Your place to ask for help, tell us about life in the village etc - Interact !
| Added by Trevor Penn, Lancashire : Hello again. I have been researching my family for some years. Most of my ancestors were from London; where I was born some 60 years ago. Recently I have been concentrating on my late mother's family. On one branch, I am pleased to say, I have found West Country ancestors. Henry Edsall, from Salisbury, married Maria Brine, from Henstridge, in London, where they were both "in service", in 1855. Maria was the daughter of George and Maria Brine (nee Chant), born in 1829 and christened at St Nicholas' church on 29th May. George and Maria had 9 other children but two died in infancy. Maria, the mother, died in 1855 and George in 1868 (aged 85). They were both buried at St Nicholas'. Most of their children left the village and went up to London. The youngest moved to Southampton where he became a steward; presumably at sea. The only child that I have found remaining in Henstridge was Benjamin. He married Sarah Coffin at St Nicholas' on 23rd August (my wedding day!) in 1855. I wonder if there is any trace of the Brine family in the churchyard? Since they were agricultural labourers I doubt it, but if anybody comes across an inscription I would be very interested. George and Maria lived at Frog Moor in 1841; which would appear to be near Pond House. Several families lived there so I presume that it was a road or an area. In 1842 George Brine appears on the Church Wardens Accounts occupying a house and garden belonging to Silvanus Longman in the South Division of the parish. In 1871 Benjamin and Sarah are living at Frogmore - different spelling but near Pond House on the census. Can anyone confirm the location of Frogmore and tell me anything about it? |
| Reply from John Atkinson : Hi Trevor We've added a Parish Register page to the site now, although it's as yet very limited. A search on Brine brings up a few marriages in the 1600's, but keep an eye open on the site as we plan to add more records in future. Best regards John |
| Added by Rachel Napper : Hello, I currently live in Henstridge and as part of my dissertation for uni I have decided to carry out a graveyard survey of St Nicholas. If you have any advice for me then I would be very greatful. I have 8 other assignments to write and work full time too so I'm a little stretched for time as the survey has to be in by May!! If you have any information such as where I can find tithe maps I would be most greatful. Kind regards, Rachel |
| Reply from Rachel : Hi Trevor, I still haven't managed to get out to the churchyard yet because of this terrible wet weather! I will do though as I need to have the survey done by May! My plan is to put all of the inscriptions onto a spreadsheet and then to hopefully have a link from this website to that information as well as the photographs of the stones and a plan of where they are. Watch this space!! |
| Reply from Trevor Penn, Lancashire : Hi Rachel Good luck with your graveyard survey. Sorry I can't help, but if it includes details of inscriptions on gravestones I and many others delving in to family history would be most interested to see it. Realise you are probably too busy to reply at the moment. |
| Added by natalie coffin : Hello, My great Grandfather Maurice (Morris) Coffin, was born in Henstridge in 1878. I have so far been able to trace his ancestry back to my GGG grandfather Joseph Coffin born in Henstridge in 1809. Would someone who has a bit of spare time, be able to visit the churchyard and tell me which Coffin family members are buried there, and perhaps any inscriptions on the grave stones. If anyone is related to or has any connections to The Coffin family, would be nice to make contact. Perhaps in return, I could help someone who has links to devon or cornwall. Many thanks with any assistance. |
| Reply from Trevor Penn : Hi Natalie My great great grandmother, Maria Brine, was born in Henstridge in 1829. One of her brothers, Benjamin, married Sarah Coffin, who was the daughter of James and Mary Coffin. I think James was born about 1805 and so may be a brother of your ancestor. I notice from Ancestry.co.uk that a James Coffin of the right age was sent prison in 1842. I'm glad I'm only related by marriage! |
