Park Road - or Watery Lane?

Park Road Group

The Volunteer Inn and Park Road
The Volunteer Inn and Park Road
Impressed by the sight of a car in Park Road!
Impressed by the sight of a car in Park Road!
Sheep in Park Road c. 1970
Sheep in Park Road c. 1970

Park Road is frequently given its earlier name of Watery Lane, which more aptly describes the problems faced by the residents over the years – there is always a risk of flooding from the River Cam or water sweeping down from The Leasows.

Although there have been inevitable changes over the centuries, it is possible to get a feeling for the way that people have lived here, and this curiosity has driven the Park Road research group which has been investigating the history of this old street for some years.

Alison Gough, with Sue Badger, Geraldine Rogers and Vin  Kelly, has studied parish records, censuses, directories, books and newspapers to identify the families and their stories. Photographs taken over 100 years ago have enhanced the descriptions of people and events.

Here are four chapters of ‘The Park Road Story’: the group is inviting people to read and add more information or memories.

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Comments about this page

  • Hi, In 1881my ancestor John William Hughes was living with his family at Watery Lane Chipping Campden, in your report there seems to be other Hughes family’s in this area, living with my Hughes family is Daisy Bidder who married Charley Plunkett. I was therefore wondering if you or any of your subscribers had any more information about this family. Thank you for any help or pointers. Regards, Syd Hockey (Southampton)

    By Syd Hockey (24/11/2023)
  • Thank you for your comment Syd. I’ll pass your query on to our volunteers in the Archives team. I’m sure they’ll be able to help further.

    By Mary Fielding (28/11/2023)
  • Loved reading these articles as my family lived in Watery Lane, as it was then. I discovered that my great, great grandfather, William Taylor, died from a carbuncle in May, 1862 whilst his daughter was born in December of that year. Tough times.

    By Linda Hamlin (24/10/2022)
  • Only read the first section so far. Most interesting and to hear about the different old features of the various houses. And to see some of these photos I have not seen before. Helpful to know which houses were previously thatched too. Have we got photograph of the pages for each property in Campden in the 1910 survey? Or have we transcribed it?

    By Carol Jackson (03/07/2020)
  • Have just skimmed through. Two points: you have Bernard House as buying the Volunteer rather than Bernard Harris, The photograph taken at the front of Daphne is of my Dad and my “Aunt” Jean from Northumberland not my Mum

    By Bill Buckland (01/07/2020)

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