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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: jackski on Monday 26 March 12 17:18 BST (UK)
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Hi
I have come across an entry on the census of 1891 where a whole family is staying at an institution called "Her majesty's magazines" in Eling Hampshire. Can anybody tell me what this institution is please? The family were previously wealthy so I would not think it was a poor house. Can anybody help please?
Thanks
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Hi,
Possibly a military establishment; was the father of the family a soldier?
Nanny Jan
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Yes he was . He was Lt col OS dept. The other men on the same page have occupations such as "Carpenter OS dept" and "foreman of magazines os dept"
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Google military history of Eling and found a very long article including:-
Totton is the most populous part of Eling onaccount of its saw and flour-mills, chemical manureworks, brewery, and tar distilling and creosotingworks. A bone-mill and soap manufactory formerlyexisted there, and a considerable trade, much reducedsince the opening of the railway, was carried on incoal, timber and corn. There were also magazinesof military stores, and a large shipbuilding establishment, now removed to Redbridge. A fair for cattletakes place at Eling on 5 July. On the banks of theTest are about 50 acres of excellent salt-marsh, overwhich the inhabitants of Eling enjoy rights of common,except from the second Monday after Easter until 14August, when only seven persons may feed one horseeach. It is then closed for about a month until thegrass has been cut and carried. Henry I crossed toNormandy from Eling (Eilling) and King's pleas wereheld there in his reign
From: 'Parishes: Eling', A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 4 (1911), pp. 546-558. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=56879&strquery=MAGAZINES Date accessed: 28 March 2012.
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It was actually at Marchwood (in Eling sub-district), and was a gunpowder store (magazine)
There is more info here http://www.marchwoodyc.org.uk/mycxtra/mycx_aboutmyc_history.php
If you google Marchwood + royal ordnance you'll get lots more information :)
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Hi
Thanks very much for your help. It is most appreciated!
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Yes he was . He was Lt col OS dept. The other men on the same page have occupations such as "Carpenter OS dept" and "foreman of magazines os dept"
I wonder if he was working for the Ordnance Survey in Southampton? This was run by the Army and OS is often used as the abbreviation for the Ordnance Survey. Following a fire at the Tower of London in 1841, the OS moved to Southampton and is now in its third different home in the city at Adanac Park,
David
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The actual description of this place in the census is 'H.M. Magazines. Powder Magazine. Marchwood' - in view of this I'd suggest that O.S. in the occupation more likely stood for Ordnance Store :)