| Reply from John & Linda : Hi Natalie We had a quick look while walking out in the snow today. We could only see 3 more recent burials, but there may be others that were obscured. We'll send you photos of those we saw: Albert Thomas Coffin, died 29 December 1970 aged 88 years, and his wife Florence, born 16 May 1878, died 16 July 1966. -------------------------------------------------------------- Harold Coffin, died 14 June 1979 aged 93 years, and his wife Fanny Muriel who died 16 June 1957 aged 68 years. -------------------------------------------------------------- Albert Coffin, 1913-2008. -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Added by Caroline Rowland : The First World War and a Somerset Village Lecture, Photographs and Book Signing Henstridge Village Hall on Saturday 14th November at 2.30pm Entrance £1 (donation to be made to Poppy Appeal) More information available via email to info@warmemorialsww1.co.uk Come and see the outstanding photography of Norman Crabb and Lynn Rivers. I have a poster which am wondering if can be uploaded please? |
| Added by Elizabeth Gale : Hi, I have been researching my family history for some time, but I was originally insopired to do so by my father who died in 2005. His name was John Gale (a.k.a George) and he was born in Yenston in 1913 but moved down to a cottage in Henstridge soon after. The family lived in what was then called Yew Tree Cottage. It is the right hand cottage of a pair that back on to Oak Vale, I think in Brook Lane? Three of his uncles fought in WW1, Sidney Gale, who was killed on the Somme in 1916, and I believe is on the War Memorial, Richard Gale who was the eldest and was a regular in the Army Remounts Service before the war, and Albert Gale who was blistered by gas at Passchendale in 1917. My father continually talked of his childhood in Henstridge and in his later years he revisited the village several times to show us the places of his youth. In his last few years he recorded a short account of his childhood and life in Henstridge, from his birth until he left for London in 1929. He gives lots of details of his life in the village, school, the people and places he encountered and the cottage where he lived. If anyone has any information on the Gale family between c. 1893 when the family moved to the area and 1929 when they left I would love to know about it. My Great-grandfather, also John Gale came to Henstridge to work at the mill, he was an engineer, and stayed there until it burnt down in he early 1900s, when he went to work at Lovelace's Garage. |
| Added by Caroline Rowland : Hi David, Loose Ends sounds like a fun place to meet - expect me there if not this Friday then within the following two weeks. And in the meantime an outline below of what a potential 'scholar' could expect to find out more about during a workshop. Each session would last for approximately 2 hours and cost £3 which includes materials. It may be that the sessions could run in 6 weeks blocks FREE TASTER SESSION - An introduction to local history and the various resources available for use. Session 1 - The Census Session 2 - Census Practical Session 3 - Parish Registers Session 4 - Parish Registers and Family Trees Session 5 - Tithe Map Session 6 - Tithe Map Practical Session 7 - The Parish Council Session 8 - Poor Law and Union Workhouse Session 9 - Church Records Session 10 - School Records Session 11 - Local Businesses Session 12 - The Rural Economy Session 13 - Postcards and Photographs Session 14 - Local Newspapers Session 15 - Group project Session 16 - Group project Session 17 - Group project Session 18 - Group project Not set in stone but to give an idea for anyone interested. I am also pursuing the idea of linking the courses to an academic institution and whether there is any scope for being able to offer 'students' the opportunity to gain an NVQ. |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi Caroline, You are welcome to come and give us a chat at Loose Ends at any time but what you are proposing would probably need a lot more advertising for you to get the number of people you would probably want. See you soon, Dave |
| Added by Ann Taylor-Turton : Dear Diana Dixon - thank you for your answer to my Cotton Corner query, it would be lovely if you could find out any more for us. Look forward to hearing from you. Ann Taylor-Turton |
| Added by Tony Fathers : Hi, I live in Sydney,Australia and my ancestors emigrated to Australia from Henstridge and surrounding areas in 1876 arriving in Sydney in February 1877. My Great Great grandfather was Alfred Cornelius Fathers and his wife was Mary Anne (nee Ryall). They emigrated with their 8 children aged between 15 years and 2 months. If there is anybody with any information or would like information on the family, please let me know. I would love some information on the Ryall side of the family as we can only go back as far as Mary's parents Enoch and Sophia (nee Lamb). Mary was born on March 1 1845 in Corton Denham. Thanks |
| Reply from Yvonne Harris : Sophia was born in Corton Denham bapt 27 May 1821 youngest child of William and Mary Osmond. She married Enoch Ryall in 1841 Please let me know if you would like further information. |
