Watts Yard. Oxford Family History Local History

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Watts Yard. Oxford

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Topic: Watts Yard. Oxford (Read 1887 times)

DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #15 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 10:56 GMT (UK) »

Hi julie, i will look , now i get the fact that, that part of Summertown was part of St Giles...

used to live round there so it is a little more familiar to me.....

i had a lovely old house keeper as a child called Vinette Harris from Southleigh b 1896.....

i used to hear like a "fog" every at 8 am calling the workers... i wonder if the Paper works was still there in 1960's


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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #16 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 10:59 GMT (UK) »

i'm going to look on 1891 census as no 20 is not the correct one and 19 does not mention it

altho i found where Ruskie mentioned it was not marked as Watts Yard on the British History on line map (which is much clearer)


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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #17 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 11:05 GMT (UK) »

bingo...it's mentioned in 21 district 1891 .... but it looks like

Wyatts Yard....the "t's" were not crossed

it says.... all the houses on the woodstock road without distinct names but some times called Wyatt's yard Crappers row etc

5 rows of writing from the bottom

Debz


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Ruskie
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #18 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 11:17 GMT (UK) »

I wonder what kind of housing was in these "yards"/"rows" etc. They do seem to have been quite small - not many families living there.

I wonder if, in particular, the yard may have been part of a larger building and similar to what we may today call a courtyard? If the building was demolished or altered for a different use, it's possible that the accomodation in the yard may not exist on later census. It may not even exist on maps (unless we can find one from 1881) as it may have had a change of name etc.

You can see how the enumerator walked along Woodstock Road, nipping into the yards and Rows to collect the census. In particular, I thought that "Brooks Zone" sounded very unusual.

Googling reveals that the pubs mentioned still exist along Woodstock Road.

Added after seeing Debz post: Great find! So much for my theory .... Debz, can you please direct me to where you found that - I'd like to have a look.


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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #19 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 11:25 GMT (UK) »

Apparently there is a map called Acland's map of Cholera Oxford 1854...Crappers Row seems to be on that map...if my findings are correct..

as you say Ruskie...small dwellings virtually with no name...ideal place for Cholera ..at that period it seems that notices were put up to make people aware of the dangers of going to St Giles Fair...in the city.
the book was written by henry Wentworth.... Wentworth road is in Cutteslowe " up the road".

i have fab memories of St Giles Fair in 1964 Grin


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Julieharris
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #20 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 16:00 GMT (UK) »

Thanks DJ


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Maggie jo
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #21 on: Tuesday 22 January 08 20:05 GMT (UK) »

I'm looking at a map of Oxford City Parishes c1900.
St Giles is a parish that included areas each side of the Woodstock Road. The Northern boundary is where st Johns Road and Bevington road join/cross the Woodstock Road. This may narrow down the area of your search a bit.

Regards Maggie


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Julieharris
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #22 on: Wednesday 23 January 08 00:19 GMT (UK) »

Thank you DJ and everyone esle for all your help on this.

My head is in a spin going round and round the streets!!!

I feel the house is not there anymore..but it still remains that the bible was found in a house in that area some 20 years back.

My gr gr grandmother (Susannah Harris) was the one who lived at no 10 Watts yard 1881 with two of her sisters living next door, but later in 1891 she was living in Grove St, North St Giles (Today I believe this is in the area of where Turl Street meets High Street) and then in 1901 South Parade, Summertown.

My Gr Grandparents Annie and Eli Ewers (Susannah Harris and Eward Ewers son) son in 1934 were living at 3 Chaundys Place, Oxford as a Baker. Today the Westgate Shopping Centre sits on this site.

Re-development is not a new trend I feel Undecided

The bible seems not to have been handed down through my gr gr grandmother Susannah ...but one of her siblings..but who?? And who lived in that house that was cleared??

Once again thank you to everyone who has been helping me on my search

Julie


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Maggie jo
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #23 on: Wednesday 23 January 08 01:25 GMT (UK) »

Hi again

I have a 1939 Kelly's Directory of Oxford and have found the following entry:

256 Woodstock Road Harris Thos

250 & 252 Woodstock Road St Edward's School

This would appear to fit in with the house clearance info.

Best wishes

Maggie


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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #24 on: Wednesday 23 January 08 13:26 GMT (UK) »

well julie,

it is a lovely find and story and as you say all of St Ebbe is now sitting under West Gate shopping centre.....sad that the original dwelling are not there , i used to live in Summertown , marston Ferry road and it was then a "dead" end through to the fields and river and so much fun

Now it is a fly over and only my old house stands... hey ho...progress and better living ....

I will keep Wyatts Yard / Watts yard in mind tho.

Debz


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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #25 on: Wednesday 23 January 08 13:37 GMT (UK) »

Just for the info Julie

There was a Grove St in Summertown and there was a Grove Street in Oxford. Grove Street in Oxford was changed to Magpie Lane(still there) in the 1920's

Grove sounded apparently too much like Grope .... Roll Eyes

how shocking Grin

Debz


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Julieharris
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #26 on: Wednesday 23 January 08 15:45 GMT (UK) »

Thanks DJ for all your help.

I think I will try Maggie Jo's info to see where that leads me

I will keep all informed.

julie

Thanks Maggie Jo it sounds promising.

Will keep all posted.


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Julieharris
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #27 on: Friday 25 January 08 11:44 GMT (UK) »

I have searched for 256 Woodstock Road for a Thomas Harris.

There was a Harris family George and Esther that moved from Northampton to Woodstock Road Oxford sometime between 1861 and 1871.

They had a son Thomas born 1845 Northampton. In 1901 Thomas's brother Anthony Harris was living at this address with his wife Elizabeth Bumpus (what a great name), Elizabeth was born in Stonesfield, Oxon.

Sadly I can find no link to my Harris family Undecided

It could be that Thomas or Anthony somehow found/acquired the diary having an interest in the name and it was just a coincidence that my gr gr grandmother who is mentioned in the diary lived close by? Huh


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Julieharris
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #28 on: Tuesday 29 January 08 21:27 GMT (UK) »

Update for all those interested. You have all been very kind and helpful.

It now appears that it could well be 256 Woodstock Road where the bible was found.

The father of the man who gave me the bible had this to say

He had a friend who worked in the kitchens at St Edwards School & this friend knew of the people in the house that was to be emptied & because as he happened to own a van at the time he was asked if he could do the house clearence, he says it may have been over 30 yrs ago!!
He cant remember much about the job except that it was on the corner of South Parade with Woodstock Rd,he says it was within 3 houses either way.

I have attached a map he sent me marking the position.

I have also been given a contact who is a direct descendant of one of the other sisters living in Watts Yard. Apparently she knows of Watts Yard. I have emailed her the details. Interesting.

The bible has also led me to another find. I have the PR's checked for my family in the bible and it has turned out whom I thought was the mother of my gr gr gr grandfather (mainly from census) was not! She died and was buried the same day as my gr gr gr grandfather was christened. I now have a whole new family to research!

Julie

Woodstock_Road_Map.JPG (219 KB, 524x600 - viewed 106 times.)
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DJFRENCH
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Re: Watts Yard. Oxford
« Reply #29 on: Wednesday 30 January 08 13:23 GMT (UK) »

hi Julie

What an amazing story Wink

...we'll have to help you find the new family now !!

Grin

i used to live just round the corner from south parade, ( 40 years ago) there use to be a pet on the Parade which i loved going to see the animals.

Debz


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