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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cumberland => Topic started by: buona on Thursday 05 June 25 11:59 BST (UK)
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Does anyone know what type of dwellings were in Bardy Lane please? Were they houses, courts or tenements? Thanks to anyone who can help
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Have you seen this post
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=545259.18
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Do you have a time period, house number, or occupant? Newspapers have notices of sale of Bardy Lane houses. This is from 1851.
(http://)
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1861 map
https://maps.nls.uk/view/121145483#zoom=6.8&lat=3314&lon=5352&layers=BT
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From information in Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants, of the parish of Whitehaven Rawlinson, Robert; London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1849. it seems that nos. 1-5 were at that time a tenement owned by a Mr Savage. Each dwelling consisted of four rooms over two floors, and the total occupancy was 25.
occupiers:
James Clenhugh
John Onale
Michael Purcell
Barnard Murphy
James McLatta
These rooms are situate at the low end of Bardy-lane and are in a very dark and unwholesome place; at the bottom of the stairs is a sink for house refuse, which runs through under the adjoining house; no water-supply, privy, or ash-pit.
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Two pubs in Bardy Lane in 1901
Bulmer's Directory of West Cumberland, 1901
(numbers are addresses)
Patrick Kerr, vict., Manx Arms, 4
Mrs Christina Kelly, shopkeeper, 13
Jane Wright, fish dealer, 16
Alex Henry Greenlaw, joiner and vict. and, Sailor's Tavern, 17
Thomas Gair, grocer, 18
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Thank you rosie99, Comberton, Maddys52 and Alan for your very informative and in-depth replies.
Yes, rosie99, I had seen the post you mention but it seemed to be more about the various “steps” and the Town Mission than about the type of houses.
From the map I was directed to, the “plots” on Bardy Lane seem to have quite a good bit of land (I had imagined that they would be “back-to-backs”).
The article from the Whitehaven News is interesting. On reading the advert, one wouldn’t think they would be something like the properties Alan describes. Certainly doesn’t sound like a nice place to live and the thought of a bakery (as per the advert) situated in the conditions Alan describes is unimaginable.
Would No.15 Bardy Lane be near the "sink" Alan describes - would it be on the same side of the road? I am grateful for all your help in this.
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There is a report on some houses in the West Cumberland Times 12th June 1912 regarding the condition of some houses, and another in 1913 describing some as unfit for habitation.
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Would No.15 Bardy Lane be near the "sink" Alan describes - would it be on the same side of the road? I am grateful for all your help in this.
On the map it appears there is only one inn on Bardy Lane - the "Sailors Tavern" according to reply#4 from Alan, or the "Sailors Home" on the 1881 census. This is at 17 Bardy Lane. It's a bit hard to work out how the street numbering goes from the census, but presumably number 15 is close to number 17. On the 1881 census the numbers go :
2, 3, 4, 13, 14 "1 Bridson's Court"
(RG11/5185/71 pg39&40)
"Bardy Lane Bridson's Court 2-7", 16, 17, 18, 5-11. - then James Place.
(RG11/5185/75 pg1-4)
There is no 15 Bardy Lane on the 1881 census that I'm looking at, haven't looked yet for it in other years.
This suggests to me, looking at the map, numbers 5-11 are on the western side, Bridson's Court is behind the inn, then numbers 15, 16 and 17 (the Inn). I could be wrong though!
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The only pub I'm aware of on Bardy Lane was the Manx Arms, as shown on this OS map of the late 19th century. I believe it was No.4
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You can just about see the Manx Arms on this photo.
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You can just about see the Manx Arms on this photo.
... and on this one
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There's a newspaper article — 30 July 1910: Whitehaven Advertiser and Cleator Moor and Egremont Observer — reporting the deliberations of a special meeting of the County Licensing Committee in Carlisle to consider compensation to be paid to several establishments. Unfortunately the reason for the compensation isn't made clear, but I think it must be be loss of license.
One of the establishments is the Sailors' Arms, Bardy Lane, Whitehaven. Within this single article it is also referred to as the Sailors' Home. It is described as an alehouse, the licensee is Alexander Greenhow, and the owners are the licensee, Mrs Poleglaze[?] and Mrs. Connelly, Millom. They were claiming £250 but accepted £70.
I assume that Alexander Greenhow is the Alex Greenlaw mentioned in the directory entry from reply #5
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1901
17 Bardy Lane, Whitehaven
Alexander H Greenlaw, 63, joiner &c. own account, born England
[no mention of being a victualler]
4 Bardy Lane, Whitehaven
Patrick Kerr, 43, furnace worker, Glasgow
[no mention of Manx Arms etc]
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This article places the establishment in West Strand. This must mean it was at the north end of Bardy Lane in a somewhat ambiguous location.
1 September 1892: Cumberland Pacquet and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser
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My thanks to all who have supplied the wonderful information that has come in response to my request about Bardy Lane. I find the photos particularly helpful – as they say, “a picture paints a thousand words. The explanation about the numbering system brought some much needed clarity to the frustrating house numbers of Bardy lane. The information from everyone has helped to give me a much clearer picture of Bardy Lane, its life, its tenants and its various buildings. Slums or not, it seems to have been a colourful mix of life for those who lived there.
If I could beg your patience for 2 more short questions I would be grateful. Would I be right in assuming that the western side of Bardy Lane is the side that backs onto the cliffside? And, would the lower end of the Lane be the one nearest to the dock on West Strand?
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Would I be right in assuming that the western side of Bardy Lane is the side that backs onto the cliffside?
Yes. First of all have a look at the map posted in reply #9 and you can see the steps going up the cliff/hill side. And secondly, if you use street view go to Whitehaven and set yourself up on the pier called Sugar Tongue that starts in West Strand. Then look approximately south across the car park to the west of Quay Street — which is where Bardy Lane was — and you’ll see the topography for yourself.
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When I was investigating the Bardy Lane area of Whitehaven on street view I noticed a house (bed and breakfast?) called Bardywell House. That got me wondering about the origin of the name Bardy Lane. A quick newspaper search uncovered many articles about Bardywell Lane which seems from evidence within these articles to have been another name for Bardy Lane. As a specific piece of evidence here is a reference to the Manx Arms being in Bardywell Lane.
2 November 1882: Whitehaven News
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Reply 2 asked for "a time period" which has yet to be answered?
Here's a map of Bardywell Street 1774 - tho' it doesn't contribute to the type of houses it contained. The 1911 Census describes the houses by no. of rooms. What period are we talking about?
https://www.lakesguides.co.uk/html/lgaz/LK39622.htm
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Possibly the best map available (1790, before James Place existed) https://tinyurl.com/4art7e99
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My apologies hanes teulu for overlooking your question – no excuse, just a sheer oversight. Sorry. The period is 1840’s, 50’s, 60;s. I didn’t know that Bardy lane dated back to 1774’s.
Thanks Alan for the helpful Street View hint and the pub article – very colourful picture of life there. And thank you Geoff for the map – it makes the layout very clear