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I've had a good ol' search online for the report you mention and I think I've seen reference to a couple of council docs related to the Westfields as a conservation area but they are never available for download and are always noted as 'unpublished' - so assuming they are not available generally but I haven't yet contacted the council so for all I know they may be more than happy to provide.

Fascinating to hear you did the 81 census! In 2020, I can relate to your Diamond House observation! A shame in some ways as it is a completely unique house in the area, and would/could be quite impressive if maintained.

Thank you for the additional info - the marriage of Richard to Mary King was not something I was aware of; I'd not got to Richard yet (his will aside which confirms the making over of the business to his sons as you say) and have so far been mainly focussing on Edward & Joseph onwards. Joseph has a son called William, who gives the impression of being a very well known local character, taking over the business when Joseph dies in 1896.

He dies in 1929 and there is an obituary in Newbury Weekly News which is quite brilliant in its detail and heartfelt sentiment. It's here: http://www.fnrcnewbury.org.uk/persondetails.asp?PersonID=642

This is without mention of some newspaper reports where he provided the timber and tightrope for 'The Great Blondin' at a performance in Newbury (the fella who walked over the Niagara Gorge on a tightrope in 1859), and later, was up in court on account of drinking and singing 'out of hours' on a Sunday at The Coopers Arms pub which still stands on the corner of Craven Road where it meets Bartholomew Street. He sounds like a man I would have enjoyed a beer with.

Amazing what you can find indeed - I feel like I've only just started with this house/terrace and there is more than enough already for a local history book (think A House Through Time style on the BBC!).

Thank you again Steve - this has been extremely useful and would love your help in accessing more info re: the info in the Westfields conservation area doc.

Hello 

I'm hoping someone more knowledgeable/experienced with family & local history research than me may be able to help!

Last year I bought a house in Newbury with my partner and I'm doing my best to research the house and the families who have lived here before us. We live in one of the terraced houses in what was recorded as 'New Street' in the 1871 census and is now the Eastern end of Craven Road (linking to Bartholomew Street, numbered 9-31).

I've been told by one of the locals that our house was built by a local builders in the 1850s, by the name of Harrison. I have been able to verify that the Harrisons were a local carpentry/building firm with dwellings and a yard with workshops etc off of Bartholomew Street, which was re-named Bedford Place in 1878. Although no one by the name of Harrison was living at any of the new houses according to the 1871 census, a number of female Harrisons appear to have lived in our house/next door to our house so I'm fascinated by the possibility that the family not only built the houses but also lived in them too.

Bit of a long shot perhaps but wondered whether anyone frequenting these boards has:

- Researched the Harrisons in Newbury and may have more information about them/their building business?
- Good knowledge of the development of the West Fields area/Craven Road so that I may be able pinpoint exactly when my house and the others in the terrace were built?
- Any further information on the fate of Bedford Place? It still appears on the OS map of 1932-34 and its entrance from Bartholomew street would have been almost directly opposite the Coopers Arms, I believe.