In a message dated 07/02/2004 22:44:09 GMT Standard Time, alvinjon@telusplanet.net writes: > Hello List, > I have just subscribed in hopes of finding some information on my ancestor > James FOWLER. He is shown on the 1881 census living with wife Sussanna at > Manor House St. Giles Durham, occupation Alderman, age 64 On the 1991 census he > is at the same address with second wife Jane,occupation Provision Merchant. > Can some kind person tell me what a provision merchant sold and how can I find > out if manor house was just a house or a pub,and is it still standing.If he > was an Alderman are there any records I can check for more information on > that too. I would really appreciate any help you can give me. > Best wishes, Dot Johnston Canada. > Dot: The Durham Directory for 1895 includes an obituary for James Fowler. He is described as "Alderman, JP, of Manor House, Gilesgate, grocer, five times Mayor of Durham". He died on 24 February 1894. I doubt whether "Manor House" was a pub. It would probably be a large detached house standing in its own grounds. Whether it ever was truly a "manor house" (ie the residence of the Lord of the Manor and the centre of its administration) is open to doubt. If ever Gilesgate was a manor of its own, the lordship would have belonged to either the Bishop of Durham (and therefore now to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners) or else to Kepier Hospital, whose property came into lay hands after the Reformation and passed through several families, its ownership gradually being fragmented. A provision merchant was someone who dealt in provisions - ie a grocer, as stated in the Durham Directory. However, perhaps he was not so much a corner shop-keeper as a grocery wholesaler, perhaps with a chain of grocery shops. In modern British terms, more of a Lord Sainsbury than an Arkwright who needed to be "open all hours"! You could check the second edition of the OS maps (possibly the Godfrey Edition might help). Also, Durham County Record Office's on-line catalogue might help, as might an enquiry to Durham County Library Service. The Record Office might be persuaded, for a fee which you should enquire about in advance, to send you a photocopy of the Durham Directory Obituary. Best wishes, Geoff Nicholson 57 Manor Park, Concord, WASHINGTON, Tyne & Wear NE37 2BU (0191 417 9546) Professional Genealogist - Northumberland and Co Durham.