Gleson/Glisson Family of Brislington
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...
The Fantastical Kingswood Park: Then and Now
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...
CONNECTIONS! Two Chalk Horses & a Canal – Cherhill, Westbury & Caen Hill Locks.
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...
“St George, Hanham Abbots”, “Pearsall of Willsbridge” and other stories. (My birthday week, June 2024, Part 2)
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...
Francis Creswicke, an old friend: visiting Hanham Court Gardens Open Day, 9 June 2024.
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 of Brislington – revisited
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...
“Come Out with Me”, Then and Now.
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...
“A Negro” to the rescue
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...
Concealed/Reveal – exhibition at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
I am late in drawing attention to the above exhibition, “Concealed/Reveal”, currently running at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery until 21 April 2024. I have been to see it twice, first because I was...
Home Thoughts From Abroad
The two letters partially reproduced for this article were sent in 1859 by a Brislington man, Richard Turner, to his widowed mother, Mary, and the family back home. He and his wife Liz had...
About Me
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.
Popular Post
Gleson/Glisson Family of Brislington
06 October 2024
The Fantastical Kingswood Park: Then and Now
28 September 2024
