Hull taxi firm

[sudee]

My grandfather Ellis Brook had a taxi business before and during the second world war in Hull  Does anyone know how I could find out more information about his business?  I know he went fire watching during the war and came home to find his home bombed and his partner,( a lady not my grandmother) dead.
Thanks
Sudee

[suttontrust]

I think your best bet is to contact the local studies library in Hull.  Do you have an address for your grandfather?  They don't have phone books from that far back, but they do have directories.

[arrowsdeb]

Hiya

Just checked Kelly's 1933 Hull Directory and he's listed as follows -

BROOKS, Ellis Edwd, Taxi Propr, 216 Hawthorn Avenue, TA 'DIRECT. TA Central 32590.


There are a number of spelling for the surname in the listings, ie Brook, Brooke, Brookes, and Brooks and your's is certainly the latter.

I have the dics for Kellys 1936 Hull Directory and Hull & distr. 1951 Trades Directory but nothing listed for him there.


Kind Regards
Debbie

[arrowsdeb]

Hiya

Just checked Kelly's 1933 Hull Directory and he's listed as follows -

BROOKS, Ellis Edwd, Taxi Propr, 216 Hawthorn Avenue, TA 'DIRECT. TA Central 32590.


There are a number of spellings for the surname in the listings, ie Brook, Brooke, Brookes, and Brooks and yours is certainly the latter.

I have the discs for Kellys 1936 Hull Directory and Hull & distr. 1951 Trades Directory but nothing listed for him there.


Kind Regards
Debbie

[arrowsdeb]

Hello again

He's also in  Kelly's 1929 E & N Ridings of Yorks Directory as -

Brooks, Ellis. Taxi propr. 216 Hawthorn Ave.




Also checked 1925 Directory and he's not listed there.

Debbie

[sudee]

Dear Debbie
I have just found out that my grandfather ELLIS EDWARD BROOK lived at 61 Freehold Street Spring Bank after living in Hawthorn Ave. He is listed in the Trade Directory of 1939 as living there. Is there anything left now of that street?
I have also found out that no 61 Freehold St was bombed on 31st March 1941 and the lady he was living with Eva Brook (aka Drewery) not my grandmother! was killed in the air raid.
Apparently this information came form a book by John Hook
"Shall it be so again?"Have you heard of this book?  Perhaps it is in the Reference library
Thanks again for starting me on this trail with your local knowledge
Best wishes
Delia

[arrowsdeb]

Hello again!
Glad to hear you've made some progress : )
Freehold Street is still alive and kicking as far as I am aware, next time I'm passing I'll see if 61 is still standing and try and get a snap for you.

Thought you may be interested that I googled '61 Freehold St, Hull' and got a link on Genuki for a Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, and there listed is a chap living at 61 Freehold Street in the 1941 Bombing, called CHarles Neville Lofthouse. Go further back, alphabetically, and Eva Brook is mentioned on a previous page.

Link is below,

http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/Indexes/NE_WarDead/CWD_J-L.html


Good luck with your continued searches.
Best wishes
Debbie

[sudee]

Dear Debbie
Thank you so much for your kindness in taking the trouble to reply to my query   I would love to know if that house is still standing,  also 216 Hawthorn Avenue.
The Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour is brilliant.  I would never have thought that it existed.  Horray for Google.
How is your family history coming along.  I sometimes get rather fed up with my elusive ancestors!
Best wishes
Delia