Castelnau, London facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castelnau |
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 Castelnau, approaching Hammersmith Bridge |
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 Castelnau
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| OS grid reference | TQ226776 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SW13 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Castelnau is a well-known road in Barnes, a part of south west London. It's located in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, about 5.1 kilometers (3.2 miles) west of Charing Cross. The road runs along the south side of the River Thames.
Castelnau is about 1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles) long. It's the main road leading south from Hammersmith Bridge and is part of the A306 road. The area around the road is also often called Castelnau. It connects with Church Road at its southern end. Church Road then goes west towards Barnes Green and meets Barnes High Street. In 1977, the Castelnau area was recognized as a special "conservation area" to protect its unique character.
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What Does Castelnau Mean?
The name Castelnau comes from a place in France called Castelnau-Valence. This town is near Nîmes. The story behind the name goes back to 1691. A French nobleman, the 10th Baron of Castelnau and St Croix, was a Huguenot. Huguenots were French Protestants who faced unfair treatment. He had to leave France and came to England.
His son, Charles Boileau, settled in north Barnes. His family then helped to build up parts of the area. The word "Castelnau" itself means "new castle" in the Occitan language. This is a language spoken in some parts of southern France.
How Castelnau Grew Over Time
Castelnau really started to grow after Hammersmith Bridge opened in 1827. This bridge made it much easier to travel to and from the area.
Major Charles Lestock Boileau was a key person in Castelnau's development. In 1842, he built Castelnau Villas. These beautiful homes were designed by an architect named William Laxton. Today, these villas are known as 84–122 and 91–125 Castelnau. After building the villas, Major Boileau also added rows of smaller homes. These were called Castelnau Row, Castelnau Place, and Gothic Cottages. The road was originally named Upper Bridge Road. But after Major Boileau passed away in 1889, it was renamed Castelnau in his honor.
The Castelnau Estate
In 1926, the London County Council (LCC) built a large housing area called Castelnau Estate. This estate had 640 houses and was built on land that used to be a market garden. The LCC built these "cottage estates" to provide good quality homes for many families.
In 1971, the ownership of these homes was transferred to the Richmond upon Thames Council. Today, many of these houses are owned by private individuals. The streets within this estate have interesting names. They are named after important religious leaders, called Deans, from St. Paul's in London. These Deans were also "Lords of the manor" of Barnes between the 14th and 17th centuries. Some of these street names include Everdon, Kilmington, Alderbury, Kentwode, Howsman, and Stillingfleet.
Important Buildings in Castelnau
Castelnau is famous for its beautiful buildings. There are 20 pairs of special classical villas. These homes, found at 91-125 Castelnau, were built in 1842 by Major Boileau. They are considered so important that they are "Grade II listed." This means they are protected buildings because of their historical and architectural value.
There are also two churches in the area:
Images for kids
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Castelnau, approaching Hammersmith Bridge
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Castelnau Estate, Barnes
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Classical housing in Castelnau
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Holy Trinity Church Barnes
