54 Content Street Ayr

[EDDIER]

I have a copy of a 1918 marriage certificate which states the ceremony was conducted at 54 Content Street Ayr. This address was also given as the current residence of the bride. The brides father was a miner and the grooms family came from Australia. Where the couple returned to.
The same address was given as the place of death of the brides half sister in 1941.
My question is could you marry at home in Scotland in 1918 or was 54 Content Street Ayr a religious building of some denomination?
Thanking you in anticipation
Eddie

[loobylooayr]

Although I do not know for certain, I would be 99% sure that 54 Content Street was a private dwelling not a church. It was not unusual at this time to marry at home.
Perhaps you should consider looking for the family on the 1911 Census - they may be already at that address.
The address was in earlier years 1880/81 the home of a William Morton coach builder as per the Scottish Post Office Directories  http://digital.nls.uk/directories/browse/pageturner.cfm?id=86589476&mode=transcription

Looby

[MonicaL]

Hi Eddie and Looby

I would like to live in a street called Content Street 

You haven't mentioned any surnames but in 1934-35, a Mrs Nimmo is showing as living at 54 Content Street. www.mocavo.co.uk/Ayr-and-District-Directory-1934-1935/240570/169

A Mrs Johnstone in 1920 www.mocavo.ca/Ayr-and-District-Directory-1920/862967/137 ~For the same year, different entry/page, a John McMillan, riveter by trade www.mocavo.ca/Ayr-and-District-Directory-1920/862967/180

You can find later directories on the NLS site here http://archive.org/search.php?query=collection%3Ascottishdirectories&sort=-publicdate

There may be more that one household at that address.

In terms of social history and practices around that time and following the start of official registration in Scotland from 1855, have a look at www.gla.ac.uk/schools/socialpolitical/research/economicsocialhistory/historymedicine/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/

Monica

[MonicaL]

One other place to check online is on the valuation rolls available to view on www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/ A guide here as to what they include www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/Content/Help/index.aspx?r=554&2080

Around the time you are looking at, the 1915 and 1920 valuation roll available there. You can search by address ('place'). I can see 8 entries showing for 54 Content St* in 1920 (10 in 1915) just from a general search.

Monica

[EDDIER]

Thank you both for your input
Eddie

[MonicaL]

That is great Eddie. Good that the names/entries mean something 

Monica

[Iandj]

A little bit of Content Street still remains today but most if it, including no.54, appears to be a grocery store. The old maps (1/2500) for 1910 and 1937 suggest that the street was more or less entirely housing and there is no sign of a church or chapel - see http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html

Looby is absolutely right about weddings at home. A lot of my Dumfries people married at home, and many of my Kilbirnie forbears got married at the manse. Not sure why that was though.

Iandj

[EDDIER]

Thank you landj.

[kirkbairn]

See the link below for great photo of content st
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=428977.0