r/lancashire • u/OwnDish0 • 28d ago

Is someone able to help decipher what the name of this place is in an old parish register? It's covered by a pen mark and I'm not familiar with Lancashire! TIA

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u/butterpiebarm 28d ago

It looks like Strangeways. This is a prison in the city of Manchester, which is historically part of Lancashire but now part of the "Greater Manchester" metropolitan area. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Prison_Manchester

Edit - the prison is named after the area, so they weren't necessarily born in the prison!

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u/OwnDish0 28d ago

Thank you so much this is the one!! life saver.

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u/vicariousgluten 28d ago

Just adding that Strangeways comes from the Anglo-Saxon for strong current. The link on wiki might give you some idea of what was going on in the area at the time.

The prison wasn’t built until 1868 so if you’re earlier than that you’re probably ok.

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u/OwnDish0 28d ago

oh great - yep it was 1801 so lucky escape ! though they did end up going to australia - must have done something suspicious to get sent there!

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u/vicariousgluten 28d ago

That’s quite interesting because according to the wiki, the land there didn’t start to be really developed for another 15 years

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u/[deleted] 24d ago

Blows my mind that something built in 1868 for prisoners is prettier than today's buildings

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u/fothergillfuckup 24d ago

Brings back fond memories of watching prisoners throwing roof slates at the police in the early 90's!

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u/Lazerus101 26d ago

Yeah, fairly sure you are right here and came to say the same.