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kissyfur · 3 years ago

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It's (sort of) Hammer Time

Grabbed the camera bag with my trusty 550D yesterday and headed off to Holy Trinity Church in Wolverton for a quick lunchtime snapping session, and thanks to the changeable weather, I got a distinct Hammer Films vibe.

In my head, I suppose it looks a bit like Bray Studios, which remains best known for its association with Hammer Film Productions. It's also like a location or matte painting which you would find in one of their films - not that I've seen many, big scaredy-cat that I am.

According to my vague diggings, the old medieval building was replaced by a new church in the early 19th-century, with the new church incorporating the 14th-century central tower, but re-cased in new masonry. Its style is described as "Gothic Revival". Despite not being particularly tall, it's quite imposing.

There's nothing much scary about this place in real life though, especially when the sun comes out. There's even a small fairy garden carved into the trunk of a tree.

The grounds aren't large either and most people could easily walk around the whole place in just a few minutes. It's nestled in what used to be Old Wolverton, most of which has disappeared over the centuries.

As well as the filmmaking side of things, another point of local interest for me is the Grand Union Canal, which runs close by. The Warwickshire stonework for the 19th-century renovations to the church were brought in from Attleborough by barge on - you guessed it - the Grand Union, which was new at the time.

It was only a quick visit and I'm sure I'll be back at some point in the future, perhaps as a part of a film crew, but until then, here's some links to the places I scoured for my (ahem) encyclopaedic knowledge.

Keep safe...!

http://saint-george.org.uk/

https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/bucks/vol4/pp505-509

#photography #local history #churches #wolverton #milton keynes #locationscouting #location scouting #grand union canal #canals #filmmaking

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chiddicksfamilytree · 5 years ago

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This is the third in my new series of blogs that covers the life stories of my 16 Great Great Grandparents, so let me introduce Elizabeth Lake.

Elizabeth Lake was born 14th May 1845 in the Norfolk village of Attleborough, she was eldest of six children born to John Lake and Rebecca Lake nee Dixon. She was baptised in the beautiful village church of St. Mary’s, in Attleborough on 19th April 1846, the informant at the time of the Baptism was her Mother Rebecca Lake. Her Father John is listed as a Labourer on the Baptism record.

(St.Mary’s Church, Attleborough)

Elizabeth is listed in the 1851 Census with her parents John and Rebecca and her two sisters, Mary Ann Lake and Sarah Ann Lake, the family are living at Havenscroft Street, Attleborough.

1851 Census

Between 1851 and 1861, the Lake family up sticks and move down from Norfolk to Essex, presumably for John Lake’s agricultural work. By 1861 the family are residing at South Ockendon in Essex, the family home was listed as Peacock Farm and Elizabeth Lake was listed as a House Maid working at Mollands Hall, for a Farmer called Abraham Manning. Not much further down the lane, Matthew Chiddicks was residing at Little Mollands Hall in 1861 and it is presumably here that their two paths crossed.

1861 Census

At the tender age of just 20, Elizabeth Married Matthew Chiddicks and the two were married at North Ockendon Parish Church on 7th October 1865. My original assumption had been that the couple had Married in South Ockendon, the Parish that they were living in at the time, but we can only speculate as to the reason they married in North Ockendon, rather than South Ockendon, the Parishes are that close together. All I can say is their first born child, William Chiddicks was born 18th March 1866.

(Original Parish Register entry)

(North Ockendon Church)

By 1871 Elizabeth is living at Plough Cottages in South Ockendon and her occupation is listed as a Farm Labourer’s Wife. She is listed at home with her Son William and two Daughter’s, Elizabeth and Louisa as well as her own Sister Louisa. Her husband Matthew is counted as living two doors away and is listed with Elizabeth’s own parents, John Lake and Rebecca Lake, the two families living just two doors away from each other.

