Modern Mississauga presents Way Back Wednesdays - The History of Holderness Street … I mean, Derry Road

Modern Mississauga and Heritage Mississauga have come together to present an ongoing series called “Way Back Wednesdays."
We’ll share information about the history of Mississauga here and answer your questions.
Today’s topic is the history of Holderness Street … I mean, Derry Road.

East-west concession roads in the New Survey of Toronto Township were not originally named, but rather were numbered. It quickly became custom to refer to the roads by names of the prominent places they intersected with: for example, Britannia Road took its name because it led to the hamlet of Britannia, and many locals referred to it, unofficially, as the Britannia Sideroad. One exception, albeit one that did not catch on, is that of Derry Road … or should we say Holderness Street? When the survey of the old Malton town site was completed by John Stoughton Dennis in 1856, the Government Road allowance for what would become Derry Road was named “Holderness Street” on the survey. This name, apparently, never caught on, as the locals came to refer to it as the Derry West Sideroad (as it led to the burgeoning village of Derry West). This name was later shortened in the 1960s, officially, to Derry Road, and applied to the whole length.

If you’ve got a question about the history of our city, we want to hear from you.
Please send your questions to info@modernmississauga.com with “Way Back Wednesday” in the subject line.