| Added by Ann Taylor-Turton : Hello David, many thanks for your message and we will indeed have great pleasure in calling to see you possibly this Friday morning, did not know that there was a cafe in the Village Hall so you have taught us something today eh? Thanks again, Ann |
| Added by Julia : My Grandfather Gifford Corry was a Butcher in Henstridge and was in WWI. Most of the information I have on his service I have got from Ancestry. One piece of information I have is about the War Memorial. My Aunt Edyth, when a child, not long after the memorial was erected by the pub, was badly injured when the memorial fell down. It broke both her legs and she was in hospital for a long time. I have yet to research local papers for this event, but maybe you have some information regarding this. regards Julia |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : Thank you so much for taking the trouble to contact me and I would really like to talk with your mother about her memories of Henstridge. The village is/was such a small parish and finding information about it when researching for the book took me to locations far and wide! The personal stories in the book have been contributed by children, grandchildren neices and nephews of those mentioned and really makes the story come alive. There is reference in the book to 'Corry' and some initial information about the accident you refer to which was found, if I remember correctly, in one of the local papers. The irony of the story was intriguing - that the war memorial - a symbol of peace and of commemoration of such devastation - could itself be the cause of further distress by harming small children ie the future generation. Certainly the Roll of Honour of those serving lists a 'G' Corry which traced back through the absentee voters register revealed to be 'Gifford' whose wife was Alice Louisa living in Church Row but that was all I could find. I am currently finishing the draft for the next book (due out in November) 'First World War Soldiers of the Blackmore Vale' which includes Henstridge and I would be so pleased to include any stories/information/photographs your mother would be prepared to share. Where was your families butchers shop located? Was 'Gifford' your mother's father? |
| Added by Paul Easton : I'm currently researching my great great grandmother Lucy Ann Harris who was born in Henstridge in 1831. Her parents were Phillip Harris, a baker and Mary. They had 4 children, Elizabeth, Andrew (born 1830 in Henstridge), Lucy Ann and John ( born 1837 in Milborne Port). Lucy Ann married Joseph Connock on 5/4/1858 in Milborne Port and had 6 children. Any details re the Harris family either descendants or ancesters would be a great help |
| Reply from caroline rowland : Hi Paul, Philip Harris is also listed as a corn miller in 1830. Henstridge mill was situated at the bottom of 'Pan Pudding' hill oposite the Bird and Hand Public House. I have had a quick look at 1841 census but the enumerator does not appear to distinguish any one in between 'Yeoman' and 'Labourer' and also unable to find 'Harris' but as say it was a quick look :O). Also have all census info for Henstridge but not a great deal of time at the moment to check for you. There were also two 'Harris' serving in the First World War which is much later and the parents were owners of a business in the High Street, I am not sure if this were relations of the 'Harris's; you are trying to trace (For more information included in the book Henstridge, A Somerset Village and the First World War.) |
| Added by Caroline Rowland : Please do ask me if you have any genealogical or local history enquiries. Would anyone be interested in learning more about Henstridge and its history via some local history workshops? I am currently researching a book about first world war soldiers of the area ( having completed 'Henstridge and the First World War' which covers the parish from late Victorian to post WW1 - please see www.warmemorialsww1.co.uk) and would be very happy to hear from anyone who has relatives and/or is connected with the parish |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi Caroline, A local history workshop sounds like fun. What did you have in mind? You are welcome to come and give us a talk at Loose Ends one Friday morning. Or we could meet up at the pub one night? Dave Rabone |
