who first propounded a Dravidian origin theory for Tamil
Elphinstone Bridge (Adyar): John, 1st Baron Elphinstone, Governor of Madras between 1837 and 1842
Fisher Road (Perambur):
Flowells Street (Guindy)
Flower Street (Saidapet)
Flowers Road (Kilpauk): Love: Probably named after Mr Austin Flower who was resident of Madras between 1803 and 1822. In 1811 he was Clerk to the Justices and later became also Clerk of the Peace and Collector of Assessment
Foxen Street (Perambur)
Francis Joseph Street (George Town)
Frazer Bridge Road (George Town):Love: Named after John Frazer, Municipal Engineer who planned the waterworks
General Collins Road (Vepery): Love: Derives its name from Edward Collins, who obtained a grant of ground in Vepery in 1803. He entered the army in 1765, became Maj. Gen. thirty years later and died in Vepery in 1808 aged 75.
General Patters Road (Royapettah):Love: Named after John Pater of the Madras Cavalry who was Captain in 1784, became Major General in 1805 and died at Madras a Lieutenant General in 1817.
George Avenue (Poes Gardens)
Gilchrist Avenue (Chetput):MM: Probably the brainchild of Dr S Swaminadhan, the well-known barrister who returned to India after a Glichrist scholarship and built a house here called Gilchrist Gardens
Gills Lane (George Town)
Gills Street (George Town)
Goomes Street (George Town)
Graemes Lane (off Mount Road) Love: Takes it name from Henry Sullivan Graeme, who entered the civil service in 1797 and was a Member of Council for five years from 1823. At that time he owned ‘The Mansion’ to which Graeme’s Road leads from Mount Road. The adjacent property was called Graeme’s Gardens.
Graemes Road (off Mount Road): Same as above
Grays Nagar (Choolai)
Gregory Street (George Town)
Haddows Road (Nungambakkam) Love: Hadows Road: Takes its name from Mr George John Hadow who entered the civil service in 1805 and was Collector of Sea Customs in 1822. A house in that road known as Blenheim which has lately been demolished, is marked Mr GJ Haddow in the map of 1822
Halls Road (Egmore and Kilpauk):Love: Derives its designation from General Hamilton Hall or his widow (Flora Tondeclair). The latter owned two houses in this road in 1837. Hamilton Hall entered the service in 1781, becoming Lt. Col. In 1807, and died at Trichinopoly in 1827 when commanding the southern division of the army.
Harleys Road (Kilpauk): MM: A Harleys House stood on this road till te 1970s. The Madras Chapter of the Round Table was started here.
Harrington Road (Chetput):Love: Takes its name from William Harrington, who in 1784 joined the civil service and in 1796 received a grant of 10 acres to the south of the Spur Tank
Harris Bridge (Chindadripet):Lord Harris, Governor of Madras from 1854-1859
Harris Road (Chindadripet): same as above
Heaton Road (Perambur):
Hopman Street (St Thomas Mount)
Hunters Road (Vepery):Love: Formerly called Hunter Street is named after Mr John Hunter who arrived in Madras as a free merchant in 1787, served as cashier of the Carnatic Bank and about 1795 became Secretary of the British Bank and one of its Directors. In 1796 he received a grant of an acre of land in Vepery and in 1803 was head of the firm of Hunter & Hay, whose offices were in Fort St George. He owned Hunter House in this thoroughfare, a building long since demolished.
Isac Street (Park Town):
Jarretts Garden (Egmore):Love: Thomas Jarrett, a civil servant of the Bencoolen establishment from 1791 was transferred to Madras in 1805. He returned to England in 1823 and died in 1837. The house on the property has been lately demolished.
Jeenis Road (Saidapet): MM: As this area was largely Nawab property, this may commemorate a Mohammedan name such as Junus or Younus.
