Origins Underground Station Names

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. What does the name Charing Cross come from ? originally Sharing Cross :crossroads where beggars happened to meet and share their food from Shearer's Cross; a sheep-shearer was murdered here old pub name the Chair and Cross a funeral cross from the burial cortege of Queen Eleanor

2. What is the origin of the name Angel for a tube station between Old Street and King's Cross? originally Angela's Place there was an angel statue here originally Angles' farm pub of that name

3. ...Arsenal? there once was an Arsenal here the Gunners have their stadium near here after a pub of that name misreading of Aaron's Hall

4. ...Barbican ? from a Latin word for watch tower from Barbed Camp from Barbie's Can after a little river the Barbecan

5. ...Highgate ? after a toll-gate on a high point near London from Hi - gate where people met each other and said Hello from eye-gate, an observation post originally Higgin's Gate

6. ...Bayswater ? river with bay-coloured water pond surrounded by bay trees pond surrounded by bayberry shrubs contraction of Bayard's Watering Place

7. ...Blackfriars ? after a Franciscan monastery near here after the pub of that name in early middle-ages there was a little colony of Ethiopian monks here the friars who had their monastery here were suspected of practising black magic

8. ...Covent Garden ? originally Sir John Convent 's Garden Westminster Abbey had its flower- and kitchen-garden here from Covenant Garden after a covenant between City Authorities and local citizens there was a convent here of French nuns

9. ...Gloucester Road ? the road to Gloucester passed here after a pub the Gloucester Rooster Mary the Duchess of Gloucester had her residence near here after a pub the Gloucester Roper

10. ...Hampstead ( recorded as Ham-Sted in Domesday book) ? it simply means 'home-place' or 'home-site' there was a butcher here who specialised in cured hams and sausages John Hampden's House there was a pig farm famous for the quality of its pigs

11. ...Holborn ? from Holt-born ,river running through a wood from Old-born, the Old River 'born' or river passing through a hollow valley from Cold-born, the Cold-stream

12. ...Hyde Park Corner ? children used to play HIDE and seek here hides or skins were sold here after a land measure: a hide of land was 120 acres after Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

13. ...Holland Park ? after John Holland originally Hollander Park after the Dutch Family de Hollander ,ancestors of Xaviera de Hollander because the Dutch Embassy was here originally after the Earl of Holland who had a house here

14. ...Knightsbridge ? originally bridge for use at night bridge on which two knights fought a duel residence of Sir Harold Knight bridge under control of knights

15. ...Lancaster Gate ? tollgate on road to Lancaster gate on plot of land owned by the Duke of Lancaster name given because Queen Victoria lived here when she was still just the Duchess of Lancaster the Lancaster Arms pub was here

16. ...Maida Vale ? from Mayday Vale from Maydew Vale, because of the idyllic scenery originally Maiden Vale after a victorious battle in Calabria

17. ...Moorgate ? city-gate amidst the moors gate giving access to moorland beyond citywalls gate near residence of a Spanish Moor gate near Peter Moore's estate

18. ...Notting Hill ? from Knocking Hill where fistfights were frequent tautology because Old English cnotting means hill too because on windy days this wooded hilltop suggested a nodding head simply a hill where nothing grows

19. ...Seven Sisters ? name of a pub where seven sisters worked as barmaids after a small community of seven nuns hamlet near seven elm trees almshouse for seven poor sisters

20. Which of these 4 explanations for the name ALDGATE is the only one which has NOT been proposed by scholars? gate of the aldermen old-gate ale-gate gate for all