I am James Francis Mash's great granddaughter and have the date of his death and of his children. I would love to share with you. I am very interested in knowing more about my history in England. as his granddaughter my mother who is 95...
thank you. Trish

More info on grandmother. Harriet Mary Mears nee Maskel ( I think her letter home would have the last name Maskel). But it was written to her sister Clara which could have been her married name. Clara was married to uncle Engol or Ingol so Maskel could have been his name. My aunt Clara grew up in Cottingham. They had a small holding which I visited when I was seven. They lived in a lovely cottage with leaded windows and a pear vine growing up the front of this house. House burned down in the late 1950. Probably in newspaper.

Hi,

I am the current custodian of Stanley Cottage in Preston village. It is notoriously difficult to find but it is nestled behind North Road and North View.

I'm told that the original rugby club stood right beside the cottage.

I would love to discover more about the cottage and its past. If anyone has information or photographs, I'd be delighted to see them or receive any other snippets of the history.

Thank you in anticipation, Ben.

(I did find the property listed in the 1939 Register for England and Wales with the address Back North Terrace (Stanley Cottage) but most unhelpful the property appears to have been empty! You could put in a request to the Land Registry and they may be able to give you a history of previous occupancy. They have an extensive presence online - Ed)

You mention a blacksmiths. Is this the cottage now known as Stanley Cottage in the back lane behind North Road.

We cannot give you a definite answer to this question, although probably not. Google Maps suggests Stanley Cottage is on Walton Avenue to the north of Front Street.

Kelly's Directory of Northumberland, 1914 (which includes North Shields) lists on page 714 under Trades a blacksmith George Swan living at No. 2 Rosebery Avenue, Preston Village which is almost certainly the address to which our author was referring.

[The question refers to the article in the BLUE pages at: LIFE IN PRESTON VILLAGE 1931 - 1948.. - Ed]

Thank you so much this is all so fascinating to read I look forward to digging deeper over the next few days

Hi. Your website is fascinating, and I stumbled across it because there's a headstone for Bartholomew Aldwinckle in Foster Hill Road Cemetery, Bedford, and he died April 15 1888 in his 73rd year, and also his wife Amy who died July 16 1888 in her 72nd year. It was such an ususual name that I Googled it. I hope this information can fill a gap. Best wishes and keep up the good work.

I was very interested to read of my great granduncle Stephen Stacey and my 1st cousin, twice removed, Eliza Stacey and her marriage to Vincent Cook. I also enjoyed the descriptions of Watford, where my uncle Charlie lived with his wife Elsie East. We lived in Borehamwood, where dad (Edward John) worked in the local film industry, as did two of our (Stillwell) cousins.
Many thanks and best regards,
Eddie Stacey

[This article can be found in the TEAL pages at: What's cooking in Hertfordshire? Cousins All! (Part 2a Vincent).. - Ed]

We have the Corder name and I wondered if there was a family tree to see whether we have a direct link to William Corder at all? My father in laws middle name was William and he always told us it was after a famous descendent.
Many thanks
Kelly

[Our family's connection with William Corder is described in the article in the BLUE pages at: THE MURDER OF MARIA: From Red Barn to Lincoln's Inn.. - Ed]

Hi

I am sure our paths must have crossed at some stage as I was at Alderman Newtons from 1958-1966.I found myself on your school photo.
I am interested in what information you may have on Flora Street, off King Richards Road. My grandparents lived at no 3.
Anything you can provide would be appreciated.
Regards
Peter Breward
PS Amazing website

Hi I came across your website after a google search for Freckleton. I have a photo of a gentleman who lived in Long Eaton dated 1907. The branding says 'Freckleton 63 Long Row Nottingham. And at Long Eaton' Do you know their address at Long Eaton? Also your page says that Freckleton moved his studio - does that mean that the Nottingham studio closed? It's not all that important but I'm curious!


[The reference to Freckleton & Co was made by Brett Payne in response to some photographs that were submitted to him for identification purposes. He has made similar references on a page on his own website at Derbyshire Photographers' Profiles. Frank Day (1870-) of Heanor & Derby. - Ed]