Jeremiah Road (Vepery)
Jesson Street (Park Town)
Jones Road (Saidapet)
Jones Street (George Town)- Love mentions this as a Mr Jones Street in connection with a dispute between the Company’s officers and the Nawab’s employees regarding a survey on land assessment on this thoroughfare in 1796. But he does not mention who Jones was. There have however been plenty of Joneses in the history of the city.
Kellys Road (Kilpauk)
Kennett Lane (Egmore)
Lafford Street/Lane (Chindadripet)
Lambeth Avenue (RA Puram)
Lamech Avenue (Nungambakkam)
Landons Road (Kilpauk):Love: Landons Gardens takes it name from Mr James Landon, a civil servant of 1778.
Langs Garden Road (Komaliswaranpet):MTV: Gen Ross Lang who defended Vellore in 1775 and later rose to become general of the company’s army.
Lawrence Road (St Thomas Mount):MTV: A garden house at St Thomas Mount belonged to Major Stringer Lawrence
Lettangs Road (Vepery/Purasawalkam)
Lloyds Colony (Royapettah):
Lock Street (Ayanavaram)
Maddox Street (Park Town)
Madley Street (T Nagar): JCM: The Engineer of Madras Corporation who laid the drainage network circa 1914-1925
Molony Road (T Nagar): JCM: J Chartres Molony, President of the Madras Corporation in 1920s. He was one of the prime movers behind the Madras waterworks scheme.
McLean Street (George Town): MM: In Love there is mention of Christopher Macklin, the head bricklayer of Fort St George between 1746 and 1774. In the light of another bricklayer (Stringer) being honoured with a street name, it is likely that Macklin Street became McLean Street.
McNicholls Road (Chetput):Love: This existed in 1798 as an avenued highway. It derives its name from Robert McNichol, who was Assistant Master Attendant between 1811 and 1822.
Menads Street (Puraswalkam):
Millers Road (Puraswalkam/Vepery):
Montieth Road (Egmore):Love: William Montieth entered the Madras Engineers in 1809, became Lt Col in 1826 and Lt Gen in 1854
Moores Road (Egmore/Nungambakkam):Love: One of the earliest roads in Nungambaukum, this communicated with Moore’s Gardens, probably so called after Mr George Moore of the civil service who was Civil Auditor in 1814 and died at Madras in 1834
Morse Road (Ayanavaram)
Murrays Gate Road (Alwarpet):Love: Leading from Moubray’s Road to Dunmore House, is named after the Hon Leveson Granville Keith Murray, son of the 4th Earl of Dunmore who owned the house between 1822 and 1831. Mr Murray entered the civil service in 1793, and in 1822 was Collector of Madras and Member of the Road Committee. He retired in 1831.
Nancy Street (Purasawalkam)
Nimmo Street (Mylapore): Love states that Erskine Nimmo was a Free Merchant who had had thirty years of Indian experience in as early as 1797. He was a firm believer in the power of lotteries and recommended one for funding a native hospital.
New Boag Road (Kannammapet): Sir George T Boag, Census Superintendent in the 1920s, later Chief Secretary to the Government and Governor of Orissa
New Farens Road (Pulianthope): Love: Called after Gen. Farran who owned a house near the present Buckingham Mills. He entered the army in 1788 and became Maj. Gen in 1837.
Noble Street (St Thomas Mount):
Norton Road (Mandaveli):Eardley Norton who owned a vast property here
Old Smith Tank Road (Washermanpet)
Parrys Corner (George Town):The firm of Parry which has stood here for over two centuries
Patullos Road (Royapettah):Love: “Connecting Mount Road with White’s Road, it takes its name from Capt Archibald Erskine Patullo who entered the Madras Cavalry in 1802, became Captain in 1818 and died in 1824 when commanding the Body Guard. In 1822 he owned a house called Hicks Bungalow here which now forms part of the Madras Club premises”. Hicks Bungalow was obviously the house of one Mr Hicks. Today, this is all part of Express Estates.
