Research Forum

Hamilton Villa, South Road
published by Eddie Prest on Mon, 01/02/2021 - 16:02

I am researching Hamilton Villa in South Road from the period 1860-1900. My great grandfather’s brother was living there at the time of his death in 1890, so I would like a street directory screen shot for my family history records, and any old photos of the houses opposite Prince Consort Gardens, which was still South Road back in those days.

Can I access census records just by using Hamilton Villa as a link, as I would like to know who also lived there between those years?

many thanks

Eddie Prest

Comments ..

Submitted by Pat Hase on Wed, 03/02/2021 - 0:32

I know this is not in your time frame but in 1920 Henry BUTT got planning permission to convert Hamilton House at 5 South Road into flats. As with all his conversions it was then called Hamilton Mansions. Was this the same house? If so it was on the north side of South Road and can be found on early maps. Am I correct in thinking it is the house marked in red on this map?

Unfortunately I do not have access at home to a directory for years before 1900 but the censuses do reveal who lived there but yes you can search by address on Findmypast, however, do not put in Weston-super-mare just use South Road and the county Somerset. I did notice that in 1891 it was called Hamilton Villa and a John COOK was head of the household. You can get an image of the house today - Hamilton Mansions - on google street view.

Submitted by Eddie Prest on Tue, 09/02/2021 - 8:57

Thank you Pat. Yes that’s the correct house highlighted.

Submitted by Bill Caple on Mon, 08/02/2021 - 13:10

In 1915 No 5 was Hamilton House and was occupied by a Miss Maddicks, No 7 was Buckingham Villa. I believe the properties above Prince Consorts Gardens were in Kewstoke Road not South Road

Submitted by Eddie Prest on Tue, 09/02/2021 - 8:58

Thank you Bill. This is the correct property.

Submitted by on Tue, 09/02/2021 - 8:27

This is from Kelly's directory of Somerset from 1897.

You can view and download a number of directories from around this time in searchable pdf format from a special collection at the University of Leicester:

http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/digital/collection/p16445coll4/search/searchterm/Somerset/field/place/mode/exact/conn/and/order/nosort

I hope this may be helpful.

Submitted by Eddie Prest on Tue, 09/02/2021 - 9:01

Thank you Richard. This is really useful information as not only does it show Harriet as a widow still living there 7 years after husbands death, it also notes Alexander, one of the brothers operating as a butcher in West Street (something I already knew).