Publication launched this week.

A BOOK charting the history of street names in the Sid Valley was launched this week.

The 39-page publication - which delves back in time to shed light on the titles of scores of avenues, courts, lanes and mounts in Sidmouth, Sidford and Sidbury - has been six years in the making.

The brains behind the compendium thanked contributors and hailed it as “a real town effort”.

“It will be a wonderful record for Sidmouth in the future,” said Councillor Ann Liverton, who proposed the project when she was chairman of the town council in 2005.

“The idea popped into my head when the council was naming Lock Close,” she said.

“It occurred to me that, in a couple of generations’ time, people wouldn’t know who Frank Lock was.”

Mr Lock worked for the provision of affordable homes in Sidmouth in his time as a councillor.

Street Names of the Sid Valley author, Brian Golding, carried out the majority of the book’s meticulous research.

“Brian is one of those people in Sidmouth who quietly does a lot for the town,” said Cllr Liverton.

Mr Golding, a deputy director of weather science at the Met Office, said: “A job like this is never finished.

“There are already some amendments, as well as additions, to go on the list.

“I’ve learnt lots I didn’t know.”

Mr Golding said Arcot Road’s links to General Rumley, and an Indian town where a famous battle was fought in 1751, was one of the most interesting names to investigate.

The publication is available to buy from Sidmouth Town Council’s offices and Sidmouth Tourist Information Centre.