Peters Road (Royapettah):Love: Captain Thomas Peters of Madras who died in 1798 may have given the thoroughfare its name
Philips Street (George Town):
Phipps Road (Perambur): SI: CE Phipps, Locomotive Superintendent, Perambore Loco Works, circa 1900
Pilkington Road (Perambur):SI: A Pilkington, Dy.Locomotive Superintendent, Perambore Loco Works, circa 1900
Poes Gardens (Poes Gardens): Love: Named after Mr Poe who owned Sudder Gardens in 1822
Poes Road (Teynampet):Love: Named after Mr Poe who owned Sudder Gardens in 1822
Pughs Road (RA Puram): Love: Probably named after Mr Joseph Pugh, owner of Bishops Gardens, Adyar, who in 1816 was head of the firm of Pugh & Breithaupt. Pugh’s Road led from Chamier’s Road to the river and gave access to Pughs Gardens
Pycrofts Street (Royapettah):See Love on Pycrofts Garden Road below. Pycrofts Street leads off from Bharati Salai which was earlier called Pycrofts Road
Pycrofts Garden Road (Nungambakkam):Love: Once the residence of Dr Anderson, it was placed at the disposal of the Government for the use of the College of Fort St George. On the transfer of that establishment to the Old College Building in 1827, it again became a private residence and after occupation by Dr Annesley passed to Sir Thomas Pycroft. The latter entered the civil service in 1829 and was stationed at the Presidency from 1846, becoming a Member of Council in 1862. He gave his name to Pycrofts Road in Triplicane
Queen Victoria Road (Poonamallee): Need we say any more?
Rex Street (Egmore)
Ritchie Street (off Mount Road): HCM: Ritchie was Registrar of the High Court. Love also speaks of a Mr Ritchie who was Marine Surveyor of Fort St George in the 1780s. This was an important position as he was in charge of seeing how the port could be made to receive ships throughout the year.
Ritherdon Road (Vepery)
Robertson Road (Vepery): MM: Love mentions a Rev Andrew Robertson.DELETE THIS LINE. BUT KEEP STREET NAME
Rundalls Road (Vepery):Love: Was formed between 1798 and 1816. Its designation is perhaps due to Col. Charles Rundall, who entered the army in 1800, became Lt. Col, in 1830 and died in Madras the following year. He occupied the post of Military Auditor-Gen in 1822.
Rutland Gate (Nungambakkam)
Samson Road (Ayanavaram)
Sargent Road (Ayanavaram)
Slaterpuram (Mylapore)
Smith Lane & Road (off Mount Road):Love: Gen Smith owned a garden house in this area.
Solomon Street (St Thomas Mount):
Spring Haven Road (Port Trust):Sir Francis Spring, Secretary to the Madras Government’s railway department and later became Chairman of the Madras Port Trust
Stanley Road (Ayanavaram): Probably after Charles Henry Stanley, Supdt. of the Perambore Loco Works in 1907 (source: Institution of Engineers List on the web – http://www.archive.org/stream/listofmembers1907instuoft/listofmembers1907instuoft_djvu.txt
Stephenson Road & Lane (Vyasarpadi): MM:Could this be named after George Stephenson (1781-1848), creator of the first locomotive engine?
Sterling Road (Nungambakkam): Love: Shown as a cart track in 1816 it takes its name from the former owner of an adjacent property, Luke Hauterville Sterling, a subaltern of HM’s 74th Regiment who came to Madras in 1791, exchanged sword for quill and became in 1799 Sealer of the Recorder’s Court. In 1803 he was Sealer of the Supreme Court and Clerk to Sir Thomas Strange. In 1822 he was one of the Sessions Justices.
Strahans Road (Vepery): MN: Major W Strahan lived in Royapettah but JMD Strachan lived in Vepery. Perhaps this road name has changed over the years.
Stringer Street (George Town): Love: Named after James Stringer, who was appointed Master Bricklayer in 1763. He owned a house on this street. He died in 1787 after 24 years of service. His tombstone describes him as Superintendent of Public Buildings, HEICS.
