Understanding the census entry

[Baylis]

Hello,

I have an ancestor listed as a Gardener Domestic Servant in the 1891 census.
 
Thomas Fry born 1833
RG 12/0453/-F141

I assume this job description means exactly what it seems, that he was a gardener for a larger, wealthier family. My issue is that he appears to be living with his wife and son, not in the grounds of a larger home.
Does this simply mean that he lived on a different site to his job?

The address given is Roehampton Lane, Ellenboro House (gardens).

I think what adds to my confusion is that the previous pages appear to be full of domestic servants, almost all of whom do not appear to be living in the larger houses they are working for.

Is this an area where a lot of domestic servants live outside of their employers’ houses?

Thank you for any advice
X

[jim1]

Looking at an 1890's map shows a lot of large estates including a Jesuit college a Convent & a nursery so lots of servants needed. Just on Roehampton Lane there are several.
Ellensborough House is next to Putney Park.

https://maps.nls.uk/view/96805044

[Baylis]

Thank you Jim1, the link to the map is very useful.
I saw Upper Grove house and the Convent on the census.
Thank you very much for your help.

[stanmapstone]

If you look at this map you can see that there is a nursery next to Ellenborough house, which is what is probably meant by the address. https://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html#/Map/522272/175129/12/100682

You may have to change the zoom level with the - in the left cormner.

Stan

[Baylis]

Thank you Stan. 

I have just realised that the occupants of Ellenborough House ‘proper’ are listed on the following page of the census.

I don’t know why I didn’t notice before. I had looked at the page.

That makes it all a lot clearer. My ancestor (the gardener) just happened to be listed in the census first, as that was the first building the censor came to.  The next listing is for the stables, then the main house.

Thank you both for your help, I really appreciate it a lot.

[jbml]

By the 1890s the nature of domestic service was changing, and significant numbers of domestic servants were "dailies" rather than live-in.

[Baylis]

Hi jmbl,

Yes, that fits in with other information I have about this ancestor.  He is listed as a gardener on another census, but I didn’t see a ‘big’ house nearby.  To be honest I assumed he was a Market Gardener until I found him attached to Ellenborough House.
   
Thanks,
Claire

[jim1]

According to the census he was living at the house.

[stanmapstone]

According to the census he was living at the house.

According to the census the family were living in a house in the gardens with four rooms, and the next family were living in the stables with three rooms.  Ellenborough House had 20 rooms.
Stan