Hello Rootschatters, this I am sure will be an easy question to answer but not for me. I am aware that house numbers did not commence until the 1850's but looking at the 1871 census (originals) my 2 x G. Grandparents were living at 14 Princes St. and one of their children was living at 13 Princes St. On the census forms the houses are in numerical order from No.9 - No.13. Now I always thought that house on one side of the street were the even numbers and the odd numbers on the other side (this street had rows of terrace houses on both sides). obviously if only a row of houses on one side then they would be numbered one after the other, but as said, this wasn't the case. Would the enumerator have zig zagged across the road to get them in numerical order or were they numbered that way. The houses have since been demolished.
The 1911 census has 2 of my ancestors living at 25 & 27 Eglesfield Rd. The houses are still there, I have been there and taken a photograph and are in the odds & evens numbers on their respective sides.
So were they numbered one after the other on the same side of the street or was the enumerator going backwards and forwards across the street?
These streets are/were in Westoe, South Shields, Co. Durham.
Many thanks, Paul
