Catshill CNSD

[Lafiteau]

My grandfather was born in Catshill Bromsgrove in 1881. In the 'where born' column of the birth certificate it says 'Catshill Bromsgrove CNSD'. Does anyone know what this stands for in this context? Mother's address is simply given as Catshill Bromsgrove.

[dot.hawkes]

Probably Catshill North Sub-District

[Lafiteau]

Thanks, that's the best I've had so far. I'm wondering if there was a nursing home there in 1881 or why my great grandmother, a 28 year old, single warehouse girl who had been living in Harbourne (Census 1881) appears in Catshill to give birth.(May 1881)

[dot.hawkes]

Probably she went to family to have the baby, a married sister or grandparents possibly. have you searched the 1881 for a familiar family surname?

i have three reference books that list census registration districts and sub districts,
Index to Census Registration Distircts - M E bryant Rosier (1993)
Making use Of the Census - Susan Lumis - 1992
and
St catherine House Districts - ray Wiggins

Bromsgrove sub-districts were Belbroughton and tardegate. according to wiggins

On the 1891 census, is your grandfathers birth place recoded as catshill?

[Lafiteau]

The Harborne address, was relatives. Uncle Watkin Wynn and his family. She is mentioned as niece.
In the 1891 census, my grandfather is recorded as having been born in Bromsgrove.
Her home address was Warrington, though now I have the further complication that her father was born in Lancashire and his 'brother' in Kidderminster

[dot.hawkes]

There must be a reason for the movong about, it is possible there is a canal or railway connection

[Lafiteau]

That's something I have to look in to. Uncle Watkin was a clerk at an iron works, dad, John Wynn a wire drawer. Pinning down where John was born is proving difficult, though I have a christening for Watkin in 1828 in Kidderminster. This takes me a long way from my original search, for the location in Catshill where my grandfather was born.

[echokilo]

Have seen USD on some certificates - and this means Urban Sanitary District ..... so am guessing that's what the "SD" means ... other than that I can't help... sorry
x

[madmaggot]

There was near Catshill an insane asylum called Barnsley Hall. It may be that your Grandfather was illegitimate; sometimes at that time single mothers were committed. I am unaware of this place ever being a nursing home but it's possible.

[Lafiteau]

Thats interesting. My grandfather was illegitimate, we knew that, but what you say makes sense. I'll do some research on Barnsley Hall, unless you know any more? Is it well documented? Later she seems to have been 'married off' to a much older man, a widower. Thanks for giving me another avenue to explore.

[madmaggot]

Barnsley Hall was demolished a few years ago and there's now a housing estate on the site. It was a fantastic gothic building, very gloomy. I don't know how well documented it is; I know about it because I was brought up in the area. (Local saying: 'You'll end up in BH if you carry on like that'.)
If you can't find anything on line I would suggest ringing Bromsgrove Library or the History Dept of NEW College.

[madmaggot]

Try here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/searche s/subjectView.asp?ID=O53128

[Lafiteau]

I did find something online about Barnsley Hall. Unfortunately it was built in 1905 and my grandfather was born in 1881. I'll try the National Archives link, thanks.

[madmaggot]

I thought it was a private asylum before 1905 when the local authority took it over.

[Lafiteau]

From what I can gather. Architect George Thomas Hine, who was a noted asylum architect, designed and built the place. In the asylum records, it says nothing about its former use (which it does for some asylums), only that Barnsley Hall was built to ease the overcrowding at Powick asylum. Why do you think it was a private establishment before?