Place Name
In 1610 it was called Pensioners Rowe otherwise Channon Row and 11 years later as Chanon Row als Pensioners’ Alley. It remained as Pensioners’ Alley until 1903 when it was rebuilt and Richmond Council decreed it should adopt the name of an 1830s development on the south western side known as Golden Square. The original name is something of a mystery, so too its ownership. In the court rolls when it was first named the question was asked if it was Crown land but there was no definitive answer. It is thought that the cottages served as almshouses or possibly for retired palace servants. It any case it was intensively developed in the early part of 17thCentury during the long spurt of growth around Richmond.
