My family in Horsforth during the inter-war years

Our birthday gathering

During a recent family gathering for my 40th birthday, a relative asked the question...

"What year did Harold & Alice Poole temporarily move south?"

The question lead me down a garden path of further questions and much research...

There was a family story or rumour that Harold & Alice Poole (my great grandparents) in the early years of their marriage moved "down south" to work on or start a market garden with another relative who had already made the move south. We were led to believe that the "other relative" was Harold's older half-brother, known as Uncle Jim.

Using the 1921 census and the West Yorkshire electoral registers on Ancestry.co.uk, alongside the family tales I was able to establish their various addresses in and around Horsforth during the inter-war years 1918-1939.

Harold POOLE and Alice THOMPSON were married towards the end of World War 1 (WW1) in September 1918 at the parish church of Horsforth (1). The addresses on their marriage certificate were:

• 2 Rose Avenue, Horsforth for Harold (see map - address 2).
• 52 Park Side, Horsforth for Alice (see map - address 1).

Harold's occupation is listed as a Private in the West Yorks Regiment so, he would have still been in active service, which is possibly an indication that they didn't "make home" together until he returned from the war. My grandma's story was that Harold & Alice lived at Rose Avenue, Horsforth after they were married. Harold alongside his parents and some of his siblings are listed on the 1911 census as living at 2 Rose Avenue (2) and his father lives at this address upto 1928 (3), it is possible they resided with his father.

Poole residencies map of HORSFORTH (26)

1. 52 Park Side, Horsforth - Sept 1918 Alice's address at marriage (1) & 1923 electoral roll (4)
2. 2 Rose Avenue, Horsforth - Sept 1918 Harold's address at marriage (1) (his father's house) & 1919 electoral roll (5)
3. 27 Back Lane, Horsforth -1920 (6) & 1921 (7) electoral rolls & autumn 1925 (8) & 1926 (9) electoral rolls
4. 47 Victoria Gardens, Horsforth - 1924 (10) & spring 1925 (11) electoral rolls
5. 149 Broadway, Horsforth - Autumn 1933-1938 (12 & 13) electoral rolls
6. 4 King Edward Avenue, Horsforth - 1939 register (14) & electoral rolls 1939-1948 (15 &16)
7. 5 Broadgate Crescent, Horsforth - Auntie Grace's address (17)
8. 16 Victoria Gardens, Horsforth - Auntie Polly's address (18)
9. 14 Wood Lane, Horsforth - Samuel Victor's address (19)

Alice does not appear on the electoral rolls until 1925 (20) for as a female, she was unable to vote until she was 30 years old. Whereas Harold was eligible to vote from the age of 19 with being in the armed forces, so he is first listed on the electoral roll in 1918 (21) & 1919 (5) at 2 Rose Avenue, Horsforth (see map - address 2).

• In 1920 & 1921 in both the electoral rolls and census he is living at 27 Back Lane, Horsforth (see map - address 3) (6&7).
• In 1923 on the electoral rolls he is living at 52 Park Side, Horsforth (see map - address 1), where Alice was residing at the time of their marriage (4).
• In 1924 (10) & Spring 1925 (11) he's registered at 47 Victoria Gardens, Horsforth (see map - address 4) 
• In Autumn 1925 (8) & 1926 (9) they are both back at 27 Back Lane, Horsforth (see map - address 3)
• By 1928 (22) they've moved slightly out of Horsforth into Chapel House at Low Mill Chapel, Knott Lane, Rawdon. It was a very small Methodist chapel where Harold was the caretaker, so the family had the privilege of residing in the adjoining tiny house, which is where my grandmother was born in 1929.
  
  

The gap in their Horsforth or Rawdon residencies appears to be in 1922 and 1927. In 1927 the electoral roll records are missing, so it leaves 1922 when they were not listed in the locality. We also discovered that Harold's discharge papers (23) from World War 1, state he was transferred to the reserves in 1922 and this was done Chichester, which would also be an indication of their move south.

Harold Poole's discharge papers (23)

The research to discover Harold & Alice's whereabouts in the 1920s also posed more questions:

1. 27 Back Lane, Horsforth - why did the live there in 1921 then return to the same property in 1925?
2. 52 Park Side, Horsforth - this is where Alice was living pre-marriage and again Harold & Alice lived there in 1923, were they living with someone?
   
