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Gas works in Widnes - on "New Road"?
Posted: 05 Jun 2009 23:31
by LeaHunt
Hi all - Can you help with the location of the Gas Works in Widnes?
I'm distracted by a branch of the Hunt family linked to Joseph Walter Hunt who married Ellen Bispham, nee Woods Wright. She was widowed in 1901 living in William Street with 2 nieces, one of whom is Elizabeth and I think the surname is Thelwell (transcribed on Ancestry as Richoell). Trying to track hubby William Thelwell (m Q2 1894) there is one living on New Road at the Gasworks?.
It's district 4 of Ditton 1901 Census but I can't work out which is New Road or where the gas works might have been, since it's such a big area from Stocks Well to Broadheath and Ditton Junction and up to the Four Topped Oak. He may not even be the Thelwell I'm looking for, but he could be as there were Wrights next door.
Regards,
Pam
x
Posted: 06 Jun 2009 07:42
by daggers
In a 1930s Map Directory of South Lancs, a gas works is shown at the end of a short street: Earle St, off Ann St East. The latter had a railway station of the same name on a line running north-east. The nearest main road is Lugsdale Road running north-east towards Simms Cross. I don't have a current map of Widnes for comparison.
William Street is about 3/4 mile north of the gasworks.
If this sounds OK, send me a PM with an email address & I will try scanning the section for you.
Daggers
PS I cannot see a New Road, but it might have been given a proper name in 30-odd years!
Posted: 06 Jun 2009 14:41
by LeaHunt
Hi Daggers, thanks for your quick response.
I'm looking on my A to Z from about 20 years ago and not sure whether this area by Ann St East would have been within the Ditton area, even though not far from the eastern end of Ditton Road.
I can see on this A to Z (abt 1985) gasometers marked at the junction of St Michael's Rd and Ditton Road. Included in this 1901 Census district 4 are Pittville Cottages, and Pitville Terrace is shown also. Perhaps New Road was later named St Michael's Road? Don't know.
Again, the existing William St I wouldn't have said was in Ditton, more Simms Cross or Halton View? It's such a big area in District 4 so difficult plus local and central government decide to move boundaries and change names! Then again, Joseph Walter Hunt's brother, James Hunt, was in Midland St and Saxon Terrace around this time, not far from William St.
Anyone else know of a gasworks in Ditton?
Pam
x
Posted: 06 Jun 2009 18:40
by daggers
There are two round marks in the area you describe as Ditton (near Ditton Junction) on the next map page but there is nothing to say 'gasworks'. Sorry.
Posted: 09 Jun 2009 07:05
by Tina
Hi Pam
It does look like Thelwell in 1901. Dghtr Ellen's birth rego in Prescot as Elizabeth Ellen Thelwell jun qtr 1894.
Could you give details of Wm for 1901 census & perhaps we can follow the enumerator around and pinpoint a location.
Thanks
Tina
gas works in ditton
Posted: 13 Jun 2009 05:23
by ellice
My husband remembers that there used to be a gas works site in Ditton more or less opposite St Michael's Road, off Ditton Road near to where the timber yard Montague L Meyer was situated. The road went under a bridge on the Ditton line and the gasometers were on the left of this road. Sorry, he can't remember the name of the road. Hope this can be of assistance.
Posted: 26 Nov 2009 21:36
by chris leigh
William St. was in Ditton it was renamed when Ditton, beame part of Widnes.
The gasometers referred to were on the corner of Ditton Rd and a continuation of St. Michaels Rd. named St.Michaels Rd(unadopted). I believe New Rd. was Ditton Rd and at one time was known as Ditton New Rd. Hope this is some help.