© Copyright Harleston Grapevine 2009

We asked if anyone knew why some of our roads and yards are called what they are.  We had a very detailed reply from Kate Chenneour for which we are very grateful.  We will be including more of the information as and when we have the room.  Thanks, Kate.

Candlers Lane

Candlers Lane was named after Dr Charles Candler around 1891. He lived in the eponymous house at the Redenhall Road end of the lane. He was a doctor (and father of doctors), natural and local historian and all round Victorian 'good egg'.  

Prior to this the lane was called Duke William Lane and, before that, Bunkers Hill.

Yallops Close (formerly Yallops Yard)

Was named, by about 1870, after the Yallop family who had a shop where the Indian restaurant now is and lived in Suffolk House in Yallops Close. They were upholsterers, paper hangers and undertakers, later adding piano, organ and antique furniture restorers and picture framing to the list.  Until around 1850 it was called Pedgrift's Yard.

Old Chapel Yard

The yard off Market Square down the side of Dennys became Chapel Yard after John Vipond built a chapel there in 1861. It had been renamed Vipond's Yard by 1871.  By 1881 the yard had been renamed Abletts Yard after the harness maker on the corner of the yard (where Rich Pickings now is).  By 1891 it was once again Chapel Yard.  We now know it as Old Chapel Yard.

Wilsons Yard

Named after John Wilson who, in 1839, owned the double dwelling (the former Broadway Diner) on the right hand corner of the yard, the first house on the right inside the square and the sheds and buildings behind this.  John Wilson was a baker and his son, Edward was a butcher.  The Wilsons owned the right hand side of the yard and the Hammonds owned the left hand side so it is not surprising that by 1851 the yard was known as Hammonds Yard.  By 1871 it had reverted to Wilsons Yard.

Anna Court

This was named as recently as 1985 after a little girl called Anna who came to live in Harleston in October 1984 but sadly died of leukaemia in December of that year just before her second birthday.  Dr Boyle helped with the naming.