History The Coal Man and the Goat A few years ago, I posted a picture of a house up for auction. It turned out that Kev (formerly of Bickerstaffe Boats) knew the property well...
History My mother's German penpals - can you help? Before the war, my mother Margaret Whitehead corresponded with a German girl, Christa Leidhold, and two young men from Germany.
History #12 James Whitehead, 1856-1941 My great grandfather James Whitehead was born on 7th April 1856 in North Aston, Oxfordshire.
History #16 John Joseph Green, 1846-1899 John Joseph Green, a boiler maker and iron rivetter, was my 2 x Great Grandfather. He was born on 9th October 1846 in New Street, Deptford, London.
History Private Walter Thomas Ewart Harris, in from the cold I uncovered Walter's story as part of my research into Wootton Bassett's WW1 history, and I am immensely proud that he now has the recognition he deserves.
History The History of Lock 57 Cottage and Belvedere House, Hassall Green Belvedere House made a particularly interesting research project, which I hope the new owner will enjoy. Spoiler alert, it isn't a warehouse!
History How old is that narrowboat? If you spot an old boat on the waterways and you want to find out its age, and something about it, here's how.
History Edward Leighfield of Wootton Bassett A collaborative research mini-project for the Family and Community Historical Research Society, 2019, themed around gardeners.
History #14 Joseph Sear, 1863-1941 My great grandfather Joseph Sear was born on 13th October 1863, at 36 Clarendon Square, St Pancras.
History Twiggli Family Tree Generator In 2017 one of my genealogy customers was looking through the report I’d prepared for him. Although he was pleased, there was clearly something wrong....
History A Twist in the Tale on the Grand Union Canal Was it suicide or was it murder? Early on the morning in July 1880, a pair of horse boats loaded with chalk left Stoke Hammond lock...
History The History of The Elms, Benwick I wrote this history of The Elms, in Benwick, when I was selling it as a canalside homes estate agent in 2022. The property sold and is now in new hands.
History Edwin Brown, Foxhangers Lock Cottage and Semington Lock House Edwin Brown was the lock keeper at the bottom of the Caen Hill flight and at Semington Lock House.
History George Brain, Carpenter's Crew (1889-1914) The story of Carpenter's Crew George Brain, from Glascote, who was drowned on Hospital Ship Rohilla on 30th October 1914.
History Sarah Gerrish, cake seller, (c.1805-1862) Mysteries are both the joy and the challenge of genealogy. Sarah Gerrish's story is one of these.
History Reliant and Metrocab, Basin Lane, Glascote Where I live between Glascote Locks was once the location for the moulding factories producing Scimitars and Robin Reliants.
History 15 Family History Writing Challenges Do you want to write or blog about family history, but you don't know where to begin? This post lists 13 challenges to help you get started... and keep going!
History A baby at Sydney Wharf (1878-1878) A sad little story of a baby drowned in the Kennet and Avon Canal at Sydney Wharf near Bath.
History Coy-Sgt-Major Alfred Allbrighton (1891-1917) The story of Alfred Allbrighton, who lived in Main Road, Glascote, and was killed in action in WW1 on 20th September 1917.
History Glascote Locks and the surrounding area 1900-1918 The history of Glascote Locks and the surrounding area between 1900 and 1918, including the men of Glascote who served and fell in WW1.
History #17 Mary Ann Jane Dutton, 1848-1914 Mary Ann Jane Dutton was my 2nd great-grandmother. She was born in 1848 in Deptford, Kent, the second of eleven children.
History Drummer Arthur James Sear, 1895-1915 This is the story of my Great Uncle, Arthur James Sear, who was killed in the First World War.
History Lizzie Gertrude Frost's Tune Book My son was thrilled to come home with this old edition of the Bristol Tune Book which he bought at Acorns Charity Shop. #charityshopfinds
History Philip Swan, Mary Swan, and Lillie Swan For years, the oldest original photograph in my family collection was a mystery. Now I have passed it on to a direct descendant of the family.
History The History of Barlaston Boatyard I researched this history of the Boatyard for my lovely clients. It includes some information on Boatyard Cottages and New Buildings.
