A former hunt master, a high sheriff and the 'The grandfather of the Council' from the early 20th century are all set to be remembered in the street names for a new housing estate being built in Kenilworth.

Last year Kenilworth Town Council put forward a list of potential names for the new roads on the 550-house development at Thickthorn.

Councillors suggested a range of themes including various 'heroes of Kenilworth', past mayors and even types of tomato.

But Warwick District Council (WDC) has now confirmed six new street names for the Kenilworth Gate development, all of whom are important figures from the town's history.

The news comes as housing developer Charles Church has completed the first new junction on Leamington Road and has opened its new show home to potential buyers.

Phase one of the Kenilworth Gate development will see 92 houses built off Leamington Road (image via planning application)

While full planning permission for the first 98 homes of the estate - which are under construction - has been granted, the developer is waiting for detailed plans for the rest of the remaining 452 to be signed off.

Below are the new street names with a brief biography of the namesake, provided by WDC.

Thomas Bates Road - Thomas Bates 

Restored Thickthorn, completed 1958, when demolition looked likely and lived there until his death in October 1974. 

His firm built literally hundreds of Kenilworth houses from the 1940s, beginning with the first post-war council houses in Guy Road. 

Bates was one-time Master of the North Warwickshire Hunt and became its chairman.

He put Thickthorn's extensive grounds to use, allowing it to be used for Gymkhanas and the Kenilworth Agricultural Show, as well as allowing Kenilworth Rangers Football Club to play there for free.

Pennington Way - William Pennington & family 

The Pennington family lived at Thickthorn, 1865-1884. 

The father William died in 1869 but his son, also William, was a captain in the Royal Warwickshire regiment, and was elected to the Local Board of Health. 

As a family they began Thickthorn's association with the children of St John's by providing annual teas and amusements for the Sunday School children (including a parade through town headed by a band), and the parish's 150 schoolchildren, (including playing cricket and rounders, organising sports races, and providing the food). 

The events often not finishing until 7pm. 

The Penningtons also made donations to, and were involved with, Kenilworth's Convalescent Home and Warneford Hospital.

Beard Close - George Beard 

Beard owned an engineering firm that designed and produced in countless millions the 'Kirby grip' hairpin, which is still in production today. 

Whilst living in Kenilworth at Thickthorn (1884-1906), Beard was High Sherriff of Warwickshire, was a St John's Churchwarden and made many donations to the church and its members, including paying for an entire new heating system c1900.

Aldridge Way and Devis Drive – Thomas Devis Aldridge 

Thomas was from a Kenilworth farming family, he had 'Thickthorn' built c1811. 

Devis was his mother's maiden name, also a long-standing Kenilworth family. 

He is buried in St Nicholas churchyard.

Edwin Gee Road – Edwin Gee 

At one time called 'The grandfather of the Council', Edwin Gee served on the KUDC for a total of 39 years, being elected on 4 April 1898 when aged 43 and retiring on 15 April 1937; this is believed to be a record of service unsurpassed on any of Kenilworth's governing bodies. 

He was a major farmer on the western side of Kenilworth. 

In addition, he was most enthusiastic in the provision of council housing and made some of his land available for developments at Roseland Road, Watling Road, and Guy Road. 

He died in 1940; descendants still live in the town.