Place name
Takes it name from the Huntingdonshire area of Cambridgeshire, the home of Charlotte Matilda Greene, wife of landowner George Thornhill who she married on June 22, 1809. Listed as Emingeforde in the Domesday Book of 1066, the name Hemingford means the ford of the people of Hemma or Hemmi, where Hemma is believed to be the name of a Saxon chief. Thornhill was a landowner, lawyer and Conservative Member of Parliament who first proposed developing the fields around Islington for housing. He was the only son of another George Thornhill, of Diddington Hall, Huntingdonshire, (since demolished). The family owned vast tracts of land in Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire as well as in Islington. In 1808 George Thornhill senior proposed developing the family’s fields which had been previously used for dairy cattle. But was thwarted in his plans after a disagreement with a neighbouring landowner and negotiations with other developments, including the future Caledonian Road and Regents Canal, no buildings were completed. Work eventually got underway in 1813 when he appointed Joseph Kay as surveyor, who had perviously developed the Foundling Estate in Bloomsbury. When his father died in 1827, George junior continued the work choosing street names after family connections. Thornhill Square was begun sometime around 1847 with a Mr GSS Williams building 33 houses on the west, the central gardens having railings dating from about 1852. Thornhill Crescent was begun by Samuel Pocock in 1849. In 1836 Thornhill became High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire and the following year he was elected to Parliament for the Huntingdonshire constituency, holding the seat until his death. The road was laid out in 1845. Before 1863 there were also Hemingford Place, Hemingford Terrace East and also Hemingford Terrace West, Hemingford Villas, Hemingford Cottages and Hemingford Road. Thornhill Terrace built in 1846 became by 1863 93 – 145 Hemingford Road. It was re-numbered after 1863.