(Plough Cottages are on the left of The Plough Public House in the picture)

1871 Census

In 1881 Elizabeth and the family are living in James Row, South Ockendon, just off the main High Road and counted at home with Elizabeth are husband Matthew and children William aged 16, Elizabeth aged 12, Louisa aged 10, John aged 4 and Alice aged 1.

1881 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census the Chiddicks family had grown quite considerably, the family home was still in the High Road, South Ockendon and living at home with Elizabeth and her husband Matthew are children William aged 25, Louisa aged 20, Polly aged 16, John aged 14, Alice aged 11 and Walter aged 8. Also listed living with the family at the time of the Census is Ethel Acton aged 10 who is listed as a visitor and is the future Niece of Louisa Chiddicks who later Marries William Acton. So we can see a family link and connection to the Acton Family from Sutton-at-Hone in Kent.

1891 Census

1901 brings a big change to the Chiddicks ,as the family have upped sticks and moved from South Ockendon, in Essex, to Watford, in Hertfordshire, we can only presume it was for Elizabeth’s Husband Matthew’s, pursuit of work. Still living at home in the family home are Sons John Chiddicks and Walter Chiddicks. the family are living at 7, Harefield Terrace, Judge Street, Watford.

1901 Census

In 1911, Elizabeth and Matthew are living alone in a 5 room house at 16 Southwold Road, Watford. Matthew is still working as a Labourer at the age of 67 and Elizabeth is still working at home carrying out her Domestic Duties.

(16, Southwold Road, Watford)

1911 Census

Sometime between the 1911 Census and Elizabeth’s sad Death in 1916, both Elizabeth and Matthew move to Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, at the time their Daughter Alice Dray (nee Chiddicks, was residing at 23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Beds.

(23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade)

Elizabeth sadly died on 23rd September 1916 whilst at her Daughter Alice’s home of 23, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, Beds. The cause of Death was Malignant disease of the stomach and exhaustion, present at her Death and the person who registered the Death was her eldest Son, William Chiddicks.

Elizabeth was buried on 27th September 1916 at Drove Road Cemetery, Biggleswade in Plot Number 2125.

The story doesn’t end there, as I was able to find this wonderful Newspaper Announcement of Elizabeth Chiddicks funeral. The detail included is pheneomenal and includes every last detail.

In case it’s not that easy to see on your viewing device, I have transcribed the newspaper entry for the Funeral Announcement here;

Funeral of Mrs Chiddicks

We regret to report the death this week of Mrs Chiddicks, the Mother of Mrs Dray, of 23, Shortmead Street. Deceased has suffered from an internal complaint and passed away on Saturday at her daughter’s residence. The funeral took place Wednesday at the cemetery. The cortege consisted of a glass hearse and two mourning coaches. The Vicar impressively officiated at the services inside the chapel and at the graveside. The Coffin was of plain elm with black and gilt furniture and was inscribed : “Elizabeth Chiddicks died 23rd September 1916 aged 71 years”. The mourners were Mr.M.Chiddicks (husband). Mr Wm Chiddicks, Mr. John Chiddicks and cyclist Walter Chiddicks 2/25th London Cyclist Battn, (sons), Mrs E.Goode, Mrs W.Acton, Mrs MA Steward and Mrs EA Dray (daughters), and Mr W.Acton (son in law). Among sympathisers present were Mrs W.T.Skipp and Mrs H.Endersby. Floral tributes of great beauty were inscribed thus: In ever fond remembrance from her sorrowing husband; “Rest in peace” – With deepest sympathy and fondest memory, from her son and daughter; “Peace perfect peace” – in ever loving memory to our dear Mother, from her sorrowing son and daughter, Henry and Lizzie; “Thy will be done” – In loving memory of our dear mother, from Louie and William – With deepest sympathy, from her loving son Walter – With affectionate sympathy, from Jack, Kate and Reggie – In fond remembrance to our dear grandma, from her grandchildren, Harry, Cissy and Harold – In fond remembrance to our dear grandma from her grandchildren Doris and Gerald – With deepest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs Skipp, Messrs Styles and Son were the undertakers.

