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Batoum gardens: history?

I was born in Batoum, the small city in Georgia that was in 1918-20 a part of British Empire. Now I have a collection of Batoum postage stamps  and documents of British occupation period and I'm writing a book about Great Britain and Batoum.  Dear citizens of Hammersmith, do you know where  the origin of the street name Batoum Gardens comes from or where can I find this information? The interesting thing is that Batoum was famous with its unique Botanical Garden. Thank you for your help.

Alisa Harrer ● 5264d2 Comments

As a matter of interest when i was looking through the various census c1891 I found that Lakside road, Shepherds Bush - formerly Rallye (spelling) Rd - had an unuseualy high proportion of Russian and other european nationalities living there. I would imagine that the other streets around that area also had a high prportion of europeans.

Stephen Hill ● 5252d

Hi!I am one of the Ward Councillors for Addison Ward, which includes Batoum Gardens, and the Hammersmith & Fulham Archives have very kindly supplied this for you.With best wishes,BelindaDear  Belinda,Thanks for your email.  Batoum Gardens was one of five new roads leading from Shepherds Bush Road developed by the local building firm of Williamson and Wallington.  On 22 February 1878 the Metropolitan Board of Works approved the names of Batoum Gardens, Lena Gardens, Sulgrave Road (originally intended to be Lovatz Road), Loris Road and Osman Road, submitted by Messrs Williamson and Wallington.  Although the minutes of the MBW give no indication of the reason for the choice of names, it is most probable that they were connected to the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78, which was widely reported in The Times and other newspapers.  Loris was the name of a Russian general, Osman was the Turkish leader, Lena was a Russian name and Lovatz and Batoum were place names.  Batoum, now Batumi, is a city on the Black Sea.  Batoum Gardens first appears in the Hammersmith rate books in April 1880 so it is likely that the houses began to be built in late 1879.I hope this information is of use.Best wishes,Jane

Belinda Donovan ● 5252d