Showing posts with label St Dunstan's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St Dunstan's. Show all posts

Tuesday, 28 July 2009

Where in the world? The joy of maps

London evolves daily - a quick skyline scan by the Thames reveals thirty or so cranes, busy adding more layers of humanity to this already ancient city.

I have ancestors who came to London from rural areas in the 18th and 19th centuries, no doubt seeking work (it's why I moved here in the 21st century!). One man, William Grix, is noted in his father's will as being a milkman in Stepney. The couple's five children were baptised at St Dunstan's and I found William's widow living in Edward Street in 1841.

Trying to find Edward Street using contemporary maps proved fruitless and then I found a great site that showcases Greenwood's Map of London from 1827 (for free!). Within a couple of minutes I had found Edward Street - and then using Streetmap pinpointed the current location: more or less under a railway line by the Regent's Canal.
Oh, and then of course using Google Maps Streetview, I can see exactly what the street looks like now...
No prizes for guessing where I am off to tomorrow!