Genealogy Chat

Uk streetmap has Knotting and Knotting Green off the A6 between Rushden and Bedford.

Birkenhead I could help people with and possibly other parts of the Wirral.

DAVID : Thanks very much for your help...not only couldnt i find the place names I also couldnt find this thread! Sorry I took so long to reply ....if it happens again please do a name search and find me in case ive lost myself altogether !

Gawd!! Here's me saying I have local knowledge of Bedfordshire and I have never heard of Knotting in my life. However I know a man who might have so will ask him and get back. Jenny x

I know what you mean about street maps and no names. I've been trying to find maps of the villages my ancestors were born and grew up in so I can mark the spot where they were. It seems to be a bit hit and miss and I have found the odd one that happens to have the street name I'm looking for but its more luck than judgement. www.streetmaps.co.uk seemed about the best so far. I'm planning to visit the Northants and Beds area next week to take photgraphs of the specific houses to put with the maps and census details I've got so far. I've also been trying to find out a bit of the history of the villages and that's been another puzzle. Some I've found some just don't seem to be around. Any good ideas of where to look I'd be grateful for. Mary

Hi Helen Thanks for your reply. I have tried old maps but none had street names or maybe my eyes were too tired.!! Fraid gettiing to England is a bit far from New ZEaland at least until I win the Lottery! Here's hopng Marlene

A lot of my family seem to come from Knotting in Bedfordshire. I would love to know some history about the village and can't seem to find it on the Internet. Can you help with that at all ? I also have family from Wymington (sometimes seems to be classed as Beds, sometimes Northants) and on the 1881 census the address is just given as Wymington. Is there any way I can find out which street they were living in ? Grateful for any help or suggestions Mary

Marlene I think virtually everywhere (except London) in the 18th century had only a few streets. Even in the 1900s my family in Rendcomb, Glos had the address 8 The Village. As to old maps, there is www*oldmaps*co*uk (replace * with .) and if you could get there, I am sure the central library in Bedford could dig some out. H.

Hi All my Faireys seem to have originated from a marriage in Riseley Beds in 1788. I have attempted to follow the 8 children (one had 19 kids!) and from addresses on censuses they all appear to be in about 3/4 streets. Does this mean there was only a few streets in Riseley,or do you have any clues where I might get a copy of an old street map? I'd love to plot the houses to see what is what! What does it look like now? Thanks very much indeed for the thought - great idea! regards Marlene

I wondered if your Shafton/Steffon could be Stevington (in North Bedfordshire) or possibly Slapton (near Leighton Buzzard although this I think is now Bucks). There are some little hamlets that have disappeared (eg: Humbershoe) so could be one of those. I will consult my sources and see if I can help. The suggestion already made of Shefford is a good one too (Shefford is on the Beds/Herts border near Hitchin) Of course, sometimes an iffy transcription can really confuse you. I found a place called LLangter Lance which turned out to be Lower Slaughter. The way I worked it out was by writing Lower Slaughter in copperplate type writing and seeing it looked a bit like Llangter Lance (honestly) Jenny

Nikki Shafton and Steffon in Beds could be Shefford, Shelton (a hamlet in Marston Moretaine), Stratton (a hamlet in Biggleswade) , or even Stevington.

I know a bit about North Herts, North East Surrey and the NorthWest side of Greater London.

Hello Jolly good idea! I know something of Buckinghamshire if i can help anyone. Re Bedfordshire I have one mystery described on different census as Shafton and Steffon ? Any ideas? thanks nikki

I know from my own experience how hard it can be researching an area of which you have no local knowledge at all. So here's my idea. I am putting this message on to show I have local knowledge of Bedfordshire and would be happy to help anyone if I can. I wonder if this could catch on and others could declare themselves as having local knowledge of an area. I thought Foleshill for instance was a picture of bucolic beauty until a Coventry person disabused me and I noticed someone looking for a place in Bedfordshire that had all but disappeared. Just a thought and I won't be hurt if it doesn't catch on. Jenny