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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Berkshire => Topic started by: Phodgetts on Sunday 17 August 08 13:37 BST (UK)
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Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, a great find.
I have been researching the Knight and Bristor families of Winkfield Row, Bracknell and Warfield. I recently made contact with a previously unknown cousin who has a huge picture and photo collection of his extended family and in amongst the collection is a wonderful picture. I am not sure as to the date or even the town, though judging by the ladies clothes in the image it must be around about WW1 or just after, but certainly given the design of the car in the picture it is before WW2. Is there anyone here that might be able to offer suggestions as to what the event may be? It looks to be a happy event as opposed to a funeral of a dignitary as the bunting is out. Hope to hear some news soon. Thanks in advance for your help.
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Any chance of you seeing what is written on the shop sign hanging on the right hand side of the road? It might give someone a clue.
Sorry I can't help with it although I'd like to say that it was Wokingham because that's the main area I know.
I'm interested in your Knight research though. I have Sophia Knight marrying John Wyatt in Reading St. Giles in Feb 1766 (with Joesph Knight as bondsman for the licence). John Died in 1769 - they had a daughter named Sophia Wyatt born 1767 in St, Mary's Reading - and after becoming a member of the Kings Road Baptist church in Reading in 1770, Sophia married a widower named John Millard in St. Mary's 18/9/1778. She died in Reading in 1820.
Do any of these names sound familiar to you or do you have any Knight records for the Reading area (or have any idea who might have)?
Thanks very much and I hope you get to find out more about your photo soon.
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Thanks RanR, I have tried everything to get a glimpse of that pub sign and I just cannot get enough from it to get the name. So frustrating! I have also been in touch with a classic car magazine to see if anyone can identify what the car is without any joy.
Regarding Sophia Knight, I have not managed to get as far back as you yet. It is intersting though that I do have a number of Sophia's in my line so there could well be a connection. How many other Knights do you have that lead up to the 1840's. If you could fill in that gap I could tell you if there is a connection. Alternatively you could have a look on my Tribalpages website and have a look at the Knights I so far have listed on there. If you are interested PM me for the link. By the way I have no Wyatts at all in my line to date.
Philip
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Hi RanR further to my PM this is the image of the school in Wokingham that my G'mother went to during the 1930's I think it would be. I have not managed to locate it yet.
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I can't be certain and would need to investigate further but my first thoughts are that it is along Barkham Road. I don't live in Wokingham now but when I did in the 1960s - 1980s there used to be an old people's home along the lefthand side of Barkham Road as you went out from the station (before Folly Court where they trained the Guide Dogs for the Blind dogs. On the other hadn, there were lots of large houses down Murdoch Road (off Easthampstead Road that could also have housed something as large as that.
Possibly even on Finchampstead Road or Easthampstead Road itself.
Looking on the 1901 census there was a place called Wixenford in All SS parish that was a large school housing about 80 staff boarders and servants, in the Easthampstead Road area near Holm Grane and before the Crooked Billet (near the railway line crossing now).
There was also something called Bigshotte Rayks? that was in St. Sebastians parish off Finchampstead Road housing 21 boarders, staff and servants.
See what you think.
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This looks like "OakFields" the childrens home I was in from1953 to 1956,along Barkham road at the top of the Hill,on the left,it was closed as a childrens home in 1956 and made in to a home for the elderly,we were transfered to Murray House in Station Road,then I went back to my family a few months later.
I can still remember the layout of the house.
Joyce
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From what I remember,I was five when I went there and eight when I left,up the front steps,to the right was the house mothers quarters,I saw tv in there once when I was ill,Mr and Mrs Elliott were the house parents,to the left of you large stairs going up faceing the front of the house,straight ahead,the playroom,to the right the dining room,with doors out to the back,the other side of the playroom,the Kitchen,then small back stairs,at the bootom of the back stairs,across the passage to the front of the house was the washroom,we had our washbags on hooks here,red tiled floors and duck boards,this was where we came each morning to wash,the middle windows upstairs if my memmory serves me correct were bathrooms,the far left at the front,the sick room,we had big walk in airing cupboards where we would line up to collect our clean clothes,of the sick area,I believe the top floor was boys,middle girls,our bedroom was called sleepy hollow,the back was a huge field.
Joyce
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That's the name! I knew it was Oak - something. Well done in remembering all of that for so long.
I saw a few photos of the end house at Shute End on a Francis Frith photos website, named as the Grosvenor School but I knew that it wasn't the same building as your picture. So ... do we assume that the school was moved from Shute End to Oakfields and then turned into the children's home?
Interestingly enough, the Holt came into being just after the 2nd WW but to my knowledge that was never for boarders (maybe I'm wrong there). It certainly didn't seem to have had the space for boarders when I was there in the 1970s. The old house (with the library and the staff room and other offices) wouldn't have been anywhere near large enough compared with Oakfields to replace Grosvenor School.
I'm not sure when Luckely Oakfield opened. Maybe that was provided as an alternative once Grosvenor School's building became the children's home.
Is the old people's home still there? I imagine it probably is as it used to be well cared for and would still be needed.
If anyone can confirm that it is, then cross the station at the level crossing going down the hill from the town, towards Barkham and Arborfield. As the side roads begin to lessen in number (I think the last on the right was Woosehill Lane), there should be a large building set back from the road a bit on the left hand side just after Woosehill Lane and before the road on the left with Folly Court Guide Dogs for the Blind on the corner. That building on the left is Oakfields. After that it used to be pretty much countryside until Barkham but I bet that's all changed now!
