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Thanks youngtug - I bet you didn't pay tuppence a pint or 3p (old pence I hasten to add) for Best Bitter but I'm glad you enjoyed it!!

Thanks for the link to Swindon Library - I maybe should offer see if I can get a copy of the photo Dad has of the pub and see if they want to add it to their collection.

I'm now in touch with Jacqui privately thanks to your advice so hopefully we can help each other fill in the gaps.

Once again, thanks for your guidance......& patience!

Regards
McDaffy

Hi there Jacqui

It’s been a while since I visited this site – got distracted by my mothers Scottish side!

I’m intrigued about the Cross Keys – that is the pub that GGG Grandpa Henry Lawrence (b. Abt 1851, Swindon)had at one point.  He and his wife were originally Inn Keepers – he was also a Blacksmith & shoeing smith) at the Curriers Inn (“in the High Street, opposite the Church”).

Anyway, they had 3 children, the eldest of which was Henry Samuel (b. 1871/3).  It was Henry Samuels eldest daughter, Mary (b.1895, Co. Antrim, Ireland), who left the diary.

It seems that GGG Grandpa Henry was married 3 times and had 17 children from these 3 marriages.  According to the diary, 3 girls are in New Zealand.

Again, according to the diary, by 1897, GGG Grandpa Henry was getting itchy feet and wanted  to move up the High Street to the Cross Keys Hotel which had a wine & spirit licence.  He bought William Samuel out of the Army and, in May 1897, he took over the Curriers Arms whilst his father, Henry, moved up to the Cross Keys.

Most of the rest of the diary sheds light on life in the Curriers Arms (eg the blacksmithing & shoeing, the price of beer, the brewery agent, the Gambling Den) and also what happened to Mary when she left home, returned and met G Grandpa Albert(Little).

I don't know if any of that was of any interest to you but I'd love to hear a bit more about who your G Grandparents were and see where I can fit them in.  I'm not sure how to message privately but am happy to give you my personal email address if that is permitted.

Hope to hear from you again
Regards
McDaffy

New to the forum but wondered if the info I have is of any use to you.........

I have a William Brand who married a Jane Wilson.  Son John Wilson Brand was born around 1887.

John Wilson Brand married Bridget Cassells (b Dundee 12/12/1893) in Sept 29, 1911 in Kirkcaldy .  I have more on the children of that marriage but nothing further on Johns parents as I haven't got to that yet.

If any use to you and you'd like more, let me know.
cheers
McDaffy