3. Victoria Gardens, my dad seemed to think another relative lived on this street, was it the same house?

Were they house sharing with relatives or friends, or did the know the owners of these properties? Was there a housing shortage in the inter-war years? 

To understand who was part of their support network during these years let's take a look at their immediate family's.

Harold Vernon POOLE was born 1894 in Shipley, West Yorkshire (24), he was the oldest of 2 boys to Frederick POOLE and Grace Ellen nee BINNS, but his father already had 3 children with his late wife, Hannah nee SLINGSBY.

Harold's immediate family

In 1911, at the age of 16, Harold was living at 2 Rose Avenue in Horsforth with his parents and 2 siblings - Mary Hannah (otherwise known as Aunty Polly) and Samuel (2).

During the latter years of World War I there were some big changes for this family:

• both Harold & Samuel served in the army;
• their mother, Grace Ellen passed away in July 1917 (25) whilst Harold was away;
• their father hastily remarried 9 months later, in April 1918, to his third wife Delilah SHACKLETON (also known as Lily) (27);
• and Harold married Alice in September 1918 (1) just before the end of World War 1 in November 1918.
  

Harold's father, Frederick and step-mother, Delilah are registered on the electoral rolls at 2 Rose Avenue (see map - address 2), Horsforth until 1928 (28), in 1929-34 (29 & 30) at 29 Rose Avenue, Horsforth, but by 1936 (31) he is living at "The Rooks" Harrogate Road, Rawdon.

Grace Alexandra (AKA Aunty Grace) married Herbert MIDGLEY in 1907 (32). Their son, Fred was born in 1912 (33). On the 1918 electoral roll (34), they are living at 23 Rose Avenue, Horsforth - the same street as her father. On the 1919 (35) -1926 (36) electoral rolls and the 1921 census (37) their address is 52 or 52-4 Park Side, Horsforth (see map - address 1), which is the address given for Alice at their marriage (1) but also the address Harold & Alice return to live in 1923 (4) after their short period "down south". 

Today, the house numbers on Park Side, Horsforth cease at 42/44 (38), but examining old maps (39) you can see that the houses after 42/44 were demolished to make way for "Broadway" the new Leeds outer Ring Road which was built in the 1930s. 

Current 2026 Google Maps of Parkside (38)

1936 Ordnance Survey map of Parkside (39)

After Park Side, which was a small stone built terrace house, their next address in the electoral rolls was 5 Broadgate Crescent, Horsforth between 1928 (17) - 1933 (40), a lovely modern brick built 1930s semi with a garden - I wonder if they were relocated to the "new builds" due to their own home being earmarked for demolition?

James Alfred (AKA Uncle Jim), left "home" in the 1900s, married Catherine Lavinia Kenny in 1907 in London (41), they moved around the country as their 3 children were born in London, Darlington and their youngest child was born in 1920 in Chiddingley in Sussex (42). It was somewhere close to Chiddingley we suspect that Harold & Alice moved to briefly in 1922.

Mary Hannah (AKA Auntie Polly), the family story is that she stayed at home to care for her step-mother, Grace Ellen. In 1918 she married Samuel Briggs (Uncle Sam) (43), a man 15 years her senior who had children from a previous marriage. He already had a house at Ash Lea or 16 Victoria Gardens, Horsforth (44) which is where they both resided until their deaths in 1944 (Uncle Sam) (45) and 1963 (Auntie Polly) (46).

Samuel Victor lived with his father until at least 1926, when he married Nellie Naylor at St James's Church, Woodside, Horsforth (47). In the 1928 electoral rolls he is living at 14 Wood Lane, Horsforth where he resides until his early death in 1935 (48) & (49).

My grandmother (Harold & Alice's youngest daughter), always told the story about a family feud between Harold & his father, Frederick, in which Samuel sided with his father. My grandmother would not have recognised her grandfather, Frederick or uncle Samuel even though it is entirely possible she would have walked past them in the streets!

Alice THOMPSON was born 1895 in Kirkstall, Leeds, West Yorkshire (50). She was the 5th child of 7 to William THOMPSON and Lucy Ann nee WRIGHT. 

