Beech House, Eccles

[chilterns]

My great grandfather, George Davies married Alice Fare in June 1875.

Alice was staying at Beech House, Eccles at the time of the reading of the Banns. From previous Census this does not appear to be the family home, as the family were living at Gilda Brook Road between 1851 and 1861 - and recorded living at Eccles Old Road in 1871 after her father Robert had died.

My question is, what is Beech House - is it an Institution of some sort or was Alice merely in "service" there ?

Is there some way of accessing Census records to show a street or address, instead of first having to look up a person's name ?

[DebbieAnn]

In 1881, Robert and Jane Wilson were living at Beech House, Barton-upon-Irwell, Lancashire with her mother Charlotte Cross and one domestic servant Mary Poel. It's possible Alice had been a servant there in 1875. The street address for Beech House is 134, Trafford Road, and Barton-upon-Irwell was the registration district for Eccles.

Debbie

[chilterns]

Thanks for that Debbie.

So it looks like she was a Servant there, which was of course traditional for young girls in those days before emancipation, although Alice was 31 at the time.

Alice died sometime between June 1875 and 26 June 1881, (although I've not been able to find any record of her death) when George married Sarah Ellen Sharps at St. Lukes, Weaste.

Seems George had a bit of a tragic life, as he was a widower before he married Alice.

[chilterns]

Hi Debbie

I'm back doing the family tree. I now have some Godfrey maps and tried to find Trafford Road, but couldn't. I have the Eccles 1905, Salford West 1916 and Pendleton North 1898. The only Beech House I can find is on this last map on Bolton Road. In the 1871 Census there is an Alice Farr of about the right age 27. Where is Trafford Road please ?

[geneius]

Hi Debbie

I'm back doing the family tree. I now have some Godfrey maps and tried to find Trafford Road, but couldn't. I have the Eccles 1905, Salford West 1916 and Pendleton North 1898. The only Beech House I can find is on this last map on Bolton Road. In the 1871 Census there is an Alice Farr of about the right age 27. Where is Trafford Road please ?

Look at maps.google.co.uk

Chestnut Lodge

140 Trafford Road
Eccles
Manchester
Lancashire
M30 0JS
on the left there are derelict buildings move left the street is Roberts Street, then you can see a bay windowed detached house,look at the number on the white gate!

geneius

[chilterns]

I found Trafford Road - it was on the Barton upon Irwell 1888 Godfrey map, but don't see Beech House named. I wonder if it's on the SE corner of the Patricroft 1905 map. Incidentally Beech House is crossed out on the 1881 Census (image 18 original image)

[chilterns]

Thanks for that geneius - you can't sleep either. I found the number on the gate, so maybe the original 134 was demolished and the white gated house built in its place, or 134A to the left was the original 134. Having said all that there is no indication it was called Beech House. See my later comment with regard to Beech House on Bolton Road.

[geneius]

Hello chilterns

I picked up the location of the address from the enumerators 'walk' description which included Roberts Street

If you are on a wellknown research sire, look at a census sheet and you will see the county area parish district with a number click and then select the district number......

So I am confident this is the correct road, whether it is the property is a different matter, as you suggest maybe a rebuild
a look at Town & Palnning records would help as would history / picyures of th area!

geneius

[chilterns]

Sorry to keep chewing at this, but the 1881 Census recording Robert Wilson, Beech House is crossed out - why do you think this should be - could it be because it was on the line above and it was thought it might confuse ?

The Marriage was at Eccles Parish Church, after Banns (name of the Church not recorded) - was this St. Mary's, or St. Andrews - either Alice or George would have to be resident in the Parish when the Banns were read. The marriage certificate records Alice resident at Beech House, Eccles Old Road not Trafford Road. St. Andrews would be Trafford Road and St. Mary's would be Eccles Old Road, from looking at the Census.

Consulting the Lancashire BMD I find the marriage was at St. Mary's, Eccles, albeit Alice's name is shown as Alice Jane - I have informed the Lancs. BMD of the mistake.

Looking at the original 1881 Census documents for this area it appears Roberts St. is in two Parishes - SW of Roberts St. is in Christ Church and NE of Roberts St. in St. Andrews, so it's not unreasonable to suppose that No.134 Trafford Road is in the Parish of St. Andrews.

Eccles Old Road changes to Gilda Brook Road and then Church Street as it passes through the town of Eccles on the 1908 edition of the map, although on the 1871 Census for Alice's mother Elizabeth, it does appear that part of Eccles Old Road was in the parish of St. Mary's at about the point where it changes to Gilda Brook Road.

On the Barton upon Irwell 1888 map it shows Chestnut Lodge as Green Bank and opposite on the other side of Roberts St. a large house (which seems to be still there on Google maps) then a gap enough for two houses then another large house, which was probably No.134, the alleged Beech House, now no longer there and a more modern house built in its place.

There is a Beech Hurst off Eccles Old Road but this seems to be in the St. James Parish.

Perhaps Alice was mistaken when she told the Vicar/Registrar Beech House was on Eccles Old Road.

I would be really interested in further comments on the above