Cirencester Forum

Etsi · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 9:42 am Post subject: Church Street mystery!

I’m trying to find information about my grandmother (Gladys Kent).

Very little is known about her early life, but I do know from the 1901 census that she was then living at 15 Church Street, Cirencester with her parents and siblings.

A while ago I visited Cirencester and located Church Street, but then wasn’t sure if I’d found the right house – there seems to be a bit of a mystery!
The house numbering goes from 11 to 17, with only one house in between – is this house number 13 or 15?

At first I thought that perhaps through superstition the 13 had been omitted in the numbering, but I checked the census form and a No 13 is listed on that ….. so where is the missing house?!

I did knock at the door, but got no answer.
I’ve also since written to the address, but again received no answer.

There was no number on the door of the house in question, so I’m still not sure if this is the house in which my grandmother used to live.

I’m hoping that someone might know that area and be able to help me sort this mystery out.
Any information at all about the “missing” house (or any ideas about who might be able to help me further) will be much appreciated.

JennieW · Joined: 15 Feb 2010 Posts: 3 Location: cirencester

Could it prehaps be posibble that the house numbers are split - upstairs / downstairs. 2 houses in 1. A lot where I live in Cirencester are like that.

Etsi · Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your suggestion Jennie – perhaps that is the way it is, but I would assume that there still should be two entrance doors if that is the case.

I remember that the house seemed to be quite big, so maybe two have been made into one – that could explain the disappearance of 13 or 15 (I don’t know which number should now be on that door!).

If you live close by and you’re passing Church Street sometime, perhaps you could find time to have a quick look and see what you think might have happened there.

Another thought I’ve had ….. is it possible that there’s another Church Street in Cirencester?
The Church Street I’m looking at is between King and Queen Streets – I would imagine that there is only one street of that name though.

Regards,
Les