Whilst carrying out my research into the life of Elizabeth Lake and the Lake family in general, I was able to carry out some more detailed research into the Village that her family lived, Attleborough, in Norfolk.

The major employer in town is Banham Poultry and turkeys seem to feature quite prominently in the town history, as they appear on the town sign along with cider apples, as Gaymers Cider used to be in town too, but have long gone. All that’s left is Gaymers Meadows a park left to the people of Attleborough.

There has been a settlement in the vicinity since Saxon times and there has been a place of worship here since those times, but St Mary’s was built in the Norman period. There is one notable event in 1549 before my family were here, but still interesting. When the practice of enclosing off common land came in, the ordinary people of the country as a whole were not happy. A short lived revolt in the summer of 1549 started here. When the lord of Wilby Manor began fencing off parts of the commons of Attleborough and Hargham, the fury and anger against the landowning classes was unleashed. Attleborough men tore down these fences and hedges, the first demonstration of physical defiance. News of this soon travelled to the next town, Wymondham, where there happened to be a large gathering at Wymondham Abbey where they had been holding a special service. A chap named Robert Kemp latched on to this and led a huge band into rebellion. There was a battle at Dussingdale which is north of Norwich where between 2-3,000 men were killed by government forces. Attleborough men could well have been among them. This has become known as Ketts Rebellion. Needless to say he met an extremely unpleasant end being drawn and hung at Norwich Castle.

The first national Census, taken in 1801, listed the population of Attleborough as 1333 and by 1845 the population had grown to almost 2000, with an acreage of around 5,200 acres and a growing centre of trade and commerce. A thriving Market Town was developing and William White recorded in 1845 the following occupations:

2 Auctioneers, 6 Teachers, 5 Attorneys, 3 Bakers, 3, Blacksmiths, 6 Boot Makers, 4 Butchers, 3 Corn Millers, 33 Farmers, 4 Grocers, 2 Joiners, 2 Plumbers, 2 Saddlers, 2 Surgeons, 4 Tailors and 2 Watchmakers. All evidence of a thriving and growing community of which the Lake family were very much a part of.

The Life and Times of Elizabeth Lake This is the third in my new series of blogs that covers the life stories of my 16 Great Great Grandparents, so let me introduce Elizabeth Lake.

#Attleborough #Biography #Blog #Family History #Family Tree #Genealogy #Norfolk

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deepdiggerdan · 7 years ago

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Rood screen. Attleborough church. (at Attleborough, Norfolk)

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packedwithpackards · 2 years ago

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Examining the sources of the Plymouth Colony Pages [Part 14]

Vital Records of Attleborough Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849 (Salem, MA: The Essex Institute, 1934).

This book is available online in a transcribed format on ma-vitalrecords.org, rays-place.com, and dunhamwilcox.net. Of those, one includes transcribed births/baptisms of Packards in Attleborough:

––––, s. Martin, laborer, Aug. 23, 1844. Freelove, d. Robert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Lidia, d. Robeert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Melzar, ch. Robert, bp. June 6, 1756. CR2 Silence, d. Robert and Lydia, bp. Feb. 26, 1758. CR2

CR2 refers to the Second Congregational Church in Attleborough according to another transcription, this time of the book's abbreviations.

Also transcribed are Packard marriages in this area:

Elisha, of St. George, and Keziah Lane, int. Oct. 13, 1769. Martin, and Mary M. Skinner, unm., of Mansfield, int. Nov. 9, 1827. Silance, and Adin Stanley, July 22, 1784.

Apparently not on that site, this one, or any other, are any Packards listed among those who died in the area. Perhaps they moved somewhere else. The full view of the book is available on Haithitrust.

In sum, this book doesn't really say much about the Packards at all, but is a good source although, once again, transcriptions should be completely taken for granted.

Note: This was originally posted on Apr. 27, 2018 on the main Packed with Packards WordPress blog (it can also be found on the Wayback Machine here). My research is still ongoing, so some conclusions in this piece may change in the future.