Hope that helps you to identify your Grosvenor School building. Is it the one that you went ot see and found knocked down? I hope not. Thanks Joyce for confirming it.
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The photograph is of the property in Broad Street Wokingham which until about a year ago was the Arts Centre and about five years earlier included the local library which moved there from the Town Hall in 1970.
It has recently been converted into flats and shops. Only one of these is currently occupied a restaurant which is entered through the central door.
For most of its history it has been called Montague House and is believed to be named after Henry Montague a master at Kings School Canterbury. It was originally built in the 17th century but was substantially rebuilt by John Roberts in the early 1800s. His family occupied it until 1886 when it was sold to Isiah Gadd (whose name can just still be faintly seen on the side of his shop at the top of Station Road)
Grovenor House School for Girls was originally in what is now Tudor House the doctors' surgery at the top of the Terrace. It moved into Montague House in 1920. In 1957 the house was sold to Berkshire County Council and the school moved to Finchampstead Road where it still exists as The White House School
David
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Thanks for the additional information Joyce and RanR, and I assume David is talking of the school image rather than the first one of the street scene event? It would be nice to see an image of the modern building.
Anyway, for you further entertainment I will add two more images of the school that I have come across in a family collection of postcards, hopefully they will jog more memories and clarify that you do indeed have the correct place in mind.
I only know it was a girls school as my Maternal Grandmother was sent there. She was the youngest of twelve. Her family was from Winkfield only two miles away and after speaking to my mother I now understand that my G'ma was not a boarder there. No doubt for the distance involved she walked each day. By the time she was born (1912) the family was doing rather well for itself having a longstanding laundry business. My Grandmother was the only one of the family to get private education. She seemingly was at the school from about the age of 11, so it would put her in the school about 1923. Before I waffle any more here are the other two images, one of the inner stairway and one of the grounds at the rear of the school. One of the cards was sent as a Xmas card to my G'ma's mother in 1925 wishing the family well for the new year and was signed by a J or L ? Baker. Enjoy.
Philip
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Maybe just co-incidence,but that is how I remember it,the front door can be seen,to the left as i described and the other door inside to the house mothers room,how can I forget these stairs,LOL,we had to que up at the bootom every morning,a small thin cupboard was there and we were given Cod liver oil and malt,at the top of the stairs to the right was Wooky Hollow where my sister slept and opposite mine sleepy hollow,these were dormitaries,maybe just the same layout as Montague House.
Joyce
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The front image today is very little changed except all the ivy has been removed and a new gate constructed in the last year in the middle of the wall.
The rear will be completely different as the garden is now partly occupied by Waitrose carpark. I will try to take a photograph but I suspect that I will have trouble with traffic and parked cars.
David
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You can see a recent picture of Montague House at:
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=41642&mode=quick
There is also a picture of Tudor House which originally housed the school at:
http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=41646&mode=quick
David
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Hi David,
you are definately right,round the corner from Tudor house is the Baptist church,I went there from aged four till about 13,while in childrens home,then back home,the layout for montague house is similar to Oakfields though.
Joyce
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I took a photograph this morning of Montague House. As you will see it now has a new entrance and railings
David
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When it was the library you use to enter the door on the right and only half this building was used as it ....the bit of the building from the old /new main door was closed to the public ......
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The library only used the ground floor of the right hand wing. I am not sure how much of the rest of the house was used as the arts centre.
I did take a picture of the rear from the car park but it is just a mess of added buildings mainly obscured by the parked cars that it isn't worth posting.
Just to complete the picture here is a drawing of the original house.
David
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Dear all,
This great. I love this! I'm very sorry if I put everyone onto the wrong place in the first place. I too remember Montague House and the library and the stairs inside and the local arts society painting exhibition held there every summer in the forecourt outside the library, with the bus stop outside - but ... is it just my memory or have they put up a much more substantial wall since those days in the 1960s & 1970s and early 1980s (my parents moved away - after I had done - in 1987)?
This is a big favour and I realise I'm climbing on the back of the original request for information but my g g grandparents Rev Philip George Scorey and his wife Charlotte Denslow Stroud were in Wokingham for a few years while he was the minister at Wokingham Baptist in the 1860s. They had my g. grandmother Charlotte Scorey there in 1862 as well as a couple of other children after that.
In the 1861 census it says that Philip George Scorey was living in Broad Street with his father George (ret'd draper about 9 dwellings away from the baording school - presumably where we're talking about). then in the 1871 census after his marriage, Philip is living in Market Place about 3 dwellings away from 'Down Street'.
I can't work out where or which side of the road either of these properties would have been and whether they are still standing. Also, where was Down Street? Was it what is now called Denmark Street?
If anyone has access to the 1861 & 1871 census returns and can work it out, could you tell me if the buildings are still there and if so maybe point me to photos of them or their positions in the two streets? I would be most grateful.
My doctor at that surgery in Tudor house and then in the surgery in Rectory Road was Dr Kerr. He seemed a very nice man and took good care of us all.
Again, huge apologies for putting people onto the wrong building in the first place! Thanks for sorting it all out.
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Wow, thanks to all who have taken part in this thread and especially 'behindthefrogs' for taking the time to go out and take a photo of the place as it is today and for providing the links to Imagesofengland. All fascinating stuff. I visited Wokingham last year and missed seeing the school my G'ma went to by a gnats whisker!!! At least I will now know where to go next time I find myself down in that neck of the woods. My cousin will also no doubt be very interested to know after all this time where the school was as he took me somewhere completely different to Broad Street lol.
Thanks everbody.
A very appreciative Philip.
