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Derby

Apr 29th 2018

By: Kerry

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Wandering Around Derby

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I walked around much of inner city Derby and the following photos show some of what I saw. I also visited the Pickford Museum, the city museum and the suburb of Chaddesden where the White family had lived.

All Saints Church and Marygate St

My hotel was behind the flags. Great place if your arms are 6 feet from the floor. No idea how they expected normal height people to use the wardrobe; I certainly couldn’t.

All Saints Church, now the Cathedral is seen at the end of the street. It was a light filled church with some interesting memorials. The iron work at the end is part of some constructed for the church by the well known iron worker, Joseph Bakewell.

Inside All Saints

Memorial from 1698

The words are recorded below as the photo was a bit fuzzy.

Words on memorial

Bess of Hardwick

Information provided a chronology of her life. She had several husbands and built a massive house in the country which I visited. Photos will be uploaded later.

The church also has another interesting facet to its existence. Peregrine falcons have been roosting and laying eggs on the tower since 2006. The live webcam is at http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.co.uk/p/our-webcams.html . The blog records that the female laid eggs and been sitting on them since earlier this month.

Street Scene

Another inner city street

Pigeons

1700 carving

This carving was on the wall of the Old Bell Inn with a date of 1700 above it. See half way down the 2015 blog http://www.kerry.net.au/?p=2081 for the photo of the building it is on.

St Werburgh’s Church

This church is also shown in the previously mentioned blog but this is a different aspect. Sell and Merry ancestors married there in 1722.

Gargoyles on St Michael’s Church

St Michael’s is opposite the Dolphin Inn, also shown in the previously mentioned blog. A daughter of one of the William Whites married a man who was a church warden there. A record I found in the county archives stated that his father and grandfather had owned land opposite the the Dolphin Inn. The land was advertised for sale in 1827. He died the following year and it seems his wife and daughter fell on hard times employing themselves as governesses and teachers.

Pickford’s House

This was built around 1769 by the architect Joseph Pickford for his family. Over time it was subdivided and additions made but is now run as a house museum demonstrating life at various historical periods. An air raid shelter was in the basement.

Dining Room

Hall Ceiling

Kitchen

Laundry

One Garden Another small one was on the other side of the section of house in the left hand side of the photo

Derby C 1725, oil painting in Derby Museum and Art Gallery

The Iron Forge

This was one on display in the museum by one of Derby’s “favourite sons”, Joseph Wright who had an ability to capture people and light.

Derby 1728

Within museum as seen through glass door

Chaddesden Church – front

Note the narrow strip of paving

The paving remains following demolition of the 6 almshouses which were erected on the tarred section in the 1600s and demolished late last century. The Derby Telegraph ran a series of photos of Chaddesden of bygone days which includes one of the almshouses. https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/nostalgia/gallery/13-iconic-photos-of-chaddesden-1138902

Chaddesden Churchyard location of Schoolmaster’s house

The schoolmaster was the first related William White known to be associated with Chaddesden. Not only was he schoolmaster but also farmer of Roe Farm. The schoolmaster’s house and later a schoolroom were located on the grass above the bins in the photo.

Chaddesden and Breadsall, Derby, Family History, UK
Bristol – Churches and More

Apr 24th 2018

By: Kerry

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I had a few more churches; both of historical and/or family interest and other areas of the city I wanted to visit. I also spent about an hour in the harbour side museum. I had planned to visit the much larger and older museum and art gallery on my first day but the weather was unpleasant and it was a long walk. It was near a house which had become an historical museum so I missed it too as it was closed when I was available. I did see a similar one in Derby on a later occasion.

There were a number of guided walks available in Bristol but I had no time for them. One included visits to some Banksy graffiti. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy He is a prolific street artist. I noticed the artwork below when walking in the central section of the city and while probably not his is of a similar style.

Street art

Church of St Thomas

St Thomas

Another old church. The outside was uninspiring.

Gallery and entrance doorway in right of photo

The 3 Lancashire daughters were re-baptised in this church in 1810. There is no information about the reason but their father was dead, they may have moved to Bristol and some vicars were known to be a bit particular about such sacramental issues and may have re-baptised them so he could be sure.

