Denman Drive South is named after Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman  1779 – 1854

Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman, was a renowned English politician, lawyer, and judge after whom Denman Drive is named. A skilled lawyer, he gained steady success after being called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 1806. His cases often involved the enshrinement of civil liberties; his most notable defences were that of the Luddites in 1817 for high treason, and Queen Caroline for adultery in 1820. Beginning his political career as a Whig MP for Wareham in 1819, he advocated for progressive topics such as freedoms of speech and press. Denman assumed the position of Lord Chief Justice in 1832. He was noted for his strong sense of justice and stance against the death penalty during his time as a judge, which was considered unusual at the time. An ardent abolitionist, he campaigned for an end to the slave trade even throughout his final years.