St George in the East street names

[Greggles]

What does the abbreviation for place of living R H W on a marriage registry mean please?  I have a John Gordon marrying a Hester Bezer on 25 November 1735 at St George in the East and would like to know their place of abode.  Many thanks for any suggestions.

[Ruskie]

L John Gordon Batr to Hester Bezar Spr both of RHWay.

Numerous other people are also “of” RHWay.
Presume the L is for by Licence.

[mckha489]

Wikipedia says

“ St George-in-the-East is located on Cannon Street Road, between The Highway and Cable Street, in the East End of London”


So did The Highway use to be called “R......... Highway”?     Eg Royal Highway  (have no idea, just a suggestion)

Helps if you click the link

“ The Highway, formerly known as the Ratcliffe Highway, is a road in the East End of London.”

[Ruskie]

Yep. I was just about to suggest Ratcliffe Highway.  It was a main road hence so many people in the register having it as their abode.

It goes right past the church:
https://www.locatinglondon.org/

[Greggles]

Thanks for all suggestions.  All children’s baptisms give the abbreviation as simply RHW rather than R H Way and there is probably a very simple explanation.

[Ruskie]

Are you thinking that RHW is not short for Ratcliffe Highway?

I’d say the reason for writing RHW instead of RHWay or Ratcliffe Highway, is simply because it is quicker and shorter as there is limited space in the registers.

[Greggles]

Given that John Gordon was a shipwright and that it was such a poor area, I was thinking they would have been very close to the Thames rather than the highway.  However, I am happy with any suggestions you can offer.

[mckha489]

There are two basins (Shadwell Old Basin, and Limehouse Basin)  and the Thames VERY close
 See google maps.

[Greggles]

Many thanks for that too