I posted a photo last week of Rothwell’s market cross – a replica of the medieval one, which originally was close to the current site. I have several census returns where the address is simply “Near Crop” or “New Cross”, or maybe they are the same? In the following instances, they look quite distinct:
1861 England census, Rothwell - detail
1871 England census, Rothwell - detail
In fact, the second one may even be “Near Cross”.
Samuel Nunns and his wife Sarah, my Elsie‘s great grandparents, were living at “Near Crop”, Rothwell at the time of the 1861 census.1 Their children were Henry 9, William 8, Thomas 6, Joseph 5, and Sarah 1. Ten years later, the family are at “New Cross”, Rothwell, and with two more children: John 7 and Charles 6. Sarah is not listed this time. The four older boys are now working in the coal mine along with their father.2
By 1881, Sarah is widowed and living at 12 Cross Street with sons William, Joseph, John and Charles.3 Meanwhile, her eldest son Henry has married Tamar Dickinson and is living at 21 Cross Street along with children Sam 7, Elizabeth 5, John 4 and Joseph 1.4
At Rothwell Library, a helpful staff member pointed out the “new cross” on an old map, and mentioned how her family had lived near there. Perhaps this is the area of “New Cross”? I was looking for Cross Street which is still there, though most (if not all) of the old houses seem to have gone. Cross Terrace is also there – did the old houses on Cross Street look similar to these?
Cross Terrace, looking down Cross Street, Rothwell - August 2011
By 1891, both households had moved from Cross Street, to other streets in Rothwell that I failed to locate during the summer.
This week I discovered a fascinating document – Rothwell Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan – which details the town’s historic areas, one of which is Cross Terrace. Apparently all round that area is the “historic core” of Rothwell. There’s a whole heap of information about the history of the town and its architecture. On the Leeds City Council website, there are similar Conservation Area appraisals for other towns, including Oulton. The references at the end of each document are definitely worth a look, if you’re interested in the local history.
- “1861 England Census, Samuel Nunns (35) household, Rothwell, Yorkshire,” Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.co.uk/, accessed 30 Dec 2010, digital image, citing PRO RG9/3359, folio 6, page 5, GSU roll: 543120, Hunslet registration district, Rothwell sub-registration district, household 22, 07 April 1861.
- “1871 England Census, Samuel Nunns (44) household, Rothwell, Yorkshire,” Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.co.uk/, accessed 30 Dec 2006, digital image, citing PRO RG10/4517, folio 6, page 5, household 26, GSU roll: 848472, Hunslet registration district, Rothwell sub-registration district, 02 Apr 1871.
- “1881 England Census, Sarah Nunns (56) household, Rothwell, Yorkshire,” Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.co.uk/, accessed 05 Aug 2011, digital image, citing PRO RG11/4494, folio 5, page 3, GSU roll: 1342076, Hunslet registration district, Rothwell sub registration district, ED 1, 03 Apr 1881.
- “1881 England Census, Henry Nunns (29) household, Rothwell, Yorkshire,” Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.co.uk/, accessed 30 Dec 2006, digital image, citing PRO RG11/4494, folio 5, pp 4-5, GSU roll: 1342076, Hunslet registration district, Rothwell sub-registration district, ED 1, household 21, 03 Apr 1881.