Stringer Road (Vepery)Love opines that it is uncertain if this street is named after the above Stringer or his son. The family owned property here too.
Sullivan Street (Mylapore): Love: Named after Sir Benjamin Sullivan, Advocate-General and afterwards a Judge of the Supreme Court (circa 1798)
Taylors Road (Kilpauk): Love: Laid out between 1798 and 1816 it probably takes its name from James Taylor who received a grant of 11 acres in Chetput in 1800. He entered the civil service in 1795, was Superintendent of the Investment in 1802 and became a Member of the Council in 1828. He retired in 1833.
Teeds Gardens (Perambur)
Thomas Street (Teynampet)
Todhunter Nagar (Saidapet): Sir Charles Todhunter, Member. Governor’s Executive Council, Acting Governor of Madras in 1929, later Secretary to the Maharajah of Mysore and also the founder of the Teacher’s College in Saidapet. The road runs along the walls of the college.
Trevelyan Basin Road (George Town):Sir Charles Trevelyan, Governor of Madras 1859/60
Trevithick Avenue (Perambur): MM: Almost certainly named after Richard Trevithick (1771-1833), pioneering British inventor, whose unnamed locomotive in 1804 made the world’s first train journey in Wales.
Tuckers Lane (George Town):Leads to Tuckers Church
Turnbulls Road (RA Puram): MN: JG Turnbull lived at Adyar
Umpherson Street (George Town): Love: Umpherston Street probably takes its name from Thomas Umpherston a coach builder, who is mentioned in 1792 as a resident of Black Town. In the map of 1837 the street name has degenerated to Humphersons (wonder what Love would say now!)
Waddels Road (Kilpauk): Love: Dare’s Gardens, Kilpauk belonged to Mr Waddell in 1816
Wallace Garden (Nungambakkam):
Wallers Road (Chindadripet): MM: Named after Thomas Parker Waller who owned property here. A part of his land was made over to the church in the 1840s and the Christ Church on Mount Road stands on the land where his livery stables were.
Williams Street (Perambur)
Westcott Road (Royapettah):Love: Derives its name from George Westcott who entered the Civil Service in 1764. He was the son of Foss Westcott, one of the commissioners appointed to receive Madras from the French in 1749. George Westcott was senior member of the Board of Trade. He died at Madras in 1809.
Whannells Road (Kilpauk):Love: Named after Major Peter Whannell whose house stood at the angle between this road and Poonamallee Road. He was Military Auditor-General in 1822, became Major in 1832 and died at Madras in 1854, aged 76.
Wheners Road (Egmore):
Whites Road (Royapettah):Love: Derives its name from Mr JD White who in 1809 built a house which forms the nucleus of the Madras Club.
Woods Road (Royapettah): Love: Derives its name from Mr Edward Wood who entered the civil service in 1800. In 1811 he was Registrar of the Sudder Court and in 1822 when Chief Secretary, owned the house which is now the Castle Hotel.
A great account tracing the history of Madras, and interesting piece of info.
Thanks
You have accomplished a herculean task in researching these road names. I thank you sincerely.
I live in Massachusetts, USA, but much of my life was spent on Harrington Road. My father Rao Bahadur C. J. Paul worked as Secretary to the Govt. in Fort St George,and later as Collector. My childhood, the time when I was a student in Stella Maris College and Presidency College, and the days when I was a wife and mother, were all spent on Harrington Road. So I am sorry to hear the name is going to be changed by those who have no sense of history.
My son emailed me to ask who Harrington was. I did a google search and found your article. Thanks again.
Did your father know one Rao Bahadhur Savsrinatha Pillai, Asst Commissioner of Income Tax in Coimbatore ?
If so contact me at thexty@hahoo.com
Joseph Christie
Outstanding work on our colonial heritage. I still feel renaming these streets to Tamil scholars’ ones isn’t going to make any sense at all. We are just going to end up confusing the auto and taxi guys.
