Originally known as Ducking Pond Lane, a pathway led to a ducking pond located at the junction with Ducking Pond Row, which later became Buck’s Row. By 1800, it underwent a name change and became North Street. In the early 19th century, it was extended northward and became Upper North Street. On May 7, 1875, the entire thoroughfare was renamed Brady Street.
During the time of the infamous murder of Mary Ann Nichols, a witness named Sarah Colwell, residing in Honey’s Mews off Brady Street, reported hearing a woman running along Brady Street, shouting “murder, police!”
PC John Thain patrolled Brady Street, and he was summoned by PC John Neil after the discovery of Mary Ann Nichols’ body in Buck’s Row.
Brady Street Dwellings were constructed on the western side of the street, to the north of Buck’s Row/Durward Street, between 1889 and 1890. In the 1891 census, William West, the first witness at Elizabeth Stride’s inquest, was listed as living there with his relatives. These buildings were demolished in 1979.
Presently, a significant portion of Brady Street consists of early to mid-20th-century estates. Mocatta House, originally built in 1905 by the Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company, was later converted into flats in 1980. The southern end of the street is dominated by a Sainsbury’s superstore, which was constructed in the 1990s with new additions in 2010, and Swanlea School, established in 1994. The Roebuck public house, previously a beer shop located at No. 27 at the corner with Durward Street, was demolished in 1995 to make way for Kempton Court.
