Compass Street

Compass Street originally formed one track with Dove Street - known as Bier Lane during the 14th century, because it was the track by which corpses (placed on a hand-bier) were taken from town for burial in St. Margaret’s churchyard. The track extended westwards over Church Green, more or less following the line of what became - much later on - Wesley Street and Church Road. During the 16th and 17th century, the named changed to both Fair(stead) Lane and Almshouse Lane, since the annual fairs were held on Fair Green (which is the St. Margaret’s Plain area of today) and some parish charitable cottages once stood on the northern side of the roadway  where it met White Horse Street. At some point, during the late 17th century, the easternmost part of the track became known as Tyler’s Lane (possibly the surname of a property-owner) - and this eventually changed to Compass Street during the first half of the 19th century. It was possibly round about the same time that the western part of the ancient track changed its name from Fair(stead) Lane to Dove Street.
 CREDIT: David Butcher

See https://manystories.org/full/strollalo/alo06