Cawkwells Yard and Nichollsons Yard

Lynne - 4 June 2006

I wonder if anyone can help?.

I have traced my family roots in Brigg, from 1841 right through to 1901, but have been totally unable to find 2 of the places mentioned in the census records, namely Cawkwell's Yard, and Nichollson's Yard.

I have managed to find among others, Morley's Yard, and Chapel Yard (where my great grandfather was born, and at least 20 other members of the family lived in various houses).

I have the 1906 Map of Brigg and have managed to locate Garden Alley where other family members lived, but can't find mention of either Cawkwell's Yard or Nichollson's Yard.

I would be most grateful if anyone could enlighten me as to where they were once located.

Yours Truly,

Lynne Vassallo(Mrs)

Reply: Send an email
 

Replies to Lynne's email ...

From: Lynne- 14 June 2006

Thank you and Josie so much for this extra information. It has enabled me to place exactly where my antecedents were.

The earliest Neal I have located in Brigg (John b 1783 Binbrook) was in Cawkwells Yd in 1841 and thanks to the added info about the 1851 census and the name change to Garden Alley, they were still there in 1871 (still an Ag Lab at the age of 87) Two of his 11 (possibly 13 children) settled in Chapel and a third son in Nichollson's Yd, moving to Garden Alley by the 1871 census. Those 3 sons had 27 children between them!

Heaven knows what the total will be when I have traced all of the 11 offspring.

Thanks again - Lynne Vassallo

From: Josie @ BASH - June 14, 2006

Nicholson's Yard (now Coney Court) - Market Place, Brigg

In 1826 the court was known as Nicholson's Yard and no other name was recorded until 1869, when it became Coney Court.

The new name may have been coined to commemorate a dying, if not already dead, trade. (In the mid 19th century trade directories exclaimed that in Brigg more people had formerly been employed in dressing rabbit skins than in any other place).

Cawkwell's Yard (Garden Alley) - Wrawby Street, Brigg

In 1841 this was known as Cawkwell's Yard, Charles Cawkwell was a shoemaker whose house and shop fronted this yard, 1826 - 1841.

In the 1851 census the yard was counted as part of Wrawby Street, allowing it no separate identity, and the name given in 1869 - Garden Alley - was recognition of its public function as a thoroughfare to the field-gardens. Yet the name was to change again, and by the 1930s, the owners Draper Brothers, Painters and Signwriters, were in turn recognised in the name Draper's Yard.

This yard was completely gone by the early 1970s.

Recorded occupations before 1861: labourers, workers with skin and fur, roper, shoemaker, and inescapable widows.

Josie (BASH)

From: Lynne - Friday, June 09, 2006 7:37 PM

Dear Ed,

Thank you for your reply to my enquiry with regard to the location of Cawkwell's Yard and Nichollson's Yard. As I said in my email I have located most of the places where my ancestors lived, including Garden Alley which I found on the 1906 OS map. It which no longer exists, but at least I have an idea of where it once was. It is tantalising, and I expect the info is lurking in some archive somewhere.

Thanks again for your help.

From Ed @ BriggLife - June 10, 2006

Dear Lynne,

I have had a call from Josie who runs the local historical society. She thinks that Nicholson's Yard has been built over and used to lie roughly halfway down Wrawby Street near to where Grandma's Pantry now stands. She also thinks that Cawkwell's Yard used to lie off Cary Lane.

Hope this helps.

From: Lynne -10 June 2006

Dear Ed,

Thank you for passing on the info from Josie. Our family seem to have migrated from surrounding villages, where I have traced some back to the 1700's to Brigg during the 1840s and 50's and remained until at least 1901, which is the limit of my research to date. From 1871 to 1901 there were at least 5 households of my antecedents in Chapel Yard alone. We also had 'family' in Cary Lane and in the 1880's 2 cousins were working in the Angel Hotel. I was able to visit Brigg 2 weeks ago while my disabled husband went for respite care and managed to photograph what is left of the streets where they lived, which helps to give an idea of the way it was in their day. We bought the books by the Hollands last year, and have found a few of our antecedents in photos included in them. Thanks again for passing on the info, it is much appreciated. Please pass my thanks to Josie.

Yours truly - Lynne Vassallo