Can someone tell me who were Griffith (T.Nagar, now Maharajapuram Santhanam Rd) and Oliver (Mylapore, now Musiri Subramaniam)?
I believe that there is a Loan Square in Chennnai, named after one of the municipality engineers. Can you tell me any more about him? I think his name should be Samuel Joshua Loan(e)
Hi
Loane square was not included in our list as it has been renamed as Sriramulu Park. But from what I have learnt from the records of the Freemasons (also available on the internet), he was Samuel Joseph Loane and occupied the post of City Municipal Engineer. Loane was responsible for the clearing of Popham’s Market which was extremely unsanitary and could be dispensed with once Moore Market came up. The Park that was built on the site of Popham’s Market became Loane Square.
Regards
Sriram V
Hi Sriram, thanks for your info. Loane was my wife’s Great Grandfather and we are trying to trace his parents. Can you point us in the direction of any sources of this type of information. I look forward to hearing from you,
Regards,
Philip
Hi Philip (and Sriram)
I have just started to put together some family history. I do not have much to go on but my grandmother was Ann Mildred Loane, born in Madras in 1880s. She had a number of children two of whom were called Louisa and Margaret (Samuel Joseph Loane’s wife was called Louisa Margaret). So putting two and two together I think Samuel Joseph Loane could be my great grandfather and I too would be very interested in Srirams answer.
Hi Marilyn
I am Alanah Margaret Fitzpatrick (nee) Loane, grandaughter of Edward John and Rebecca Robertson(nee Mc Cready) Loane, great gd of Samuel Joshua and Louisa Margaret Loane. I am going to Chennai on 14th November hoping to retrace my families footsteps. I would love any assistance you could possibly impart to me. I look forward to a reply.
Dear Alanah
I am sorry that I did not pick up this message sooner but work and life took over. So we are related! I have not done any more research so could not have helped but I do hope your visit went well. Do contact me on my hotmail account oxfordmaz@hotmail.com.
Hi Marilyn, Philip Waddington and Sriram V
I also have great regrets that I did not find that my response was logged earlier. I have sent a long email to oxfordmaz@hotmail.com and am very hopeful that Marilyn is still at the web address. I did indeed visit Loane Square and though it is renamed, I identified it positively by a plaque on the transformer in situ. The wrought iron fencing of the Square is covered by colourbond fencing because a temporary office is set up in the square for a major rail project linking the city with the airport. The fountain is in good condition although dry.
Samuel Joshua and Louisa Margaret Loane (née Matcher/Mature?) had 16 children. Child 7 died in infancy. One of those 16 is a son named Edward John Loane, my grandfather. He married Rebecca Robertson Gordon McCready. They had nine children, of whom my father, Neal Derrick was the youngest. There is one these nine children surviving, Terrance Rory Loane aged 94 years (my uncle).
From an aged copy of a rough family tree, Samuel Loane of Bandon, County Cork, Eire was a Col. Sgt (.) of the Irish Fusillars and he married Lucy Ann Short also of Eire. As per the rough family tree, Samuel and Lucy had two sons Samuel Joshua Loane (Engineer) and Dr Edward John James Loane, (army doctor who is detailed as bachelor.)
The rough family tree has more details of descendants if anyone would like to contact me – alfitz007@gmail.com
I am so thrilled that this is coming together and hope I can help others.
Alanah
Hello again all,
Roberta and I have been trying to trace Sauel Joshua Loane’s family for some time without success. We know that he was a member of the institute of Mechanical Engineers and have his membership details. He had several notable achievements including bridge building but we know little of his family. He had three sons and two daughters. Reynold Joseph,Charles, Patrick, and two un named daughters one at least was a nun. We would be interested to learn Marylin’s sources.
