Genealogy Chat

Is anyone researching family who may have been here and know much about the location? My grandad was born 1 Northampton Street 1907 and the workhouse is on this Street. I can't make out if it is part of the workhouse, I am told he was born in an expensive nursing home because of whom his father was supposed to be !!! looking for any help Elaine

There's some information about the workhouse here: http://users*.ox.ac*.uk/~peter/workhouse/StMarylebone/StMarylebone*.shtml nell

Thanks Nell That was where I started and looked at the map, with the numbers the way they are it looks like it is the workhouse but I can't be sure. If babies were born in a workhouse, did it usually say on the cert does anyone know? Elaine

On both the site I gave above and in the London directory of 1914 it says St Marylebone Workhouse was in NORTHUMBERLAND St not Northampton. What does it say on the birth cert? nell

Another thought - who registered the baby? nell

Sorry Nell It's Northumberland Street, hubby came in and I am supposed to be cooking dinner, too hooked on the computer again!!! Elaine

Registration - well I have Gertrude Wills (cook domestic) 45 Foley Street, St Marylebone as the mother and G Wills as informant of 1 Northumberland Street. My grandads surname was Wills and 1 Northumberland Street is where he was born Elaine

Nell missed off that G Wills says mother in the informant col as well Elaine

I just asked because sometimes workhouse births are registered by the workhouse superintendant. According to the street directory of 1914, no. 1 is the workhouse and there's no sign of an expensive nursing home, so I think this story of an expensive nursing home is a bit of a porky, myself. But, if the father was well-to-do, he would have provided maintenance for his son. So did Gertrude live on his money, or was she still working? If she was still earning her own keep, I would say that she gave birth in the workhouse. nell

Thanks Nell Am not sure about the rumours myself but you have definately helped Elaine

Thanks Alan One to follow up Elaine

I cannot remember the exact date, but the practise of putting 'Workhouse' on a birth certificate was changed to just putting an address, presumably to save the shame and stigma of being born in the Workhouse. I was born in the old Workhouse at Cheadle Hulme in Manchester and my birth certificate just shows the street address of the Workhouse. Marjorie

I've also had death certs with just an address, which has turned out to be a hospital. nell

Hi Nell and Marjorie Not been around for 2 days so checking this morning found your replies, thanks for that and if anyone out there does know when they stopped putting workhouse on the cert would love to know Elaine