Liverpool & South West Lancashire FHS - Forum

Hi
Can anyone tell me if 4 Marsh st widnes was a Dosshouse or Institution in 1909/1911
I have information that a family member moved from 55 Nelson st to 4 Marsh st around 1909

I tried the 1911 census and it shows a lot of males and the address as an institution.
I have been told of a Dosshouse in that area but thought it was across the road from the Pub may have been The Royal ??

I have quite a lot of info about the family member and have had help from this site his name was Nicholas Purcell but I think he either changed it to Thomas Purcell or he had two first names

If anyone can help it would fill in another gap for me

Hi, Carolyn
According to Ian Baileys excellent book for the drinking classes "Fancy a Pint? Then grab your Cap" Which details all the pubs in Widnes. Number 2 Marsh street was The Britannia Vaults formerly The Harp and Shamrock and at the time of the 1911 census the license belonged to James Cain. The 1911 census shows 64 residents of 2 & 4 Marsh Street. including one Mary Cain who was Married possibly wife of James?. But the census doesn't give any occupation for Mary, or the name of the establishment. But from the number of residents it looks like a lodging house, or else there had been one heck of a stay behind that night of the census. The license wasn't surrendered until 1920. I don't know a lot about the West Bank area but if I find anything else I will be in touch.
Cheers.

Hi Chris
Thanks once again for the good information it makes sense that he was living there as a lodger and does help me

Thanks again Carolyn

Hello Chris
I read your reply with reference to pubs in Widnes and in particular Marsh Street. My great grandmother Elizabeth Stevens born abt 1859 in Penketh lived at the Van Tromp Beerhouse at 19/21 Marsh Street with her parents, William and Mary Stevens (born Lomax), between about 1871 and 1891. Also her son William Stephen Gandy, my grandfather. Her first husband Isaac Gandy went off to Canada, where he divorced her. She then married Thomas Keeling in 1893 and disappeared without a trace. We are still looking!

My question, is there any information in Ian Bailey's book about the Van Tromp Beerhouse? Fascinating name but I have found nothing to explain the name or history.

Cheers
Eric Gandy
4873

Hi Eric,
Ian Bailey, says the pub was in Peel Street, presumably on corner with Marsh Street. Open from 1869 to 1903. First licensee was a John Davies. Passed to William Stevens by 1871 a 45 year old Labourer. He had license until his death age 76. His wife Mary then took the pub on until her death. it was then taken by S.T. Laws until closure. The site was sold to Boltons in 1908 by Greenalls. But no indication of were the name came from presumably Dutch.

Hi Chris

Fascinating information about the Van Tromp Beerhouse. Appreciate that you too the time to look it up and reply.

Next stop Holland.

Cheers
Eric