Philip
Hi
Wow much more information than me, but I have only just started…
My mother passed away recently so I have family papers for the Hunt family of West Houghton and Golborne in Lancashire. Listed under marriages is that of my grandfather Robert Hunt to Ann(ie) Mildred Loane of Madras, India. July 13 1904, St Mathias’ Church Vepery, Madras. I did a search on IGI and found her birth/christening record, and her parents are named on that.
I hope I have not confused matters and that this helps.
Marilyn
Another daughter?
Dorothy Matilda Loane Female
Event(s):
Birth:
06 JUN 1894
Christening:
04 JUL 1894 Madras, Tamil Nadu, India
Death:
Burial:
Parents:
Father: Samuel Joshua Loane Family
Mother: Louisa Margaret
hello again, thanks to this site we seem to have identified positively two daughters and one more son of Samuel Joshua Loane being Dorothy, Annie and Edward. There seems to be one small anomily in that Samuel is sometimes Joshua and sometimes Joseph. I think the correct name is Joshua and thatJoseph was a typographical errorin the masonic records. We have his application to join the Institution of Mechanical Engineers where the name is Joshua and signed by S J Loane. We are now seeking another son named Reynold Joseph Loane. Caan anyone help please?
Hi Philip – you may be interested in my reply to Marilyn below.
Best wishes, Patsy – New Zealand
Dear Philip and Roberta. I see from discussion with Patricia, below, that Roberta has an uncle in Newcastle upon Tyne who has an original album which contains photos of our great grandparents (Samual and Louise Loane). Do you think he would be happy to share these photos with my sister and I? I am happy for you to give him my email address (given above in an exchange with Alanah). My sister does not live far from Newcastle upon Tyne. Thank you for considering this. Marilyn and Vivian
Hi there
I don’t really have any more information but… when we were living in Australia in the mid-late sixties my father met with a Loane cousin in Brisbane. I am sorry but I don’t know which of the sons/daughter he was related to. But there is/was definitely relations of Samual Loane in Brisbane…. unless of course that it you!
Hello there. Have just come across this posting having found an entry in the 1911 UK census for a Reynold Joseph LOANE aged 29, living in Northumberland. He is a ‘fitter engineering’ and is listed as born in Bandon, Co Cork, Ireland.
This interests me as I am descended from the Bandon branch of the LOANE family.
I have no other information on Reynold but if you are interested in the LOANE story you may find my website of interest:
http://www.loanegenealogy.webs.com/
Best wishes, Patsy – New Zealand
Hello there. Have just read your info. on Reynold Joseph Loane. He was my grandfather and he lived in Newcastle upon Tyne with my grandmother. He had two children, one was my mother Muriel Loane and the other was Victor Loane my uncle. I have one cousin called Victor also who still lives in Newcastle and whom I am still in contact with.
We are still trying to piece together this big family and my cousin Victor has given me copies of photos. from an original album of some of the family including Samuel Joshua Loane and Louisa Margaret Loane. This album belonged to my grandfather Reyold Joseph Loane. My mother always said that we had relatives in New Zealand and Australia.
Best Wishes
Roberta Joyce Waddington (nee Gill)
Hi there – have just done a search for Reynold Joseph LOANE on Familysearch.org and his military service record apparently gives his birthplace as India. I haven’t found any matching birth record in the Irish BDMs so I wonder how Bandon came into the picture. Are Samuel and Louisa his parents and do you have anything further on them? If you would like to see the information I have gathered over the years my Loane website is: http://www.loanegenealogy.webs.com/index.html
Best wishes, Patsy – New Zealand
Hi plz fight againts govt to with draw the naming convertion. the 52 road names will remain
plzzzzzzzzzz can any one intiate this.
plz avoid the road name change
do somethng ya
Hi there, I was delighted to read this as I am a descendant of TP Waller after whom Waller’s Road in Chennai is named. I didn’t know that and will make a point of going there on my next trip to India.
