Time Walk
A Cornish Name in South London
A quiet Kennington side street carries the name of tin-mining towns three counties away. Walking it today, it feels like an ordinary residential run off Kennington Road, its most distinctive survival a trio of old iron bollards at a side junction.
Underneath that quiet surface is a tie to the Duchy of Cornwall, which once owned the manor here as well as land around England's stannary towns. That link gives the street its curious name.
Name Origin
From Kennington Place to the Stannary Towns
The street was not always called Stannary Street. An 1785 survey showed it running north-eastwards from Kennington Road under the name Kennington Place. It was later renamed Stannary Street.
The new name points to Cornwall and Devon's stannary towns — historic centres of the tin trade. Kennington Manor belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall, which also held land around those stannary towns, and that shared ownership is given as the reason for the name.
History
Reaching Out to Radcot Street
The street grew to serve new traffic. In 1868 Kennington Place, as Stannary Street was then known, was extended to meet the newly laid Radcot Street, a change made to ease the passage of traffic coming from Kennington Road.
Today
Iron Survivors at Aulton Place
A small street-level relic still stands at the junction with Aulton Place.
Three cast iron bollards dating from the 19th century mark the corner, listed on Lambeth's Local Heritage List.
On the Map
Stannary Street Then & Now
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Stannary Street?
It is named after the stannary towns of Cornwall and Devon. Kennington Manor belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall, which also owned land around those tin-mining towns.
What is Stannary Street known for?
It is known locally for a trio of 19th-century cast iron bollards still standing at its junction with Aulton Place, listed on Lambeth's Local Heritage List.
What was Stannary Street called before?
It was formerly known as Kennington Place, as shown on an 1785 survey of the area.