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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: Keith Sherwood on Thursday 02 June 05 09:54 BST (UK)
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Hi Everyone,
Lavenham seems to be a much-visited and admired place today. But can anyone tell me whether 7-9 Water Street, Lavenham are old buildings still, or not. I have a possible ancestor who was a blacksmith there in 1650...
Very best wishes,
Keith
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Hi Keith,
Have you tried posting on:
http://www.lavenham.co.uk/
Someone "on the ground" may be able to help.
Deborah
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Thanks, Dimps,
I'll try and e-mail someone there. Actually, I really ought to stir my stumps and get across to Lavenham to see for myself (dodging the inevitable coach parties)...
Best wishes,
Keith
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Just to put the cap on this now,
I e-mailed someone at the Tourist Information at Lavenham today, Sunday, and had a reply within half-an-hour to confirm that this is indeed still an original, ancient dwelling, but privately owned now.
Will be taking my camera along to Lavenham in the next fortnight or so...
Keith
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I've got Lingley ancestors too. I have a photo of this row of shops. Can email it if you want.
My email is: Email addy removed to prevent spamming. Please use personal messaging system to exchange personal details.
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Hi, Booger,
I did actually go to Lavenham in June, but that row of houses was covered with scaffolding for one reason and another, so the photos I tried to take were not very good. I would very much like to have a photo of 7-9 Water Street, so will PM you now with my e-mail address.
Thanks so much for this...!
Keith
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Hi everyone
I've also got lingley ancestors who lived at 11 water street , and thomas lingley according to family trees on ancesrty lived at 7-9 he had a daughter martha married to Henry game who was a blacksmith in the high road in 1841 . I've just seen another link about the lingley family which I have also replied to . So just wondering does anyone know where the blacksmith shop would have been in the high street and has anyone managed to find 7-9 water street and number 11 when I visited the town last week number 11 was a Victorian house someone suggested it may have been the old forge
Any help would be great
Chees
G
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Hello, I can see that this is a very old thread. I have been doing a little bit of digging, as we own number 8 Water Street. I have come across some images and video footage that shows that the blacksmith's was actually located between 7-9 Water Street. You can see where the entrance to the forge was as the pavement has been dropped! It is still like that to this day. The image I have is from when Mr Huffey was the Blacksmith 'Huffey & Sons'.
By Easter this will be a self catering holiday cottage, as number 8 formed part of the forge, staying true to it's heritage, it will be aptly named. I've attached an image!
Regards,
Katie
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Hi Katie
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply on this thread . I think my ancestors were the blacksmiths in water street before the huffy family took over . I've stood outside the row of houses many times trying to work out where exactly the blacksmith was . I always feel uneasy so I will send my apologies for staring !! It's a fascinating street , I had quite a few ancestors live into street from the early 1800s one of my lot rented the large building on the corner I think at one point it was also used as a blacksmith . Its been quite difficult trying to find out where most of them lived unfortunately only sheduel numbers on the census I think one had number 11 which could have been a house number has it was within the address area on the census . Anyway thanks again I love the photo
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Katie,
That's wonderful to see that old image of Water Street, and it definitely clarifies the position of the entrance to the smithy/forge! Thank you so much for posting it on this thread, nearly twelve years after it was started. Brings the past to life, of course...
Keith
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Hello,
We have received a letter from a Gentleman called "Fred" who wishes for us to pass on these details for Katie89 on this topic.
"I was interested to be able to view the comments that were being made by your members about No's 7-9 Water Street Lavenham and was also pleased to see the photograph of the blacksmith at work shoeing the horse. The blacksmith in the photo is in fact my father and I am enclosing two copies of photos that I have. The top photo on the page is similar to the one shown in the article but the second is taken inside of the forge in 1947 and the photographer is standing just inside of the doorway that led from our living accomodation at no 7 into the workshop area. The sequence of articles brought back some very happy memories to me and generated a tear or two, as I have had 70 years with this in the back of my mind."
Blacksmiths giving a demonstration at the 1949 Suffolk Show in Long Melford Mr Huffey (Lavenham) and Joe Parke.
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I am sorry these images are small photocopies
"Lavenham 1947"
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Lovely photos, how kind of the gentleman to share them with Rootschatters.
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The Traverse (travus) was in Water Street where they shoed the hosses. The workshop was in the High Street where the present East of England Co-op shop is now.
SM ...