- published: 31 Mar 2014
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Coordinates: 51°29′25″N 0°07′09″W / 51.4903°N 0.1193°W / 51.4903; -0.1193
Vauxhall ( /ˈvɒks.ɔːl/) is an inner city area of Central London in the London Borough of Lambeth. It was once in the historic county of Surrey.
It has also given its name to the Vauxhall Parliamentary Constituency, which also includes parts of Brixton and Clapham, and to the Vauxhall Motors car manufacturer, which originated in the area, as well as to the Russian word for a large railroad station (see below).
In 1998, Vauxhall became part of the borough's North Lambeth town centre, for local government administrative purposes.
It is generally accepted that the etymology of Vauxhall is from the name of Falkes de Breauté, the head of King John's mercenaries, who owned a large house in the area which was referred to as Faulke's Hall, later Foxhall, and eventually Vauxhall. The area only became generally known by this name when the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens opened as a public attraction. Initially most visitors would have approached by river, but crowds of Londoners of all classes came to know the area after the construction of Westminster Bridge in the 1740s.