I am trying to trace a map of 1745 or earlier of Kingston Seymour (and possibly Wick St Lawrence) to identify the location of "Shepherds"/"Shepherdes"/"Sheppards" tenement- it had been called that for at least 100 years by 1745. It contained a wharf so was either abuting the River Yeo and/or River Severn.
Researching my father, Cyril AIREY, 1910-1989, I knew that during WW2 he was a staff Sgt in Royal Engineers, and following demob became an engineer in civilian life working for the army. He was "always" an engineer! Wrong. In a 1934 advertisement in a Preston newspaper I found that he was an estate agent. How did an estate agent suddenly become an engineer? The RE Records can't help and I am awaiting reply from Preston Record Office to see if there were any night classes he could have attended.
Has anyone any thoughts where else I might look please?
As part of my research on the Grove Park War Memorials I have been in contact with a relation (great-granddaughter possibly) of one of the men commemorated on it.
More details to follow...
They have asked "Did relatives have to go to the council offices and request your loved ones name be put on the War Memorial and were you expected to make a donation for the privilege of having a name on the war memorial?"
William SAUNDERS is a distant relation - 1st Cousin, 5 x removed, but I am intrigued by him. He was born in Chelwood, the son of Joseph SAUNDERS and his wife Phoebe HATHWAY who were living (I think) at nearby Corston at that time. in 1828, William SAUNDERS of Corston married an Elizabeth HATHWAY at St Annes Church, Wick and Abson. Although it is not listed on the marriage entry, The Licence lists her as a widow. From the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub https://catalogue.gloucestershire.gov.uk/records/GDR/17/2/78/98 The witnesses to the marriage were Robert and Mary HITCH. I believe that she had been previously married to Harry HATHWAY who had died in 1826. Harry's Will was proved by the PCC. The executors were Robert HITCH and William SAUNDERS. In it he mentions "my said wife Elizabeth HATHWAY" A Harry HATHWAY had married an Elizabeth SHORTMAN in 1822 at Wick and Abson. On the 1841 census William is listed with a wife called Ann who died in 1843 - was this Elizabeth? - Was she a widow when she married Harry?
Any help sorting this out would be much appreciated. Who did William SAUNDERS marry? William's Will is long and mentions many different people called HATHWAY - but his mother was a HATHWAY so that is not surprising. Thank you.
In 1941 a German Bomber returning to France after a mission to Birkenhead landed at Lulsgate after receiving a false radio location signal (a MEACON) from a Transmission Mast probably based in Lympsham. The plane crossed the Bristol Channel thinking that this was the English Channel and that the signal was coming from Brest, its home airport. Does anyne know the position of this mast in Lympsham? I have added a document which describes this incident researched by John Penny, a well known Bristol Local Historian.
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