Alice's immediate family

Alice's oldest sibling, Aunty May, was sent to live with her grandparents near Knaresborough (51) due to a lack space with the growing family, but in 1902 Alice's mother, Lucy Ann, passed away (52), so Aunty May returned to the family home in Horsforth to care for her younger siblings. In 1911, the family is residing at 7 Woodville Avenue, off Broadgate Lane, in the Woodside area of Horsforth, Leeds (see Woodside map - address 1) (53). William, their father, passed away in September 1911 (54).

Thompson residencies in Woodside, Horsforth

1. 7 Woodville Avenue - Thompson family home (53)
2. 342 Low Lane - Cyril's address (55)
3. Paradise Grove - Cyril's address (56)

Mary (Auntie May), in the 1921 census is residing at 7 Woodville Avenue, Woodside Horsforth with her brothers - Harold Wright, Harry & John Healless, sister-in-law Alice (Harold's wife) and her illegitimate son born in autumn 1912, Willie (57). She was the housekeeper. She doesn't appear on the electoral rolls as a single lady she wasn't eligible to vote. She met Walter SHARPE & they had a daughter called June SHARPE in 1929, her birth was registered in Leeds South district (58), they don't appear to marry until 1950 (59), but in the 1939 register they are living at Patchett's Place, Bramley, Leeds (60).

Harold Wright married Alice nee FLETCHER in 1919 (61), she moved into the family home at 7 Woodville Avenue and they lived at this property possibly all of their adult lives (61). All the electoral rolls upto 1948 state their address as 7 Woodville Avenue, Horsforth (62). By the 1939 register Harold Wright & Alice are living alone at the property (63).

Cyril married Harriet nee HUTCHINSON in 1916 (64). On the 1920-4 electoral rolls he is living at 18 Paradise Grove, Horsforth (56) & (65), which is where he is recorded as living on the 1921 census with his wife and father-in-law (66). On the electoral rolls from 1925 (55)-1946 (67) he is living at 342 Low Lane, Horsforth. He had a daughter called Marjorie born in 1926 (68), who is listed as living with Cyril & Harriet at 342 East View (Low Lane), Horsforth in the 1939 register (69). Cyril was a chemist at Kirkstall Forge (69).

Harry lived with his older brother, Harold & sister-in-law, Alice at 7 Woodville Avenue, Horsforth until 1929 (70) when he married Elsie Maud PARKER (71). In 1930 he is listed on the electoral roll at 342 Low Lane, Horsforth which was his brother, Cyril's address (72). In the 1933 (73) - 1939 (74) on the electoral rolls and in the 1939 register he is living at 1 Lickless Avenue, Horsforth (75). He passed away in 1940 and is buried at Horsforth Cemetery (76).

John Healless (AKA Uncle Jack) moved to Australia in the early 1920s and married Amy in Australia in 1928 (77).

Many of Harold & Alice's siblings lived within a few streets of one another and their lives would have been intertwined in the daily community life of a small town, in which lives, houses and stories would be shared. 

