Modern Mississauga presents Way Back Wednesdays - The history of Burnhamthorpe 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 Burnhamthorpe Road

Burnhamthorpe Road takes its name from where it lead – namely the village of Burnhamthorpe, which was located around the modern intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Dixie Road.

Gill's General Store and Post Office, 1912, Burnhamthorpe

The hamlet of Burnhamthorpe was originally named “Sand Hill” or “Sandy Hill”, but the name was changed when confusion arose due to another nearby village with a similar name. It was renamed by John Abelson, who had come from Burnham Thorpe, England, in honour of the birthplace of Lord Horatio Nelson (1758-1805), Duke of Bronte, British hero of the Battle of Trafalgar. Burnhamthorpe translates roughly as “Stone Hearth”.

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.