| Added by Ann Taylor-Turton : Dear David Rabone, your answers to my questions have been really interesting and to the fact that the previous people here were called Hollyday. We have been told they were elderly but not sure if that is the case. I cannot find anything out at all about when this place was built, we can only assume this to be mid 1800's sometime. And how did Furge Lane/Grove get that name I wonder, any help there would be greatly appreciated too. I keep trying to find the cottage address in the census for 1901 and previous but I can only find websites who want to charge the earth to look, all these geneology sites do take so much money from people who have a real interest in the things they research and I think these sites treat people badly by the amounts they charge to check on things. Does anyone know how I can get onto the local census information from 1881 to 1901, they should of course be free for us to look at somewhere. Any help here would be also be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ann |
| Reply from David Rabone : A reply for Caroline. The operation of a limekiln is described in WIKIPEDIA, the on-line encyclopaedia. Basically, a limekiln is used to burn chalk with coal to produce, typically, agricultural lime or lime based mortar for building. |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : Hi Ann, During the Victorian period and possible earlier Furge Grove was originally named Pound Lane and the lay of the land in this part of the village would have been slightly different, Furge Lane would have stretched as far as the turning for Furge Grove/Pound Lane and the rest of the lane up - a through way for workers to the Quarry in Lansdhire Lane - would have been a track. As David mentioned located around the Cotton Corner area was a blacksmiths and it is possible that the lane (like Cotton Corner) became locally known as Forge lane -Also remember that along Limekiln Lane was - well - a lime kiln! Not quite sure where it was or how lime was made - Any ideas? |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi Anne, I think Furge Lane is Forge Lane pronounced in the Somerset dialect. There was a forge in the Woodhayes/Townsend area upto about 1880. If you want me to look in my files for details, look at the census you mentioned or speak to the people who told me about the Hollydays, then please come and see us at the Loose Ends cafe on Friday mornings in the village hall. I am normally there from 11.30am to noon. |
| Added by Esther Crockford : Hi, I would like to ask for peoples views about the pedestrian crossings at the A30 crossroads in Henstridge. I think they should have included a replacement pedestrian crossing for our dangerous zebra crossing outside our village school, and i would like to ask everyone who agrees that the last pedestrian crossing they have installed, should have been moved further down Ash Walk to replace this zebra crossing. Please contact William Wallace, our local county councillor, or David Heath MP, as i have done. |
| Reply from Esther Crockford : Hello David, thanks for your reply. As the work is all finished now, we can all see what work has been done. Yes, they have installed 4 pedestrian crossings on all of the 4 roads...BUT they have placed the one on Ash Walk up by the main A30 traffic lights instead of replacing our schol zebra crossing!!! Thats obviously because the safety of adults getting to the pub or the bus is more important than our school children.....It appears as though Highways do not have to inform the parish about any major works and I have been in touch with the parish council who knew nothing about it. So i, and other parents now want to push for a pedestrian crossing still, to replace the zebra crossing. We have also had an issue about a few inconsiderate parents parking on the zig zag lines when picking up their children. The local police have been liasing with school and letters to parents stating the penalties involved if caught parking illegally.This seems to have helped for the time being, but we still need a traffic light controlled crossing as its not just them that are the issue. It is cars that dont stop to let you cross; cars that dont stop despite you ALREADY being on the crossing with young children, and cars that are speeding. |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi Esther, I have e-mailed SSDC to ask what is going on at the traffic lights. They said they are renewing all the electronic controls and providing a linked pedestrian crossing for each of the four approach roads. So you should get your wish. Personally, I would think that would bring vehicle traffic to a complete halt in all directions at times, especially when the school children are arriving or leaving. |
| Added by Gloria Gomm : I am trying to obtain any information about my ancestor Mary Ryall. She is listed in the 1871 census as living in Henstridge Ash and is described as being 77 years old, a widow and her occupation as washerwoman. |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : William Kitchener Ryall who died of influenza in February 1919 and is remembered on the village war memorial was the son of Tom and Elizabeth of Ash End. |
