Victoria Street (Or Road) Nether Edge

[Lizziejampot]

Hi there. I'm new to this group and wonder if anyone here can help me with some "research" I'm doing in Nether Edge as part of the local history group there. In particular I'm trying to locate where Victoria Street (or Road) was in Nether Edge. Victoria Street is mentioned in the 1861 Census and White's 1862 Directory refers to Victoria Road. (Both sources definitely refer to Nether Edge and show the same 3 households resident there, so I'm not quite so worried about the Street/Road issue). My working theory (at the moment) is that it was the original name for either Rupert Road or possibly Herbert Road. If anyone has any ideas, I'd be really glad to hear them.

I've checked for relevant maps, but not had much success. The relevant OS map would be 1863, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to go far enough south - Nether Edge isn't shown. The original street plan for the first phase of the Nether Edge Estate (as it was known) was drafted in 1853 (by Samuel Furniss Holmes) and the road layout agreed in 1854, so the first houses were built in this part of Nether Edge no earlier than 1855. Holmes has named all the roads on his plan - except Rupert and Herbert. The roads named on the plan are:

Brincliffe Edge Road

Nether Edge Road

Ashland Road

Glen road

Byron Road

Oakhill Road

Oakdale Road

Herbert Road and the lower part for Rupert Road (from Herbert to Glen) are shown on the plan, but are not named.

The Census for 1861 and the 1862 Trade Directory imply that Victoria Street/Road followed on from Ashland Road. By 1871 the Census refers to Rupert and Herbert Roads.

[Edmund]

This advertisement shows that Rupert Road was created from Victoria Road and London Road. Herbert Road was originally Alma Road. Whoever named the originals hadn't considered the problems of duplicating road names.

[Lizziejampot]

Hello Edmund - and thank you, that's fantastic and makes an important clarification for me. I've been working on the early population of the Nether Edge Estate (so-called) and have been trying to place certain people and events. It's clear from this advert, together with other information that I have already, that part of Rupert Road was built and occupied by Spring 1857.

[vox]

This shows Rupert Road, still incomplete, in 1890/93

Oldmaps.co.uk

[Lizziejampot]

And thank you Vox. I think Rupert Road is typical of the way much of Nether Edge developed at this time, with individuals buying a plot and building their dream home, together with spec builders coming in and building others. The development was completely piecemeal, with random plots left vacant for no apparent reason.

One thing that the map shows is that Rupert Road is still truncated, so the development to the Brincliffe Edge end had not yet started. In fact there are so many interesting things on this small section of map, it almost makes my eyes water! And of course, I'd now like to know how I can access it and adjoining sheets. I'm particularly interested in the terrace of houses that that's the other (ie Glen Road) side of Alne Terrace on Rupert Road. If I'm right, then it should be Albert Terrace and is the location of "fracas" that was reported in the local press in 1857. The altercation that took place must have been between some of the earliest residents of the new estate.

[vox]

And of course, I'd now like to know how I can access it and adjoining sheets.

That's an easy one.

Oldmaps.co.uk

It's quite easy to fathom how the site works.