Place Name
There used to be a large house called Kingsgate, named after a hamlet near Broadstairs, Kent, which came off Shoot Up Hill. When the house was demolished sometime around 1911 to make way for the new road Kingsgate Road the road name was already taken by the family’s other development at Kilburn. So the name was adapted to Kingscroft Road. John Powell bought Shoot Up Hill as an investment in 1773, when he died without any children his property was passed to his nephews Arthur Annesley Roberts and John Powell Roberts, who in accordance with the bequest adopted their uncle’s surname and arms. John owned Holland House, in Kingsgate, (so called following the incidental landing of Charles II on June 30, 1683, the gate referring to a cliff-gap), near Broadstairs, Kent. Both this and his other estate Kilburn Wood Farm were passed down through the family. Once the railways lines were established in Kilburn, the land began to be sold for housing. All the roads were named after places local to the family’s property at Quex Park, in Kent, and later after places Major Powell-Cotton visited on his travels – particularly Abyssinia (Ethiopia) between 1899 – 1900.