#packards #attleborough #marriages #genealogy #ancestry #genealogy research #lineage #family history #massachusetts

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chiddicksfamilytree · 7 years ago

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My Family The Life and Times

Matthew Chiddicks was born 26th February 1844, in South Ockendon, Essex. He was the fourth of the nine children born to James Chiddicks and Eliza Chiddicks nee Brewer. Matthew is my 2 x Great Grandfather and he led a relatively plain and uneventful life.

Matthew was counted in the 1851 census for South Ockendon, living at home with his three older siblings, at the family home in South Ockendon, Matthew’s father James was a modest Agricultural labour working the farm lands around Ockendon, he was originally born in South Fambridge in Essex. By 1861, the family had moved to Little Mollands Hall and Matthew was working the land with his Father.

On 7th October 1865, Matthew married his wife, Elizabeth Lake, who was born 14th May 1845, in Attleborough, Norfolk. The Lake family of Attleborough had moved from this area and settled in South Ockendon by the 1861 census, presumably Elizabeth’s Father, John Lake moved to find work. At the time of Matthew’s marriage to Elizabeth, his occupation was listed as Labourer. They married in St.Nicholas Parish Church, South Ockendon. See attached picture.

Matthew and Elizabeth had seven children, William born 1866, Elizabeth born 1868, Louisa Annie born 1871, Mary Ann born 1874, John born 1877, Alice born 1880 and Walter born 1882. Matthew was listed on his first born son’s birth certificate on 18th March 1866 as a Farm Labourer.

By 1871 Matthew was listed in that year’s census as living with his in laws, John and Rebecca Lake at 17, Plough Cottages, South Ockendon. His wife and family are living two doors away at 19, Plough Cottages and this was the Chiddicks Family Home. There is attached a picture of Plough Cottages as they looked at the turn of the century.

In 1881 Matthew is still living in South Ockendon with his family, at James Row and he is still working the land. 1891 Brings a slight change in direction for Matthew, as we start to see the beginning of the Industrial Age hit the village of South Ockendon, because in this census Matthew’s occupation is Engine Driver (Railway). The family are all living at High Road, South Ockendon. In 1883 there is an interesting entry in the local newspaper:

From Newspaper Article dated August 25th 1883:

School Board Cases – The following parents were summoned for neglecting to send their children to school, Matthew Chiddicks, South Ockendon, Fined 5s.

We can only speculate the story behind the headlines.

Between 1891 and 1901, Matthew and Elizabeth make the huge decision to move the family to Watford in Hertfordshire, presumably for work, but this is one detail that will have to remain unknown. Matthew moved with his wife Elizabeth and their two youngest children, John and Walter. In 1901 the Chiddicks family home is, 7, Harefield Terrace, Judge Street, Watford. For some reason Matthew’s stint as an Engine Driver is over and he is back listed as an Agricultural Labourer.

By 1911 All the children had fled the nest and Matthew was living with his wife only, in 16, Southwold Road, Watford, Herts. We see another change in career direction as Matthew is no longer working the land, he is now listed as a Labourer at a Chocolate Factory. If only we knew the reason he moved from South Ockendon to Watford…..

After 1911, the next record we find for Matthew is sadly his death on 2nd March 1924, at the time he was living at, 40, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade. There is attached a picture of 40, Shortmead Street as it looks today. He died from pneumonia at the ripe old age of 80. Matthew is buried at Drove Road cemetery, Biggleswade, plot 1601 in an unmarked grave.

In honour of Matthew and the Chiddicks family of South Ockendon, in 2004, the Thurrock Council named a new block of flats in honour of my humble ancestors, namely Chiddicks Court, see the attached picture.

To finish, serendipity plays a large part in our hobby. Before I started researching my family tree I named my Son Matthew Chiddicks with our ever realising he was following in the footsteps of another………….

#chiddicks #essex #thurrock #ancestry #family tree #family history #genealogy #family #ockendon #research #history #popular

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