Watts Yard. Oxford

[Julieharris]

Hi

Can anyone tell me where Watts Yard was?  I am pretty sure it was somewhere alongWoodstock Road.  I am referring to about the 1880's.

I have tried to look for it but of course it is no longer there...or is it?

Many thanks

Julie

[toby]

I typed in google  Watts Yard Oxford. It came up with  Paper Works Woodstock Rd 11 Watts Yard St Giles Oxford.

A Sarah Harris has put on the people that used to work in Paper works Oxford.
Hope this will help a little.

[Julieharris]

Toby

In fact it is that very Sarah Harris that I am researching!

The Paperworks was were she worked and 11 Watts Yard was her residence.

Thank you for taking the time to have a look

Julie

[DJFRENCH]

i have looked very carefully on an 1876 map and 1887 but i cannot see it 

i get the impression that the road nearest to st giles such as it is now was then called St Giles Road west and Woodstock Road started north of St Marys House.corner of Bevington Road

Dj

[Julieharris]

Hi DJ

Yes it is a bit of a mystery!

My gr3 grandmother Susannah Ewers lived at 10 Watts Yard, Woodstock Road  according to 1881 Census. Next door at no 11 was her sisters Charlotte Hutt and Sarah Harris.

The reason I am trying to trace Watts Yard is that a few days ago i was contacted by someone who had in their pocession a family bible dating back to 1834 with a family of Harris's recorded in it. He has no connection with the bible having been given it by his father some 10 years ago.

It has turned out that the bible was that of my gr3 Grandfather Robert Harris b.1824. Charlton on Otmoor.  He said his father had acquired the bible some 20 odd years back when he undertook a house clearance in Woodstock Road, Oxford. He can not remember exactly where only that it was by St Edwards School, Woodstock Road.

When I did a trace on Robert Harris, I found that 3 of his daughters (as above) lived in Watts Yard, Woodstock Road (1881)! 

So I am now trying to track down Watts Yard to see if the bible was indeed found in the family home or to find out how it got their.

The man with the bible turned out to only live some 12 miles away from me and kindly offered to 'hand it over'.  This evening I collected in, it is 174 years old and full of my family history. How wonderful is that I am over the moon 

[DJFRENCH]

HOW wonderful- that truly is a superb story. i used to live very near to the WOODSTOCK rd -
i have ancestors in CHARLTON on OTMOOR also.
happy to help if you want any help as OXFORD research is where i know best.
dj 

[Julieharris]

Hi DJ

Thanks for your help....I live about 12 miles from Oxford and have done quite a bit of research although I am no expert!

I note you have GRAY in your list are you related to Frank Gray - Oxford MP?

[Ruskie]

Hi Julie,

As you have the family in the 1881 census in Watts Yard, Woodstock Road, it may help to trace where the Yard is or was, by checking the neighbours up and down the street.

It can be time consuming if you have a long road but you may come across a landmark or recognizable street corner which still exists today which will help you narrow down where Watts Yard is/was.

It may still be there today under a different name.

I've done this (it's fun) with reasonable success and followed the enumerator's path on a modern day map.

Good luck.

[Julieharris]

Hi Ruskie

I tried a few pages back and fourth but found nothing but Woodstock Road is a very very long road.  I will do as you suggest who knows what I will find.

It is strange that I can not find any reference to it at all on the web.

Many Thanks
Julie

ps. if I find it I will post a message