The road takes its name from the Spaniards Inn public house which dates back to the sixteenth century. While there are many stories concerning the origin of the name, it most likely dates back to a Spanishambassador who stayed there.[1] A surviving tollhouse stands opposite the Inn.[2] Historically located some way outside London, the stretch of road was notorious for highwaymen. John Constable painted the view across the heath towards the Inn in 1822.
In Grahame Greene's novel Stamboul Train written in 1932 one of the characters, Myatt, refers to Spaniards Road as a place to pick up young women.[3]