4 Westminster Bridge Road in 1885

[Genevieve]

Hello

My great grandmother Amy QUAIFE was born at 4 Westminster Bridge Road, London on 16 September 1885.

Her father was a fruiterer and according to third hand information had his own shop. Apparently one of my great aunts has seen a photograph of Amy in front of the shop. This could of course be entirely inaccurate!

What I am interested in is finding out where 4 Westminster Bridge Road was. And, assuming that the shop existed, whether this was the address of the shop or if not, where it was.

From looking a modern maps, a vague knowledge of the general area and assuming that numbering would run from Westminster Bridge out of town, then I imagine that the address is long gone under concrete and tarmac.

I have done some preliminary searches on the University of Leicester trade directories website without any luck. But, I found it very slow and a bit confusing so I could easily have missed something. There seem to be so many directories that could be relevant.

So, I appreciate any advice on

how to go about finding the location of the address circa 1885
searching trade directories of the period - which one(s) are relevant
where I might be able to find out anythingelse about the business
is there a library or other resource locally that it would be useful to visit?

I am within travelling distance of London and am more that willing to visit but would like to be as prepared as possible and make the most of my time there.

Many thanks - it would be great to be able to flesh out the basic information I have and find out if there is any truth in the story of the shop.

Gaynor

[Peter Goodey]

From the PO Directory 1882 (on the website you looked at)

Part 1 (Official and Street Directories) page 673
North side of Westminster Bridge Rd:-

2 & 4 Mitchell Henry Fruiterer

Between 6 & 10 WBR is Waterloo Rd.

Between 12 and 14 WBR is Duke Street (now Dobson Street)

Looks as if your ancestor wasn't there in 1882! However that should be enough to locate the place on a modern map and check what it looks like on an old map

Hope this helps

[mary elms]

This may or may not be a help. I have two directories for this area - 1851 and 1934. The difference in time may mean that the numbering and names of roads are different in 1885.

In the 1851 Post Office Directory I looked up Westminster Bridge Road and there is a heading underneath which it says "see Bridge Road, Lambeth" No 4 Bridge Road, Lambeth in 1851 is a hatter's shop owned by Isaac Anstey.

In the 1934 Post Office Directory it states that the north side of the road is in Southwark and the south side is in Lambeth! No 4 isn't listed but No 5 is St George's Hall - the National Union of Seamen.


Mary.

[Peter Goodey]

An old map confirms that it's that tiny stretch of road on the north side between Waterloo Rd and Blackfriars Rd.

[mary elms]

And Peter's just added what I was going to put next. :) He's also closer to your date.

Mary.

[Genevieve]

From the PO Directory 1882 (on the website you looked at)

Part 1 (Official and Street Directories) page 673
North side of Westminster Bridge Rd:-

2 & 4 Mitchell Henry Fruiterer

Between 6 & 10 WBR is Waterloo Rd.

Between 12 and 14 WBR is Duke Street (now Dobson Street)

Looks as if your ancestor wasn't there in 1882! However that should be enough to locate the place on a modern map and check what it looks like on an old map

Hope this helps

Thanks Peter

So, the assumption that numbering started from Westmister Bridge is wrong - it starts at the other end of the road.

Interesting that the premises is a fruiterers in 1882 though under a different name. Could be a numer of explanations.

I must see if the 1881 census reveals where the family were then - though the Quaifes have proved surprisingly difficult to track down in the census appearing with a confusing variety of forename and surname variations.

Thanks for clearing one thing up.

Gaynor

[Genevieve]

Mary - thanks for the information.

Gaynor

[Colin Moretti]

If you're visiting London, the best place to see PO Directories is the Guildhall Library, http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/leisure_heritage/libraries_archives_museums_galleries/city_london_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm, they have copies back to earliest days of publication, or TNA at Kew, http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/; both of them have the originals for practically every year. You can also see the Guildhall collection on film at LMA http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/leisure_heritage/libraries_archives_museums_galleries/JAS/lma/lma.htm

Colin

[Peter Goodey]

There's also a decent collection of directories in the Society of Genealogists' library. Less extensive probably but, depending what other research you wanted to do, might be more convenient.

[Genevieve]

Thanks Colin and Peter.

Peter - it still took me ages to find the relevant directory and then relevant page on the website and I wouldn't have found it at all without the page number you quoted.

Having located it I realised why my searches weren't picking up - because of the way it was abbreviated. I presume you browsed through the alphabetical index to find the street name rather than doing a search?

If you did find it with a search I'd love to know your secret. I am sure there is lots of useful information to be found but I am finding this particular site a hard nut to crack!

[Peter Goodey]

Believe it or not, the interface on that website has been improved compared to the early days.Unfortunately the grant they had to do all that work has now run out. I hope they've decided that it won't cost anything just to leave it there - otherwise I don't think its future is guaranteed. Despite the ponderous interface, it would be a pity to lose it.

[Noel]

I saw you talking about 4 Westminster Bridge Rd, back in 08/2005.
I have been tracing my 2x Great Grandfathers bro's & Sisters. We knew that Lucy his sister had married a Peat.
Lucy Peat nee Emery was born on 20 Sep 1825 in East Beckham,Norfolk was christened on 25 Sep 1825 in Aylmerton Church, Norfolk, died in Dec 1904 in London, at age 79, and was buried in Dec 1904 in London.Her son becomes a caretaker of British Museum in London.
Died --/12/1904 London.
Married Robert Peat 1851.
B.Reigham Croydon 1827.
Robert was a Journeyman Carpenter.
Now found that they resided at No 3 Westminster Br.Rd Southwark. So i worked out that they lived on other side of the road to No4.
Also Lucy's sister Mary is her house keeper.
Mary Emery was born on 25 Jan 1821 in East Beckham, was christened on 28 Jan 1821 in Aylmerton Church, Norfolk, died in Jun 1898 in London, at age 77. Their brother was Lewis Buffalo Emery 1818-1902 boat builder of Sheringham Norfolk. He built a lifeboat in 1894 with his sons & that is housed in its own Museum today in Sheringham.

Noel

[marymog]

Hi,
It looks like it could be true, The father could have taken over the business after Henry Mitchell died.

2-4 Westminster Bridge Rd Fruit Salesman…….1881 census

Eliza Mitchell abt 1820 Bristol St Phillips Parish, Gloucestershire, England Wife Southwark St George Martyr London
Henry Mitchell abt 1816 Bristol Temple Parish, Somerset, England Head Southwark St George Martyr London

1891 census

Eliza Mitchell abt 1822 Bristol Head St George the Martyr London (widow)

Name: Henry Mitchell
Birth Date: abt 1816
Year of Registration: 1885
Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
Age at death: 69
District: Lambeth
County: Greater London, London, Surrey
Volume: 1d
Page: 397

mm

[Noel]

Found this site
http://www.tbcs.org.uk/railway.htm
Very interesting about the transporting of coffins for burial. Transported from
Waterloo Station to Brookwood Cem. The railway ran right through the cem &
stopped at 121 Westminster Br.Rd.

Noel