WILES, St Albans, late 19th century April, 2003	Answers Places St Albans
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Valerie Pepper (r.j.pepper @t blueyonder.co.uk) wrote: William and Eliza Wiles married in Bulkington, Warwickshire, 1845 and had children Lucey, Albert, Alfred? and Edwin (my great grandad)I was interested to see the article on Wiles and Lewis and wondered if there could be a connection. The 1881 census shows them living at 5 Spencer Place St Albans where William worked as a Railway porter.

The Wiles of Wiles and Lewis appears in the 1881 census as 68 year old Edward Sutton Wiles, born at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. His occupation is given as "Alderman J.P. Mayor (Tallow Chandler)" and he lived at Rose Villa, London Road, in a prime city centre position in St Albans. His home was some way from his tallow works - which were on the other side of the city centre (at the corner of Verulam Street and George Street) - and made a dreadful smell. There were many complaints - which is why a few years later the tallow works moved to Bernards Heath - and the company Wiles and Lewis was formed. He died in 1894.

Edward was the brother of 64 year old Joseph Wiles, born at Blunham, Bedfordshire, who was a corn merchant, living at 17 High Street, in the centre of St Albans. 

Your William Wiles was a 55 year old railway goods porter who was born in Bulkington, Warwickshire, and presumably moved to St Albans prior the the birth of his 15 year old son, Albert. He was living in a road where nearly all the inhabitants were clearly working class.

Apart from the fact that they have the same surname, there is nothing to suggest any connection between your William and either Edward or Joseph Wiles. There is no geographical common ground relating to place of birth, and there is a major difference in occupational and social factors (see All Things Bright and Beautiful). You may also find the page Where Railway Employees Lived of interest.