A collection of posts including cemeteries, canals, WW1, WW2, family history, and other research I have carried out
History
Today I had a useful but somewhat depressing morning at the Staffordshire Archives, researching the nine WW1 Commonwealth War Graves Commission graves at Burntwood Asylum. This has brought me a step closer to creating articles and videos on each of their tragic stories. I am so engrossed in this field
History
In October 2025 I filmed this walk around the Burntwood Asylum Graveyard, now known as Coulter Lane Burial Ground. There are nine CWGC graves there from WW1, which I have photographed for Find a Grave. I am planning to research these soldiers, most of whom were tragically "discharged insane&
History
This week I went down into the Crypt at St Editha’s in Tamworth, to have a look around, and learn about the history of its amazing charnel house. You can watch the video on YouTube or read my research below. There have been churches on the same site in
History
One brother lost his life, the other lost the life he knew.
History
It is often assumed that the burial ground between Aldergate and the Library in Tamworth is part of St Editha's churchyard, but that is not the case. It is actually a separate cemetery, built on land donated by Hester Wolferstan in 1851. She was following in the footsteps
History
In the video I walked around the village of Eyam in the Peak District, and explored the churchyard, the Riley graves, and some of the other stories and locations associated with the plague from 1665 to 1666. I also popped into the friendly little museum in the village, which I
History
Keely and I braved the rain to clean two recently-defaced slate headstones at Aldergate Cemetery in Tamworth. We were joined by Keely's friendly rescue dog, Ziggy. These are the headstones of Elizabeth Pallett (died 1855), William Barker (died 1866), Eliza Barker (died 1871), and Samuel Barker (died
History
Recently I researched a well-known 'ghost story' about an accident in Blisworth Tunnel. This tragic tale took place in September 1861, just ten months after the introduction of steamboats on the Grand Junction Canal. Sometimes narrowboaters say that when they go through Blisworth Tunnel they can hear
History
Richard Tetstall was one of my paternal 4 x great grandfathers. A great deal of mystery still surrounds him, which is frustrating as he was a builder of narrowboats, and I currently work part time in a boatyard! This is what I know about him so far. Richard was probably
History
The right hand lock cottage overlooking Glascote top lock, number 2 The Locks, has long been associated with the boatyard at Glascote Basin. Before Norton Canes came to the basin, it was the home of the boatbuilder Steve Hudson. For many years, from before 1881 to 1929, the Allsop family
History
A brief introduction to the history of the Wyrley and Essington Canal
History
A introduction to the Midland Region canals in 1918