Back Row, Corbridge where was it?

[mervyn.britton]

I have just returned to Australia after 5 weeks with my partner, retracing the footsteps of our ancestors. Most of it was quite productive and rewarding, but the trip to Corbridge to see where her mother & grandmother were born proved only partly so. Her mothers birth address was still as it was, but no amount of seearching and questioning of locals could shed light on where "Back Row" had been. Her grandmothers address is clearly shown even in the 1881 census as being in that situation.
Is there anyone out there who might have access to an 1881 map of Corbridge and who might be able to scan a section and email me privately?

I am completely stumped.

Mervyn Britton

Ann ALCROFT Head W Female 70 Corbridge, Northumberland, England Field Worker (Ag Lab)
William ALCROFT Son U Male 32 Corbridge, Northumberland, England General Labourer
Thomas ALCROFT Gr Son U Male 17 Corbridge, Northumberland, England General Labourer
Mary Jane ALCROFT Gr Daur Female 10 Corbridge, Northumberland, England Scholar

Source Information:
Dwelling Back Row
Census Place Corbridge, Northumberland, England
Family History Library Film 1342232
Public Records Office Reference RG11
Piece / Folio 5102 / 39
Page Number 10

[Geoffers]

I'll start by saying that I don't know - but some indication might be found by looking at other entries in the 1881 census.

An old map of Corbridge can be found at:
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/welcome.htm

The 1881 census shows that Back Row appears to run off Watling Street. So that roughly shows where it might have been in Corbridge. There were quite a few families in Back Row, so it may be quite long. There was a pub called the Wheatsheaf in Back Row.

Using a seach engine to see if the Wheatsheaf still exists, brings up
http://www.hotelandguesthouse.co.uk/viewlocation.php?location=Corbridge
Which shows that there is a Wheatsheaf Hotel in St.Helens Lane.
www.streetmap.co.uk (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/) then shows the location of St.Helen's Lane.
If the Hotel is still the same property as in 1881, then that is where Back Row was.

Geoffers

[Peter Goodey]

I've independently done a similar exercise to Geoffers and arrived at the same conclusion - except that it says St Helens Street when I did it.

[Geoffers]

I've independently done a similar exercise to Geoffers and arrived at the same conclusion - except that it says St Helens Street when I did it.
You're quite right Peter, I'm an idiot - I can't read my own handwritten notes I made whilst looking for the address.

Geoffers

[mervyn.britton]

I went through the link provided and the map for 1865 does show St Helens Lane, but for the life of me I can't see Watling Street, nor find a link to an 1881 map.
Senile decay? <grin> Thanks for all the direction so far.

Mervyn

[Geoffers]

Using www.streetmap.co.uk (http://www.streetmap.co.uk) search on Corbridge and display the resultt which is described as Corbridge, Northumberland.

Now use the zoom facility, (see 'Large Map' at foot of screen), and close in until you get to display the street names. On the map, you'll see a river running from the NW to SE. A road crosses this, the B6321.

Follow this road north to a junction with Main Street on the right. On the left is a turning which becomes Stagshaw Road. Before you get to Stagshaw Road, you'll see an abbreviation "Wa St." for Watling Street.

Watling Street is the name of an old Roman Road that runs across the country. I would suspect that a lot more of the road was known as Watling Street in the 19th century.

continued......

[Geoffers]

part 2......

The 1880's map can be found at the other link I gave:
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/welcome.htm
Select 'Gazetteer' then 'N' and 'Northumberland'. From the alphabetcial list, selcet 'C' and then 'Corbridge'.

You'll get a small map displayed. Look towards the bottom of the screen and select the link, 'Enlarged view'. St.Helen's Street also clearly shows up on the link, 'aerial photo'.

If you're still getting stuck, ask again, saying where you get problems

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire