Place Name
The Watling in this name does not have anything to do with the ancient Roman superhighway that ran from Dover, in Kent, to Wroxeter, in Shropshire, via At Albans; although it has been confounding people since the Middle Ages. All evidence suggests that the actual Watling Street by-passed the City altogether, taking a route that is today’s Edgware Road. Instead it is believed that the Watling Street that this road runs off (and was subsequently named after) was a corruption of the Old English name of Athelingestrate, first mentioned in 1213, meaning Prince or Princes’ Street, which one or ones is unknown. But over time the spelling became corrupted to Watheling and finally Watling Street.
