Monument record 10006 - King Street, Chester

King Street was known as ‘Barne lane’ throughout much of the medieval period. First mentioned in 1238 as venella prope grangiam abbatis Cestrie by 1265 it had acquired the name ‘bernelone’. The name suggests the presence of barn or grange belonging to the abbot on or near the street, believed to be at the Crofts (1). On a list of street names produced by Richard Dutton mayor of Chester in 1567 it was still called thus (3). By 1656 it was called King Street.

A short lane, called Ox Lane, lead north from King Street to Water Tower Street against the City Walls and is presently called Pemberton Road. (1)

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol.V(i) (Book). SCH3228.

<2> Mapping Medieval Chester Project, 2011, Digital Archive of Mapping Medieval Chester website (Digital Archive). SCH6761.

<3> Haswell, George. W, 1907, Notes on Chester Street-names past and present (Northern Section) (Article in Journal). SCH5548.

<4> Brown, W, 1907, Notes on Chester Street-names past and present (Article in Journal). SCH5549.