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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: Alexander. on Thursday 29 October 09 01:22 GMT (UK)
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I have been told that my gg grandfather Harry Frecknall worked at W. N. Nicholson's Ironwork Firm in Newark in the 1920s. I think this firm made agricultural machinery. However I don't know much about Nicholson's and was wondering if anyone knew anything about the firm? Also, would it be possible that any records still exist for workers at Nicholson's?
Thanks!
Alexander
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Nicholsons closed in the 1960s. The building is still there I believe it is now converted to housing.It is a beautiful building by the side of the Trent and has a clocktower. It was a foundry producing agricultural machinery.
I found a Harry Frecknall on the 1911 he was living in Norwell aged 36 and he was a foundry labourer- so that fits nicely.
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Thanks Larkspur for your response. I was also slightly surprised that Harry was listed as a foundry worker in 1911. This is the list of baptisms of his children which nicely shows how his occupation changed:
1898 - Labourer
1899 - Labourer
1902 - Engine Driver
1904 - Engine Driver
1906 - Labourer
1909 - Sawyer
1911 - Sawyer
1915 - Foundry Machine Worker
1917 - Foundry Machine Worker
I don't know if Harry was working at Nicholson's at that point or if he just worked there later. Though he did seem to keep changing his occupation. I suppose since he was working in the agricultural machine firm during WWI he did not have to serve.
Thanks,
Alexander
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just found your conversation about the nicholson iron works, after googleing the name. I found an old seed rill in the corner of a field, while on a walk near Hungarton in Leicestershire, and this had the nicholson of newark name cast on the wheel. I would say that the drill was about 100 years old and horse drawn. I hope this is of interest toyou, as you can see i am interested in farm machinery myself. belarusman
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Hi belarusman,
Welcome to RootsChat! :)
It's been quite a while since I looked for information about Nicholson's ironworks. Unfortunately I don't know much more about the person I was researching (Harry Frecknall) and what he might have done at the iron works. Though he only did labourer type jobs, I don't think it was particularly "skilled" work.
Its interesting that you could still see that the drill was from Nicholsons if it had been left out in a field for many years. A while ago I did a bit of research into the Nicholson family of Newark just to find more about the firm. I think that William N. Nicholson had first built the works in the 1840s, and as larkspur said lasted well over a century. I wonder if it was still run by the family by the 1920s and later.
Regards,
Alexander
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Hi
I know a Trevor Frecknall who lives in North Muskham about 5 miles from Norwell who i believe originally came from Norwell .He could be related.
Chris42
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Hi Chris,
Yes, he is related - Trevor is my granddad's cousin. He happens to be grandson of the Harry Frecknall who worked at Nicholson's. I was in touch with Trevor a while back.
Alexander
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Hi Alexander
Glad you have got in touch with Trevor,he is a good bloke I went to school with his son and daughter so I have known him for a good many years. He has just wrote a book about Brian Clough and its on sale in a Newark bookshop.
Chris
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http://www.newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Take-a-look-at-Newark-as-seen-in-1942
On the Newark Advertiser site there is a video link, featuring the town in 1942. Nicholsons is on it.
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Thanks larkspur, the video is very interesting. I think I saw Nicholson's on the river there!
I have family who grew up in Newark around that time, I'll pass on the link to them.
Alexander
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Dear Sirs,
I am writing from Budapest, Hungary, because I would like to know more about Nicholson's Ironwork.
My flat is in a villa (on Budapest, Lendvay str) which was built 1896-98 upon request of Philip W Nicholson (died in 1904), who was the son of Nicholson's Ironwork owner. Philip managed the Budapest brach office of Nicholson's, which was opened in 1869, originally for selling (only) the Newark made goods. In 1872 they established their own repairing-servicing station, and in 1875 Philip Nicholson opened their big factory on Budapest.
I attached a copy about original draw of the villa: you can read the name 'Nicholson' on top, and you can see his sign on the right bottom corner.
Thanks 'larkspur' for the link of vimeo!
I try to find the factory on streetview in Newark, does it located on Mather Road?
Do anyone has any old photo about any Nicholson? thx and regards Zoltan
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Zoltan, if you go to Google maps and search for "The Wharf Newark" Then once you have that put the little orange man onto the middle of the bridge. Turn him around and the building you see almost opposite The Castle Barge, with the square white tower is Nicholsons. Yes it is on Mather Rd.
