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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: Kathryn Wood on Sunday 15 May 16 19:31 BST (UK)
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Hello all
This is my first post and I am still feeling my way... looking to get in touch with several posters who have asked about the Wood 'pop' factory in Bedlington Station. I have some information about that family, including some beer bottle labels my grandfather Joseph Wood brought with him when he emigrated to Canada as a very young man. I believe his parents' names were John and Ellen. He brought stories with him about Dene (Dean? Deane?) House; my mother and I visited in 1983 and picked up some information about the business (run later by Lancelot I think) and the related business (Wood & Watson) in Durham. Watson was the father-n-law's name. Visited there in 83 as well.
Am looking to share information with others interested in this particular Wood family and also to get a better address for Deane House (my brother is going to visit at the end of May and only has my 30 year old photograph to go by) I think the house is on Bedlington Furnace Road (as Wood & Sons did occupy the Iron Works for a time.... Have a couple of photos of the employees of that day as well....
Please feel free to get in touch if you would like to share information...
Kathryn Wood
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Hi Kathryn
Welcome to rootschat. I'm sure it won't take long for people to start responding- they're a keen lot when it comes to local history ;D
Christine
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Thanks for the welcome. I found (Google Earth street view) the house my grandfather lived in as a young boy... This is the link:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@55.1273185,-1.5594954,3a,75y,111.82h,71.78t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s1GulGtyxnII-M_4nP-qd0w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Dead ringer for the photo I took in 83. It's on Front Street...
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Welcome Katherine, The house in this photo is not in Bedlington, but here in Blyth on the Bebside road which leads up to the town of Bedlington , this row of houses is just up the road from me,
I could pop up and see if Dene House is on any of the few houses that is there.
Everyone remembers Woods pop , I used to hitch a lift up on the back of their vans to go to the outdoor swimming pool in Humford woods...
Dolly
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Wow! That would be incredible Dolly! Thank you so much for offering! I have attached a photo from many years ago that is said to be Dene House and there is a reference to the Wood family living there. But the image doesn't match the photo I took in 83. I am wondering if the family moved or if I took a photo of the "backside". Any info you can offer would be great! The labels my Grandfather brought with him referred to Bedlington Station but we also heard references to Bebside and Blyth.... (see label photo attached... just black and white but the originals are colour)
When my grandfather enlisted in WWI, he listed his next of kin as Mrs. Bella Millar (Aunt) at Dean House, Bedlington, England. So that may be another trail for my siblings and I to chase...
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Katherine, I shall take a look at both these places for houses etc. The first pic, these houses are still there, but according to my better half the houses in your second pic are no longer there.. I can still go along and do a little spoaching if there is anything you think of...
Dolly x
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Thanks again Dolly.
I am taking from your note that the "original Dene House" is no longer there... if there was a way of figuring out where it stood, that'd be amazing! Interesting to me that my grandfather referred to the second house (the buildings that are still there) as being "Dean House". That reference would have been written down in about 1914 or so... I am assuming the original house was gone by then. I am sure there is a story behind it.... In 1983, I went to the still-existing building and was told by the inhabitants that Lancelot Wood had in fact lived there, until the mid-1950s if memory serves. So I am guessing there were two Wood homes at different times. Maybe the fouinder Joseph stayed in the original house and son John --- and perhaps other brothers --- lived in the second still-existing place.
Thank you again for your sleuthing on our behalf. It will mean my brother (and his son, also named Joseph) will be able to make good use of their time exploring your community.
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Kathryn, Also have a look at 'Blyth History' here in RootsChat (Northumberland section), also look for 'Bebside' as well, and you will find other references to Wood's pop factory when it was located at Bebside. There is also mention of Lance Wood who at one time owned the Bebside Inn, next to the railway crossing there.
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Thanks for the suggestions!
I will take them up forthwith!
Kathryn
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I have sent you a private message re your subject, and what to search for. There is a possibility that the person who started that post may also be a distant relative.
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There is a photo and information about Dene House here https://www.flickr.com/photos/flyeye/12662647954
You can see the position exactly on the left-hand of these 'side by side' maps http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/sidebyside.cfm#zoom=16&lat=55.1326&lon=-1.5676&layers=171&right=MapBoxStr Put your cursor over it and you can see the exact position also shown on the present-day map on the right.
This report, by Peter Ryder, states that Dene House was demolished in the 1950's http://www.bedlingtonironworks.org/archaeology/Ryder_Report.pdf
There are some photos posted here, http://www.bedlington.co.uk/forums/topic/4485-bebside-furnace-1940-1952/ which also seem to show Dene House
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Newcastle Journal 18 Oct 1918
" ...; Mr David Robinson, Dene House, Bedlington ..."
