Dorset council change name of 'Darkie Lane' road after one complaint

Council in Dorset change name of road called ‘Darkie Lane’ after single complaint over 70 years after moniker was chosen because trees that line it make it dark and shady

• Rural lane on outskirts of Swanage, Dorset, got its name more than a century ago
• It was because it was lined by elm trees and hedgerows making it dark and shady
• Council have agreed to change name after letter from family on summer holiday 
• It was originally called Dark Lane as early as 1908 but later became Darkie Lane

A council have voted to change the name of a road called ‘Darkie Lane’ after a single tourist complained – which has branded a decision to ‘satisfy political correctness’.

The rural lane on the outskirts of Swanage, Dorset, got its name more than a century ago because it was lined by elm trees and hedgerows that made it dark and shady.

But now, local councillors have agreed to change the name following a letter from a family on holiday this summer who were affronted by its racist connotations.

They said it could ‘very easily cause offence to others given our national history’ – and Swanage Town Council have therefore voted to change the name to Dark Lane. 

There are no road name signs on the street, which was initially called Dark Lane as early as 1908 but became Darkie Lane at some point in the decades after the 1930s. 

Darkie Lane in Swanage, Dorset, which is now set to have its name changed to Dark Lane

Darkie Lane was so named because it was lined by elm trees and hedgerows that made it dark

Mike Whitwam, the only member to oppose the decision, said: ‘I have many close black friends and the name is not in the slightest bit prejudicial.

‘I felt the decision was made purely to satisfy political correctness, which is destroying culture in this country.

‘It has been called Darkie Lane for many years and nobody has taken offence except this one do-gooder who has complained to the council’.

Some residents also hit out at the decision and accused the town council of giving in to ‘woke’ tourists.

One posted on social media: ‘I wish the council had the sphericals to stop the political correctness rubbish’.

The council has agreed to change its name to Dark Lane following a complaint from tourists

The road in Swanage is marked as Darkie Lane on both Google Maps (above) and GPS systems

Jackie Hayes, another tourist, said: ‘To complain about a street name is unfair and unreasonable. It has been named because of the dark road – no other reason.

‘It is history, just like the statues the woke brigade keep insisting that we tear down, and it should remain so’.

And Leo O’Connell posted: ‘Let’s hope they don’t holiday in Shitterton [a hamlet in Dorset].’

In a letter sent to town councillors following the complaint, Peter Wharf, a cabinet member on Dorset Council, said the road name could cause offence to visitors who are unaware of its context.

He said: ‘A family holidaying in Swanage have written to express their concern to find their accommodation on a street using a name they found offensive.

‘The historic context for the name is purportedly innocent, relating to the lane being dark and shaded – though this does not avoid the potential for causing offence, particularly for visitors to the area who will likely be unaware of this context’.

Historical documents dating back to 1934 show the street was originally called Dark Lane

There are no road signs of the name of the street, which was called Dark Lane as early as 1909

He said street names should ‘not cause offence or be considered discriminatory’ and that they should be ‘inclusive given the diversity of our community and visitor populations’.

Mike Bonfield, chair of the planning committee on the council, said historical documents showed the street was originally called Dark Lane.

However it is marked as Darkie Lane on both Google Maps and GPS systems, meaning this is the name tourists would see when visiting the area.

Mr Bonfield said: ‘This is not a name change – we are taking it back to its original name. It was found that in a street directory from 1934, the road was called Dark Lane.

‘Over time it evolved to Darkie Lane, which is why we supported the decision to change it.

Dark Lane appears in ‘Old Swanage’ by William Masters Hardy which was published in 1908

‘Without those historical documents, I would not have supported the change because it is important that we protect our history’.

A Dorset Council spokesman said: ‘We received a complaint over the summer from a holiday maker about the name of Darkie Lane in Swanage, which they found offensive.

‘In response, we looked into the historical records of the naming of this road, which was originally called Dark Lane due to its shaded location, and asked Swanage Town Councillors for their views.

‘This issue was discussed at the Swanage Town Council planning committee meeting on Monday, October 4. We are awaiting a formal response from Swanage Town Council following their discussion.

‘We will also consult with the residents living on this road to seek their views on the road naming prior to a final decision being made.’

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