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Yes Down Street was renamed Denmark Street when the future King Edward VII married Alexandra Princess of Denmark.
I suspect most of the buildings in Broad Street and the Market Place date back to before 1900 and possibly to the 1860s although all those in the Market Place and some in Broad Street have been converted into shops.
Tudor House is at what used to be called Terrace Point across the end of Broad Street with the Terrace to the left of it and Milton Road to the right. I am trying to work out whether there are nine houses between Montague House and Terrace Point. In the other direction they are now nearly all shops.
The Baptist Church is on the right a little way down Milton Road. That was rebuilt in 1860 and now has a very modern extention added to the side of it. I prefer the extentions to the Methodist Church in Rose street which are in keeping with the original building. That was built in 1870 with Isaiah Gadd who owned Montague House being one of the "pillars" of the church.
Thw wall outside Montague House was strengthen and rebuilt in a number of places when the railings were added but is essnetially the same wall. I like the way the new gate very much resembles the original 1800 gate.
David
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well done David,you certainly know the History Of Wokingham,dose the siren still go off for Broadmoor every day,near the car park off of Rose street,I remember it used to go off at ten o clock for testing every morning and was sounded if someone escaped,then all the children were met from school,one of my first jobs was in soft furnishing for Ellens of Rose St,I used to walk up there every day when I was at Palmer school also and down the alley way.
I also worked in Heelas in the toy department for the princely sum of £2 a week,LOL
Joyce
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I think the siren going off every day would be a bit too much. It only sounds every Monday at 10.00am. I can only remember it being needed twice in the nearly forty years that I have lived in the town. The day time one was OK but the time that it sounded all night was a bit too much.
Was it the Heelas' store in Wokingham that you worked for or his relation's store in Reading which still exists today as part of the John Lewis partnership. We are back to Isaiah Gadd again because he came to Wokingham from Gloucestershire at the age of 18 originally to work in the Drapery Dept of Heelas. When he died he owned three businesses; a coal merchant, removals contractor and antique dealer.
David
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yes right again,every Monday,I remember it going of at least once in the fifties (I wont say when I will probaly get it wrong,LOL)but my brother met me from school with his bike,I was in Palmer school juniors at the time,I know once someone escaped and there was an incident in Wokingham.I also remember haveing the Maypole every year in the vicarage in Rectory Rd,(this one I have correct,LOL).
Dr Kerr rings a bell with me,our doctors was in Denmark street,Dr Rose,my Auntie used to be a usheret ,at the pictures Uncle Tom a bus driver(allways let me keep my fare)and grandad used to go on Sundays to see the cowboys for sixpence,it was just round the corner from him,so many memmories this site brings back,I look down the list of names searching and can come up with someone I went to school with that surname for most of them but they are in different area,s of Berks.
take care
Joyce
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Yes I remember that siren going of !!! and all being sent home from school ..great loved it ...I seem to remember it going of twice in my time there ....but that must have been about 1979 1nd 1980!!
I to remember The rose pub being or burning down at regular intervals in my life time ......well alway needed a coat of paint !!
The only Doctor I remember was Dr Black at the tudor house ...and others but cant remember their names!! old age !
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You went to the original Palmer School in Rectory Road I presume, the one that opened in 1875. Both of my children went to Palmer but on the new site that it moved to in the 1960s. Alas that is also no more. It merged with Whitlock Infants, which was on the same site School this September and is now called All Saints School but uses the same buildings.
I think it is a huge pity when when these historical names are lost. The Palmer family were the Palmers of Huntley and Palmer the Reading Biscuit makers.
The Whitlock family lived in Holt House in the 16th century. The Heelas family moved there from Buckhurst in 1855 and lived there until 1929, renting it for the first twenty years from the Crutchley family. Holt School was opened in 1930 and today is still a girls' secondary school.
David
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I went to keephatch infants and juniors when they took you at any age coz they had places.....
Shame when schools merge and you have to have new names for them.
i then went onto The Holt ..which I believe is still a girls school
Yes it is a shame when things change ...and its not always for the best!
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Hi Shillen,
my sister in law went to the holt,roughly 56 to 60.she lived on Norreys barn estate,
Joyce
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Lots of people did .........but I was there about 10 years after her
I,ve just looked at the Keephatch website ....and hasnt that changed .....
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I did,nt LOL,St Crispins for me.
Joyce
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My son went to Keephatch Infants before Palmer and my daughter went to Whitlock and then Palmer. They both went on to St Crispins. Things have changed because St Crispins is now arguably the best secondary school in town. A little different from the days when the children from Arborfield Garrison were bussed in every day.
David
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Well I went to Keep Hatch when Miss Arnold and Mr Lee were there !!!! I would guess that Miss Arnold has long gone ..as I think she was 90 when I went ...Mr Lee has also gone as he passed away some year ago from Cancer ...
St Dustbins............LOL I dont think things were any better at any of the schools back then BUT Miss Holland at The Holt wasnt to be messed with !!!!
what a lovely thread ....memories!
I guess ..behindthefrogs is as it says ............?
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in my day,the children from Arborfield were bussed in and we had no trouble,i knew a lot of them,nobody messed with Mr Bancroft or Mrs Andrews,I did hear in my nephews and neices day that it was quite bad but my neice is a chartered accountant and liveing in New Zealand and apparently her friend was something to do with the take over of Hong Kong back to the chinese,so I guess its down to the people not the school,she did it on her own,had to lodge while doing a levels put herself through Cardiff University to become Chartered and gained the Highest Marks,she was there in the 70,s.