Below is inside one of the many market buildings in the St Nicholas area.

Inside a St Nicholas market building

Could probably have found something to buy if I’d lingered although I did buy a couple of 2nd hand books in one of the other buildings.

Some old buildings in a back street. Think the main one had belonged to a mayor of Bristol several hundred years ago.

Old inner city streets

St Stephen’s Church – external

Inside church

Baptismal font

Robert Lancashire was baptised in this church in 1758 as an eight year old. Why he was baptised at such an age or whether it was his first baptism is unknown. (His daughters ended up being baptised twice.)

Top stories of building near St Stephens

More old buildings – Different style

More old buildings near the Christmas Stairs

St James Priory

Back of St James’ Priory said to have some of the oldest building in Bristol within it

Within church

Bristol Cathedral

Cathedral from Cathedral Green

Part of cathedral

Stonework in part of ceiling

An elaborate memorial to someone from long ago

A peaceful nook outside

Park St going up hill very near cathedral

Martha Howell Lancashire, Robert and Martha’s second daughter, married Samuel Withers in Bath in 1826. Her children were baptised in Bristol at a church very near the cathedral and now demolished. Their abodes were always recorded as College Green or Park St. College Green is to the right of Park St and included a section closer to the cathedral but now demolished.

By the time I had finished in the cathedral it was getting late and I had a very long walk to my guesthouse. The following day was spent on a very long walk to the train station, travelling to Gloucester by train and settling into the new city. While I got to go on some tours and see parts of Gloucester previously unseen I will skip Gloucester from my blog as I am so far behind. If you want to see some of Gloucester I suggest you visit my blog from 2 years ago and check both pages. http://www.kerry.net.au/?cat=113&paged=2

Bristol, Family History, UK
Bristol – Harbour

Apr 23rd 2018

By: Kerry

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I have been too busy doing things and going places to sort photos or write and now I am 3 weeks behind. The mind is becoming overwhelmed and growing dim about events too. The next few blogs will be short and sweet. I had another four days in Bristol during which I spent two at the archives, including walking to and from and another walking around much of the city.

The first photos are from the window of my guesthouse room, an attic conversion on the other side of the river from the city centre but within convenient walking distance of the archives. The room was very snug and angled and while OK for a short visit I wouldn’t have like it to be my permanent home. The shared shower was the smallest and most inconvenient one I’ve ever been in if you discount the one in Copenhagen in 2015 whose bathroom light was movement activated and turned off as it only detected movement outside the shower. The second floor location had the advantage of a good view over the harbour. From it I could see a diverse skyline including a small part of the Clifton Bridge which I wrote about 2 years ago. http://www.kerry.net.au/?p=2305 My first day there was mostly wet and miserable until late afternoon so I stayed in. It did allow me to see and hear a replica steam engine and carriages which took tourists around a small area near the harbour and river. It took a while before I managed to catch more than a glimpse of it as the window of opportunity was small.

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Bristol skyline showing a portion of the Clifton bridge on the left

Train over river and about opposite my room

The photos below are but a few taken at various locations around the harbours. I have many more, especially of those in the central city area but these will suffice.

Harbour and colourful buildings from harbour-side walk towards the archives end of harbour. A number of businesses were still carried on in the old ship building area and it was possible to walk past them

Looking towards the central city section of Bristol

An “Old Salt” looking down the harbour

A reconstruction of the ship which John Cabot used to discover Newfoundland in the 16th Century.

There is more about the “Mathew” on the internet including here https://matthew.co.uk/ It is TINY. I could have queued for a visit but had a million places to visit and no time for queues and it was always too late whenever I passed it on other occasions.

Shipping container shops

These were part of a trendy new area to the right of the photo which bridged a small area between the harbour and a pedestrian bridge over the river.

China
Bristol – Other places of interest

Apr 16th 2018

By: Kerry

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St Nicholas Church and market area

While visiting St Nicholas’ Church we also had a quick look in on the markets. Given it was a Sunday they were not open but when I checked back a few days later it was different.

