Siddons Road in Croydon seems to have been named after the actress Sarah Siddons (1755-1831).
She was one of the greatest English tragic actresses and appeared at Drury Lane and Covent Garden. In one role she was so convincing as she fell lifeless to the floor that the manager had to reassure the audience that she wasn’t really dead. Her most famous role was as Lady Macbeth and when she gave her farewell performance in 1812 the audience would not allow the play to continue after her sleepwalking scene. In the end, she reappeared on stage in her own clothes and gave an emotional eight minute farewell speech. There is a statue of her in Westminster Abbey and many portraits in the National Portrait Gallery.
Siddons Road leads into Kemble Road. Sarah’s maiden name was Kemble. Her father managed a troupe of travelling actors and several of her siblings were also famous actors.
Wikipedia
National Portrait Gallery
Westminster Abbey
Encyclopedia Brittanica
BBC
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