Named in 1967 after Thomas à Kempis, the 15th century religious writer who studied at Deventer in the Netherlands. One of the Dutch-derived names of developments on either side of East Dulwich Grove, named in honour of the ’friendship link’ between the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell and Deventer, in the Netherlands. The other roads in the development are Arnhem Way, Delft Way, Deventer Crescent, Hilversum Crescent, Isel Way, Nimegen Way, Steen Way and Terborch Way.