My sister-in-law has just acquired a black Alsatian puppy in place of my brother’s old dog which died recently. I asked the pup’s name. She said: “Brunel! You know he was Colin’s hero?” Yes, I remembered. When my brother was on Desert Island Discs, (I’m not boasting here: no. 63 in the category “Space Scientists”, [BBC DID Website]) his luxury item was a picture of The Clifton Suspension Bridge. What’s this to do with my invitation to the launch of the newly...
Many thanks to John O’Connor of the Museum of Totterdown & St Luke’s Community Heritage, 2024, who kindly forwarded two photographs of Charles Rose Perrett and his wife Mary Ann. (I regret to say...
I have heard from Peter Wynn who has published two articles in the Genealogists’ Magazine about his Glisson family of which one is entitled “The Glissons of Bristol & North Somerset: a Family in...
I cannot say that a visit to Kingswood Park is my first memory, but one Sunday, 9 May 1943 would easily make the top five. I was just over a month short of my...
Like to the lark at break of day arising, (from sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate Sonnet 29, Shakespeare It is not strictly true to say I had never seen the Chalk Horses...
After an afternoon spent in the sunny gardens, musing on the misadventures of Francis Creswicke, it was an unexpected bonus to find that St George, Hanham Abbots, which is attached to Hanham Court, was...
When I was a stripling of about 40, I first came across Francis Creswicke aged eighty-nine on a gravestone at Bitton, my paternal home parish.[1] Now I am rapidly catching up with him, though...
The Willoughby family, Roman Catholic gentry, at “Wick”, Brislington, 1787 – 1824. When my friend sent me a cutting of an oldish article from a family tree magazine she did so because it covered...
A glorious late spring day in 2024, one to anticipate sumer is acumin in, luhde sing cuc-cu, wrong on both counts (at least so far – I’m writing in mid-July – not much summer...
I have just come across a report of 24 October 1791 which I copied in pencil possibly 20 or 30 years ago. I was drawn to it, but not necessarily for the crime itself...
I have been researching the social history of the West Country for 45 years. During this time I have collated information on a wide range of people living and working in the West Country including miners, ethnic minorities, petty criminals, sailors, tommies, benefactors, brassmakers and many more. The thing that I find amazing is that ordinary people always lived extraordinary lives. I hope you like my blog that brings together my lifetime of research.
The dashing, young Charles Rose Perrett!
20 October 2024
Gleson/Glisson Family of Brislington
06 October 2024
The Fantastical Kingswood Park: Then and Now
28 September 2024
