FIND OUT WHO LIVED IN YOUR HOME IN 1901, 1911, 1921 & 1939

1901 Census

In 1901 Southfields Grid was just beginning, although it seems that the Rds. were laid out in the pattern we know today, the houses were just being started – some Rds. had no completed buildings and some just a few houses.  A number of Rd. names had yet to take on the form of spelling we recognise today, and some Rds. had within them named terraces which were individually numbered.

The 1901 Census was taken on the night of the 31 March 1901, and at that time Southfields Ward was in the ecclesiastical parish of St Paul’s.   The 1901 was the last census where the entries are completed by the enumerator not the householder. 

1911 Census

By 1911 Southfields Grid had taken on the layout we know today with nearly all the house completed.  The 1911 Census was taken on the night of 2 April 1911, and Southfields Ward was still in the ecclesiastical parish of St Paul’s.   The 1911 was the first census where the entries are completed by the householder. 

Entries in blue italics indicate people who subsequently died in the 1^St World War most of whom are commemorated on the St Barnabas War Memorial with a few on other local memorials.

Red numbers indicate that the building is designated as a shop on the Census enumerators’ index.

1921 Census

By 1921 Southfields Grid was pretty much as we know it, although there were far more shops than we have today.  The 1921 Census was taken on the night of the 19June 1921, having been delayed by two months due to industrial unrest. Despite St Barnabas Church having been around for more than ten years Southfields Ward is still shown as being in the ecclesiastical parish of St Paul’s.  

For the first time people were asked to give not only their occupation but the name of their employer where applicable, however unoccupied properties are no longer shown.

1939 Register

The 1931 Census was taken on 26 April 1931 and the individual returns for England & Wales were stored at the Office of Works Stores at Hayes in Middlesex. Despite special fire hydrants and paid fire watchers on the night of 19Dec 1942 fire broke out, and the 1931 Census records for England & Wales were destroyed.  The cause of the fire was never established although enemy action was ruled out.

There was no Census taken in 1941 because of the war, so the only available resource for this period is the 1939 Register.  This register was taken on 29 Sept 1939 and was initially used for the issue of identity cards and ration books.  It was however continually updated while National Registration was in force, when it was a legal requirement to notify the registration authorities of any change of name or address. This ended in 1952, but since 1948 the Register had also been used by the National Health Service, who continued updating the records until 1991, when paper-based record keeping was discontinued.

The 1939 Register shows name age address gender and occupation like the Census did, and it also identified members of the voluntary and auxiliary services. Changes of Surname are shown in brackets and voluntary/auxiliary work after occupation.  Again the red numbers indicate the buildings we think are shops.

Red numbers indicate the buildings we think are shops.

1901. 1911, 1921 Census and 1939 Register returns by Rd./St.

There are 5 columns: House/Flat number, surname, first name, age, occupation

To access the census returns for both 1901, 1911, 1921 & 1939 please press on the emboldened Rd/St. name.

The Southfields Grid Residents’ Association sincerely thank Sarah Williams who, with her husband, Clive, has patiently and diligently trawled through the 1901, 1911 & 1921 censuses and 1939 Register.