Apr 2024

Apr 2024: Easter holiday in Taunton/Weymouth

Remembering Grandma at Cothelstone Hill

Coates English Willow vistor centre (Kai bought a basket weaving kit)

Games with Sarah in Richard's Weymouth beach house

Portland Bill walk

RSPB Radipole Lake, Weymouth

Boules on the beach

Jenga at Grandad's

6th Apr: Detour to Wiltshire on the way home for some family history

(Map from 1885)

Draycot Cerne (near Chippenham) Chapel of Rest, the final resting place of my great-great-grandparents James and Julia Smith. They moved here in 1876, after James completed 21 years service with the Coldstream Guards.  They had 3 sons already (having married in the Tower of London chapel in 1864), and had 3 daughters born in Draycot Cerne. Sadly Julia died in 1886 aged 42, of cancer of the womb, at which point the children scattered, and James lived alone in Draycot Cerne until his death in 1912.

In 1881, James's occupation was listed as night watchman, and the family lived at Draycot Lodge

After Julia's death, he moved to the nearby village of Sutton Benger. We had a lovely lunch at the Wellesley Arms, which would have been James's local.

He lived on High Street. The house number can't be deduced from the census record, but it could have been this one. 

13th: Catching up with some cycling, on a group ride of the 'Cheshire Cat' route.

17th: More family history, around Leeds this time.

Great-grandparents, James George and Esther Wild, buried in Harehills cemetery.

Leeds Minster (St Peter's). 4x-great-grandad Henry Beck was buried here in 1830, when he died aged 30. The churchyard was dug up in 1866 for a railway line, and gravestones used for paving. I haven't been able to locate a headstone (if there even was one).

Great-great-grandparents Samuel and Gertrude Beck, buried at Armley Hill Top cemetery. Sadly the grave is in disrepair with the headstone toppled, but thanks to modern technology I managed to photograph it from underneath. Discovered inscriptions that had been added in the 1980s for their 2 youngest daughters Lorna and Gertrude. 

Also at Armley Hill Top, Great grandparents William and Kate Beck (who I knew as 'Little Grandma')

Pat tried to keep his 60th birthday quiet, but we surprised him with a cake at Holmfirth cafe.

I had a go at cleaning up Dad's old record player, and eventually took it to the experts in Rochdale for a proper service.

Random picture of Megan

Dad's memorial tile at Elland Road

3x-great-grandma Ruth Beck took some finding at Horsforth Cemetery, due to some confusing plot numbering. Her husband John had died in 1879, buried in New Wortley cemetery (plot 3834, no headstone found). Ruth is remembered alongside her daughter Alice (the chronology of the death dates is a bit peculiar though). In her old age, she had moved to Horsforth to live with Alice and her family

I visited Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills, for some background on the working lives of the Beck family, many of whom worked in the textile industry. Coincidentally found this machine, made by a Thomas Beecroft - which turns out not to have been the one married to Alice Beck, but I wonder if they're related.

A 'Warping frame' (4x-great-grandma Hannah Beck nee Barraclough was a Warper).

Spinning mule in action.