Ian, The historical background pages of the London Lives website are informative: http://www.londonlives.org/static/AHDSWHD.jsp#toc2 "... In Westminster the franchise was in effect limited to men who paid rates in support of the poor. Voter's names and the details of who they cast their votes for were recorded. Because Westminster returned two MPs, every voter cast two votes, allowing each voter to split their support between candidates or to cast both votes for a single candidate. Beyond this Poll Books could contain information about the address and occupation of the voter, his religious status, the basis for his qualification to vote, and the assessed rental value of his house. Normally kept at the public hustings, the Poll Book was cross-checked against the relevant Rate Book to confirm the status of each individual voter . . ." [etc.] Which suggests that he wasn't necessarily the owner of property, but simply a rate-payer. I may be wrong, but I believe Westminster was the only Middlesex borough where all male rate-payers had a vote at this period. HTH Judy London, UK -----Original Message----- From: middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:middlesex_county_uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Ian Buckley On the London Lives website I found a record dated 1818 relating to an ancestor - Westminster Ratebooks: Property values of Westminster Electors. The record gives the 'rack rental value' (£15) of his address in Stafford Place. My question - does the fact that he appears as a Westminster Elector imply anything about his social status? Or were all male residents of Westminster described as Electors? Does the record imply that he owned the property, or may he simply have been renting it?

Hi all This is something I never thought to ask before - would anyone have any knowledge regarding the Saracens Head Hotel or Inn at Carter's Lane, Snow Hill, Holborn? My great-great aunt, Ellen Bennett born 1839, Soho, Westminster was the housekeeper of this hotel (1881 census), a reasonably important position no doubt, but she disappears from view come the 1891 census and I have not a clue what happened to her. I have a reasonable amount of information from history re. the Saracen's Head, but anything anyone may have would be appreciated, especially any information re. the staff/servants etc. of the hotel 1870s-1900s. By the way do you think that Sun Hill in "The Bill," is really Snow Hill? Cheers Graham Melboujrne Oz