Hi
There is also a building in his memory on Mount Road. Will try and send you a photograph
Hello Sriramv, thank you for mentioning that. I am assuming you are referring to Christ Church School? You are correct as there is a plaque honouring my GGGG Grandfather who donated the land for the school and church. I visited there some years ago and plan to go again soon when my children are a little older. Warm regards from Perth, W. Australia 🙂
Please advise whether there is still a road named after my Great grandfather Sir Habibullah Mekhri
I guess it is the famous Habibullah Road in T-Nagar, Chennai
My Great Grandfather Samuel Francis Foxen lived in Foxen St. He married in St Andrews Vepery 1865 And died in 1918 buried in Kilpauk.
He Had 2 sons and 2 daughters. He owned proerties no 47 Rangashagia Naidu St. also No 59 Foxen St. It is so interesting as I am trying to get info ,ie Certificates from church records. I recently heard from a visitor to the area that the houses are being demolished to be replaced by flats ,correct?
There are two St.Andrews Church in Vepery. One is Catholic (Kalathiappa Mudali St)and the other CSI (Church of South India) an offshoot of Anglican (Avadhanam Papier Road). Which one is yours? The Foxen street is in Perambur, and I walked through that Road after the Mass in Lourdes’. Is there another Foxen Street.
Ref. Flowers Road
My 3xGGG Austin Flower was appointed acting magistrate in Colombo from 1803 to 1808. He was then sent to Madras and held a number of posts at the Justices of the Peace at the Public Office on the Beach until his death in 1829.
Hi Colin,
just saw your message . Austin Flowers was also a grandfather of mine. His son JJR’s daughter. Ann Marie ,married into the Hornby family.
I you would’nt mind contacting me me as i would like to compare information.
Thank you
Hi Sarah,
Sorry for the delay in replying. If you send me your email address I will forward you my Flower family tree details. I would be interested to learn a bit more about JJR’s family and if you have managed to trace the Flower family further back than 1803.
Regards
Colin
I would like to mention the 2 daughters of Samuel Foxen my GGrandpa of 49 Foxen st.their names Clara Elizabeth married Mr McCoy. Doro Philomina married a Mr Peterson, anyone in Chennai know of this family would be so good to hear from them. Their brothers Arthur Joseph and William Francis.
Hello all
I am on holiday and have happened on your reference to my ancestor Richard Yeldham(full name Richard Moses Yeldham). According to records of British Indian society at that time he was a colourful and extraordinarily well-liked individual. When I return home I will forward you some information on this.
His pre-Indian history is probably indicative of his character. From modest beginnings in the villages near Great Yeldham in Essex, he had by 1793 become a Director of the Bank of England. However in that year he was bankrupted by the cessation of trade with Russia as a result of the French Revolution.So he left England for India as a destitute and probably disgraced individual and thereafter, as you describe, rose yet again to become a man of some note.
My great grandfather, Ling Henry Fisher, was a workshop forman at Perambur Workshops in 1895 (Thackers Indian Directory 1895, p 565) – as was W Heaton. Could those streets have been named after those foremen? Other foremen’s names do not seem to have been given to streets in the area, though. L H Fisher went to India in 1878/9 from Leiston, Suffolk, England. He was an iron moulder by trade and presumably used his skills for the Madras Railway Company for nearly 20 years.
I know nothing about Mr Heaton. Could L H Fisher have contributed enough to the railway community to have a road named after him?
Hi
Many thanks for that most informative email. It puts a lot of things in place. You must be correct for in those days, the Foreman was an important person at the railway works. Is there an online link to Thackers Indian Directory? If so, please do forward it to me.
Thanks and Regards
Sriram V
I’m rather late to this conversation but my great grandfather was William Heaton who was in charge of the Carriage Building at Perambur and became Works manager there. He was working for Madras State Railway from 1878 to 1917. There are stories of him making a carriage for a Maharajah’s elephant. I would be interested in any more information about him. Thank you. Hope the road name isn’t changed, I only just found out about it.
