Research Forum

Address in Berrow
published by on Sun, 29/12/2013 - 12:02

I have just acquired the death certificate for me 2g grandfather, Charles CLAPP, who died in Berrow on 22nd January 1885. The address where he died is given as Berrow R.S.D., at least that's what the initials look like. I have tried searching the web, but can't find any clues as to what these initials stand for. I'm hoping someone with local knowledge may have the answer.

Happy New Year

Jacky

Comments ..

Submitted by DebbieD on Sun, 29/12/2013 - 14:14

Hello Jacky,

R.S.D. would be Rural Sanitary District set up in the 1870s under Public Health Acts to give local government additional reponsibilities.

Debbie

Submitted by on Sun, 29/12/2013 - 15:25

Thanks Debbie,

I had wondered whether it might have been some sort of institution, but it would appear not. For registration purposes at least, Berrow is just a parish within the Sub-District of Burnham. So would I be wrong in assuming that the RSD of Berrow coincided more or less with the parish of Berrow?

None of the certificates or census information I have acquired give any more information about where he actually lived than "Berrow", apart from the 1841 census which has been transcribed as "Manor Honk, Berrow", and the 1851 census which says "North Road, Berrow", both of which appear to apply to multiple families, so I assume a row or rows of cottages.

Thanks again for your prompt response to my query.

Jacky

Submitted by on Mon, 30/12/2013 - 13:59

Having looked at the 1841 entry I suspect it reads "Manor House". I don't know the area & I'm sure there are members who do, but looking at the map it looks as if North Road may have been renamed "Coast Road" & therefore you may be looking at a house along that road, especially as his 1851 neighbours were Coastguards.

Marion

Submitted by on Fri, 03/01/2014 - 2:02

Thanks, Marion.

Looking at the 1841 census, there appear to be about 25 separate families listed under "Manor Honk/House". There does appear to be an old manor house in Berrow, but it doesn't seem likely that all these families would have been living in the Manor House itself. Perhaps it was just the closest landmark to a row of unnamed cottages?

Jacky

Submitted by on Sun, 29/12/2013 - 17:36

Hello Jacky,

Also found to be documented as R. Sub. D. - Rural Sub District.