De Beauvoir Town (London, England)

De Beauvoir Town is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Hackney, 2 miles (3.2 km) north of the City of London. It is sometimes described as a part of Dalston. The name is pronounced variously; notably (də BEE-vər) and (dee BOH-vwar), with the former giving rise to its traditional cockney nickname Beavertown. The area, then in the ancient parish of Hackney, was developed in the mid-19th century. Most of its development was carried out as part of a plan for new town to attract prosperous residents, though it includes a range of housing types and other land uses. The new town was based around De Beauvoir Square and primarily built in the Jacobethan style. The special character of the neighbourhood has been retained and is recognised by the designation of the De Beauvoir and Kingsland Road Conservation Areas which include many listed and other notable buildings.