Shoe Lane Inverness

[CISSIE88]

Hi,

Just wondered if anyone has an old map of Inverness and can tell me what/where 5 Shoe Lane is?

My g-grandparents were married there and I just wondered if it could be the Merkinch Hall which is still there. I think this is now No. 2 Shoe Lane.

[MonicaL]

Hi Cissie

You don't say what time period you are looking at but one place to check might be in the Post Office Directories. Online editions available here between 1873-1912 www.nls.uk/family-history/directories/post-office/index.cfm?place=Inverness

This for example shows Shoe Lane in the 1911-12 directory www.archive.org/stream/invernessburghdi191112inv#page/130/mode/2up

Monica 

[CISSIE88]

Hi Monica,

Thank you for that information. I will look it up.
They were married in 1879- sorry I forgot to mention that.
Regards
Cissie

[Heilan'man60]

Cissie.

Shoe Lane is now classed as a Path on OS map.

It is off Simpson's Lane, which is off Grant Street.  Post Code IV3 8HE.

Ref the Merkinch Hall...it has not got a number in the postal address.  It is shown as Merkinch Hall, Shoe Lane and sometimes as Merkinch Hall Simpsons Lane.

May I suggest that 5 Shoe Lane was a dwelling?  My GGF/GGM and family (my GF aged 2) lived at 7 Shoe Lane in the 1881 Census, later in   1891 in Church St, also Nelson St, Brown St and  in McLennan Crescent.  One family member died aged 9 months at 8 Shoe Lane in 1914.

It was also very common for people to be married in private houses as opposed to churches.

Hope this helps.


Edited to add : 1881 Scotland Census Dwelling 5 Shoe Lane occupied by Chisholm family.

[CISSIE88]

Hi Heilan'man,

Thank you for the information.  I presumed most people were married in a chapel or church then and would never have thought of a private dwelling.

 I have just checked the image and it does say 5 Shoe Lane. They were married by a Minister ?? free church
That bit wasn't very clear.

Thanks  Cissie

[Heilan'man60]

The quirks of Scottish Law are many, especially with Marriage!

The minister sounds like he was from the North Free Church...or the Free North Church...it is recorded as both!  It was once said that there were more churches than pubs in Inverness!!

That church is in Madras Street, which is in the same general area as Shoe Lane methinks!

[bleckie]

Hi Cissie

getting married in church is a relatively recent innovation, most marriages were conducted in the home of the bride or other member of the family who had the room or at most in the church manse.

The link below is worth a read.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/scottishwayofbirthanddeath/marriage/

Yours Aye
BruceL