Joyce
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Going back to the original photograph. I did wonder about Broad Street in Wokingham, being the only level straight street but I think the street in the picture is too long. What does anyone think about Bracknell before it was mutilated?
David
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Wow! This has really turned into a Wokingham memories thread. do you think we ought to change its name?
Thank you for the information about the change of street name for Down Street.
I woudl like to agree with Joyce about Heelas actualy having premises in Wokingham. We moved to Wokingham in 1964 jsut before my 4th birthday and I have a long-held memory of the shop with its wooden flooring and a central wooden staircase going up directly opposite the main entrance. There were counters on each side of the downstairs sales floor - on the right and the left and it was all old wooden shelving etc. The floor creaked!! I can't remember the upstairs at all - maybe that's where the toys were and I wasn't taken up there very often!
I think it was near the corner of Rose Street and Market place about where Millwards used to be (the shoe shop - I'm doing loads of BTs searching for the Reading parishes in the 1700s at the moment and there are lots of Millwards there as I keep muddling them up with my Millards that I'm searching for!). I seem to have some vague recollection that Boots moved there some time more recently? I'm afraid that I've not been to Wokingham for the last 14 years so am not sure about the more recent changes.
I think Heelas must have changed hands in the later 1960s and probably by the time I went to the Holt in 1971. I was at Embrook school before that - lovely place! I really enjoyed it there.
Yes I've been in the Baptist church many times and the Methodist church as well and agree with you about their extension. I suppose that's why I was a bit puzzled by your reference to the Waitrose carpark being behind Montague House as I remembered it being beside Rose Street Methodist even into the 1990s. Does that mean that Waitrose have taken over the alleyway that came through from Palmer Road and that rough scrubland area by the old Palmer shcool site into Rose Street where there was the little tiny house where someone I knew lived?
Thank you for taking the time to work out the houses for me in Broad Street/Market Place etc. I've been trying to do the same thing where I live now as our shop is in a 17th century weaver's home and is the only property left in this street now - the rest is under a carpark. Using census returns isn't always the easiest way I've found as sometimes buildings were dividied up for families to share, or little tenements etc were sometimes built in a garden or alongside a house to give extra room (and they haven't always survived).
I was quite surprised that so many of the buildings in Broad Street must have been shops in the 1860s/1870s as they never seemed to be that kind of building when I knew the town. Most of the shops had moved out of that road and were in Denmark Street and Peach Street and the Market Place. Mind you, in those days they didn't tend to have large plate windows in shop fronts as I assume that they weren't able to make such large areas of glass.
One last thought ... when looking at the census returns for my Scorey family I noticed that there was a Boarding School in Broad Street. Would that have been the Grosvenor House school even then (and in Montague House)? I did notice that in the 1900s census there were a couple of other schools around mentioned as being boarding schools like the Wixenhoe one that must now be Ludgrove down Easthampstead Road. That one out on the Barkham Road still puzzles me and I think it must have moved out of that building into Luckley school to become Luckley Oakfield school. Maybe that's when the children's home moved into it and then the home for the elderly. Any thoughts?
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Yes I did wonder if it was Wokingham coz of the building on the right half way along .....may be what I knew as the post office ??
I didnt know Bracknell well enought
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Sorry! Also missed your thought David about the original 'event in Berks' photo.
I wondered about Bracknell and then considered Nine Mile Ride and Crowthorne way. it's those trees that puzzle me. I don't think it could be up Finchampstead way but maybe California. Was there anything there then?! It doesn't look a huge place but it does seem to have a bit of height to it, looking into the background - almost like Barkham but I don't think the trees are right.
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What used to be Waitrose and its carpark is now a Marks and Spencer; with as you say the carpark by the Methodist Church and the shop in Peach Street.
A new Waitrose is now in the middle of the area between Broad Street, Rectory Road and Rose Street. The carpark entrance is in Rectory Road with deliveries going down the road where the old Palmer School used to be. There are pedestrian entrances from Rose Street and Broad Street, one of which goes down the left hand side of Montague House. Nearly all of the shops and houses on that side of Broad Street back onto the carpark.
David
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Back to the original photograph. I don't think the trees should worry you. It is difficult to tell from the photograph but they look like Scots Pine or something similar. They were probably felled years ago before the days of tree preservation.
I can't think of any where on Nine Mile Ride or in the Crowthorne area where the road is level and the buildings so close to the road.
David
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Luckley School was established in 1918 on the site of Luckley Manor. Oakfield School was established in the Lake District in 1895. The two schools were amalgamated on the Wokingham site in 1959 to form Luckley Oakfield School. They were both high class girls boarding schools.
I used to examine life saving in the area and Luckley Oakfield was the only place where I was given tea in a cup and saucer, with biscuits on a separate plate all served on a tray with a serviette.
David
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I must have missed something,?what picture are you talking about?my dad and mum lived at nine mile ride dureing the war at Rose Cottage,he grew and sold vegetables there,a painter and decorator by trade worked for Browns in Milton Rd for Years,then Road research Crowthorne.
I remember when Heelas caught fire,one of the boys in my class,his dad was a fireman,who died in the blaze.
Joyce
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i have enjoyed our trip down memory lane i to was at st chrispins from 1964-1967 with Mr Bancroft and Mrs Andrew's mis Phipps and mis Knowles
my nick name was fatty fuller any one out there i know
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I've lightened the photo for you, hopefully someone will now recognise it, though I can't :-\
If you are able to rescan the original photo at 600dpi and send it to me (pm me for my addie) I will try and blow up the sign to see if I can make out any of the lettering.
Note the very small doorway close to the sign?
ps, my goddaughter (my avatar) and her sister also went to the Holt.
