What were alleyways used for?

An alley is a narrow lane for pedestrians or service that runs between or behind buildings. Alleys used to be planned into cities for trash access, deliveries, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical services, fire engines, and for parking.

Who owns the alleyway behind my house?

There are usually only two kinds of people and organisations who can own an alleyway: either your local authority or one (or more) of the people who live in your street. These are known as footpaths, and the public has a right of way to use them. The Highways Authority is responsible for keeping them clean and usable.

Can I buy the alley behind my house?

It depends on who has technical ownership of the alley. If it is in private hands you may have a ownership interest. However, if a public entity has title to the alley you can not get an ownership interest.

What is considered an alleyway?

An alley or alleyway is a narrow lane, path, or passageway, often reserved for pedestrians, which usually runs between, behind, or within buildings in the older parts of towns and cities. It is also a rear access or service road (back lane), or a path, walk, or avenue (French allée) in a park or garden.

Why do old neighborhoods have alleys?

In the 19th century, American cities used alleys to hide the more utilitarian, less attractive functions of urban life including service and servant access, barns for horses and carriages, and even small shops and areas for children to play.

Is there a difference between alley and alleyway?

As nouns the difference between alleyway and alley is that alleyway is a narrow street formed by the proximity of adjacent buildings while alley is a narrow street or passageway, especially one through the middle of a block giving access to the rear of lots or buildings or alley can be a glass marble or taw.

Why are there alleys behind houses?

The primary role of alleys has traditionally been to hide the more unsightly functions of our communities; the garages, garbage cans, transformers, electric meters, and telephone equipment. In older cities, alleys are being rediscovered as people places.

Who owns an alley?

Streets and alleys are publicly owned rights-of-way and, as such, must be accessible to all members of the public street or alley in order to restrict access to residents. Cities are permitted to abandon (vacate) a street or alley if the property in question is unnecessary for present or future right-of-way purposes.

Does New York have alleys?

There are alleys in New York City; the majority of them however are not in Manhattan, but in the outlying boroughs of the city, especially Queens and Brooklyn. This is in part due to the fact that Manhattan doesn’t have the room for too many alleys, give its high population and its densely packed infrastructure.

Why do alleyways exist?

What is the purpose of alleys in residential areas?

In residential areas, particularly in those that were built before 1950, alleys provide rear access to property where a garage was located, or where waste could be collected by service vehicles. A benefit of this was the location of these activities to the rear, less public side of a dwelling.

What are the different types of alleys in Greenwich Village?

Two notable alleys in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in Manhattan are MacDougal Alley and Washington Mews. The latter is a blind alley or cul-de-sac. Greenwich Village also has a number of private alleys that lead to back houses, which can only be accessed by residents, including Grove Court, Patchin Place and Milligan Place, all blind alleys.

Where can you find historic alleys in America?

Some historic alleys are found in older American and Canadian cities, like New York City, Philadelphia, Charleston, South Carolina, Boston, Annapolis, New Castle, Delaware, Quebec City, St John’s, Newfoundland, and Victoria, British Columbia .

What is Exchange Alley in London known for?

In an old neighbourhood of the City of London, Exchange Alley or Change Alley is a narrow alleyway connecting shops and coffeehouses. It served as a convenient shortcut from the Royal Exchange on Cornhill to the Post Office on Lombard Street and remains as one of a number of alleys linking the two streets.