Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳

History and Heritage Yorkshire

Welcome to all new followers. My name is Tony & I started my professional genealogy journey in 2024. When I'm not researching my ancestors or those of clients I enjoy running, alternative music, travelling & exploring historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, pubs, landmarks & graveyards.

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

@handhyorkshire.bsky.social

🧵May Sybil Leslie, born in 1887 in Woodlesford, overcame significant barriers as a woman in science. From a working-class background, she won scholarships to study at the University of Leeds, graduating with first-class honours in chemistry. She later worked with Marie Curie in

bbc.co.ukMan handed suspended sentence over Dalton Mills arsonMcKenzie Mottram is sentenced for his role in the fire at the mill that appeared in Peaky Blinders.

Man who was 15 at the time convicted of arson attack at Grade 2* listed, Dalton Mills, Keighley, W. Yorks which caused £15m worth of damage, receives a sentence of 18 months' detention, suspended for 2 years & an order to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk'We need £1m to save St Mary's Church Astbury from falling down'Reverend Heather Carter is 18 months into her role in charge of St Mary's Church in Astbury.

Grade 1 listed, St. Mary's Church at Astbury, Cheshire estimate a £1 million may be required to repair & restore the church. 👇 BBC News - 'We need £1m to save St Mary's Church Astbury from falling down' - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukCafe, gallery and library set for 'iconic' Norwich buildingNorwich University of the Arts says its the third phase of its redevelopment plan

A cafe, art gallery & library will be built inside the former Grade 2 listed, Barclays bank regional headquarters building at 20 Bank Plain, Norwich which dates from 1926. The Norwich University of Arts has been redeveloping the building. 👇 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukAstley Hall in Chorley reopens after £400k restorationRestored bedrooms show what life was like in 1852, while historic artwork returns to display.

Grade 1 listed Astley Hall, Chorley, Lancashire reopens after a six year restoration programme. 👇 BBC News - Astley Hall in Chorley reopens after £400k restoration - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukTheatre Royal Wakefield expansion plans lodgedTrust aims to secure the future of Theatre Royal Wakefield as a 'vital heritage and cultural asset'.

🧵Plans submitted for an extension & refurbishment of the Grade 2* listed Frank Matcham, Wakefield Theatre which dates from 1894. The plans include a new 2nd floor extension above the west wing on 👇 BBC News - Theatre Royal Wakefield expansion plans lodged - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Drury Lane, additional back stage facilities, new lifts, staircase, new bar, dressing room, studio space, toilets, upgrade the auditorium & increase the capacity from 493 to 510.

bbc.co.ukEmotional reunions as photographer recreates shots 46 years onSam Hill spent months tracking down the "special generation" he photographed as teenagers in 1980.

The Alternative Kids exhibition takes place at Preston's Harris Museum where former photography student will show photos of mods, punks & free spirits he took photos of in 1980. 👇 BBC News - Emotional reunions as photographer recreates shots 46 years on - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

🧵Holy Trinity church, Towngate, Holmfirth, W. Yorks dates from circa 1780. It replaced an earlier church, built in 1632 which was damaged in a flood. It was designed by Joseph Jagger in Classical style & built from ashlar with a stone slate roof with modillioned eaves & cornice.

bbc.co.ukCampaigners call for new body to lead Mackintosh Building restorationThe Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society said a special-purpose organisation should lead reconstruction of the landmark.

🧵The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society calls for the responsibility of rebuilding the fire damaged Mackintosh building to be transferred from the Glasgow School of Art to an👇 BBC News - Campaigners call for new body to lead Mackintosh Building restoration - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

independent body. The estimation of a faithful restoration has soared to £265m, since the two devastating fires in 2014 & 2018.

The tower is at the east end over the chancel with gothic battlements & pinnacles. It was Grade 2 listed in 1967.

bbc.co.ukStar Trek actor Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov, dies aged 90He played the eager Russian crewman in the original Star Trek series and later appeared in Babylon 5.