Newcastle Journal 14 Feb 1914
"Deaths - At Dene House, Bedlington, Joseph Wood, age 75, husband of Fanny Elizabeth ..."
Morpeth Herald 11 June 1920
" ... Mr J Millar of Dene House, Bedlington ..."
On the 1911 Census I can see a J(oseph) Wood, D Robinson and J Miller + 3 other families occupying the same address as 6 separate households. The address is not given as "Dene House". Cannot post details of the multi occupancy address (policy).
I googled "Bedlington Iron Works Bank Top old photos" which returned the picture already posted + another which appears to show Dene House in the background.
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Hi Kathryn. Lancelot Wood was my grandfather.
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Happy to help with information if I can.
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Please private message me. Hopefully that will work as I've now posted three messages.
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Welcome to Rootschat :)
Unfortunately Kathryn hasn't logged on since 17th May (the day after hanes teulu and I posted with what we hoped would be useful information).
She should get notification of your replies.
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Hi, I think I may be related to Kathryn as I am the great granddaughter of J.W.WOOD who was the Durham "Wood & Watson pop factory" and as I started to search our family history I came across these posts. Only just started searching and new to this site but would really appreciate any help/info and would also like to contact any relatives.
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I finally figured out how to attach files (the attachment option was 'below my screen' so I didn't see it until I started poking around).
These photos are from my trip to Durham in 1983 at which time I met Harry Wood who was running the W&W factory. He gave us a tour and we had a lovely visit. I have more information with others who are interested...
Kathryn
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Hi Nanny
I tried to PM you as I am also a Wood relative unfortunately I comes up saying your mailbox is full, not sure if that is because you are newly registered. Would love to hear anyone's information on the wood family.
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Hi Mary, I think it is due to new member from what I can gather.
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I apparently have to make at least 3 posts before I can send PM or get more than one I think, so hopefully after this might work
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Hi Nanny
Recieved your message and have messaged you back, look forward on connecting a few Wood dots.
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Ive just come across these posted my grandpa was harry wood.ive been trying to piece together my family tree.If anyone else is related.
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Hi Woodbutler
My Great Grandmother Ann Wood (b 1876) was sister to William Henry Wood (b 1865), who was father to Henry Sydney Wood (b 1906). Is this the Henry Wood who was your grandfather?
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Hi MaryThorn
My grandpa was born 1913 and died 1995. His name was William henry wood but got called Harry.
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Re that last post - brought back memories of the Bebside Inn at the level crossing, and also the Windmill Inn further down the road towards Blyth. I had a drink with 'Harry' on many occasions, although he was older than me, and about my father's age. He always had a smile on his face and was very jovial. Remembering things correctly, I hope, I believe he used to wear a silk cravat; and this has just come to mind, - I think he smoked a pipe.
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Yes that's my grandpa. He did smoke a pipe.
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Hi Woodbutler
Sounds like we have ancestors in common. I'm trying to work out the connection. Who were the parents of your Grandfather?
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Yes that's my grandpa. He did smoke a pipe.
And, Woodbutler, that refreshed my memory even more - the stem on his pipe was broken but he 'repaired' it using sellotape, elastoplast, or whatever. We used to rib him, saying we would have a whip-around to buy him a new pipe. He refused point blank, because that pipe was his favourite. :) ;)
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I'm going to write, starting with the most recent. Woodbutler, your grandfather, Harry, was the third son of Lancelot and Mary Wood. There were eight children - Lance (born 1909), Eddie, Harry, Albert, Mary, Evelyn, Nora and Florence (born 1930). They lived in Bedlington at the bottom of the Furnace Bank.
Lancelot (Harry's father) was one nine children of Joseph Wood (married to Fanny). These nine children were Wiliam Henry, John, Isabella (later Isabella Miller), Lancelot, Annie (later Annie Atkinson), Ellen (later Ellen Petrie), Charles, Hannah and Joseph.
Joseph (Harry's grandfather) was born on 30th June 1838 in Sheffield North to William and Margaret (formerly Younge). William's occupation was as a mason.
Joseph (Harry's grandfather) died in Bedlington on 11th February 1914. His occupation was mineral water manufacturer and he had a number of businesses including one in Bedlington (which was then run by his son Lancelot who passed it to his own son Lancelot i.e. Lance, Harry's brother). Another of Joseph's businesses was in Durham and was run by his son William Henry. I think this business is the one that later became Wood & Watson.
I hope that helps to fill in some gaps/clear up some confusion. Unfortunately, having several generations with the same name and a not uncommon surname doesn't make it easy.
