Place Name
Daniel Defoe (1660 – April 24, 1731) the celebrated author of Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719 and regarded by many as the first proper English novel. He took up writing after being made bankrupt in business as a general merchant. Among his works was a tour of Great Britain writing about the places he visited and the people he met. In 1714 he visited Richmond and Kew writing: “The town of Richmond is so well known, and the rich luxuriant prospect of Richmond Hill so incapable of being described, that the particulars of the former would be needless, and an attempt at the latter impertinent.” He also noted the interest in gardening shared by the local nobles – who following the King George III’s hobby of farming – has developed a “strange passion for fine gardens”. This road was laid out on land belonging to the Leyborne Popham family and was named around 1909.
