Stratford Road, West Bridgford

Image: © Kate Jewell Taken: 22 Apr 2009

During the fast growth of Nottingham in the Victorian period pressure was put on the Musters Family, who owned much of the land in West Bridgford, to allow suburban development south of the River Trent. Eventually the Musters sold their land, but they put in place strict planning regulations to the area then known as the West Bridgford Estate. This development was planned over a grid of tree lined streets. The main roads such as Musters Road (see Image) had restrictions on the density of housing and house size. Smaller houses were permitted on side streets, and terraces were erected on roads such as Stratford Road for the servants of the wealthy Nottingham merchants who bought up the larger properties. It is interesting to note that there are no "Streets" in West Bridgford. Originally many roads were name "Street" but this was felt to be too urban by the Victorian "planners". Thus all street names were changed from "Street" to "Road". The one exception is "Village Street" in Edwalton, a village that has been totally absorbed into the town of West Bridgford.

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