The Annunciation is at the southern end of Marylebone in what is now the City of Westminster. The locality was originally known as Tyburn, from its situation near a small bourne, formerly called Ayebrook or Eye-brook, and finally known as Tybourn-brook, which flowed into the Thames.
Being in the parish of St Mary, where Marylebone Parish Church now stands, St Mary’s came to be known as St. Mary at the bourn, now corrupted to St. Mary le bone, or Marylebone.
Tyburn had significance from ancient times and was marked by a monument known as Oswulf’s Stone. Tyburn later became notorious as a place of execution.
The Portman Estate, Marble Arch and the development of the surrounding streets form an important part of the local history context for the church.