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Hello I was wondering if anybody might be able to help me. I have received a birth certificate and where it says where and when born it has the date, which was 1855, and then 'back street'. The place of residence when registered was Prospect Place Exeter. So does that mean she was born down a back street or a place called Back Street?! Hope this is not a stupid question. I would welcome any opinions. Louisex

Sorry, think Im being thick here. You say when it was registered it says Prospect Place? On what does it say back street?

I would imagine that was the name of the street. Whitehaven once had three rows of houses called Front Row, Middle Row and Back Row. Indeed, if you Google 'back street' Exeter you will find references to it.

Heather, I think Louise means that under the date of birth it gives place of birth as 'back street' and after the person who registered the birth, it gives their place of residence as Prospect Place. Kath. x

Heather, it says back street on the first column where the heading in 'when and where born'. In all of my previous certificates it usually has the same address as the residence when registered. Sorry if I'm not making sense,Louisex

Strange, eh. I wonder if someone knows Exeter well. If Prospect Place was a really expensive square or something, perhaps servants quarters were round the back? (Like in the expensive areas of London then?) What were the parents jobs? In all the little towns/villages I have lived in there is usually a Back Street or Back Road or Back Lane behind the most prominent street in the community. No, Louise, its me, I think I am getting tired!!

Louise My ggrandmother was born at her grandparents house so her place of birth is 4 Wellington Road but the address in the other column is 65 Newman Street. Lou

Louise If the actual address was Back Street it should be in capitals. As stated above, Back Street was a common name for a minor road that was behind the main/high street in a village or town. nell

Thanks Geoff, I did google back street in Exeter but nothing came up. I thought I knew Exeter fairly well as I live nearby but I don't even know where Prospect Place is Heather so obviously not! Louisex

Thanks Lou and Nell, the words back street are not in capitals which was what made me wonder. Louisex

Hi Susan, thanks I think I know where it is vaguely, I have definitely heard of it, I'll have to go and have a look. Louisex

Going down to st thomas tomorrow will have a look for you , lived in Exeter all my life but not seen back street but you never know. Lita

Thanks Lita Louisex

Thank you Gwen, I'll have a look Louisex No, it doesn't come up on there. As people have said however it may have been a small street tucked away somewhere and not perhaps recognised properly.

There are four references in old directories to Back Street, Exeter here: http://www.devon.gov.uk/library/locstudy/bookhist/devrew.html (after the page has loaded, do Ctrl-F to search for Chave)

Hi Louise looked this morning its all new buildings down there now, are you sure it said Back street as i know there was a Rack street but that was in the west quater behind what is the market now.Have you looked on 1851 if not i will look for you. Lita

Thanks Geoff I will take at look at that. Lita have mailed you. Louisex

I had ancestors that lived at Back Street, Cheadle, Staffs. It was simply a road that ran above the main high street.

Thanks very much for all your ideas. Louisex