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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Somerset => Topic started by: HoppShill on Friday 15 August 08 22:40 BST (UK)
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I'm trying to find information about the Hat and Feather's Court in Walcot also in the parish of St. Swithin's, Bath. I have found it mentioned in the censuses of 1841, 51 and 61. Does anyone have any information or come across it before?
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The Hat and Feather Yard was on the northern bank of the River Avon just a short way downstream of the Cleveland Bridge.
On a modern map it would be at the end of St Swithins Place and Nelson Place, both of which run from Walcot Street/ London Road to the River.
St Johns Church of Bathwick was and still is, across the River on the opposite bank.
Much of the area has been redeveloped, with an interest in Roman artifacts.
Tony
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Thanks for the information. Is there anyway that I could find out who owned the Court in the mid nineteenth century?
Thanks again
HoppShill
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You could try the BANES website
http://www.batharchives.co.uk/
they have a banner, "History of your house". There maybe a charge.
Just looking at various Bath sites it would appear that the area of shops along Walcot St/London Rd, where Margarets Hill meets, is now referred to as Hat and Feather Yard but that appears a recent trend.
Tony
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Thanks very much. I'll have a look at it
HoppShill
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Hi,
There is the Hat & Father pub, they do quite nice food too! There is a row of houses behind the pub so i guess that must be Hat & Feather court.
The hat and feather pub is at the junction of London road and walcot street. There were alot of artisans and workshops there in 1800-1900's but it is now a pleasant street with independant shops. There is a street party held in Walcot Street every year (Fringe Festival) in which the shopkeepers, innkeepers and restaurants all sell their wares on the street.
Incidently one of my ancestors had a workshop a few doors down from the Hat & Feather in which he sold and fitted gas stoves and doorbells,
Let me know if i can be of any more help..
regards
Paul.
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I also forgot to mention that Bath has a BMD website which has been fully completed. It contains all Births, Marriages and Deaths to date, as well as having four downloadable Post office directories. Hopefully you should be able to find Hat & Feather Yard or your Stewart/Steward anccestors mentioned within.
The address is
http://www.bathbmd.org.uk/
good luck and happy hunting!
regards
Paul
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1872 Bath directory has:
Mrs H.C. J. Stewart of 6 Willow House, Bathwick Hill
Mrs. Hay. T. Stewart of 1 Cavendish Place
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1852 Bath directory has one:
Charles Stewart, 17 Hat And Feather Yard
:)
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Thanks very much. All the information has been very interesting. Do you know anything about the Hen and Chicken Court. I have just found Charles Stewart living there with his wife in 1861. Any information welcome.
Thanks again
HoppShill
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Not much I am afraid. Hen & Chicken court was also located off Walcot Street. Walcot street was full of different artisans and craftsmen who often moved along the street, into more appropriate or more affordable premises when they became available.
I am pretty sure that Bath Archives may still hold some old deeds for properties on Walcot street, so it may be worth your while looking there for more information. Otherwise drop the arhcies an email or two and they should respond with some more details for you.
regards
Paul
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Hoppshilll,
I think that your ancestor may have came from Cape of good hope in South Africa. It seems that there were alot of "Stewarts" in south afirca in the 17-1800's according to the IGI, also in 1871 your george stewart ancestor appears to be staying in London at a Public Inn House, called "the cape of good hope"
;-)
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HoppShill
Hen and Chicken Court was further along Walcot Street a little closer to town. We had family there, it was quite a desperate area and described as "squalid, depressing".
Like the Hat and Feather Yard it ran from Walcot Street toward the River.
Very close to the Hen and Chicken Court was the 'Live Market' with the attendant Slaughterhouses, so not the choicest location.
The artisan element came to Walcot in the 20th C which was a mainly working class area in the 19thC.
From what I understand from relations still in Bath and, considering I no longer live in Bath, the Hat and Feather Pub takes it's name from the old Yard and, as I mentioned earlier the recent trend to call an area of Walcot street Hat and Feather, but is a fairly recent addition to Walcot albeit in an old building.
Remember Bath has a strong Heritage presence and there is a desire not to let some of the old names die but resurrecting them sometimes means their new designation does not exactly match their original location
I hope this is of some help
Thanks very much. All the information has been very interesting. Do you know anything about the Hen and Chicken Court. I have just found Charles Stewart living there with his wife in 1861. Any information welcome.
Thanks again
HoppShill
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Hopefully this pic comes through. It is a workman removing the sign at the entrance to hen and Chicken Court before it was demolished to make way for a supermarket
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Thank you very much for all this information. It has all been very interesting. I am going to visit Bath sometime to follow up these leads.
Thanks again
HoppShill
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You might be interested in this map c.1900
http://www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/maps/OS62htm/1401.htm
which in the bottom right hand corner shows a "Hat and Feather Yard"
in Bath. There was also a pub at the eastern end of Walcot street - now called HUDSON!
http://www.hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk/hudson-steakhouse-gallery.html (http://www.hudsonsteakhouse.co.uk/hudson-steakhouse-gallery.html)
Is this useful?
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Hey,
I've found that my ancestors, Joseph Beale, his wife Sophia, and his 6 children all lived at 9 Hat and Feather's Court in the 1851 census. He was a pin maker according to the census.
Just a little information about one of the occupants in the mid-19th Century.