The last time the Broadmoor siren went off was in the early 90's if I can recall :o but as David mentioned it's still tested every Monday morning!
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My thoughts on a date,
It looks like a happy procession and behind what looks like a bus is a horse and carriage.
Dated by the hats I would say between 1920-30, could be something to do with the marriage of George VI in April 1923, although that was at Westminster, I'm wondering if they came back to Windsor and had a local procession at some point. Its nowhere in Windsor that I recognise on a flat road. Though there were gabled houses along the Dedworth road, the houses are not as old as the ones in this photo with the small door etc and they had small gardens to the front. :-\
I shall ask my dad if he recognises it.
Jenny
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Thank you for lightening this. The Dedworth Road sounds interesting although I don't know it at all. What interests me is the background at the end of the road - is it some hills?
As far as the Broadmoor siren is concerned, I can remember it going off about twice during my time at the Holt. The second time was when I was in the sixth form. Unfortunatley some of my friends had not had their indemnity form altered since our first year at the school so still had to wait at school till their parents came to collect them! One girl ended up staying most of the evening because her mother had gone to London for the day and she wasn't allowed to walk home by herself (even though she was 17!). Mind you, it was quite a serious escape I think. The road blocks went up instantly and were there for about a week.
The other problem was the fact that the siren was in the top corner of Joel Park right opposite the school and near to the sixth form unit. So when I was sitting my A level music exam in the sixth form unit, starting at 9am on a Monday morning, we had some bother trying to hold 4 part string quartet compositions in our heads while that awful siren went off for 15 minutes (siren, a short break and then the 'all clear') right next to our building. It just wasn't in the right key at all!
My last memory of the Broadmoor siren and related topics was the WADE walk that took place every year at that time. It was a 20 mile sponsored walk for the Woking and District Association for the Elderly and one year Jimmy Saville took part. He did a lot of charity work with Broadmoor and the route went right past the hospital - I can remember that it was quite an impressive building with a huge craggy moat area (not filled with water) around the outer walls - pretty daunting if you were going to try to escape that way. Jimmy Savill was wearing bright yellow platform boots for the walk that year!!
OK. Enough reminiscing and boring you all - off to work!
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:o
That's surely St Leonards Road, Windsor.
Looking up to the town.
Taken from outside the Ex-servicemans Club.
With the big Cedar tree on the left.
Isn't the pub 'The Trooper' :-\ I'll ring my bruv...
Lesanne.
Added.... oooo ;D ;D I don't know now.... How many times I've walk that bit.
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Lesanne, that was another possibility to me with the big Cedar!
I did find an old photo which has similar gable houses to the left but the road curves round and is not straight. The photo I was looking at didn't have any of the buildings opposite or the pub. I checked on Thames-web for a listing of pubs through the ages in Windsor and nothing is coming up resembling Rose and Crown. There was/is a Crown and Cushion but not in the right place.
I know I shall end up driving up there this afternoon to check
this is where you meant Lesanne, the Trooper is just beyond
on the right
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same tree but earlier, note the gabled houses, but the road bends
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Hiya :o ;D My goodness so it does... we lived at no100 just out of shot on left (last photo).... I could of sworn that was it..... ;D ;D
;D My memory doesn't serve me well...
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close though ;D I did spend a few minutes looking at it last night but I couldn't make my mind up and St Leonards Rd would be the obvious road with the cemetery so close!
My grandad had a house in St Leonards Hill during the 50/60s and a cousin also lived in St Leonards road back in the 80s ;D
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Well, everyone, I had a really long chat a few days ago over the phone with my much older second cousin who still lives in Berks, and though he cannot be sure about the location of the picture he is pretty sure it is of Armistice Day in 1918. His thoughts on the picture were that it could be Ascot as some of the family were in that area towards the end of WW1...... sorry I can't be more help than that, but it does at least give us a much more positive view on the actual event taking place. Makes sense that there might be some sort of remembrance plaque on the front of the vehicle yet the bunting is out. I guess there would have been very mixed emotions about the events taking place that day and in the months and years to follow. Thank you all for your contributions.
Following this particular line of my family, the sacrifice of the boys and men around the globe of that era that fought for our freedom has now become much more meaningful to me and I thank all of them for that! Especially my Great Uncle Reg whom I never got to meet, as he died of his wounds on the Western front. He has not been forgotten.......... nor the place where he lies, I hope to visit that site soon.
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You've got some wonderful pictures still remaining in your family. My grandmother tore all of ours up just before she died! so we have nothing of her siblings or her parents - great shame.
I too lost 3 gt uncles in the great war - they were brothers. One died at Paschendale and just made it onto the Menin Gate in Ypres (Leper) by a day or so. One died in Egypt 3 weeks before the end of the war! And the final one died in Palestine, killed by the same shell that injured his brother (my grandfather) out of the war. So my g. grandparents nearly lost all 4 of their sons.
My husband's grandfather had toddled off to Canada just a few months before the war to get farming work (aged 14/15 from Warwickshire), so joined up there in the Canadian army and got a medal and a very good pension for the rest of his life even though he settled back in England after the war, for his part in the battle of Festeburt in May 1915 near Ypres. He was shot in the chest but saved by his pocket watch in his breast pocket. The family still has the watch with a big dent in the rim!
Anyway, back to your original photo. Ascot sounds good. I still like those trees and they have them there! Very glad you were able to make some sense of it in the end.
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I notice you have Bywater and Shropshire,my GGreat Uncle Peter Hickman born Cleobury Mortimer married a Mary Ann Bywater.
