land society?

[ali607]

Does anyone know what 'Land Society' written in the street name box in 1881 census would mean. It says 'Land Society' and then 'Thorpe Road' underneath in feint writing in brackets...

any ideas would be welcome
Alison

[Dalum]

hello Alison,

Whereabouts is this?  (Sheffield?!)

I live on what was originally a Freehold Land Society estate.

In 1861 the enumerator listed this estate as 'Land Society' rather than as individual streets. They may have been considered as private roads within the estate  estate. If a Society was in its early days the roads may not even have been named.

I know there were societies being formed as late as the 1880's although the original objectives of the leaders of the movement, to enable working class men to obtain the parliamentary vote, may have been overtaken by later reform of the franchise.

The two main areas for land societies in Sheffield were Walkley and Heeley. I'm not too sure about the boundaries of Heeley but Thorpe Road (now truncated and called Thorpe Close) looks as though it is on the edge of Heeley.

If it's the right Thorpe Road 

Hugh

[ali607]

thanks for your reply - yes its sheffield but its not the thorpe road rd you thought - it was thorpe road in the village of gleadless - now called grassthorpe road...not too far from heeley. All the residents were manily file cutters and coal miners so that would fit in with your theory.

Alison