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Searching for "Bodenslane" — Drogheda, Co. Louth (1880s)

Hello,

I'm researching my great-grandfather and have hit a wall on a place name I can't locate anywhere in modern records.

I have his birth certificate, which reads:

James Moore, born 20 September 1884

Father: Patrick Moore, of Bodenslane

Mother: Margaret Moore, née McGormon

Registered in the district of St. Peter's West Ward, in the Superintendent Registrar's District of Drogheda, County Louth

"Bodenslane" (spelled that way twice on the certificate, clearly and consistently by the registrar) doesn't appear in the Logainm placenames database, the County Louth townland lists, or any street index I can find. Since it was registered under an urban ward rather than a rural civil parish, I suspect it was a lane or row within Drogheda town itself — possibly one that no longer exists or was renamed.

Does anyone recognise this name, or know of a lane/row in that part of Drogheda in the 1880s that might match? Any leads — old maps, local memory, cemetery or parish records — would be hugely appreciated.

Many thanks,

Willie

Willie C

7 replies

Handran's "Townlands in Poor Law Unions", based on 1880s data, lists a 'Bowden's lane' in St. Peter's, Borough of Drogheda

Drogheda is included in the Irish Historic Town Atlas collection (IHTA 29), includes an entry for the lane as follows :

"Bowden’s Lane (Lower Mell S., 707857, 775540). Bowden’s Lane 1851

(Val. 2a). Unnamed 1868; Bowden’s Lane 1870 (OS),

1886 (Poor law union townlands, 170), 1908; unnamed

1938; closed by c. 2016 (OS)."

UCD Digital Archive include some OSI maps of Drogheda dated c1870. which might show the land - see : Drogheda 19thC OS Maps

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Found it on the c1900 OSI Map - it was located off the road to the west of Trinity Street, across the river Boyne from Rathmullen.

The main street is captioned 'Lwr Mell' in the lane would have been close to 'Willow Grove' and beside Abbey Celtic FC

Try this link for the OSI Map : Link (switch to the 25 inch map in the Basemap Gallery for the c1900)

The lane is on Map Sheet 7 in c1870 map sheet in the UCD collection - see : Drogheda Sheet 7

See just west of the Mell Brewery (click on the maps to activate to viewer mode)

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Shane. Well..that was quick!. I was expecting a wait so I'm super impressed. Thank you so much!! What do you reckon about the spelling? It's clearly 'Bodendslane' all one word on my great great-grandfathers birth certificate - but it has to be it surely? 

Thank you Shane! I'm off down the rabbit hole now!

Regards 

Willie 

Willie C

I would not be concerned by the variation in spelling, very common back then. In any case the location fits and nothing else come close to matching - St. Peter's West Ward Co. Louth, so north of the Boyne to the west of the town. There was an Edward Bowden that held land nearby in the early 1800s who might have a connection to the area.

The registrar would record the place of birth etc based on what he was told, or heard, by the informant, in this case the child's mother Margaret. She seems to have been illiterate as she 'signed' with her mark - the registrar was supposed to double check the location , using townland index or street lists, to ensure it was within the right district but in this case seems to have take it as he heard it.

Taking a look at that 1884 register page - the registrar seems to have a habit of running words in placenames together - see below Peter Street & Green lanes (*):

I think there might be a very slight space and a hint of an apostrophe in the first mention of the lane on that birth :

(** Green Lane is noted on the c1840 map and 1880s listings, current Google maps shows it as 'Greenlanes' and OSI maps as 'The Green Lanes')

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

Willie,

Here's a transcription that says "Boden's Lane."

Name:Patrick Francis MooreDate of Birth:
  Date of Baptism:20-Oct-1889
Address:Boden's LaneParish/District:MELLIFONT
Gender:UnknownCountyCo. Louth
Denomination:Roman Catholic
Father:Patrick MooreMother:Margaret Mcconnon
Occupation:
Sponsor 1 /Informant 1:Patrick MaloneSponsor 2 /Informant 2:Bridget Swift
Notes:
/BRIGID MCGUIRK 02111910 ST PETER'S DROGHEDA /

glanvil3@aol.com

Patricia.

Many thanks for your observations.

Very much appreciated!

Regs

Willie

I just looked at that again. Is the above a brother of James?

Willie C

Another birth for the family a Patrick born January 1897 - the 1st Patrick must have died young

Loughboy is an alternate name for the area around Boden's/Bowden's lane - you might also see Mel townland, or Moneymore townland.

shanew147IrelandXO Volunteer

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