The History of Meldreth's Roads and Tracks

How did the pattern of roads in Meldreth develop? How did the streets get their names and when did street numbering begin? The pages below attempt to answer these questions and more.

We begin with a page on the origin of the routes in and around Meldreth; followed by a page on the highways and byways of the medieval period, using information gleaned from the Topcliffe Manorial Court records.

Further pages explore the more recent development of our village streets. Before the 18th century houses were named rather than numbered and until quite recently there was no system for naming a new street. However, with the development of the postal system and the growth of the village, a more efficient way of dealing with these issues has developed. For further information, please see the pages listed below.