Joyce
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I'll send you a PM about it all later today if that's ok.
It does sound as if they might be related in some way - even if distantly.
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Well, everyone, I had a really long chat a few days ago over the phone with my much older second cousin who still lives in Berks, and though he cannot be sure about the location of the picture he is pretty sure it is of Armistice Day in 1918.
Did they have armistice day parades in 1918? Seems a bit unlikely.
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I think its more likely to be the return of the unknown soldier but where they are is still a mystery. I'm not sure about Ascot either, its a bit hilly and the roads are not that straight.
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Did they have armistice day parades in 1918? Seems a bit unlikely.
Well, I understand what you mean, but there were celebrations all over the country and in many other parts of the world on that day in 1918 or possibly maybe even more likely 1919. People were very glad that the war was over despite the fact that some military action was still taking place in Russia and other places. I have tried to find a few images of places in this country where Armistice Day celebrations took place and thankfully I have found some which I think give more credibility to my cousins thoughts on the matter. I will post some links here as I do not know about the copyright issues in the articles and photos, but you will see that the fashion of the time matches that of my own picture and of course the Union Flags are out too with other bits of ribbon etc. etc. I think we have to remember that the celebration and thankfulness for the end of the war was somewhat different to what we now call Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, these days we now celebrate were not invented in 1918, hence I realise what you mean, I think!
Here are the links I promised. I am not trying to create a debate, just add evidence that hopefully confirms my cousins thoughts.
Armistice Day Celebrations 1918 / 1919 in;
Dover
http://photosforthefuture.thehistorychannel.co.uk/?cmd=photo_view&photo_id=2136
Biggleswade (this one really confirms it for me)
http://www.galaxy.bedfordshire.gov.uk/webingres/bedfordshire/vlib/0.digitised_resources/biggleswade_streets_highstreet_armistice.htm
Lichfield
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/image_galleries/old_photos_staffs_fast_track_gallery.shtml?17
I just wish I / we could pinpoint the location of the picture I have, though I think I will have to accept that it may never be!
Philip
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Whilst I am sure there would have been a lot of spontaneous celebrations on Armtistice Day 1918 I am less convinced that there would have been parades, bunting etc. A few days later, even the next day, would give some opportunity to set up such events. All I question is the precision of the dating of the photo.
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All I question is the precision of the dating of the photo.
If only I had a relative alive that was there on the day eh...... I have spent a bit more time rumaging through events that took place in the first half of the 1900's and the only event I can come up with that might be of significance to this picture is George VI's coronation in 1937. The only sticking point on that date for me is the style of the vehicle because if it is indeed the coronation that vehicle would have been vintage even then lol. But perhaps given the event the owner of that vehicle decided to dust and polish it and get it out for the day, since it was such a special event. Still doesn't get me the town though. I have given up on that now.
Philip
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Mrs Newburychap (NewburyLass I guess) is a dab hand at dating photos - she tends towards the late 1920s, or the early 1930s. Her opinion is based on the ladies' fashions
So the coronation in 1937 is a possibility, the jubliee in 1935 was probably a bigger celebratory occasion and closer to NewburyLass' dating.
To be honest it looks too celebratory to be a Remembrance Day.
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Looks like Coronation to me.
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Re events in Berks by R&R reply 4. School name was Bigshotte Rayles from when founded in 1895 to 1918. It then changed its name & was called Bigshotte School until closure in 1997. Knocked down & housing estate erected on site. All that is left now is a field called Bigshotte Park, Crowthorne.
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Oops! re my reply number 60. Bigshotte School was closed in 1977. Sorry.
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Hi H. I am writing regarding the festivities showing in the old photograph. This picture is of Bracknell High Street taken from the top near The Old Manor looking down the street. My great grandparents owned The Old Manor in those days and were basket makers with several shops around the area and based in Crondall - Stevens family. That part of the High Street remains pretty much the same as it was then although further down near the Crossway was completely demolished - shame. The Post Office is on the righthand side near that sign. The large tree you can see was in the Church Yard and my grandfather had a basket/hardware shop just beyond that. All of which has now been demolished. I have an old postcard book which has pictures of this part of the high street. I will dig it out sometime and see if there is any reference to what the occasion might be. Hope this is of some help to you. best wishes C.
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Hi CeeR
welcome to Rootschat
Are you sure its of old Bracknell? I live less than a mile away from where you are describing and it doesn't look anything like that at all.
I would be interested in seeing the postcards you have of that time.
Jenny
think I need to have a look in the library
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It is Bracknell High Street. Here is a picture taken in the opposite direction.
http://www.bfheritage.org.uk/library/images/lg_bracknews1026_20050119093433.jpg
and a small one in the right direction
http://www.rootschat.com/links/05t5/
David
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well... that is a surprise, shame its changed beyone recognition
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Well, thanks for identifying the town. I thought it would never happen. I hope the event will be identified yet.
Sadly, my cousin with whom I would share this information died a couple of weeks ago. I'm sad I can't tell him the news. It might well have sparked a memory for him.
It is a shame how things change with time, referring to the redevelopment of a town with lovely buildings like Bracknell had. My Grandfather was sent a post card of Bullbrook Bridge back in February of 1946 as a memento of his visit there. My cousin took me 18 months ago for a ride in his car to show me the site of the image. Sadly it is long gone under the A329 London Road dual-carriageway between Lily Hill Drive and Bay Drive and the stream itself is now hidden in a culvert. And they call it 'progress'.