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Sorry to bring this back but I was researching a house that we have just bought and it is the house in Bebside mentioned in this thread (Mansel Terrace). I'd love to know if anyone had any more photographs of this lovely old house?
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Hi
Which number Mansel Terrace have you bought? My uncle owned the row at one time with family members living in them. I'm not sure what I have in the way of photos, but will have a look. I do remember them having lovely big, high-ceilings rooms. But no central heating at that time, so they were pretty cold upstairs.
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#4 which we believe was owned by the Wood(s) family and then the Scott family. We'll not know until we get in if the ceilings have been lowered; they certainly aren't the height we'd expect for the period 1850's!
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I am the grandson to (Eddie) Edward Wood, the younger brother of Lance, both who lived I believe at Dene house. He told me a lot about the Woods drinks business when I was a child. I understand there was a big family fallout and Edward moved away to Grimsby. I wanted to know more about the Wood family and who still resides in the Bedlington area. A.Wood - East Yorkshire.
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Hello Kathryn, I'm Alex Wood, my grandfather was called Edward Wood, a brother of Lance Wood. I have an some old recipes from the Wood & Sons drink factory, books and images.
I would like to know what information you have regarding the Woods at Bebside, Bellington?
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Dene House straight in front of the Furnace Bridge- photo from Evan Martin's book - The Archive Photographs Series - Bedlingtonshire. There is no date for when the photo was taken. The bridge in the photo is over the river Blyth. The Furnace Bank, Bedlington leads down to the bridge past the house and on the other side of the bridge is the Hair-pin-bends bank that leads away to Bebside.
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Hi all - I'm new to the site so thank you for bearing with me! I have been reading with great interest your various posts concerning Wood & Sons, Deane House, Bedlington and Furnace Road.
I am another Wood descendant (hi extended fam!) living in the UK and J.W.Wood who founded the factory was my Great Great Grandfather, through his son William Henry Wood, then his son H. Sydney Wood, then his son W.H.L.Wood ('Harry') who is my father.
My father is alive and was the last managing director of Wood & Watson Ltd which was the 'other' soft drinks factory set-up by William Henry Wood in the 1890s. We lived in Gilesgate, Durham close to the factory.
I'd be keen to find out more about my extended family ancestry, and particularly from anyone who has had a go at collating an extended family tree? I was surprised to read that J.W.Wood had 9 children and started to realise the scale of the task! Thanks for your feedback.
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Hi PLZA9012 - please see my previous post! Sorry I don't know your name but you seem to have a pretty comprehensive picture of the J.W.Wood family tree!
Is there any more information that you could provide to me about the family tree and about the establishment of Wood & Watson Ltd in the 1890s? Any snippets might be useful.
Best regards
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Hi Kathryn - nice to meet you online! My father Harry was the person who showed you around his factory Wood & Watson in Gilesgate in 1983 - I hope that you had a nice tour! I remember many school holidays spent helping to mix the syrup that was the base for the Wood & Watson classics like Woods Lemonade, Ice Cream Soda, Cracka Cola and of course the local favourite Watcheer (often mis-spelt!). My father eventually sold the brand and the factory in 1996 and the site is now a housing development. Most of my family subsequently moved to the south of England.
Would you have any more information on your own family tree which I assume gets to J.W.Wood through his son John? Kind regards
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Hi Woodbutler - nice to meet you online! We both share William Henry ('Harry') Woods in our ancestry, although sadly different ones! I understand from your posts that your grandfather was Harry Wood, son of Lancelot Wood, son of J.W.Wood who founded the business. My great-grandfather was William Henry Wood, also son of J.W.Wood, who co-founded the Wood & Watson soft drinks business in Gilesgate Durham in the 1890s. Would you have any further information on the family tree, and also on the history of the different mineral water businesses. I haven't yet fully worked out why my great-grandfather decided to move away from the Bedlington business and set-up with his partner in Gilesgate, Durham although I know that the presence of a mineral water spring was a factor. Thanks and kind regards.
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Sorry - although I've heard of Wood & Watson and know that there was a family connection, it's only the family that remained in Bedlington that I have some knowledge of. Good luck with your search, though!
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I have just started to research my family & it appears my Great Grandmother Edith Davidson (nee Watson) was related to the Watson side of Wood & Watson.
I'm in early stages but here is what I have so far & any information on the Watsons would be really appreciated as this part of our family is a bit difficult to trace.
She was born in Durham in 1882, to John & mother unknow at the min.
I am aware of the following siblings (1901 Census), Robert (1874), John (1876), Jane (1878), Sarah (1881), Margaret (1885).
So I assume either Robert or John married a Wood, it would be nice to be able to dig a bit further. Many thanks in advance for any help.