Val Smith Drive, Barbara Gatehouse Way and Aurora James Walk honour three women from Blackbird Leys. The streets are part of The Aviary on Knights Road.

Three new streets in Blackbird Leys now carry the names of women honoured for what they gave the estate. Val Smith Drive, Barbara Gatehouse Way and Aurora James Walk were dedicated at a ceremony on Thursday 22 October.

The streets are part of The Aviary, the new homes on Knights Road. Oxford City Council announced the names on 4 November.

Who the three women were

The council’s account of each woman:

  • Val Smith represented Blackbird Leys for 27 years as both a city and county councillor, and served as Lord Mayor.
  • Barbara Gatehouse was a campaigner in Oxford politics, and also served as Lord Mayor of Oxford.
  • Aurora James lived in Blackbird Leys for 55 years. She raised thousands of pounds for charities including The Sailors’ Society and SANDS, as well as the NHS.

Andrew Smith, Val’s husband, opened the ceremony. He was MP for Oxford East from 1987 to 2017 and also made his home in Blackbird Leys. Family members shared memories of all three women.

A group of people gathered around a black Aurora James Walk street sign, with new brick homes behind them
The Aurora James Walk sign at The Aviary. Photo: supplied by Oxford City Council

Councillor Linda Smith, the cabinet member for housing and communities, said:

“It’s wonderful to see Barbara, Val and Aurora remembered in this way. All three women gave so much to Blackbird Leys and the people who live here.”

She said the names “will become part of everyday life here, and a lasting reminder of the people who helped shape this community”.

What it means for you

The Aviary is 84 shared ownership homes, built by the housing association Peabody with the city council. If you are looking at those homes, these are the street names you will see on the addresses.

The Aviary is one part of a wider rebuild of the area around Knights Road and the District Centre. The council’s figures for the whole scheme are:

  • 294 new affordable homes
  • 174 of them for social rent
  • 120 of them for shared ownership
  • a new community centre, shops, green spaces and play areas

We reported last month on the first residents moving into Chestnut Tower, the social rent block in the same scheme, and on what is still to come.

Five people standing behind a black Barbara Gatehouse Way street sign, in front of a new brick home
The Barbara Gatehouse Way sign at The Aviary. Photo: supplied by Oxford City Council