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alexkemp's Diary

The Smallest Street in Thorneywood, Nottingham

Posted by alexkemp on 31 December 2016 in English. Last updated on 3 January 2017.

I started mapping in March 2016, and began producing these Diary entries based on the results of some of that mapping shortly after.

An October post got a bit of attention: > The Smallest Street in Porchester Gardens, Nottingham

Afterwards, I realised that there was a street much more local to me that was just as short (The Street With NoName). In fact, in many ways it was even odder:

  1. It had no name
    (noname=yes)
  2. It provides service access for not a single house

Many of these no-name streets provide service access to the rear of some flats or houses, and once a week or so the bin-lorries will make use of it. Not this one. The tarmac is in good condition, but nary a vehicle makes use of it.

I only took some pictures today. I’m recovering from ‘flu and the pics are bad because of it (not very steady, as I was ‘cough, cough, cough’ all the time):

no-name street

Location: Thorneywood, Sneinton, Nottingham, England, NG3 2PB, United Kingdom

Discussion

Comment from Stereo on 1 January 2017 at 17:15

Would any old maps help explain why that street was built? The lower left corner looks like there was something there before.

Comment from alexkemp on 2 January 2017 at 01:28

Hi @Stereo

Yes indeed; something used to be there but is no longer (this is the view from the bottom, looking towards the left, which is East towards Nottingham town centre):-

something removed?

Development in the area has been so extensive that old maps are unlikely to help (although I looked at all that I could find) (none online). Here are some facts to try to help:-

  1. The Street that the no-name street connects to is called Blue Bell Hill Road (BBH)
  2. Houses on BBH were first built about 1880.
  3. As best as I can tell, the BBH Victorian houses were NOT built locally on this side (that entire stretch was empty), but only on the south side of the street.
  4. The nearest Victorian building on this side appears to be St Bartholomew’s Church (built 1894, demolished 1971) and located on what is now Wickens Walk
  5. The current houses on this (north) side were built ~1970 as part of a complete re-development of this part of Nottingham. The greatest majority of the existing housing was demolished at that time, including a very large part of BBH. As it happens, most of the BBH Victorian houses close to no-name street were retained but that was unusual and, in any case, no-name street did not exist in Victorian times.

I’ve lived fairly close to this street since the 1980s and have never heard a whisper of just why this very odd street exists, nor how it has become orphaned in such a way.

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