Back to Backs, Courts and Houses and Street Names

[AMW]

Hi
I am trying to locate someone in the census, James Callow, by searching different addresses the person may be in. However I am a bit confused as to how the houses were numbered etc. For instance I am looking for 2 house 16 Great Hampton Street but sometimes the address has been written as 16 2 Great Hampton Street. Another address has been written 27/7 Barr Street. Or another is the back of... is there any method to finding an address on the census and on the Rates Books and Electoral Roles. Also I'm confused as to all the different parishes within Birmingham eg St Paul's, St George's and how half of Great Hampton Street may be in two different parishes.

Best wishes
Alison

 

[mikejee]

I have moved this thread to a more appropriate place. I'm afraid there is no way much to simplify things. Sometimes addresses are written in several ways , and it is not always clear which is meant, though obviously 3/244 would not refer to a court with 244 houses. but when both numbers are small, you just have to try both possibilities.If houses are actually described as Back ..., then at least you know that the second number is the street number. To further complicate it, sometimes court numbers are used or court names, and this can change within 20 years. I myself find it a little easier, as I have access to directories , which can give me help, but most do not have that facility.
As to the matter of parishes, the borders hav e to go somewhere, and where you have a fairly long road, it is likmely to be split soemwhere. Slorry if I hav e not b een much help.

 

[Eric Gibson]

3/244 would normally mean 3 back of 244 i.e. number 3 house in the terrace at the back of house 244 in the street.

 

[pjmburns]

Another address has been written 27/7 Barr Street.

Best wishes
Alison

On the 1901 census this address is 27 court 7 house. A look at some maps and comparing with the census shows that court 27 was actually at the back of 127 Barr street. Older maps don't show numbers and this map shows the court much later. I think some houses in the court had gone by then as there are more than 5 houses on the census of 1901.

 

[pjmburns]

On the 1901 census this address is 27 court 2 house. A look at some maps and comparing with the census shows that court 27 was actually at the back of 127 Barr street. Older maps don't show numbers and this map shows the court much later. I think some houses in the court had gone by then as there are more than 5 houses on the census of 1901.
View attachment 155439

In 1891 his address was 21 ct 3 house so similar - house number 3 in court 21.

 

[pjmburns]

James is on the 1912 e roll. There were no e rolls during the war.

 

[brummy-lad]

On the 1901 census this address is 27 court 7 house. A look at some maps and comparing with the census shows that court 27 was actually at the back of 127 Barr street. Older maps don't show numbers and this map shows the court much later. I think some houses in the court had gone by then as there are more than 5 houses on the census of 1901.
View attachment 155439

Yes Janice I think you are correct, probably another 3 houses.

 

[AMW]

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

I have moved this thread to a more appropriate place. I'm afraid there is no way much to simplify things. Sometimes addresses are written in several ways , and it is not always clear which is meant, though obviously 3/244 would not refer to a court with 244 houses. but when both numbers are small, you just have to try both possibilities.If houses are actually described as Back ..., then at least you know that the second number is the street number. To further complicate it, sometimes court numbers are used or court names, and this can change within 20 years. I myself find it a little easier, as I have access to directories , which can give me help, but most do not have that facility.
As to the matter of parishes, the borders hav e to go somewhere, and where you have a fairly long road, it is likmely to be split soemwhere. Slorry if I hav e not b een much help.

I didn't realise that the numbering system would be so complicated. But thanks everyone for your replies and thanks Janice for locating James. This web site is really so very useful.

 

[stuart1635]

Just been reading this thread as I have found that the numbering etc. for courts was confusing.
Great thread this is and would like to repeat what AMW said about this forum and the people who
populate it. It is a credit to all the members who contribute and help sort out queries. Top Dollar.
Stuart

 

[Diana Kinchin]

I agree with all the comments ...... my family lived in various courts from the 1860's onwards and these photos really help to imagine them.

 

[Brian95]

We lived at 2/208 Park Road, 5 Houses in the yard though there were only 4 outside loo's ???

 

[Altwood1974]

I'd love to see some old photos / drawings of the old court housing in Aston Birmingham from 1860's I have trailed the internet and found some ...
Mostly from Getty Images... the old maps online are incredible too. They actually show some of the numerous "courts" housingthat available back in the 1800's. These two drawings are attached and were drawn in 1876. The maybe copyrighted but I'm not sure.... but they are watermarked so I hope that it is ok to share them here. I'm in the middle of writing up the Beale family Tree in which the family moved from Court to Court housing and it was a very tough life.

 

[Brian95]

I was born and raised in a back house with my 3 older Brothers, all sleeping in the attic, we didn't find life that hard as we didn't know anything different, the highlight of our childhood was when our family got our own outside loo !!!

 

[mikejee]

Altwood.
The second photo is very similar to a real photograph from 1876

 

[Altwood1974]

I was born and raised in a back house with my 3 older Brothers, all sleeping in the attic, we didn't find life that hard as we didn't know anything different, the highlight of our childhood was when our family got our own outside loo !!!

I looked for "Court" houses as I was looking for the mid 1800's predominately 1851 through to 1890 but "Back to Back Housing kept coming up...... but these were a later addition to the "Court" houses in Birmingham, I understand.
How my client's 3 x Great Grandmother coped with 6 children all under 10yrs old (as her husband died in 1860) and kept the children out of the workhouse I'll never know she was made of stern stuff. she managed too though and only when they had all left home and were married did she remarry. (Well no marriage certificate is available) but she is recorded as "being married" but I really hope she found some happiness.

 

[Altwood1974]

Altwood.
The second photo is very similar to a real photograph from 1876

View attachment 195467

Thank you Mike ....... yes it does seems that it is the same place... Great photo thank you. Thank goodness photos like this were taken and are available online...... it is such a valuable resource for any one trying to trace their family trees or descendants. Photos were really rare in the mid 1800's, so I was really lucky that two were available, taken in 1879.

 

[Keith R]

......" I'm in the middle of writing up the Beale family Tree in which the family moved from Court to Court housing and it was a very tough life."......

This evening I saw a 1911 census with a Beale family ...father born Aston and the rest Brum......it was on a Facebook Genealogy site. I was wondering if its your Beales and if you have seen it ?

 

[Altwood1974]

......" I'm in the middle of writing up the Beale family Tree in which the family moved from Court to Court housing and it was a very tough life."......

This evening I saw a 1911 census with a Beale family ...father born Aston and the rest Brum......it was on a Facebook Genealogy site. I was wondering if its your Beales and if you have seen it ?

Yes it was probably me ... they had one dog and 3 cats written on the 1911 census .. a treasure of information which captures the very spirit of family life. ****