Yeovil's Virtual Museum

victoria road

Named to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee

 

Victoria Road does not appear in the 1891 census and it is
most likely that it was laid out and built up around 1897 to be named in honour of Queen Victoria (reigned 1837-1901) at the time of her Diamond Jubilee.

The road was built on a field called West Beacham's Close (Parcel 973).

The development of Victoria Road was one of the projects initiated by William Tucker, glove manufacturer and publican of the Glover's Arms. After Tucker's death in 1899 the development was continued by his son William Earle Tucker who later became Mayor of Yeovil.

By the time of the 1901 Ordnance Survey Victoria Road had been almost completed and built up along both sides of the road. The end of the road that would join with St Michael’s Road (at this time only planned) was incomplete. In 1901 Victoria Road was outside the Municipal Borough Boundary but came inside when the boundary was extended on 11 June 1904.

 

The 1901 Ordnance Survey showing Victoria Road, almost completely built up, at bottom right.

 

 

This colourised postcard features in my book 'Yeovil - The Postcard Collection'.

A 1904 postcard of Victoria Road, seen from Camborne Grove with Lyde Road running across the photograph. The corner shop, first opened in 1899 as the second branch outlet of the Yeovil & District Co-operative Soc Ltd, is now a private dwelling as seen below.

 

The same scene photographed in 2013.

 

Courtesy of Mike Cannon

Seymour's bakery and shop in Victoria Road, photographed probably in the 1930s. The bakery was behind the house, as were the stables for the delivery horse and cart as well as the driver's accommodation.