Author Topic: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead  (Read 26503 times)

Offline stegaroo

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Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« on: Monday 02 February 09 11:42 GMT (UK) »
Has anybody any information about a semi-permenant gypsy camp in the New Ferry/Rock Ferry/Birkenhead area of Wirral/Cheshire in the early 1900's? The brick wall i have been running up against with my wifes maternal side of her family seems to be because the grandmother, as i have recently found, came from this gypsy camp.
I really have no idea where to start looking in this direction. I'm hoping some experienced hunters may be able to point me down the right road.
With thanks
Ken
Swarbrick, Hughes, Tilley, Polland (Poland), Weedall

Offline CitizenSmith

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #1 on: Monday 02 February 09 13:41 GMT (UK) »
Hi Ken

I may be able to help if you can give me the grandmother's name.

Many of the Gypsies who camped in Birkenhead in the 1900s also used to spend the summer season in Blackpool - which is where I've made a particular study of the families.

Look forward to hearing more.

Sharon
Smith - East Anglia & Lancashire
Taylor - East Anglia
Draper
Hope
Shaw
Gray
Boswell
Lovell
Robinson
Chilcott
All Blackpool Gypsies
"Royal Epping Forest Gypsies": ball-giving group
"Borrow's Gypsies": the people that the novelist George Borrow (1803-1881) knew and wrote about

Offline stegaroo

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #2 on: Monday 02 February 09 15:22 GMT (UK) »
Hi, had to wait for my other half to come home to get the info from her.
Her g/mothers name was Isabel Kay, i have not got her date of birth but am told she was born in 1913. She married a Frederick Taylor (my grandfather) who was born around 1910. He was from Birkenhead.
Cheers
Ken
Swarbrick, Hughes, Tilley, Polland (Poland), Weedall

Offline CitizenSmith

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 03 February 09 14:14 GMT (UK) »
Hi Ken

I'm sorry to say that Kay doesn't feature at all among the surnames of the Birkenhead/Blackpool/Liverpool Gypsy families I've researched.

What about Isabel's father's name and occupation from her marriage certificate? That might give another clue.

Sharon


Smith - East Anglia & Lancashire
Taylor - East Anglia
Draper
Hope
Shaw
Gray
Boswell
Lovell
Robinson
Chilcott
All Blackpool Gypsies
"Royal Epping Forest Gypsies": ball-giving group
"Borrow's Gypsies": the people that the novelist George Borrow (1803-1881) knew and wrote about


Offline stegaroo

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 03 February 09 14:34 GMT (UK) »
Hi Sharron
Thanks for your help, i'll try and get my hands on the marriage certificate and see where that leads me. I'll get back to you if i have any relevent info.
Thanks
Ken
Swarbrick, Hughes, Tilley, Polland (Poland), Weedall

Offline stegaroo

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 03 February 09 14:37 GMT (UK) »
Me again,
I meant to ask, do you know anything about where in birkenhead they would stay/make camp? Wsa there a designated camp or would they stay where they could?
Thanks again
Ken
Swarbrick, Hughes, Tilley, Polland (Poland), Weedall

Offline CitizenSmith

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #6 on: Tuesday 03 February 09 19:59 GMT (UK) »
Hi Ken

In the period we're talking about, there weren't any authority-designated camping sites: the Gypsies would pull onto any spare wasteland they could find - usually the land that no-one else wanted to live on or do anything with.

If they found a likely spot, they would often return to it regularly year after year. More elderly family members might even stay at that place all year round, while their children were on the road. One such place in and around Birkenhead was at Green Lane, Tranmere. I understand it was an abandoned brickworks.

Look forward to hearing more once you get the marriage cert.

Sharon
Smith - East Anglia & Lancashire
Taylor - East Anglia
Draper
Hope
Shaw
Gray
Boswell
Lovell
Robinson
Chilcott
All Blackpool Gypsies
"Royal Epping Forest Gypsies": ball-giving group
"Borrow's Gypsies": the people that the novelist George Borrow (1803-1881) knew and wrote about

Offline stegaroo

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #7 on: Tuesday 03 February 09 20:26 GMT (UK) »
Cheers Sharon, thanks for the help.
Ken
Swarbrick, Hughes, Tilley, Polland (Poland), Weedall

Offline loumac

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Re: Romany/Gypsy Camp in Birkenhead
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 06 September 09 19:22 BST (UK) »
Hi, i have been searching for a while and am quite new to the internet. i have been wondering about my family's history. my grandfather came from the slate mines in trws fynedd, snowdonia to work on the mersey tunnel. his ancestors originally from wexford in ireland. but my granmother's family came from a gypsie camp in lower tranmere.. I'm trying to find out where and when it was and is there any pictures. and any other information would be grateful.
i'm confused about my great grandmothers name. i was led to believe it was Barbra Supphire Brown and she worked in the Royal Standard House 'pub' in Rock Ferry and was quite a well known lady in the area. but there have been other names floated around for years.
i would be most grateful for any help, thanks Lou x