address kent

[pennine]

I have a relative that lived at 110 Landsdowne Villas, Buckland H ill Maidstone Kent in the 1881 census. Does anyone have any photos or maps of the area? Thanks in advance.

[bearkat]

There is a house called Landsdowne in Buckland Hill but I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for.
Can you post the name of the person living at the house so I can where it is in 1881?

[pennine]

hello there thank you for replying. The family were called Gratwick. The father Edward Gratwick was station master at Maidstone Station. I have the 1881 census and it records them as living at 111 Landsdowne Villas Buckland Hill Kent. I wanted to know exactly where this was and what was its proximity to the Railway Station.

[pennine]

Sorry that should read 110 Landsdowne Villas.

[bearkat]

Having looked at 1881 census it looks as if all the villas are pairs of large semi-detached houses.  From my quick look I couldn't see a pair called Landsdowne Villas, just a large house.
Maidstone has 3 stations - Maidstone East on the Ashford to London line
and Maidstone West and Maidstone Barracks on the Medway Valley Line.
Maidstone Barracks Station is in Buckland Hill but Maidstone East is just across the river.  Today there is a footpath, alongside the railway, over the river but I don't know if that has always been the case.
I think it's more likely that Edward GRATWICK worked at the Barracks Station but it could have been Maidstone East.

[pennine]

Hello there thank you for your for your information. It does give me a few points to go on, Family lore says that the children were actually born on Maidstone Station all 8 of 'em! I think not But as I have them on Buckland Hill in 1881 I guess that may point to him being station master of either Maidstone East or Maidstone Barracks. Most of his family connections at the time lived in London and he finally moved to Redding then St Pancras before he retired so it is possible that Maidstone East. After all he probably lived in a Railway owned property. Thanks again

[bearkat]

Many of the victorian houses are unamed and there are several newer houses and blocks of flats so it's not easy to be sure of the exact location but the 1891 census shows Lansdowne Villas next to 53 Buckland Hill. 
I will check next time I go past.

Kelly's Directory 1899 shows Edward GRATWICK as Station Master L. C. & D. railway, Station Road, Maidstone.  This means he must have worked at Maidstone East Station.

[pennine]

Hello again thank you very much for all your efforts and for the interesting information from Kelly's I cannot believe how kind and helpful people are on this forum

[pennine]

Hi Bearcat can I just ask you another  couple of questions? What does L C and D stand for presumably London C? and D?  (is it Central and District?) Also do you have any idea where I could find employee records about this company?
Secondly, would I be cheeky if I asked you to photograph said Lansdowne for me Thanks once again