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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: yogievans on Saturday 05 September 09 17:58 BST (UK)
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I have two John FORDs in my tree, including a great great grandfather, who were managers of the above factory.
Is it possible to get any information on this factory? Apparently the company produced artificial manure - was this fish meal? or based on seaweed?
Thanks
Ian EVANS
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Hi Ian,
Just searched under 'Berwick manure factory'
pic here http://www.europealacarte.co.uk/blog/2007/07/01/spittal-beach-berwick-upon-tweed/
some info here http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43423
Barbara :)
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Thanks Barbara.
I've seen the British history reference. Thanks for the link to a picture. I'll ask my uncle about this when I see him next. He lives in Edinburgh now, but he often goes back to the town of his birth. He was very amused when I told him his grandfather was a manager of a manure works!!
Regards
Ian EVANS
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The works were build in about 1870 and the first John Ford was Clerk of the works, I believe he was a joiner by trade. He lived in Enfield House that went with the job, the next John also lived there and the next generation down lived in Enfield Cottage over the road. The buildings are all still there and can be seen on Street View Site, East Street, Spittal. Also a warehouse. Not manure as we would call it now adays, it was a dry fertilizer. The factory used guano from Peru and Australia, fish and guts, blood from the local abbatories and seaweed, also crushed bones with steam driven equipment and minerals shipped in from all over the world.
Regards Anne
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Hi Anne,
Thanks for your reply - a bolt from the blue!! I knew most of the details, but I have never heard John FORD described as 'clerk of works' before. In the census he is described as 'foreman' in his later years.
Can i ask how you know these details - do you have FORDs in your family? o links with Enfield House? or the manure works?
Regards
Ian EVANS
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Hello, I live in Spittal, I am friends with a lady whose father was the last Ford foreman, she lived in Enfield Cottage, I have been researching the factories with her help. She thinks she knows your mother/grandmother and she knows which lady in the family moved to Wales. I don't wish to post her details on the internet.
Regards
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Hi Anne,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I am most intrigued that your friend knew (of?) my mother!!! Is it possible to communicate by e-mail? I am at
yogievans@aol.com
Regards
Ian EVANS
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If someone comes back to this discussion, I’m looking for any info on the fate of Agnes Veitch Ford. She is listed on her marriage certificate as living at Enfield House and her father, John Ford, is listed as "Foreman at artificial manure factory.” In 1926, at at 21, she married Clifford Denham. Just a few years later my mother married Mr. Denham not knowing that he was already married. He was tried for bigamy at Old Bailey. I believe Agnes died in 1995, but I don’t know if she remained Mrs. Denham. She apparently was born and died in Spittal, but I’ve found no record of her burial, or that of the Fords or Mr. Denham. After Denham she married Thomas J. John.
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Hi,
Agnes Veitch JOHN (nee FORD) died in 1996 in Hertfordshire. By the way, I have a copy of her wedding announcement in the Berwickshire News of 10th August 1926 to Clifford DENHAM. She was married on 4th August.
Happy New Year
Ian