If you do a full 360 turn, you can also see the Parish Church and the Castle.
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Hi larkspur,
Many thx, I found it. Lovely like our building, however, our house was designed by a
master builder of Czech origin.
regards Zoltan
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My wife's family owned the factory at Newark, we have a number of their tractor seats in the family! My Father in Law has much history of the family
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Hi Cd8535!
Do you have any old photo about Nicholsons? I am interested on family members lived during the period 1860-1900, mainly Philip Nicholson (died in Budapest 1904). Thx and regards Zoltan
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Hi Zoltan, I will ask my mother in laws family, Ben Nicholson lives in the USA, maybe he could help, he would have taken over the company if it had continued!! Might take a while though. Carl
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Would these have been the Budapest marriages of 2 of Philip's (Fülöp) children?
Roy G Budapest.
VŐLEGÉNY MENYASSZONY
Családneve: Orssich Családneve: Nicholson
Keresztneve: Pál Keresztneve: Etel
Apja családneve: Orssich Apja családneve: Nicholson
Apja keresztneve: Róbert Apja keresztneve: Fülöp
Anyja családneve: Zombor Anyja családneve: Schneider
Anyja keresztneve: Paulina Anyja keresztneve: Etel
A házasságkötés ideje: 1907.08.17.
Helység: VI. kerület
(Budapest) Folyószám: 966
Megjegyzés: a dátumnál hiányzott a hónap és a nap, ezért az elötte és utánna levő dátumból következtetve
Filmkocka-szám: 260
Kapcsolat az anyakönyvhöz
VŐLEGÉNY MENYASSZONY
Családneve: Oetl Családneve: Nicholson
Keresztneve: Aladár Keresztneve: Erzsébet
Apja családneve: Oetl Apja családneve: Nicholson
Apja keresztneve: Antal Apja keresztneve: Fülöp
Anyja családneve: Wegerer Anyja családneve: Schneider
Anyja keresztneve: Teréz Anyja keresztneve: Erzsébet
A házasságkötés ideje: 1906.05.07.
Helység: VI. kerület
(Budapest) Folyószám: 498
Megjegyzés:
Filmkocka-szám: 132
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Hi! Roy G,
BINGO!!
I have just found many docs about Nicholson's family on the website of Budapest Archive (bfl.archivportal.hu). The daughters are Etelka and Margit.
br Zoltan
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Have you also seen the 4 factory photos of machinery in the Budapest archives on:
http://www.archivportal.arcanum.hu/kozos/opt/a130223.htm?v=pdf&q=%28WRD%3D%28nicholson%29%29/FOTADAT&a=list
Budapest Főváros Levéltára • Photos • HU BFL XI. 916. Klösz György és Fia Cég iratai
1. Nicholson Gépgyár - álló gép Klösz György HU BFL XI.916 10/024. 1324.
2. Nicholson Gépgyár kiállítása Klösz György HU BFL XI.916 10/024. 1325.
3. Nicholson Gépgyár - 3 részes gép Klösz György HU BFL XI.916 10/025. 1326.
4. Nicholson Gépgyár - nagygép Klösz György HU BFL XI.916 10/025. 1327.
You can view these four photos on the Internet, but you will need to click on képhez and follow instructions (in Hungarian) in order to download the Budapest State Archive's internal viewing program.
There is also more information if you search under his wife's maiden name of Schneider Etelka.
If you live in Budapest SWISSROLL, these archives are well worth visiting. The spacious building is brand new and has a free car park. It also has a small cafe, is open 4 days a week and has two late nights for those who have to work, membership is free, photocopies of original documents are inexpensive and the staff are young and most helpful. The only problem is their summer recess (closed all of August) and administration. You will firstly need to become a member, fill out many forms to order up any documents you want to view, and then return a few days later when the documents will be made available to you. Such a system does not suit a researcher that can only afford to visit Budapest for a few days, but the benefits often far outweigh the disadvantages.
Roy G
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Hi Cd8535.
Are there any employment records for Nicholsons in Newark for the period Jan 1900 to May 1901? I am interested in tracing a man name Gough who was associated with Nicholsons and might have married into the family, although I think employee is more likely. Is there a family tree for the family?
I will be grateful for any help or guidance you might be able to give to me.
As an aside I must say I admire the family's achievements. They are truly remarkable, and evidence of great talent and industriousness.
John