| Added by Jennifer Harmer : I am trying to find information on Mary Wicker who lived at Henstridge House in the 1950s (certainly in 1954). My parents rented a cottage from her in Wiltshire and we are trying to gather information on the owners of that cottage. Any help you can give would be appreciated. Many thanks, coincidently I discovered that my sister-in-law’s maiden name is Ryall and her ancestors also came from Henstridge. Do you know of any one researching that family? It’s a very small world! |
| Reply from Tony Fathers : Hi Jennifer, Yes it's a very small world. I live in Sydney, Australia. My Great Great Grandmother's maiden name was Mary Ann Ryall. I gave her details to John & Linda to pass on to you, so if your sister-in-law would like to contact them or me please feel free. I have information I can send via email, I do not have any photos of her because she passed away in 1882 in Sydney, but anything else I can help you with just drop me a line. I look forward to hear from you. Regards Tony |
| Added by Ann Turton : Hi Ya, I was in touch with you earlier - about Holly Cottage Furge Lane and also Cotton Corner. I have been trying without any success at all to find the census for 1871/81/91/1901 to trace the name of Holly Cottage, Furge Lane to see when the place was built etc. I cannot find anything that will give me just the addresses, only searched in the name of the occupant. I went onto the Henstridge Parish Council 1861 census forms was Henstridge generally but it bears no relation to any road name that is about now. Can you or anyone help me to try and find a source of info on this, if poss. Its driving me mad. I found out that the place was called Holly Cottage as it was owned for many years by a Mr and Mrs Holloway, apparently, according to the older man in the Ash End Garage, but I cannot find anything else. Please - help me????????!!!!! Many thanks. Ann |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi again, I've had a quick look thro' my old copies of the Kellys Directory and did not see any reference to the Holloway family or Holly Cottage in Henstridge. However, a building is shown in the right sort of position on the 1878 version of the Ordnance Survey map. |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi again. I don't know anything of Holly Cottage or the Holloway family, but an area of East Knoyle is called Holloway (see Ordnance Survey map) so perhaps it is a local family name. A friend of mine lives at Holloway House in East Knoyle. Kelly's Directories may be of use for finding out more rather than the Census. |
| Added by Diana Dixon : Hello. It was good to see the pictures. I lived in Henstridge as a child. I was born in Devon and my Grandad kept hounds for Miss Guest in Inwood and he also lived there in a house that went with the job. I went to Somerset last year and could not believe the change and building work. I have very happy memories of being in Inwood. Kind regards, Diana |
| Added by Ann Taylor-Turton : Hello, have enjoyed reading your bits and pieces here, we too moved into Henstridge in January this year, find it absolutely charming - apart from all the new building going on that is - we live in Holly Cottage in Furge Lane which is an old cottage but we cannot find any history on it at all. Also would love to know why the house on the corner of the lane and High St is called Cotton Corner, have you any ideas on that please. I have searched everywhere I can think of even been in touch with the Parishes around the area but no one seems to know anything. I would love to hear from you if you know anything about all this please. Thanks. Ann |
| Reply from Margaret Cullinan : Hi Ann I believe you came to marsh lane to nmy house to study some documents I had concerning the cottage in furge lane?? is that right? did you find anything out in taunton or elsewhere?? |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : RE Cotton Corner and Cotton Corner House. Renovation work on the house revealed block up doorways leading into both Gleanings and Sundown next door which suggests that the houses were all one dwelling at some stage. Cotton Corner always had an offical road name sign distinguishing it as such which was (or is?) located on the A357 road side of the house now called Spindle Cottage. There must surely be some history/offical documentation for this possibly in Somerset County Records Office in Taunton or maybe the County Council archives? |
