Helen
@helenj64.bsky.social
I lived in Manchester for many years but am now back in my home county of Shropshire. History and genealogy are my interests! Family links to Shropshire, Cheshire, North Wales, the Wirral, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire, Gloucestershire & Devon.
30 Bailey Street (through to Leg Street), Osborne Hotel, Oswestry (now demolished). Home of the Royal Mail Horse Post referred to here. Also, there was much laughter and merriment in the streets of Llanfyllin. (Another animal related tale, I'm afraid...).
A Queen Victoria Wall Box in Cound, Shropshire is now on the map. View it here: https://postboxmap.co.uk/postbox/6a85506509c148f3330293dd #PostboxMap #UKPostboxes #Postbox #QueenVictoria #WallBox #StandardRed #Cound
The Cambrian Inn (now demolished), Oswestry, known as Ketcham's (or Catchem's) as it would catch the railway workers going home. This story is from 1896, a time before animal welfare was a thing ... #Shropshire
Remembering my great-grandad Fred Johnson born #OTD in Welton, E. Yorks in 1876, d. Oswestry 1957. His obituary said he used to play rugby for Hull Kingston Rovers. That's not true according to my research! I wonder if he played for someone else - or was it a total fib?! #genealogy #FamilyHistory
The Cambrian Inn (now demolished), Oswestry, known as Ketcham's (or Catchem's) as it would catch the railway workers going home. This story is from 1896, a time before animal welfare was a thing ... #Shropshire
Remembering my great-grandad Fred Johnson born #OTD in Welton, E. Yorks in 1876, d. Oswestry 1957. His obituary said he used to play rugby for Hull Kingston Rovers. That's not true according to my research! I wonder if he played for someone else - or was it a total fib?! #genealogy #FamilyHistory
#551, Double, Ellesmere, Shropshire, 30/11/2016 Both these trees are long gone but one of the joys of photography is that they still exist in my photo library. I remember this morning well it was cold, brittle and there was a really heavy (for Autumn) frost. #photography #canal #ellesmere
Anyone researching their family tree for a while will inevitably find an ancestor they're not too fond of... mine is Roger Nowell, who sent the Pendle Witches for trial. He was a product of his time I suppose. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
Brian Groom@groomb.bsky.social · 2d agoTrial of the Pendle Witches began at Lancaster on this day 1612, involving all but two of 12 from near Pendle Hill accused of witchcraft. Ten were hanged, another died in prison. It was a notorious trial, though England was less witch-obsessed than many other countries.
In August 1814 somebody wrote to the Shrewsbury Chronicle about my 5x great-grandfather Thomas Edmunds making "20 cuts" of barley at the age of 63! Sadly he died just over 6 months later... #genealogy #FamilyHistory #Shropshire
You are all welcome to join a new and free WW1 community space I have added to the Long, Long Trail site. Ask, reply and discuss In the Dugout. dugout.discourse.group #ww1 #genealogy
In the Dugout
For discussing the British Army of WW1
dugout.discourse.group
What a life! Remembering Frank Morley Johnson (my great-uncle Frank) who died #OTD in 1993 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Born in Shropshire in 1917, he married in Egypt in 1940 to the daughter of a Danish diplomat, and they emigrated to Brazil after the war. I met him once in 1976. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
12 Beatrice Street, Oswestry - occupied for many years by shoemaker and poet Isaac Hughes. His book "Home and Other Poems" (1871) is currently for sale online for £78.00 👀 #Shropshire
One for #FontsOnFriday. Here is the font in the redundant church of St Andrew, #Wroxeter, #Shropshire. It is thought to be a reworked #Roman column base. The super church is maintained by the @visitchurches.bsky.social www.visitchurches.org.uk/visit/our-ch...
I love finding old photographs that bring family stories to life. So far I have 7/8 on my maternal (below) and 5/8 on my paternal side. Most of these are originals that I am currently looking after, others have been found online. And one in the police museum! #family history #genealogy #archives #nz
27 Bailey Street, Oswestry. G & W Perks, Grocers & Provisions. My great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth Edwards (seated far left) worked for Messrs Perks before her marriage in 1896. I believe this photo was most likely taken when Mr G Perks (centre) was elected Mayor in 1894. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
The Barley Mow Inn, Salop Road, Oswestry. Demolished to make way for the entrance to the Central Car Park. Interesting story about the Oswestry Volunteers! #Shropshire
Remembering my great-grandparents John Allen Jones Clark & Mary Elizabeth Edwards, married #OTD in 1896 at Oswestry Methodist Church. The children of the child (who was their eldest son) are still alive aged 97 & 99! I am in touch with both. #genealogy #FamilyHistory
Some ancestors leave behind photographs. Some leave letters. My great-grandfather left behind a tattoo declaring his love for a woman I still can't find. “I LOVE F. BEVENS” But who was she? #Genealogy #WW1 #MilitaryHistory #Gallipoli #FamilyHistory chiddickstree.substack.com/p/the-myster...
The Mystery of F. Bevens
A tattoo, a teenage soldier, and a mystery that has lasted more than a century.
chiddickstree.substack.com
the green areas here also have issues with, for example, getting space in the same cemeteries as family members — and basic upkeep. lots of municipal cemeteries are extremely ratty.
Hina Bokhari OBE AM@hinabokharild.bsky.social · 3w agoThanks for playing everyone! I can reveal the map is from the new 2026 audit of London's remaining burial space capacity! 3 boroughs have none left at all, 17 boroughs have less than 15 years of burial space left. London needs a cross-borough plan! More info here: www.london.gov.uk/media/112764...
The colander method worked well here in north Shropshire! The disinterested 21 year old was even enticed out to have a look!
Multi-million-pound bid to restore Oswestry's Llwyd Mansion | Border Counties Advertizer share.google/wOmCgPhL1Ub8... I hope the bid is successful. Such an important building in our town.
Multi‑million pound bid to save historic Oswestry building
A multi-million-pound bid has been submitted to the National Lottery to restore and transform Oswestry's Llwyd Mansion.
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