Help from BENFLEET Rootschatter please

[las camelias]

I've just received a death certificate of a relative who  passed away in 1945 at the following address:
West View, Castle Lane, Hadleigh, Benfleet, Essex.

Does anyone have local knowledge of this place?  I am at a loss to know why he was in Essex.  Can anyone help?  Many thanks
LC

[essexbird2004]

HI LC

was he elderly?
what was his occupation?

Castle Lane leads right up to Hadleigh Castle (google hadleigh castle)
West View sounds like the name of the House, possibly a convalesent home?
Hadleigh Castle is ownes by English Heritage, maybe they would be able to assist further?

Kath x

[nanny jan]

Hi LC,

Did your relative have any connection with the Salvation Army?  They played a large part in the community there, and still do to this day.

Any clues on the death cert; do addresses match and who was the informant?

Nanny Jan

[amanda t]

Hi LC
West View could simply be the name of the house on Castle Lane. Such a name was quite popular for Victorian "villa" type terraces, more common in seaside resorts. During the late 19th century and early 20th many people left London for the cleaner air of Leigh, Hadleigh etc of Essex, especially when TB, or phthisis, as it was known, threatened.

Try using Google Earth to get a bird's eye picture of the area. ("Google Earth" is a free download, simply type it in to your search engine and follow instructions.)

Best wishes
Amanda

[las camelias]

Thanks to all who replied.  First time I've used the Essex board.  Great helpers.  Specifically to Nanny Jan - I think you have hit the nail on the head.  This relative, on hearsay from an aged Aunt, died in a Salvation Army Hostel in London in his late twenties.  I contacted the SA and they gave me a list of the Hostels etc in London in the 1920's but I couldn't get any further. They don't have any searchable records for deaths in SA hostels in the 1920's. I extended my search of the death index right up to 1945, found what appeared to be him, but in Rochford; ordered the certificate and bingo, it was him.  His half brother was the informant, so there is no doubt.So if the SA are prominent in that area, Gt. Aunt was right to a degree, he possibly was an SA hostel or similar but not London, in Hadleigh Essex, and not in his late twenties, he was 35.He was the son of my Gt. Grandfather's second marriage and I was hoping to see my Gt. Grandfather's name (or his second wife's) on the certificate.   After 3 years of searching, I still haven't found my Gt. Grandfather either although I rather suspect he had died long before 1945.  Oh well, you can't have it all - not all at once anyway.Thanks againLC