My pal Brian Cowan has just told me that Rue David Bowie is being inaugurated in Paris today, a day which also marks Bowie's 77th birthday.
This reminded my of my favourite amusing street name, which I stumbled upon during my first honeymoon, near Longchamps in Paris in the early eighties.
Avenue Gordon Bennett
The street was named after James Gordon Bennett:
'James Gordon Bennett: The Eccentric Millionaire
Known as the first true playboy, the eccentric James Gordon Bennett was born in 1841 to an Irish mother and a Scottish father. His father owned the New York Herald Tribune newspaper. James, with his parents’ consent moved to Paris to head up the company’s European newspaper office. While there he promoted the Tribune by sponsoring a range of sporting events and exhibitions. In 1900 he sponsored the first ever international motoring competition for “The Gordon Bennett Cup”. It was intended to be a competition between national automobile clubs, or nations, and not individuals. The event was conceived as the equivalent of the yachting America’s Cup, which by pitting nations against each other in competition would stimulate and test new automobile technology. Interestingly, it is understood that he did not drive a car and never attended any of the Gordon Bennett Races. He died aged 77, virtually bankrupt, having spent an estimated $40 million during his lifetime.'
Sounds like he lived quite a life.
Anyone else have a favourite amusing street name?
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Comments
Bellenden Road, SE15
Clitterhouse Road, NW2
Beaver Close, SE20
Helmet Row, EC1
Gropecunt Lane (lots of places in London and elsewhere)
Bell End (Wollaston, Northants)
Evidently it genuinely has no name!
Crazy lane in Sedlescombe
Apologies, you're correct.
@clb74 lives there now I'm told.
How about....
This always makes me smile when I'm in Sweden, you're used to this by now I imagine.