| Reply from Margaret Cullinan : Gleanings is probably the older of the two buildings and the larger would havbe been added later. I do have documents stating that both houses were owned by a Mr Helyar, who moved from the larger into the smaller house in the late 19th century; he then let Cotton Corner House to a local solicitor . I have a holograph copy of a Will which was probably dictated to a clerk round about the middle of the same century, by a woman who calls herself a 'singlewoman' ( so much more robust than a spinster) and she makes various bequests of land rents therefore i can only assume that she was in possession of the farm in question etc..I will check to see if your cottage is mentioned in the Will and continue then !! M Cullinan |
| Reply from Margaret Cullinan : Hi! I live in Gleanings, which is the small cottage that is attached to Cotton Corner House - my address is officially Marsh Lane; it was my understanding that the original Cotton Corner House was built C1645 and that it started life as a farmhouse, my little bit on the end being convertefd to a dwelling from the dairy premises. However, I had a recent visit from an architect who was of the opinion that, because of the elaborate and very large inglenook fireplace which seems integral to the whole building (unnecessary for a dairy) |
| Reply from Julie Benny : Welcome to our village Ann, and I hope you come to like living here as much as we all do! As regards new building work remember that when old properties are bought by non-locals then the children of local people have to buy/rent somewhere newly built if they have any chance of staying in the area. And all old homes were new-build once upon a time. I have been trying to find out more about the families housed on the WWII airfield in the late 40's & early 50's - my father was a baby when he & his brother, sister & my Nan were living there in Nissen huts. A couple of ladies in the village remember the families of Naval servicemen living there, but I wonder if anyone has any more information about the uses of that site in the post-war period? I always thought it an odd thing that I should eventually come to live in the village my Dad started his life in! |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : Hi Ann, Just a thought - can you get hold of the old deeds for your cottage, as these may give you the any former names for the cottage as well as the age. From the information on the deeds listing any previous owners you may be able to link this to an old will, perhaps by visiting the archives in Taunton or Dorchester. Old wills are a fascinating resource as you can often piece together a really insightful story of a previous owner, together with the size of the house, number of rooms, goods and chattels. |
| Reply from Caroline Rowland : Hi there, Cotton Corner would almost certainly have derived its origins from links with the local gloving industry based in neighbouring Stalbridge and Milborne Port. Many local women and children were employed as outworkers and during the late victorian period the local gloving agent was William Costello who lived at Sunnyside in Whitchurch Lane and is buried in the church yard against the west? wall. |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi, once again, my neighbour says the last owner of Holly Cottage was called Hollyday and they named the cottage. |
| Reply from David Rabone : Hi, I am an Henstridge resident with an interest in general history. I have found no positive local knowledge about the the naming of Cotton Corner. However, soon after Sir Walter Raleigh became the incumbent at Sherborne Castle, the Bishop of Salisbury died. Queen Elizabeth offerred the bishopric to several people and the post was finally accepted by a John Cotton. The mainstreet is sometimes called London Road, so Cotton corner could be the old junction with the Salisbury to Sherborne Road in Elizabethen times which possibly followed Marsh Lane and Furge Lane and up over Toomer Hill. There is some background information in the book 'Dorset Elizabethans - at Home and Abroad' by Rachel Lloyd. |
| Reply from Diana Dixon : hello ann i used to live in henstridge as a child and my dad has just told me my great grandma lived in the house at cotton corner but has no history about it, he is going to ask his brother who still lives in somerset so if i find out i will get back to you.regards diana |
| Reply from John & Linda : It was good to get your feedback, especially as we're not yet registered on the search engines and had not expected to be found yet! Our local history book does not mention the history of either your cottage or Cotton Corner, so we can't help you there. The only reference I could find for Cotton Corner is that it was built around 1630. However we plan to extend our website to include requests like yours, and could add your request there. We find it's often quicker to get answers from people with local knowledge than trawling through historical records |
