RAINVILLE ROAD

THIS edited re-run (with re-done pictures) is linked to SIGNS SIGNS. We were lucky to spend Spring in London five years ago.  

While we were there, our son Geoff wrote that he had come across a reference to a Rainville Road in London.  The rest of this post is what I wrote in our original blog, while we were there.

 

 
 As he said, what are the odds?  Our last name's unusual enough that we were intrigued.  (Maybe if it was Smith or Jones, we wouldn't have immediately planned to go there.)   It turned out that Rainville Road is located in a very pretty part of West London in the borough of Hammersmith/Fulham.  We had another place we wanted to visit in the area of King's Cross, which was the nearest tube stop, so it made a great daytrip.

 

And, wow!  "Our" street runs parallel to, and just a building's width away from, The River Thames --  it's east, across the river, from the new Chelsea Stadium.  It's a mixed use street, starting with some stores, a couple of good restaurants and a pub, and a nicely located architectural office.  There's a block of flats -- Rainville Court -- that have views of the river on the back side.   We walked through a little alley pointing to Dorset Wharf to get to the River Side of the street.   

Sure wish we had more information on the  history of the road's name -- we haven't yet been able to find out anything more about it.  Maybe if we have time, we'll go back to the Borough and see what we can learn.

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Added note, 2012:  We never did have time look up any further information while we were there....  And when we got back from England we started this blog and did more traveling and .......... but someday maybe ...... 

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Here are comments from two of our sons on the original post:

Right after I suggested going there I started getting worried it was in a really bad part of London. So huge sigh of relief. If you go back, knick the sign for me.Posted by: Geoff | July 08, 2007 at 09:31 PM 

 

I bet Rainville Road comes from the time of William the Conqueror.It would make sense, we are from Normandy. As a matter of fact the largest Cemetery from D-Day, mainly Canadian and British Dead is called the Cemenar-de-Rainville.(Or however you spell it in French).Posted by: Pete | July 25, 2007 at 12:39 AM
 

 

 

 

Comments

[Michael Rainville]

I recently went to a small village in Normandy called Touque. It is where my family left in 1655 to go to New France (Canada). Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. My last name is Rainville!

[Hildred]

I had a grandfather who was born in Hammersmith and we visited the library there and in Twickenham researching genealogy. Didn't see Rainville Road though - my mother lived on Luther Road in Teddington.

[Annie]

Very interesting post. When I saw your name at the first time I thought it was a French one. I just have a look on genealogical French sites : several villages have "Rainville" for name : one on east part of France (Lorraine) one in west part (Normandie). A few people too have Rainville for name.

[Rambling Woods]

I would love to know why as I am working on our family history...Michelle

[Geoff Rainville]

I forgot about Rainville Road when we were in London. Oh well,a good excuse to return.

Did you know there is also one in Tarpon Springs? I think that's just a bit north of where you live now. It's possible that the road signs there might be a bit easier to steal (hint).

[Reader Wil]

Interesting! Some signs are very intriguing! Thanks for your visit and comment.

[Hootin' Anni]

Amazing....that's just amazing to have the name like that. Oh and I skimmed through your blog posts, and LOVE the wood storks and the sweet, sweet looking heron. Awesome blog you've got going here.

[Lesley]

That is really exciting in a way that only one with an unusual name can appreciate!

[Rita aka Cashjocky]

How exciting this adventure must have been. The Old Salt is always talking about going to visit a town in England that bares our name. He believes it is where is family is descended from.

To walk in a land so old and be able to know that your forebears may have walk that same path. How wonderful.

[Gattina]

I am so happy to go back to London on June 11, we booked for the musical "Ghost" combined with a hotel stay. The Eurostar train just arrives in St. Pancras besides King's Cross station.

[Linda]

I so enjoy your posts! Everyday I come here I learn something new and original! Thank you so much for posting!!!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

[Lady Fi]

What a great find. I love unusual names.

[Carver]

I find it so interesting that you were able to visit this street and it does make it more so since your name isn't Smith or Jones etc.

[Stewart M - Australia]

Hi there - street names are fun like that!

Here is a story about my family name:

My family name is Monckton. My mum and dad spent the first night of their honeymoon in a hotel in a village called "Monkton Combe". When they signed in as Mr and Mrs Monckton, the person on reception looked my dad up and down, looked at mum who was 15 years younger than my father, winked and said "That’s not very original sir!". I would love to know what he said in return, but he never would say!

Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

[Nancy]

How interesting! Great to get a photo of the sign. :)

[J Bar]

Great signs.

[Lindy MacDuff]

How cool is that?! I like your photo collage.

[Luna Miranda]

what a cool find! i hope to visit the cities in Spain where my last name come from.:p

[TexWisGirl]

pretty cool to find the family surname! :)

[Emille]

Looking at how meaningful your trip to London was, you just have to travel more, Sallie!! It's addicting isn't it? To find your name is another country is mind blowing!

[dianne]

I love the photo collage on brick
really stands out

how cool that your road runs near the river :)

[Al]

How awesome to have a street named after you :)

[Pam]

You and Bill must have been pleasantly surprised to see your name on a street sign so far form home.
My nephew lives on East Street which I thought was pretty cool too.

[Ed]

Very cool, I've been lucky to have been to Prescott Arizona, Prescott Arkansas and Prescott Iowa..:-))

[Halcyon]

It's always cool to find "your" sign. I've found a tavern named for my family in London. You can bet I got a picture of it. :)

[Pat]

We found a rode named after our last name; turns out Jim's cousin started the sub-division. So I guess that doesn't count! Yours is a much cooler story!!

[Colin Huggins]

Hi Sallie and Bill

Where there is wikipedia there is a way.
Here is the cemetery that your son refers to:

http://battlefieldsww2.50megs.com/ranville_war_cemetery.htm

My brother and his wife presently touring ruins in Sicily will after they complete Italy, and then magnificent Salzburg in Austria are headed for Paris and then the French Provences and will be doing a final hired car trip before returning home (Gold Coast. Australia) of the Normandy WW2 battlefields and cemeteries. I shall e-mail them and see if this one can to be added.
A very interesting post indeed.
Cheers
Colin (Brisbane.Australia)

[Nick]

Always a surprise to find one's surname emblazoned in public streets like that, Sallie. Nice captures.

[Ewok]

very interesting. what a nice find. you'll always remember this street.

[RedPat]

What a great treat to find a street with your name! There is a Patricia Ave here and it always gives me a lift when I go by.

[Gemma Wiseman]

An interesting way to trace family history via a road sign! Amazing that you found this!

[VioletSky]

whew, what a relief that your road has stood up well. it would be a little sad to be associated with something seedy. interesting, but sad.