Strange address

[mike175]

I have a marriage certificate dated 1865 for my ancestor Francis Thomas Wheate, which gives his residence as "3¹/₂ Jane Street" (three-and-a-half).  This was at St.George in the East, Stepney.

Having never seen anything similar I'm guessing it was either equivalent to something like 3b, or was half of a shared house, but I wonder if anyone can enlighten me . . . 

Mike.

[Necromancer]

seen similar, dwelling had been divided into 2 - but never seen 3/4 

[daval57]

Quite common in Glasgow.
Particularly with tenements or other flatted properties.
EG, I live in 80 3/1  - 3rd floor, flat 1

In your case, I would guess 1/2 is 1st floor, flat 2.

A ground floor flat would be 0/1, 0/2 etc     

3/4 would be 3rd floor, flat 4

[johnnyboy]

Apropos the general topic: Thought you might like to know that there is in New York City a "1/2 Fifth Avenue" (One-half Fifth Avenue)--at the very beginning of the Avenue in Greenwich Village. It is a house number, without reference to flat or apartment numbers. Have no idea how it got it's name.

John 

[johnnyboy]

Of course, a quick Web search turned up the reason for the number.

Here's a link to a New York Times story explaining it all
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE0D8173AF936A1575AC0A962958260&fta=y

[mike175]

Thanks. I hadn't though of flats. That seems the most likely explanation.

Mike.

[GeoffE]

Thanks. I hadn't though of flats. That seems the most likely explanation.

Or perhaps a house down a passageway off the main street.

Here, No 51/2 has 16 inhabitants (Lodging House, 1861 census, Lincoln)

[Lydart]

a Bees Shop Keeper ?   Whatevers THAT ??

[daval57]

I read it as that too at first, then considered beer shop keeper?  Thought it more likely.