References

1. Record for Alice Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Horsforth, St Margarets, 1918, page 6 of 8, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 13th March 2026. Original document: Yorkshire Parish Records, West Yorkshire Archive Service; Leeds, Yorkshire, England; Reference Number: RDP43/10. 
2. Record for Fred Poole. 1911 England Census, Yorkshire-West Riding, Horsforth, Enumeration District 01, page 404 of 883, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 13th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, Class: RG14; Piece: 25971.
3. Record for Frederick Slater Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 135 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 37.
4. Record for Harold Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1923, page 120 of 694, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1923, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:2/6, page 32.
5. Record for Harold Vernan Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1919, page 140 of 784, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1919, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/2, Township of Horsforth.
6. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1920, page 462 of 691, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1920, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/4, page 32.
7. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1921, page 464 of 695, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1921, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:2/3, page 32.
8. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1925, page 472 of 729, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1925, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/1, page 2.
9. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1926, page 118 of 745, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1926, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/2, page 2.
10. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1924, page 474 of 709, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1924, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:2/9, page 33.
11. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1925, page 127 of 729, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1925, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:2/10, page 34.
12. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1933, page 704 of 1031, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1933, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/9, page 15.
13. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1938, page 220 of 594, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1938, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/6, page 15.
14. Record for Mary V Poole. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Horsforth UD, Knii, page 15 of 32, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3666D.
15. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1939, page 248 of 604, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1939, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/7, page 19.
16. Record for Harold V Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1948, page 117 of 328, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1948, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:6/2, page 51.
17. Record for Grace Midgley. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 144 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 3.
18. Record for Mary Briggs. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 141 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 48.
19. Record for Samuel Victor Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 152 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1919, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 18.
20. Record for Alice Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1925, page 472 of 729, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1925, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/1, page 2.
21. Record for Harold Verb Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1918, page 204 of 474, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1918, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/1, Township of Horsforth.
22. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 374 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 38.
23. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. Original document: Certificate of Discharge, Army Form B. 2079D. Serial no. 860, in possession of Ruth Hogan.
24. Record for Harold Vernon Poole. West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985, Bradford, "Bradford, Esholt, Harden, Harecroft and Bingley, Horton, Moorside, Saltaire, Shipley, Tong,...; BNC 9", page 450 of 861, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document:  Document also found at: West Yorkshire Nonconformist Records. Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, and Wakefield, England: West Yorkshire Archive Service. BNC 9.
25. Grave of Grace Ellen Poole. Horsforth Cemetery, Horsforth, Metropolitan Borough of Leeds, West Yorkshire; Gravestone inscription, visited & photographed on 11th May 2025.
26. Google Maps, www.google.com/maps/@53.8346864,-1.6420458,16z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D, accessed 25th Jan 2026.
27. Record for Frederick Slater Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1921, Bradford, All Saints Church, 1918, page 220, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 2014. Original data: Yorkshire Parish Records. West Yorkshire Archive Service: Leeds, England, Bradford, All Saints, page 220.
28. Record for Frederick Slater Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 135 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 37.
29. Record for Lily Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1929, page 140 of 397, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1919, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/5, page 38.
30. Record for Frederick Slater Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1934, page 176 of 535, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1934, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/2, page 51.
31. Record for Frederick Slater Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1936, page 522 of 562, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1936, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/4, page 27.
32. Record for Grace Alexander Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Horsforth, St Margaret Church, 1907, page 2 of 9, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original data: Yorkshire Parish Records. West Yorkshire Archive Service: Leeds, England; Reference No: WDP43/9.
33. Record for Fred Midgley. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Durham, Boldon Ud, Ffgh, page 20 of 42, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/2756F.
34. Record for Grace Midgley. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1918, page 194 of 474, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1918, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/1, Township of Horsforth.
35. Record for Grace Midgley. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1919, page 130 of 784, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1919, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/2, Township of Horsforth.
36. Record for Grace Midgley. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1926, page 133 of 745, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1926, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/2, page 33.
37. Record for Grace Midgley. 1921 England Census, Yorkshire West Riding, Wharfedale; Sub-registration district 01; Enumeration district 01,02, page 1097 of 1170, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921 Census Returns, Reference: RG 15/21121, ED 2, Sch 229; Book: 21121. 
38. Google Maps, www.google.com/maps/ (https://www.google.com/maps/@53.8342932,-1.6463566,19z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D), accessed 23rd March 2026.
39. National Library of Scotland, www.maps.nls.uk (https://maps.nls.uk/view/125640463), accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Ordnance Survey Maps, 25 inch England and Wales, 1841-1952; Yorkshire (West Riding) Sheet CCII 11, Pudsey & Otley division, Horsforth UD, Revision of 1934.
40. Record for Herbert Midgley. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1933, page 699 of 1031, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1919, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/9, page 4.
41. Record for James Alfred Poole. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915, 1907, Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar, Chelsea, London, Volume 1a, Page 721, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England, United Kingdom; Volume 1a, Page: 721.
