Alton

[Ian]

Hi

I'm a little curious as I have two families (Rodwell and Pearce) who both came from Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire and were living in Alton at the time of the 1901 census. Both are listed as woodworkers.
Was there a major building project underway at the time? Gordon Joseph Pearce died in Alton in 1908 so it wasn't like a temporary job.
Any ideas? Is Alton known for wooden goods?
Thanks

[Thudnut]

Alton was big in the brewery business.  Could there have been a link there?  Cooper, perhaps?

Thudders

[Ian]

It's possible. Thanks - have a feeling I may never know!

[Wendi]

Hi Ian!

My immediate reaction was they were rebuilding Aldershot Army Camp about that time....but it was a bit far away in 1901!

Have you tried googling Alton "local history"

This came up....and perhaps a few more leads?

http://www.cornucopia.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/7838

Wendi 

[LizzieW]

Hi Ian

There is the Watercress Line in Alton, see the website

http://www.watercressline.co.uk


There are photos of some of the carriages etc. that are being restored and they have wonderful wood panelling etc.  Perhaps they were employed on  maintaining them.

The Watercress Line is a preserved heritage steam railway today, although I don't know much about it as have only lived in Hants for about 18 months.

I found the wood panelling etc. straight away when I first went on the site, now I can't find the photos.  Not being au fait with steam railways, the site takes quite a bit to get used to.

Alton is about 10 or so miles from Basingstoke, but I don't think there was much going on there around 1901.  I think Alton was more important at the time.

Liz

[Thudnut]

I did think about the Watercress Line, so you may be onto something there Liz!

If you get the chance to visit, then do so. It has a really nice tea room too!

Thudders

[LizzieW]

I should go as I am only about 15 minutes away!

Liz

[Ian]

Thanks for the information.  As it happens I like tea rooms so might add to my list of places to visit!
Live quite a distance from the area but pass along the 303 from time to time.

Thanks though for your help....it's probably just a coincidence that the two families went to Alton.  But experience suggests that there is often a reason!

[janeh]

Hi
I'm a little curious as I have two families (Rodwell and Pearce) who both came from Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire and were living in Alton at the time of the 1901 census. Both are listed as woodworkers.
Was there a major building project underway at the time? Gordon Joseph Pearce died in Alton in 1908 so it wasn't like a temporary job.
Any ideas? Is Alton known for wooden goods?
Thanks


Dear Ian - George Pearce came to Alton to take over the Butts Road Saw Mill in 1898. The premises had been set up be Miss I Crowley, of the brewing family, to give employment to some members of the Salvation Army, including Albert Poore. Sadly, Albert was not a business man - hence the availability of the premises for George who had been in Chesham, Bucks, in 1895. You are probably aware that he was an ‘English and Foreign Timber Merchant; Turner and Manufacturer of Corn and Malt Shovels, Spades, Hoops, Yokes, Scoops, Butchers’ Trays, Bowls and all kinds of Ash and Sieve Hoops; Lawn Tennis Sticks’ there. Similar items were made in Alton.
George and his family ran the Alton mill until 1939, although George had died at his home in December 1931, aged 74.
The Friends of the Curtis Museum here in Alton publish ‘Alton Papers’ each year and no.5 has quite a long article on George and the mill which includes pictures of George, his wife and family, a plan of the mill and a photo of George’s Talbot car in which he would be driven about Alton by a chauffeur. On the front is a copy of one of George’s adverts. If you are interested in a copy do let me know. The author talked to several Pearce family members when researching his article. Yours Jane.