Hello Sriram,
Going on from August post I have lots more info and photos of Samuel Joshua Loane, Municipality Engineer. He had 14 children some who died in infancy!!!
If anyone else is interested can they be put in direct contact with me?
Philip
Hi Philip
I am so happy that you have managed to get some definite information – I had to give up due to work and life but will pick this up again at some stage. However, I would be very grateful for any photos or additonal info you have and if I find anythiing else of interest to you in the family papers I will certainly pass them on.
With kind regards
Marilyn Leeks (nee Hunt)
Kelly’s Road in Kilpauk was apparently named after a Mr Kelly who owned a large property at the beginning of the road where it joins Balfour Road. That property was divided up into four or five plots. Kell’s Road onl had about four or five houses, including Mr Kelly’s, the one that now houses the telephone exchange, and one owned by an old Naidu family. The house that now is the telephone exchange apparently had a wood-floor ballroom in its glory days and there would be grand balls. Heard this story as a child from an old neighbour who had lived on the street since she was a child, in one of the original four or five houses. She is now in her 90s and lives in an apartment on the same road. Also, Kelly’s Lane was created in the 1950s, after the land was bought and plotted.
What was the original name of Nelson Manickam road in Choolai Medu?
How the name nelson manickam to that road?
After Manicka Mudaliar who ran the Nelson Type Foundry from there
it was named after my great grand faster Nelson Manickam. He was a big business magnet running various business like Press, Foundry. etc.
Can you share more details about Nelson Manickam Mudaliar
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can you help me to know the history of perambur barackks road
can you help me to trace the place where burma oil company once stood
There is a street called “DANIEL STREET” in T.Nagar.Can someone tell me whom its named after?…and the history of this street..
Hi
I understand you had called my office regarding the history of this street. I am sorry I have no information at present.
Regards and a Happy New Year
I have Query ..
what will happen to the land document that one are holding …
what will happen to all those thing ..
This is really going to create chaos ..
Nice time to loot public ..
Long live changes good for nothing !!!
Dear Sriram, Could you or someelse reading this let me know the history of the Madras Gunner’s Mess at OTA chennai
Wow! This is very interesting!
Hi, chanced upon this article while researching about Madras for our thesis project… Wondering if you have valuable information to share about the Chetpet PostOffice at Poonamallee that was relocated to Chetpet on Jan 9th, 2016 ..TIA
Sir, can you please tell me about the old name of pallavan salai near Munroe statue and tram pole???
Band practice Road
Sriram, kudos! I was scouring the internet for the history of Chamiers Road and whom its named after, and found this treasure trove instead. It’s also so heartwarming to see descendants connecting through this fascinating post. I just moved to Chennai and am thrilled to learn more about its history.
Hi Marilyn, Philip and Sriram,
Do you have any birth and death dates or place of birth for Rebecca Robertson Gordon Mc Cready Loane please? We went to Pordanore but could not find any record of her death. Uncle Terrance told me of the church in which her funeral was held and they were most obliging but we had no luck. Thanks Alanah
What about Warren Road in Mylapore? Who is it named after?
DD Warren, Commissioner of the Corporation
I was under the strong impression that Anderson Road in Ayanavaram was named after my great grandfather, James Anderson. This James Anderson worked in Mysore Water Works before moving to Chennai.
British General Augustus William Ritherdon 1822 -1888 according to the UK archives was based in Madras. There are other dates mentioned on websites that carry photographs of his daughter, and himself and his daughter in Madras. He also finds mention in The Military Archives.
I went to school on Ritherdon Road in the 1960s. My family on my maternal grandmother’s side is closely associated with the history of this city, and your work has brought back memories of streets and localities my deceased father would refer to in conversation. Thank you for preserving the stories of a city and it’s people that so many of us remember with love.
How about Armenian street, near Parry’s area
Not related, Chennai has lot of street names ending in “appa” for eg Govind Appa, Audi Appa, SadayAppa, any idea what the history behind these is?