Place Name
Part of the North Circular. Gunnersbury Avenue has its roots in an old Scandinavian name. It is believed to be named after Gunylde or Gunnhild or even Gunhilda, a niece, some sources say daughter, of King Canute and Emma of Normandy. It means a fortified manor belonging to Gunnhildr, from the Middle English bury and the Anglo-Danish personal name. Although there is no evidence that Gunylde did indeed live here. It’s hard to believe today but this was once a pleasant tree lined avenue leading to The Manor House from Ealing. It was first mentioned in records in 1334 as Gounyldebury and went through several mutations (Gunnyldesbury (1348) and Gonelsbury (1487) before taking the modern spelling by 1593.
