Cetus ??

[WexDor]

I have an ancestor in Swindon with an address called 'Cetus' ??   Please could someone tell me whereabouts Cetus was in 1871?

Many thanks!

[PaulineJ]

Was this at census?
What was the ref?

Pauline

[Gaie]

Hi

I tried Googling and came up with this:

http://www.bluesaphire.co.uk/swindon%20Structures.htm

Second to last paragraph refers to Cetus Buildings, built c.1842, a bargees' tenement on the north side of the Wilts & Berks Canal.

Kind regards
Gaie

[Gaie]

More info here:

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=66543

Gaie

[WexDor]

Many thanks indeed for your help     The 'bluesaphire' site looks extremely interesting and I have picked up some other details as well! 

[toby webb]

WexDor,
Do you know which number Cetus Blds. was the one of interest to you? They may have been 1 - 12 when built but later merged with numbers in Medgbury Road.
I went inside some of the houses, just before they were demolished sometime about 1960, and might be able to describe one to you.
At that time there was some discussion about what came first - Whale or Cetus, the pub., bridge or the Buildings. I never heard of any certain conclusion being reached.
The building was quite imposing with a classical pediment. I was sorry to see it disappear but it cannot have been so nice to live in it. Falcoln Terrace in Westcott Place, which was also tied to the canal is, I believe, still standing.
If I can help more, I will try. Toby.

[WexDor]

WexDor,
Do you know which number Cetus Blds. was the one of interest to you? They may have been 1 - 12 when built but later merged with numbers in Medgbury Road.
I went inside some of the houses, just before they were demolished sometime about 1960, and might be able to describe one to you.
At that time there was some discussion about what came first - Whale or Cetus, the pub., bridge or the Buildings. I never heard of any certain conclusion being reached.
The building was quite imposing with a classical pediment. I was sorry to see it disappear but it cannot have been so nice to live in it. Falcoln Terrace in Westcott Place, which was also tied to the canal is, I believe, still standing.
If I can help more, I will try. Toby.

Thanks Toby for your help........unfortunately I do not have a number for the family at Cetus Buildings
However, do you know where I could find a photograph of the place??

Thanks again!

[toby webb]

I ought to be able to find a photograph, but cannot think at this moment where it might be.
I have the names of tenants in 1886. What family name is of interest?
Toby.

[WexDor]

Thanks Toby,    I have been able to view the on-line census for 1871 and have discovered that the family lived at 1 Cetus Building - their name is Hooper........John, Angelina, Alice Kate and Adelaide together with two lodgers.   Living accommodation must have been extremely cramped for them.   I would be interested to know the situation in 1886 - I know that Angelina appears to have married a Thomas Garland at some stage, presumably John Hooper had moved on, perhaps he had died...