42. Record for James Alfred Poole. 1921 England Census, Sussex, Hailsham; Sub-registration district 02; Enumeration district 01, 02, 03, 04, 05; page 819 of 996, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921 Census Returns, Reference: RG 15/4750, ED 5, Sch 58; Book: 04750. 
43. Record for Mary Hannah Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Calverley, St Wilfrid Church, 1918, page 3 of 9, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original data: Yorkshire Parish Records. West Yorkshire Archive Service: Leeds, England; Reference No: WDP17/3/38.
44. Record for Samuel Briggs. 1911 England Census, Yorkshire-West Riding, Horsforth, Enumeration District 01, page 202 of 883, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, Class: RG14.
45. Record for Samuel Briggs. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration), 1858-1995; 1944; Aaronberg to Byworth; page 344 of 445, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England.
46. Record for Mary Hannah Hainsworth. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administration), 1858-1995; 1963; Haake to Hyznik; page 20 of 526, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England.
47. Record for Samuel Victor Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Woodside, St James Church, 1926, page 5 of 20, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original data: Yorkshire Parish Records. West Yorkshire Archive Service: Leeds, England; Reference No: P110/2/3.
48. Record for Samuel Victor Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 152 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 19.
49. Record for Samuel Victor Poole. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1934, page 203 of 535, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1934, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/2, page 31.
50. Record for Alice Thompson. Original Birth Certificate, in possession of Ruth Hogan, sub district of Kirkstall, Leeds; No. 462 in the register book.
51. Record for Mary Thompson. 1901 England Census, Yorkshire, Harrogate, District 22, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 24th March 2026. Original document: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1901. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives, 1901; Class: RG13; Piece: 4054; Folio:102; Page: 11.
52. Record for Lucy Ann Thompson. England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1837-1915, 1902, Quarter Apr-May-Jun; Leeds, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 9b, Page 356, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England, United Kingdom; Volume 9b, Page: 356.
53. Record for William Thompson. 1911 England Census, Yorkshire-West Riding, Horsforth, Enumeration District 06, page 600 of 641, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: The National Archives of the UK (TNA); Kew, Surrey, England; Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911, Class: RG14.
54. Record for William Thompson. Find A Grave, www.findagrave.co.uk (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227492597/william-thompson), accessed 25th March 2026.
55. Record for Cyril Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1925, page 500 of 729, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1925, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/1, page 9.
56. Record for Cyril Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1920, page 477 of 691, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1920, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:1/4, page 16
57. Record for Harold W Thompson. 1921 England Census, Yorkshire West Riding, Wharfedale; Sub-registration district 01; Enumeration district 07; page 123 of 588, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921 Census Returns, Reference: RG 15/21126, ED 7, Sch 62; Book: 21126.
58. Record for June Sharpe. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007, 1929, Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep; Leeds South, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 9b, Page 585, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England, United Kingdom; Volume 9b, Page: 585.
59. Record for Mary Thompson. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005, 1950, Quarter Jan-Feb-Mar, Leeds, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 2c, Page 587, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume 2c, Page: 587.
60. Record for Mary Sharpe. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Leeds Cb, Kgqq, page 6 of 14, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3469D.
61. Record for Harold W Thompson. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005, 1919, Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep, Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 9a, Page 407, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume 9a, Page: 407.
62. Record for Harold Wright Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1929, page 160 of 397, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1929, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/5, page 23.
63. Record for Harold W. Thompson. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Horsforth Ud, Knij, page 22 of 29, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3666F.
64. Record for Cyril Thompson. England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005, 1916, Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep, Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 9a, Page 270, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume 9a, Page: 270.
65. Record for Cyril Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1924, page 489 of 709, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1924, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:2/9, page 15.
66. Record for Cyril Thompson. 1921 England Census, Yorkshire West Riding, Wharfedale; Sub-registration district 01; Enumeration district 03, 03/1; page 559 of 788, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 23rd March 2026. Original document: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1921. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA) Series RG15, 1921 Census Returns, Reference: RG 15/21122, ED 3, Sch 42; Book: 21122.
67. Record for Cyril Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1946, page 176 of 676, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1946, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:5/2, page 8.
68. Record for Marjorie Thompson. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007, 1926, Quarter Jul-Aug-Sep; Wharfedale, Yorkshire West Riding, Volume 9a, Page 199, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th March 2026. Original document: General Register Office; England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes, London, England, United Kingdom; Volume 9a, Page: 199.
69. Record for Cyril Thompson. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Horsforth Ud, Knif, page 3 of 35, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3665J.
70. Record for Harry Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1928, page 153 of 383, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1928, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/4, page 20.
71. Record for Harry Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935, Kirkstall, St Stephen, page 18 of 20, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 21st March 2026. Original data: Yorkshire Parish Records. West Yorkshire Archive Service: Leeds, England; Reference No: P50/53.
72. Record for Harry Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1930, page 189 of 496, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1930, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/6, page 20.
73. Record for Harry Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1933, page 705 of 1031, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1933, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:3/9, page 17.
74. Record for Harry Thompson. West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962, Pudsey & Otley, 1939, page 231 of 604, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 18th March 2026. Original document: Electoral Rolls. West Yorkshire Archive Service, Leeds, England, 1939, Pudsey & Otley, West Yorkshire, England, reference no. PUD+O:4/7, page 19.
75. Record for Harry Thompson. 1939 England and Wales Register, Yorkshire (West Riding), Horsforth Ud, Knij, page 6 of 29, www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 20th March 2026. Original document: The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/3666F.
76. Record for Harry Thompson. Find A Grave, www.findagrave.co.uk (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227496361/harry-thompson), accessed 25th March 2026.
77. Record for John Healless Thompson. Australia Marriage Index, 1788-1950; 1928, Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia; Reg No 6653; www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th March 2026.

