Old street name in Hawkesbury Upton

[G_J_Stephens]

G'day.
Trying to find the exact spelling of an old street name in 19th century Hawkesbury Upton and what today's name of the street would be.
In the 1861 England Census, it appears to be "Closes Road" and in the 1871 England Census, it looks like "Closses Rd".
Nearby streets, in regards to the Censuses, were Back Street and France Lane.
Any ideas as to the street's spelling and location?
Thanks,
Greg.

[malcolm99]

I suspect it would be worth while contacting the Hawkesbury Local History Society: see http://www.hawkesburylocalhistorysoc....uk/index.html . They have a good website.

The contact details are on this page: http://www.avonlocalhistandarch.co.uk/Groups-class.html

malcolm99

[malcolm99]

On the location of Closes/Closses Road, there were 3 non-conformist chapels in Hawkesbury Upton in the mid -19th Century. The Baptist Chapel and the Methodist Chapel were in Back Street. The Baptist Chapel is now a private house but the Methodist Chapel is still there.

The third chapel was the ‘Independent Chapel’ (later the ‘Bethesda Chapel’). This is listed on page 24 of the 1861 Census. It’s not clear whether it was at the end of Closes Road (page 23) or the beginning of France Lane. On the 1871 Census (page 23) it is located either at the end of Closses Road or the beginning of Dunkirk Road.

On the 1891 Census (page 8) it is listed as No.1 Park Street (‘Bethesda Chapel’): 1891 Census RG12 piece 1996 folio 32 page 8 (record held by TNA, Crown Copyright).

If you go to the 1891 OS map here http://www.british-history.ac.uk/map...x=4288&oy=2243 it shows all three chapels and the Independent Chapel is clearly on what is now called Park Street and therefore this must have been Clos(s)es Road.

There’s some interesting stuff at: http://www.southglos.gov.uk/NR/rdonl.../PTE070178.pdf but best of all is to go to Hawkesbury Upton on Google Streetview and drive round the streets and see both surviving chapels in close-up! It looks a lovely place.

malcolm99

[G_J_Stephens]

Thanks for the information, links and advice Malcolm. I've sent an email to the Hawkesbury Local History Society contact. Your reasoning regarding Park Street and the 'Bethesda Chapel' seems very logical. In fact, when I get some time, I might grab a handful of names from the 1871 Census from Closses Rd and see if they are recorded in future Censuses in Park Street. Great tip. Much appreciated. Cheers, Greg.

[G_J_Stephens]

Well that didn't take long. The family I had listed as living in Clos(s)es Road from the 1861 & 1871 Censuses, I already had listed as living in Park Street from the 1881 Census. I had previously assumed they moved. It now appears that they didn't move after all - the street name appears to have simply changed!
Cheers, Greg.