Origins Underground Station Names

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

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

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

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

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 contraction of Bayard's Watering Place pond surrounded by bayberry shrubs pond surrounded by bay trees

7. ...Blackfriars ? the friars who had their monastery here were suspected of practising black magic 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

8. ...Covent Garden ? there was a convent here of French nuns 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 ? gate giving access to moorland beyond citywalls gate near residence of a Spanish Moor city-gate amidst the moors 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 ? after a small community of seven nuns name of a pub where seven sisters worked as barmaids almshouse for seven poor sisters hamlet near seven elm trees

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