Where is Ditch Side?

[geebrooks9]

Hello, can anyone tell me where Ditch Side in East London is/was? I have found an old record from 1692 which states my ancestor was born there. Thank you, Sara.

[PrueM]

Hi Sara,

I've not heard of it, but it might be a local name for somewhere like Houndsditch (a road).  Which parish was your ancestor born in?

A map of London's "lost" rivers names a "Black Ditch" in the Spitalfields/Mile End area:
http://bigthink.com/ideas/21337

Cheers
Prue

[geniecolgan]

This has mention of Ditch Side, scroll down to where you see Scotch House to the right of the screen.

It seems to be in the Black Friers/Puddle Dock area.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a4p/

[PrueM]

Good find, genie 

Sara, I had a look on the Old London Maps website and this map shows a stream running down to the Thames at Blackfriars Dock -  I wonder whether this is "the Ditch" that is mentioned in geniecolgan's link? It would, I think, be the Fleet River:

http://www.oldlondonmaps.com/newcourtpages/newcourt20.html

Hope that helps 

Cheers
Prue

[geebrooks9]

Hi Pru and geniecolgan, thank you both  for the information
Sorry, I forgot to add the Parish was St Leonard, Shoreditch, I have just found another record,  from 1694 and they are still living there.
They were French Huguenot WEAVERS if this helps.
Thank you both very much, Sara.

[[Ray]]

Hi
In the same Strype's book as "geniecolgan" mentions is also "Fleet Street .... Ditch side" part of Faringdon ward.

As the Shoreditch name implies there is at least another ditch (Soers ditch) that can be found........

[PrueM]

I found the following online:

An Act passed in the twenty ninth year of the reign of His said late Majesty King George the Second, intituled "An Act to enable the Trustees for repairing Old Street Road to repair, widen and made a Road from the Sign of the Red Lion on Windmill Hill, through Worship Street, to the Ditch Side next the East Side of Holywell Mount, and through a certain Ground to the Sign of The London Apprentice, in the Parishes of Saint Luke and Saint Leonard Shoreditch…"

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0a4r/  

Whether this is your "Ditch Side" it might not be possible to say for certain.  I suspect it's a local name for an area, rather than a street name as such.  Just my thoughts though  

Cheers
Prue

[geebrooks9]

Hi Prue and CroxleyGreen, thank you both for your  replies, I noticed that one of the sons married in "The Fleet" is this in the same area? Thanks again Sara.
 

[Valda]

Hi

From Wikipedia

'The etymology of 'Shoreditch' is debated....However as the place is attested as 'Soersditch', long before this, a more plausible suggestion is 'Sewer Ditch', in reference to an ancient drain or watercourse in what was a boggy area adjacent to the 'fens' of Finsbury/Fensbury to the west (Mander 1996). Possibly it refers to the headwaters of the river Walbrook which rose in the Curtain Road area.'


Regards

Valda