Nottingham West birth certificate - "WD" after addresses - COMPLETED

[howellbp]

I have a 1952 birth certificate of a living person where the abbreviation "WD" appears in columns 1 ("When and where born") and 6 (Occupation of father")

It appears after the address in the column 1 and after both the occupation and address in column 6

Any ideas what it means please?

[Alexander.]

I can't help you with what WD means, but on many of my certificates it says UD which means Urban District. I have also seen MD for Municipal District, but I can't think what WD would be - but I should think it is something similar. Hopefully someone else can help.

Welcome to RootsChat by the way!

[Dizzifish]

Hello....

Welcome to Rootschat from me too....

I have never seen WD either and as FreckNeale has said UD means Urban District, hopefully someone will come up with a positive answer.

You didn't say which area in Nottingham - but I did wonder if it stands for West Division?

I have seen a catalogue list for voters =

Nottingham, Nottingham, England - Voting registers
Title: The register of persons entitled to vote ... [in] the east division of the parliamentary city of Nottingham
Authors: Nottingham (Nottinghamshire). West Division
Film Notes: Microfilm copies of original records in the Nottinghamshire Archives Office, Nottingham, England.
Nottingham west division includes the city areas of Broxtowe, forest, St. Alban's, Sherwood, Wollaton.

Do those areas fit in?

[howellbp]

Hi there.

Thanks for the replies.

I've been doing my tree and my wife's for a year now and you think you've got the hang of deciphering  writing....and this one's quite neat!

You can clearly see the letters "W.D." under his occupation of Clerical Assistant in column 6 and I have assumed that these are the letters in the bottom right hand corner of columns 1 and 6.

But I think you are right - they are "UD" for Urban District".

The "W.D." after "Clerical Assistant" probably refers to a department or council he worked for? It could be "West Division" although the address "3 Clifford Avenue" appears in both the occupation and residence columns (6 & 7).

Many thanks for your help.

[johnxyz]

A bit of a long shot, but could it be War Department? If he lived in Beeston, any evidence he worked at Chilwell depot ? Clerical Assistant is a standard Civil Service grade.

John

[howellbp]

Thank you all for your replies.

I have since found out that the father was in the army and travelled back from India to Southampton with his wife, landing in June 1948. His occupation on the Passenger List was "WO.1 Army" and I'm guessing that he could have been a warrant officer.

So the "WD" against his occupation on the 1952 birth certificate will probably be either War Department or Works Department as you suggest.

Thanks again,

Bryan

[Jane Eden]

Hi Bryan

Clifford Avenue is less than half a mile from me. I would think that the WD in occupation is the works department of what was then Beeston and Stapleford Urban District Council, now Broxtowe Borough Council, since 1974. This may also explain the UD. I thought that Bulwell was a seperate Rural District but it may have come under the B & S UDC in 1952.

I mention Bulwell because I do not know if you are aware that 121 Highbury Road was Highbury Hospital, Bulwell, which at that time was a Maternity Hospital. Bulwell is about 5 miles from Beeston and is now part of Nottingham City whereas Beeston is Nottinghamshire County. Both are to the West of Nottingham.

You do not say in your profile where you are based and neither do some of the replies. This makes it difficult as you could also be round the corner from me or based in USA, Canada or Oz.

I may be totally wrong about WD being Works Department but without the name of the child or father I cannot trace it further.

I hope this helps the search

Jane

[Jane Eden]

A photo of Highbury Hospital in 1975.

Jane

[howellbp]

Jane,

Thanks for the email.

I've taken your comments on board and have posted a profile. I'm down in Croydon, Surrey but have relatives in South Yorkshire so pass Nottinghamshire on the A1 when we travel to see them.

I wasn't aware that 121 Highbury Road was Highbury Hospital, so thanks for that, and the picture. The birth certificate was of my wife's first cousin, who is a living relative, so I'm not sure about posting the names under the "invasive of a living person's privacy" rule.

It's the father I've been tracing and I've got some details including his 1971 death certificate. It intrigued me because he "just seemed to disappear".

Thanks again,

Bryan