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Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov in Star Trek has died aged 90. Born in Chicago was the son of Soviet Jewish immigrants whose family had lived in Lithuania. 👇 BBC News - Star Trek actor Walter Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov, dies aged 90 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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And in other news after on & off procrastinating over the past couple of years I am delighted to confirm I have joined @wfdhistsoc.bsky.social

🧵A statue of Sir Rowland Hill, King Edward Street, near St. Paul's Cathedral, London. Designed by sculptor, Edward Onslow Ford in 1881; it is a standing bronze figure on a pink granite base. Hill campaigned for comprehensive reform of the postal system based on the Uniform Penny Post where the same

amount of 1p was charged for not exceeding half an ounce in weight, irrespective of distance. It was Grade 2 listed in 1972.

bbc.co.ukNorfolk: Work house 250th anniversary to highlight care home pastThe live history destination says it could be the last chance to record life after the workhouse shut.

A museum at the former Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse, Norfolk, which dates from 1777 is appealing for memories of when it became Beech House, a care home from the 1940 to 1975. 👇 BBC News - Norfolk: Work house 250th anniversary to highlight care home past - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukCommunity celebrates restored 1,000-year-old church in ForncettThe Grade I listed St Peter's Church reopens after parishioners fundraise £850,000 for repairs.

Grade 1 listed round tower church, St. Peter's Church, Forncett, Norfolk which is thought to be more than 1,000 years old has reopened after undergoing major restoration. 👇 BBC News - Community celebrates restored 1,000-year-old church in Forncett - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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🧵1 South Parade, (Church House), Wakefield. These houses stand on land which in medieval times was allotments for the burghers of Wakefield. The land was known as "Burghmantoftes" as early as 1309. In 1751 the 8 acres of land was bought by William Charnock, a Wakefield cloth merchant for £940 &

bbc.co.ukAnglesey almshouses to be converted into 'affordable' homes for young peoplePenmynydd Almshouses were established in 1620 to provide housing for those of "good and honest character".

🧵Grade 2 listed Penmynydd Almshouses on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales, established in 1620 following a £1k will donation by Lewis Rogers, 1617 & Lewis Owen, 1624 with the 5 👇 BBC News - Charity buildings from 17th Century to become 'affordable' homes for young people www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

existing residential properties to be converted into 3 to create rental housing.

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schoolmaster. Joseph's mother, Mary Murray Thompson also lived at No. 1 & when she died in 1924, it was Miss Mary Rosa Thompson, Joseph's sister & Mary's daughter, who was leaving the area who offered No. 1 to the Bishop of Wakefield to be used as a church building which was accepted.

It was used as the Wakefield Diocesan Board of Finance & more recently became apartments. No. 1 to 4 were Grade 2 listed in 1953.

it was his children in the 1790's that decided to develop the land. A housing scheme was drawn up by William Lindley of Doncaster. 1 to 4 South Parade is an early to mid 19th century terrace of 3 storeys & basement. No. 1 has 5 bays. The others have 3 bays. Built from red brick with a wide stone

Friends of Friendless Churches

ground floor band, stone moulded, dentilled eaves cornice & a fairly low pitched slated roof with a distinctive Tuscan porch. In 1861 William Henry Waite, a dentist was living at No. 1. In 1922 Joseph Thompson MA of 1 South Parade left an estate of £47,391 gross. He was a retired secondary

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

@friendlesschurches.bsky.social

In 1979, St John the Baptist’s church in Papworth St Agnes was largely derelict and facing demolition. However, our founder managed to save this handsome building from destruction. 1/8 📷 1970s

bbc.co.ukOnline trend driving urban explorer break-ins, estate owner saysA video filmed inside cottages near Leadenham House is blamed for sparking "copycat" incidents.

The owner of a Georgian property in Lincolnshire says the online trend of urban explorers is driving break ins at properties. 👇 BBC News - Online trend driving urban explorer break-ins, estate owner says - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

🧵A blue plaque for abolitionist, lecturer, suffragist & polyglot, Sarah Remond Parker, 1836-1894 at 6 Grenville Street, Bloomsbury, London. Remond Parker, born in Salem, Massachusetts. She arrived in England in 1859 & delivered lectures in London, Leeds, Manchester & Warrington undertaking studies

at Bedford College from October 1859 to June 1861, now part of University of London studying French, Latin, English literature, music, history & elocution. She was granted British citizenship in 1865. She continued her studies & graduated as a nurse before moving to Florence, Italy where in 1877 she

married Lazzaro Pintor, an Italian office worker. The Wakefield Anti-Slavery Association formed on 12th January 1860 at Wakefield Corn Exchange following a lecture by Remond Parker.