Thanks for the continued input. ;D
Philip
PS found some additional images here of the three peaked dept store;
http://www.bfheritage.org.uk/memories_info.php?CID=50&LID=67
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With the exception of about four buildings the whole of the centre of Bracknell was bulldozed in the 1970s in the name of progress. The two main shopping roads still exist surrounded by a ring road but virtually none of the original shops survived just a couple of pubs.
A few of the residential streets still survive but are completely engulfed by the modern estates of the huge new town which is still expanding. The whole town is now a monstrosity. I worked there for nearly twenty years.
One of the estates is called Bullbrook
David
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I agree... best avoided at all costs.
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Hi Philip. Glad I was able to identify Bracknell High Street for you. So sorry your cousin passed away. Shame he didn't get to know. It was purely by chance that I came across you request for help. I was looking for info on a property in Wokingham I was thinking of buying. Your pic of Montague House appeared and so I followed the thread thinking I could give you info on it, but someone else already had. I then came across your pic of Bracknell High Street and recognised it instantly. I grew up in the old Binfield Road in the 50's/60's so knew old Bracknell very well. I then moved to Wokingham and lived in Rose Street, interestingly in a house once owned by Isiah Gadd, where I lived for 25 years. I now live just a couple of minutes from Montague House in the opposite direction and walk passed it daily. Will be in touch when I find the postcard book. Kind Regards CeeR
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I agree that the original photograph in this thread is Bracknell High Street probably taken between the wars.
The post office is on the right as you look at the photograph and the large fir tree was in front of the church. A small pathway led up to the church hall where I used to attend Sunday school in the early fifties. My mother used to take me to have my haircut by Mr Flower whose shop was on the left as you look at the image. You can make out Lawrence's store on the right just below the Post Office where my father worked in the twenties.
With regards to Oakfield House I have attached a photograph. My grandfather’s cousin worked at Oakfield House during the War as a cook when a lot of evacuees were living there.
My grandparents lived in Wokingham where my mother was born and then I was born. I lived in Bracknell until I was about twelve. We moved just before the major work on the New Town began.
My father's family are a very old Wokingham family and you find them listed in All Saints parish registers from the earliest times.
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Re old pics of Bracknell and the High Street as well as other places in the Uk. I suggest you look at the following site. These people have recently moved into a shop in the Town Hall in Wokingham and have a very large collection of old pics. www.netxposure.net Enjoy. CeeR
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I just came across this thread on a search of old photos from wokingham, I live in wokingham in a house that is around 100 years old and was chatting today to a friend who has a picture of her house in wokingham from 1890 (it is in the distance though) and thought that it was great. She got it from the shop that used to be in wokingham that sold old photos. I have really enjoyed reading all the memories you have shared and looking at the photos. :)
There was a broadmoor siren was in my playground at sandhurst school and you found out the hard way if you were too close to it on a monday morning!
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Hiya
I am a descendant of Alice Knight born in Lower Froyle, Hampshire in 1865 and John Anderson an American who was in The 7th Hussars. Her father was George Knight b. 1834 in Long Sutton. Hampshire. A few of their descendants ended up in Mayford owning and working in the local stores there, and the nearby school.
Now looking for cousins Christopher, Janet and Michael Anderson who lived in Goaters Road, Ascot; now all in their 50's early 60's.
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Mayford is two miles south of Woking which is a completely different place from Wokingham. You need to post on the Surrey board to find Woking families.
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[Hi and thanks.
I have also posted on the Surrey site; but was also looking for any firm Knight connection.
Regards.
Steve.
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Hi, I am exploring the history of Grosvenor House School (also called Wokingham Preparatory School and now the White House School). The School was founded by Miss Laura Jane Baker in 1890 and started in Milton Road (1890 - 1893) before moving to Terrace Point (now Tudor House)(1893-1919) and adopting the name Grosvenor House School after Miss Baker's training college in Bath. Then it moved to Montague House (1919-1931) and onto a site in Albert Road (1931-1948) and finally to the White House in 1948. Miss Baker retired in 1933 and a teacher at the school, Miss Rosalie Smith, became head followed in 1939 by Miss L Baker's neices, Misses Olive and Janet Knight. By this time the school became the Wokingham Preparatory School. I know very little of the School during this time. Eventually a Miss Beryl Caudwell took over the school and moved it to its present site and became the White House Preparatory School.
This school history project has been started as the school will be celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2015 and is hoping to get an alumni going and other things.
Does anyone have any other photographs or memorabilia or information about the school? Many thanks, Ellisa
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Thank you ellisa, I replied to your email that I received via Tribal Pages. I hope you find the info interesting even if it doesn't supply you with more information about the school itself.
Philip
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Hi,
Phodgetts - I have not received your email yet. Could you try sending it again? Many thanks, Ellisa
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I realise Oakfields childrens home is entirely different to Oakfields school,after hours of searching,finaly came across a picture of the childrens home,in "up my street" they say it was a nursing home,now residential,was originaly a Manor House,also found a picture of my grandmothers house in Peach Street,just after where old style houses are that you walk under,there was a lane and two Alms houses my gran lived in the first one,lovely to see it.
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Hi, I am new to the site but after putting 'Childrens Home in Station Rd, Wokingham' into my computer, this was the only place I could find mention of 'Murray House, Station Road'. I know my mother was in an Orphanage in Wokingham and I am almost sure it was this one. I am unable to find any websites about the home and would really like to find out more. I understand the building is now private homes so going there wouldn't help. She went into the home when she was about 8 years old when her mother died and that was in 1924. If anyone can help, I would be so grateful.
