RootsChat.Com

Thanks for that, I will research further.

My great grandparents were John Watkins (born 1856) and his wife Jane (born 1858) who farmed at Llanlugan until the time of Jane's death in 1890. In the 1911 census John was living at Tynyglyn Cottage, Llanfair. He died in 1921.
Their eldest daughter Catherine (born 1881) was my grandmother, and she had siblings Evan b. 1883,  John b. 1885, David b.1887 and Annie b. 1890.  I would love to have more information on this part of my family,  particularly how my grandmother, Catherine, came to live in the Whitchurch, Shropshire area.  I am also keen to find out if anyone knows where John and Jane are buried.

Thanks Tony, you're totally correct in everything you say, the property you refer to is Bettisfield Park and was the home of the Hanmer family. My grandfather and also other members of my later family did work for Sir Edward Hanmer.

Maybe there was a connection with the Hanmer family and the family Edward Whitfield went to work for in London.

Thanks for taking the time out to send me this information.

Regards.

Part of my family research is of the Whitfield family who lived around the Hanmer (near Whitchurch) area for most of their lives.  However, on the 1901 census Edward Whitfield b 1882, was working as a footman for Emily Thornton and her family at 56, West Side, Battersea, London. This seems so out of character with the rest of the family and I can't help wondering why he decided to take up a post in London - maybe he was just ambitious, but it must have been a tremendous change of lifestyle.  He later moved back to the Hanmer area but I'd love to know if anyone can throw any light on this.

Tati, thanks so much for the suggestion, I'll certainly check it out.