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

Brian Groom

@groomb.bsky.social

Everton, Liverpool, 1973, photo by Mike Abrahams.

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

🧵St. Mary at Hill church from Lovat Lane, Billingsgate, London. These photos only show the church from one side. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, 1670-77 after the Great Fire of London destroyed the previous church. The west tower & flanking lobbies were added in 1787 by George Gwilt &

built of yellow brick & Portland stone. A major fire in May 1988 saw the dome & roof collapse damaging the church below. It was Grade 1 listed in 1950.

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🧵The grave of Charles Babbage, 1791-1871, mathematician, philosopher, inventor & mechanical engineer at Kensal Green Cemetery in London, considered by many to be the "father of the computer". He is credited with inventing the first mechanical computer, the Difference Engine & later the Analytical

bbc.co.ukPermanent hangar plea for historic Cold War planes in DoncasterThe Vulcan and Canberra planes currently sit unprotected at the Doncaster Sheffield Airport site.

The Vulcan to the Sky Trust has urged that the Avro Vulcan XH558 bomber & English Electric Canberra WK163 aircraft should be given a permanent hangar at Doncaster Sheffield airport. 👇 BBC News - Permanent hangar plea for historic Cold War planes in Doncaster - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukDover Castle and the tale of the headless drummer boy's ghostThere are stories of King Charles I and a headless drummer boy being seen at Dover Castle.

The story of Dover Castle & the headless drummer boy who haunts it. He was sent to collect the solders' wages & was murdered on the way back to the castle, with his head never being found. 👇 BBC News - Dover Castle and the tale of the headless drummer boy's ghost www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.ukGrimsby medieval festival offers free events to highlight historyMedieval Grimsby features music, storytelling and craft demonstrations in Grimsby's historic centre.

Grimsby, Lincolnshire to hold a medieval festival with a series of events on Friday 30th October 👇 BBC News - Grimsby medieval festival offers free events to highlight history - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

Past To Present Genealogy

An excellent day at @huddsfhs.bsky.social family history fair. A good turnout despite the autumnal weather. Collected a couple of new books as well. Good to see @alangodfreymaps.bsky.social in attendance as well.

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

@janeroberts.bsky.social

Sunsets on the castles at Bamburgh #BamburghCastle #Northumberland #Bamburgh

Here is your reminder for tonight. 👇

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳@ancestralenq.bsky.social

The Astronomical Clock in Exeter Cathedral that dates from around 1484. The main dial is a remarkable working model of the solar system understood in the early 15th century, when Earth was believed to lay at the centre, circled by the moon & then the sun, all set against heavenly blue. The sun /1

Engine, but both were not completed in his lifetime due to conflicts with his chief engineer & inadequate funding. When he was about 8 his family moved to Teignmouth in Devon & he was sent to a country school in the village of Alphington, now part of Exeter to recover from life threatening fever.

@digupyourancestors.bsky.social

The attached picture can be found in The Imperial pub, New North Road, Exeter.

Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 reposted

Clare Kirk

Chuffed for @friendlesschurches.bsky.social to see this beautiful and inspiring article about their work in the FT today.

ft.comInside the Friends of Friendless ChurchesThe charity is helping restore ancient religious sites across England and Wales

Autumn colours in a wet St. John's Square, Wakefield this afternoon #OnePlaceStudy

bbc.co.ukBeverley celebrates 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh with eventsA. A. Milne's classic children's book Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in October 1926.

Beverley in East Yorkshire is celebrating the centenary of the publication of Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne with a series of events up to the 15th November. 👇 BBC News - Beverley celebrates 100th anniversary of Winnie-the-Pooh with events - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...