Place Name
Most likely named after a former local inventor Ebenezer Ranwell, who owned steam mills at Poplar. Ranwell, who for a time lived at 32 York Square, Commercial Road held various jobs including as clerk to the Hernebay Steam Packet Company. In 1836, he was one of four men who were granted a six month patent for the invention of “certain improvements in the construction of paddles or paddle wheels for propelling of vessels; which improvements are also applicable to the construction of water wheels for mills”. It was not to make their fortune, Ranwell went bankrupt 11 years later. However, in 1849, and now living at Bed Cross Square he had another invention “an improved scale-pan for weighing and discharging coal and other materials”.
