Genealogy Chat

I have been trying to find the house that my husband's grandfather lived, at the time of the 1881 census, he lived there with his grandparents. I am wondering if anyone here may be able to help. It is Grange House, Flaxley, Gloucestershire. We went to the Cinderford area a few weeks ago, but was sent in so many different directions, looking for the house, we gave up and came home. m

I tried to find my g.gran's house in West Burton, using the 1881 census. Then, as now, the houses either had names only or 'private house'. So I counted up .... x number of houses from the Post Office, and y number of houses from the Methodist Chapel. I thought I was so brill. it couldn't fail. Well, 122 years later, both the Methodist chapel and the Post Office had changed location --and more houses had been built, so I was out of luck. I must not have been thinking straight!! But, you never know, maybe if you do the same thing, you might at least get some idea of the general direction to look. I hope you are successful. Hazel

Hazel, I have done exactly the same thing, so many from Flaxley Abbey and so many from St. Whites Farm. When I go in search of it again, in the right area, I will probably find housing estates, new roads, etc.. Well, I live in hope of finding it.

Hi Michelle Have you tried to look Flaxley up on this site. www(.)old-maps(.)co(.)uk/ copy and take out the brackets There is an old map of 1891 of Flaxley. Once you get to the site choose gazeteer, then Gloucestershire, then Flaxley. Zoom in scroll about and you may find it. I couldn't but it may be the Vicarage (they were often called "The Grange". John

Hello Michelle Try Multimap.com I have found a couple of houses that are still standing. Shirley

Michelle: when I was a child (1940s) there was a old ruined house down in the valley beyond Littledean referred to as the Old Grange. It was at that time derelict, roof fallen in, but it had been a substantial house. Would this be the house you were looking for? No doubt gone now.

Michelle: Just had a look at the ordnance survey may and the Grange and Grange village is marked on the road from Littledean to Newnham. You need to go there and find a very very old resident and ask them! Dean Heritage centre are very helpful and will take a query although the answer may be a few days in coming as the experts are part time.

An 1830 reference gives "Flaxley Grange" as being in Newnham. The only ref I could find on the 1891 OS map was "The Grange" just to the south of Littledean, opposite to Dean Hall, which I believe is now called Little Dean Hall. John

Michelle, On the 1881 census select "next household" and "previous household" to see the streets the neighbours were on. This might help you narrow things down a bit. Crista

Thank you all very much for your replies. Been looking at the old map and multi maps for at least an hour now and my husband and I believe it is in the area we were searching three weeks ago. In Littledean off Broad Street, there is a Grange Road leading to Sutton Road and this is where we think it is or would have been. I have been on 1881 census and actually written down at least 15 properties either side of Grange House. Grateful for any more info.

Sent email to Dean Heritage Centre, hopefully they will know. Otherwise, its back up to Littledean, look for the oldest resident we can find and ask them. This is now becoming an obsession,I am very sad. I will then have to start on my family in Bedminster, Cornwall and monmouthshire.

I hope you and your husband find 'The Grange' you deserve success after all your efforts. Let us know how things go. We all take an interest in each others searches. Hazel