All my grand parents were from the back to backs in the 1800's. My dad's mum and dad must of met each other that way as they were married from the same court in Branston St Hockley. According to their wedding documents. When I was a lad back in the fifties my dad told me a couple of stories about the "courts" as he knew them. At my dad's place of work back in the 20's a man was badly hurt and had to go to hospital, dad was sent (on his new motorbike!) to tell the man's wife.He parked his bike outside the court and went in.He knocked on the first door and enquired if mrs xxxx lived there, "never heard of her" was the reply, and the same all the way round until he got to the last door, "what do you want her for?" asked the woman. Dad explained, "Oh" was the reply " she lives there" said the woman, pointing to the first door he had tried! They didn't all get on but if they felt a threat they closed ranks instantly such was the bond of the small comunities.
I was asking dad about old Aston and the courts, " you wouldn't have wanted to live there in my days " he said. "The toilets were big containers under the seat, like an Elsan. Every week they were emptied by the "night soil men" and when they were due everyone closed all the windows and bunged up any holes because the flies were everywhere". I have heard of the "night soil men "in books but never the bit about the flies!