St Nicholas markets-closed

Queens Square is fairly near the waterfront but a totally different world. It was built during the early 1700s; large comfortable homes for the well to do.

Queens Square

One of Bristol’s interesting buildings is the Llandoger Trow, a mid 17^th Century pub near the docks. It is said to have inspired authors and contain ghosts. Although damaged by bombing during World War 2 and reduced in size it has continued operating as a pub. Unfortunately it was unexpectedly closed when we visited.

Llandoger Trow pub-closed

Further down the street were many more pubs and a 17^th century almshouse. We had a quick drink and rest in one of the pubs. As we were leaving an unusually decorated car drew up. The people who emerged were those one would not normally expect to see in such a car nor were they dressed to be unobtrusive.

King St Building on the right is the almshouses

Pubs in King St

Bristol
Bristol Churches

Apr 16th 2018

By: Kerry

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Bristol was our next stop. I had the rest of the day roaming around the city centre with family, visiting points of historical interest and also those related to our family history. The following morning Son Number One installed me in different accommodation and departed for home, but not before ensuring that I was settled and connected to the internet.

Temple Church was near our hotel so after settling in we took a short walk to it. It is a medieval church with a tower built during the 1400s which leans. It is thought that the lean is due to soft foundations and attempts were made during construction to remediate it. It is also built on the foundations of a 12^th century round church whose outline can now be seen within the church. That part of Bristol received significant bomb damage during World War 2 and the church was largely destroyed. Its shell remains.

Leaning tower of Temple Church

Interior

Back of church

Flowers in church garden

The church of Saints Phillip and St Jacob is located in central Bristol on a site of worship for over 1000 years. It is now referred to as Pip n Jay. It looks pretty uninspiring from the outside and was locked at the time of visiting. I was interested because my 3^rd great grandparents Martha Cox and Robert Lancashire married there in 1804. He was significantly older than her and as far as I can determine was up to his third marriage. Unfortunately he didn’t last long, dying 15 months after the birth of his third daughter, 2^nd great grandmother Ann. All three daughters went on to marry and be part of interesting family dynasties including descendants with itchy feet and/or prepared to brave dangers of long voyages to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Church of Saint Phillip and St Jacob

Church

Sign

On our way into a more central part of Bristol we came across St Peter’s Church, the remains of another old church largely destroyed by bombing during World War 2. It’s had some sculpture and herb gardens added to its environment. Unlike the Temple Church environs which were virtually devoid of people this one had many congregating in small groups. One man had a flat ribbon tied low to 2 trees and was practising tight rope walking. I was in the area some days later on what must have been my sole sunny day in 3 weeks + and numerous people were relaxing on the grass or running along the waterfront.

St Peter’s Church

Side of church with garden

Tightrope walker

Church on a sunny day

St Nicholas’ Church is an old church located on the waterfront and adjacent to the St Nicholas Markets area which used to be the centre of commerce. It was damaged during World War 2 and although repaired has been unused as a church for much of that time. During the week one of the doors was open and workmen were erecting scaffolding within. It is to be returned to use as a church. It houses 3 massive religious painting by Hogarth which will remain. I had thought it had a family association but can’t find it at the moment.

St Nicholas Church

Outside

Association with Cabot, the founder of Newfoundland lived in the same street. Picture on outside of church.

A sunny St Nicholas

Our last church for the day was St Mary Redcliffe where Martha, Robert and Martha Lancashire’s second daughter married Sampson Selman, a Gloucestershire farmer. They had a large family and 2 years following her husband’s death she, her remaining children and one of her deceased sister Anne’s daughters followed her eldest son to Victoria, Australia. The church is very old and enormous. It has suffered damage and destruction from assorted sources during time but has had the advantage of many rich benefactors.

St Mary Redcliffe

A different side

Intricate ironwork on door

Stained glass windows

Tombstone 1658 Drawings of skulls were no uncommon in that period.

Main aisle

Outside

Bristol, Churches, UK
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