Streatham

Streatham, a large residential district in the south of London, England, within the municipal borough of Wandsworth. The name appears to indicate its position on an ancient "street" or highway. According to Domesday, Streatham included several manors, two of which, Tooting and Balham (to follow the modern nomenclature), belonged to the abbot of St Mary de Bec in Normandy. One of several public grounds in the neighbourhood of Streatham is called Tooting Bec Common. The parish church of St Leonard, Streatham, contains among its memorials that of Henry Thrale (d. 1781), with an inscription by Samuel Johnson, who was a constant visitor at Thrale's house, Streatham Park, which is no longer standing.