Lewins mead,Bristol

[Danuella]

Hi all,i'm researching my OH family history for him and have found his family living in Rupert st,Bristol,from what i gather lewins mead was a slum in the mid 1800's and Rupert street looks very close to it,does anyone know if Rupert street was part of the Lewins Mead slums,and also where i could find some more info on lewins mead area if it was.
Thanks

[Mum44]

Have you tried googling ?  Try googling Bristol History - there are several very good sites on there 

[Danuella]

Hiya
yes i have and tbh i'm not getting too far,lol,will keep trawling,think its definaty in Lewins mead tough as i have since re looked at the cenuses and 1841,1851 its Narrow Lewins Mead.

[Arranroots]

Hi Danuella

Rupert Street still exists - it appears to be part of the A38 through the centre on a modern map, just north of Nelson Street, which also appears on this map

http://home.clara.net/mawer/loc-bristol.html

Looks to be slap bang in the middle of Lewins Mead!  I don't know of the area's previous reputation but of course it is all preserved for the tourists now!

Kind regards, Arranroots 

[Old Bristolian]

Hi Danuella,

Lewins Mead & Rupert Street run roughly parallel to each other - Rupert Street leads from Broadmead to the Centre (the site of the city docks  pre 19th century) whilst Lewins Mead runs from St James Chuch/Horsefair to the Centre. Rupert Street more or less follows the course of the River Frome which has been covered over for several centuries. As you say, Lewins Mead was considered a very poor area in the 19th century, but I'm not sure about Rupert Street itself. Both areas are now horribly rebuilt & transformed into modern road systems, although a few historic buildings survive, notably St Johns Church, Lewins Mead Chapel & Christmas Street

Steve

[Steve G]

Danualla; If ye still reading this ~ or for the benefit of anyone who does .....

 I just found this thread whilst checking out the correct spelling / existence of this Lewins Mead, Bristol.

 Believe me; Going by the rellies I have who lived there? It would have been Rough! 

 Here's what it looked like, around 1830.


Found here: http://www.antiques.co.uk/antique/BRISTOL-UK-LEWINS-MEAD-antique-print-c1830

 I'm just waiting for my membership to the Bristol & Avon FHS to process and shall be looking there for further information. Google does  rather seem blocked up with " Yuppy ", modern business addresses, Chapels, slavery and The Sugar House, doesn't it?

[Joburg]

Hi,
   If you Google Reece Winston you will see that he produced many books of photographs of Bristol throughout the years,they're great for anyone with an interest.

Regards

Joburg