Place Name
John de Feckenham, (c. 1515 – October 1584) was a Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral between 1554 and 1556 and the last Abbot of Westminster. The family name was Howman or Howsman, but as a monk he chose to be known by the name of his place of origin. Thomas Fuller notes in Worthies of England that Feckenham was the last clergyman to be “locally surnamed”. At a time of religious flux Feckenham was unmoving, despite the obvious risks he remained a devote Roman Catholic even sitting in Elizabeth’s first parliament where he consistently opposed all the legislation for changes in religion, and he refused the Oath of Supremacy. He was last mitred bishop to sit in Parliament. He was eventually jailed and spent much of the remainder of his life either in confinement or under close watch. He was let out for brief spells, and spent some time in Holborn, where he set up a public aqueduct. Like several streets around Barnes this is named after the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s Cathedral who were lords of the manor in Barnes since Saxon times. This road built in 1927.