History of a house in Shardlow, Derbyshire

[overlandermatt]

Hi Ruskie,

It's all a bit run down unfortunately. A lot of general repairs throughout, plenty of older features eg fireplaces to reinstate/restore and generally to bringing up to current decorative/electrical/heating standards. There is also an old barn which is unconverted and almost falling down... That's going to be phase 2.

I will indeed keep the thread going with any developments on the history and house renovations if there is interest!!

The previous owners have been really good people to deal with and have passed on a lot of historical information that would otherwise have been lost if the purchase had been solely handled by the solicitors.

Matt

[Maiden Stone]

Are there no tithe records before 1850? Have you looked at maps which go with tithe records?
The Genealogist has address search option too. I'd begin a census search by looking for the name of the road. If that fails, browse the census for the village. Read the page describing the area the census collector was responsible for.
Browse parish registers, looking for entries with addresses.
Leases in county archives. Manorial records.
Local directories. Whoever was resident at the Dower House in 19thC might be listed. There wouldn't have been many people in a village listing in early 19thC, so easy enough to browse.
Local newspapers for family announcements, obits, notices of property sales and leases, news items about social functions, old photos.
Local or county library for newspapers, photos, old guidebooks.
Local history/heritage society.

[Ruskie]

I look forward to updates Matt  (on any house history as well as your personal 'journey' restoring it).

I found some images of the interior from 2013 I think - um, yes, I think a bit of redecoration is required.

At least I know where to pop in for a cuppa when I am passing (or spoilt for choice for places to purchase a cooling beverage). 

Btw, I think Jool probably is correct regarding the naming of the house. It is possible that there may be some parish registers to be found related to the family who built the house. Have you checked the church/yard?

Added: great suggestions Maiden Stone.

[overlandermatt]

Thanks again Ruskie and Maiden Stone.

I think the parish church was built in 1830 some time after the Dower House and Shardlow Hall. There were a few generations of Fosbrookes at the hall who presumably would then have moved into the Dower House. Whether the church came too late, possibly so... Later inhabitants might well be listed there. I shall make enquiries in due course.

There is a heritage centre in Shardlow which might have some useful information but its main focus (and rightly so) is the canal heritage. It's closed for the winter now but come the spring there could be a few clues to be found there.

Thanks again!

Matt

[Ruskie]

It seems that before the construction of St James, All Saints at Aston was used by villagers of Shardlow.

I think the Heritage Centre will be worth a visit when it re-opens.

Good luck.

[Jool]

Hi again Matt,

Not going too far back in time (1939), but I found this newspaper article mentioning some previous occupants of Dower House...

[Jool]

The family are on the 1939 Register, but unfortunately we are not allowed to post details of the 1939 Register on Rootschat.  You may be able to view the 1939 at your local library on Ancestry or FindMyPast.

The parents of the bride mentioned in the newspaper article are Sylvester Howorth Calvert & Lavinia Henshall who married in Shardlow in 1914.

Jool

[Jool]

Sylvester H Calvert was a jeweller - here's a link to a postcard for sale of his shop in Shardlow

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/S-H-Calvert-Shop-Front-Jeweller-Shardlow-Nr-Castle-Donington-small-unused-RP-pc/163492249306?hash=item2610e5beda:g:ZFgAAOSwHxVW8R9A:rk:24:pf:0

[Maiden Stone]

One of the staff or volunteers may know something or know someone who does.