Millstone Lane commenced at its southern end, including what is now termed Sneinton Street, and reached to what is now called Carter Gate. This was at a period when the larger portion of ground near was not built upon. For many years the lower part of Millstone Lane has been called Platt Street, from the "Meadow Platts," which was the name given to most of the land when unbuilt upon, between what is now Platt Street and Great Alfred Street, and reaching to Carlton Road. The north western part of Millstone Lane, reaching to Beck Barn, now Beck Street, has for many years been designated Cross Street. Continuing north westward from Beck Street (Beck Barn) until Mansfield Road is reached, and close to where it is joined by Great Alfred Street, was Sandy Lane. It is an old name, and the earliest reference to it which I have observed is in the Records, vol. 3, page 442, 1528. Certainly at this date, and even exceeding two centuries later, the old maps show it as being quite outside the town, and bounded by hedges and fields.

What I consider without doubt to have been the lower end of old Sandy Lane, commencing from Beck Barn, afterwards had the name of Millstone Lane attached to it; another portion further northwards was then designated "The Rookery," and afterwards St. Michael's Street; the next part ending at Woodborough Road was termed Windsor Street, and the remaining portion reaching from Woodborough Road to Mansfield Road has, in comparatively recent times, been called Huntingdon Street. I believe it to have been during the last fifteen years of the 18th Century, or about 120 years since that a change in its name was attempted; but it is one of several in the town which have "died hard," for most certainly half a century since it was common to hear "Sandy Lane" mentioned, and even at this date many of the older inhabitants use this  title in conversation. I have thought that its name originated from its position on land of a sandy nature although situated on the verge of the clayfield.

"Fair Maiden Lane" has been changed to Maiden Lane. It is nearly half-way down Barker Gate on the left side, and joins it with Woolpack Lane. Under various names it has been known for more than five hundred years. In the Borough Records, vol. i, page 432, it is referred to under the name of Horelane, A.D. 1376. In vol. 2, page 403, the "highway known as the Horylane" is mentioned. In vol. 3, page 470, we are told that "A.D. 1460, Thurland grants to the Trinity Gild a barn (grangium) in Feyremayden Lane." It is also referred to on page 66 (1500), as Fairemayden lane, and on pages 470-71 we are told that after a long struggle it supplanted Hore or Horylane. Byard Lane, as previously named Walnenlane, Waleonenlane, Walononlane, &c, is alluded to, and probably for the first time in vol. 2, page 35, A.D. 1406.

In the Records, vol. 2, page 443, Lytstergate is referred to; also Lyttestergate in 1414; and Litstergate in 1435: the latter being the accepted mode, according to Thoroton in his time, of spelling the name of the road or way now known as Lister Gate. In former times it carried its own meaning, for in vol. I, page 448, it is mentioned as signifying "a dyer." Going back from 250 to nearly 500 years, we find frequent mention in the Borough Records of this road and its poor condition. It is described as "marshy," and to obviate some of its inconveniences a raised causeway was constructed, respecting which various references may be found.

In the Borough Records, vol. 3, page 320 (1504), there is an item, "payd to John Crane for setting stulpus in the Merrshe in Litstergate for a dey 4d." Doubtless these "stulpus" (posts) would be used as a protection to the "Causey," or the Rowell, an open sewer, which ran down the road. In vol. 5, page 199 (1640), the Mickletorn Jury say, "We request there may be a brigge (bridge) over the Rowell in Lister Gate." Since that date the lower end of the "Gate" has been raised a time or two, the last occasion being when it was widened, from thirty to forty years since.

It must not be forgotten that as regards Lister Gate, its circumstances until about 1829 or 1830 were very different to what is at present the case, for there were then no direct outlets for vehicles, except by Broad Marsh or Greyfriar Gate. At that period the Leen, which ran down Leenside, an open rivulet, was arched over, and Carrington Street was formed, but there was no Albert Street until 1846. The whole of the traffic in that part of the town had to pass through the narrow passage, which is a continuation of St. Peter's Church Walk, to Lister Gate, and was called St. Peter Lane by Thoroton (1677), and Church Lane on a large map of the town, brought out in 1829 by Mr. E. Staveley, the Borough Surveyor, but of which the upper part has in comparatively recent years been widened. It is now termed Church Gate.

Our ancestors' notions two or three centuries back, respecting the making and repairing of streets and roads, were exceedingly crude and imperfect. No granite was then used, either for paving or repairing purposes, though we may in the Records frequently find "bulders" (boulders) mentioned, but gorse and soil were much used to repair roads. There were no causeways in Nottingham such as we now have in the streets, nor, until some years of the 19th century had passed, and in the early engravings of the streets, deep ruts are shown, caused by carts, &c, when moving along unmade roads. In various places posts were fixed near the walls to protect them. (See Deering and Plumptre Hospital, &c).

That the streets and roads in former times, were frequently in an almost impassable condition, is proved by an extract which I will give from the Records, vol. 4, page 282, being a report by the "Mickletorn Jury," 1606, October 16th, or just three hundred years ago. By what is there said it is plain that the report refers to the upper end of Lister Gate, although a name is not given. They say—"We present yat the stepping stones near James Perrie's door over the wayn (waggon) way from Castle Gatt to the Loo Pavment be mendid. Done." Deering (about 1746) shows stepping stones across the road, just outside of Chapel Bar; also at the western end of Parliament Street, and the west end of Fisher Gate. Respecting these places I have often thought that the large stones shown as being placed in the road were dangerous, and must at times have caused serious accidents to vehicles, especially at night, for there were no lamps in the streets.

On his map (No. 27), Thoroton mentions "Hundgate," which is one of the old thoroughfares of the town. The first notice I have seen of it is in the Records, vol. 1, page 385, 1326, or five hundred and eighty years since; the modern name for it being Hounds Gate. I think it might be said to have practically retained its name from the beginning, though with a few variations, which generally appear to be the case with old appellations. There is a curious reference to it in vol. 2—Records— 1435, where an account is given of an item in the rent of the Corporation property as follows:—"Also a garthyn with a hovell on it at ye west end of Hungate on ye soth syd, leten be yere for VId."

St. Nicholas Street, until about 1830 was entitled Jew Lane, for I find it so called on the large map of the town published by the Borough Surveyor in 1829.

Dearden in his Directory, 1834, refers to it as "Jew Lane, now Nicholas Street." The earliest references to it which I have observed is in the Records, vol. 1, page 117, 1330, and in the same vol., page 439, it is mentioned in 1315 as Ju, Juh, Jue or Jew Lane; and that was its designation for more than 500 years.
There is one more ancient way out of Hounds Gate, but on the opposite side, though near to old Jew Lane, and that is Spaniel Row. Reference is I believe first made to it in the Borough Records, vol. 2, page 447, A.D., 1463, but on that occasion it is termed "Spanyell Strete," though such a variation at that early date is not uncommon. About 200 years since, and possibly rather more, the "Friends" occupied a meeting house on Spaniel Row, and from this cause it was for a number of years, commonly designated "Quaker Lane." Thoroton on his map entitles it "Spaniel Lane", and in his time there were no buildings on its western side nor until the Hospital of Abel Collin was erected in 1709, which fills up that boundary.