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I lived at Murray house from early 60s to mid 70s. I am looking for anyone that might remember me. My name is Vanessa. I remember, Christopher Falmer, Stephen, Helen, susan red fern, peter, patric. If anyone can remember please contact me.
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I lived at Murray house from early 60s to mid 70s. I am looking for anyone that might remember me. My name is Vanessa. I remember, Christopher Falmer, Stephen, Helen, susan red fern, peter, patric. If anyone can remember please contact me.
Hi Vanessa. I do remember you. How's things with you? I too lived there from around 1973 to 1976.
The boys there were Peter, who was into clocks lol as I remember, Chris who has a mohican/feathered haircut, and a fancy jacket with something on the back (logo/face/ etc) but I cant remember. Patrick, yes, just come to me now, umm a Robbie I think too. Girls there were, you of course, I remember that you returned for a quick visit too, Helen, Susan who loved horses, Karen L. Sharon E. (met her at a shop checkout which was nice to chat for a minute). The Staff were the Bristows with their son also Steve (I think), Oh also Peter who had a disability on his right side. Then came the Stacey's with their dog Bruce (German Shepherd), Also Alan Jones, he had a beard, Tim Preece.
I would love to catch up and natter sometime and see how your life blossomed. Well, hope to hear from you or anyone else from the home, to you all, take care. Steve
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Hi Vanessa I vaguely remember you,i was in Murray house before you but had a friend Jennifer Long who was in there the same time as you,relatives of Jennifer were in Oakfields with me.I worked at tectonic just up the road,in Station Rd when i left school.
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Hi Coronation Lady,
I was in Murray House in about 1956 but before that in Oakfields Wokingham for about five years just around the corner from Station Rd, Murray House was very small in compared to Oakfields,it was like two 1930,s semi detached houses together where as Oakfields was your typical childrens home like a large mansion in its own grounds,both childrens homes now have been turned into homes for the elderly,you could contact the local library to find out where the records are kept as you would be allowed to ask for them,mine were in Reading but most destroyed,you maybe lucky,if i can help please pm me.
Joyce
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Hi Joyce341,
I was in Murray House in the early 50's (approx 1955/56) along with my younger sister. The lady in charge was Mrs Crouch.
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Its been a few years since this post but looking never took it in before i see Millard Berkshire this was my sisters married name their family were from Hurst.
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Hi Sotonian
I recognise the photo of Oakfield house i was there for about five years when it was a childrens home to the right of the photo was our dining room to the left with turret was house parents quarters just where the lady is standing behind her was where the door to the dining room was if you look at oakfield retirement home photo you can see a photo from the front you will see the turret on the right in it.
Joyce
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Hi Buddytod
you would have been there when i was,i had previously been in Oakfields for about five years then just before Christmas in 1954 i think we were walked around the corner to Murray House I left about Easter time in 1956 i remember Mother Crouch as we called her Aunty jean,Mrs Nichols ( she brought me a doll for my birthday i remember she did,nt live in but came daily )and going into Mother Crouch,s living room on Sunday afternoon to see Childrens TV i had a sister Phoebe who was also there with me,I remember Margaret Palmer who was there and the old car out the back we played on.
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Hi Coronation Lady
it been a while now since this was posted but having read your post again and living in Oakfields and Murray House i do not think it would be Murray House i could be wrong but that was a small home and fairly modern compared to Oakfields someone in a photo of Oakfields said a relative worked at Oakfields in 1919 just after the war and they had evacuees there
The station is situated where you have station rd to the right where murray House was and Straight up was Oakfields on Barkham rd whichever home i lived at i had to cross the station when i walked to school i would say apply for her records which you are entitled to do but fear that they would have been destroyed as mine were.
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Hi again Joyce341, yes, I do remember Auntie Jean! I also remember the old black car (Austin I think). Strange how some memories came back....I seem to recall that alot of the crockery was green and having an afternoon 'nap' with sunlight streaming through the curtains although it may be that some of the memories are a little confused as my sister and I spent time in a 'home' in Wallingford (Sinodin) and also Redroofs in maidenhead. The most significant memory I have of Murray though was my Dad bringing me a toy Crossbow purchased from Woolworths. They were obviously very popular and I am sure a couple of the other boys at the home had one. About 5 years ago I managed to find one on Ebay, complete with original box and gosh, did that bring back the memories!
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Hi Buddytodd
Like you i had been in three homes by age of eight so is confusing I dont think you would have had a afternnon nap here as we were older children i did apply for my records but sadly they had been destroyed bar one small piece of paper,auntie Jean had moved with us from Oakfoelds in 1956
on searching with Reading Archives i did find that there had been a Murray House built in Oxford Rd in 1912 number 48 our Murray house was 30 so presume original building knocked down and a new place allocated sad that so little information kept of these homes who were a large part of manny childrens lives.
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Interesting to come across this thread. I lived in Binfield in the 70s, initially working in Bracknell and later for a short time in a small office in Broad Street, Wokingham. Quite often shopped at Waitrose: I can remember writing a cheque for £5 for a week's groceries for two!
I would never have recognized the photo as Bracknell High Street. I drove along it and parked outside the post office not long before they made most of the streets pedestrian precincts (and perversely opened to traffic at least one that had previously been for pedestrians only). The weekly market was useful: when the traders were packing up at the end of the day they would be almost giving the stuff away. I once bought a whole case of grapes at a ridiculously low price and trod them in the bath (having first washed my feet, of course). It was not one of my more successful wines.
Does anyone else remember Con Williamson's farm at Warfield, with a sign at the end of the drive saying "ten weak old chickens for sale" [or similar wording]? He was an educated man: that was his sense of humour.