Elgin Street, Bacup

[steve618]

. . . has lost its title as the shortest street to a much shorter candidate in Wick. But I can’t find a map that shows it – and neither apparently can the residents when they complained about the new record holder on a local forum: see

http://www.rossendaleonline.co.uk/rosse ... t-183.html

Can anyone supply one?

[Nicholas]

No, but I have marked it on the attached map. It's more of a ginnel than a street!

I don't know how Ebenezer Place has managed to get in, I cannot tell it apart from Union Street! Would have helped if a sign was put up, moreso than Elgin Street.

EDIT: Ebenezer Place isn't even in Highland Council's list of adopted roads, nor does Royal Mail recognise it!

[steve618]

As far as I’m concerned Ebenezer Place is kosher. The Rossendale online thread dismisses it as a new and purpose built street but it seems to have been around since 1883 – it’s just taken a long time for someone to realise they had it there. As for the Royal Mail, I can’t find a postcode for Elgin Street either.

Can any locals report on whether Elgin Street has some sort of sign to identify it? I’m almost wondering if it’s an urban myth.

The thread ignores the even shorter street of Trianglen in the Danish town of Store Heddinge at 6ft 1in (Ebenezer Place is 6ft 9ins), so Elgin Street could only ever have held the British record, not the world record.

[Dazzler]

It does seem a tad strange as it's entirely closed in. The Elgin Street Workshops mentioned in the initial thread of the link has its address on Lord Street, not near to or next to. Having said that the whole area looks laced in history so who knows how significant it is, it may well be the remnant of something far grander. That would certainly explain its length, I can't see anything of that length being given a name otherwise.

As a side another thread a while ago talked about estate names where it used to be common practice to name every nook and cranny whereas later estates tend to incorporate the turnings with a handful of properties along with the 'main' road. I only mention it because the new brand estate I've moved to has a few parking areas with just a couple of coach houses with garages beneath but they've been given their own 'street' names. Perhaps a new thread for unnecessary street names?

[steve618]

First post of the new year. Happy Hogmanay to all.

Ebenezer Place does have a sign to identify it – see for example

http://www.mackayshotel.co.uk/worldrecord.php

Meanwhile Elgin Street may be able to claim a new record as the shortest cul de sac, which does not seem to be well documented. The only candidate I could find was Leigh Hunt Street in Southwark –

http://realcycling.blogspot.com/2010/06 ... treet.html

[Nicholas]

First post of the new year. Happy Hogmanay to all.

Ebenezer Place does have a sign to identify it – see for example

http://www.mackayshotel.co.uk/worldrecord.php

I did spot that... after about the fourth attempt - due to the height could that just be seen as a plaque to identify the name of the building, especially as the year of construction is directly beneath.

[steve618]

A photograph of Elgin Street's nameplate has appeared thanks to a link on the Rossendale Online thread:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=18052192

Also a photograph of part of the street itself - could have done better I think.