 

80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

Grandad Dennis in 1943

I know it's only been 8 years since my last post here (OUCH!!) but I felt this was an important one to share

6th June 1944 D-Day Landings, 80 years ago

My grandfather, Dennis Sutcliffe, at the age of 18 very early in the morning was on one of the first landing craft to land on Gold Beach with the Green Howard's. It was a day he rarely spoke of and clearly brought with it painful memories, as well as the physical pain of the injuries he sustained on that day. I do remember at the 60th Anniversary celebrations asking him some questions but I wish I had recorded what he had said to me!

It was his first experience of war, but he had been in training for a number of months specifically for this operation. He was a lucky survivor as 180 Green Howards lost their lives on this day.

I am hoping to visit Gold Beach later in the summer with my children to see where my grandfather landed, as well as to visit The Green Howards Memorial in Crepon.

Grave hunting in Kildwick

Ok, so family history research - grave hunting is difficult with 2 littlies in tow but I attempt it the other week with my 2 year old & my 7 month old. 

This is Kildwick Parish Church in West Yorkshire...

It is a very historical church dating back to 950AD (Kildwick Parish Website, accessed 6th April 2016) and the Leeds-Liverpool canal cuts through the grave yard.

My ancestors didn't live in the village of Kildwick but in other the villages lying within the parish  boundaries, ie Cononley, Cowling, Glusburn etc. I have many ancestors who were baptised & buried here in the 1700s and early 1800s.

Sadly, I did not get enough opportunity to have a good look at many graves because my 2 year old kept running off in the opposite direction and they both fought against taking naps & I forgot the double pram! But we had a nice picnic in the sunshine in the grave yard :) 

Here is the evidence with a picnic selfie with my toddler beginning to feed me the babies food when I was concentrating on taking the photo - he missed my mouth & plastered it on my face instead!

Next time, I will drag my husband along to watch the kids while I peruse some of the old graves & fathom out their old, worn inscriptions.

Some of the beautiful grave stones...

Herne, Hair and Hull: My Davidson Roots

I know I have been very quiet on this blog for some time, but life has been busy so family history has had to be put to one side for a little while, but also I have been concentrating on getting this finished, edited and printed ready for Christmas. 

 

The first edition of my family history book concentrating on the Davidson line of my family. It is a BIG achievement to finally complete this.

Big thanks goes to my father-in-law for formatting and printing it for me and to my husband for the cover design.

Remembering . . . Poppies in Yorkshire

Last year there was a magnificent display of ceramic poppies in the moat of the Tower of London. Each poppy represented a man from the Commonwealth who had fallen during World War 1. It was an amazing display and proved very popular. Sadly, I was unable to make the trip to London to see the piece of artwork, but saw many photos of it.

Now, some (not all) of the poppies are touring different places in the UK, one being the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP). As we did not get to London and YSP is on our doorstep we took a trip to see them.

The blood shed, flowing freely...

...it is incredibly moving to see the vast number of poppies, each one representing a man 100 years ago just like my husband, my father, my friends and my cousins. 

An opportunity to remember those who've gone before who paid the ultimate sacrifice so we can live in the peace, comfort and freedom in the UK of today. 

Remembering my grandfather, great grandfathers, great uncles, great, great uncles who's lives were impacted by what they saw and experienced during the World Wars.

Book Review - The History & Topography of Bradford, (in the County of York)

I have been looking into a bit of this history behind the city in which I live recently and by accident through a random Google search for meaning of the street name "Ivegate" in Bradford, came across this book on Google Books...

The History & Topography of Bradford, (in the County of York) with Topographical Notices of It's Parish by John James 1841

I wanted to make some notes about the interesting facts which I read, so although this blog post is primarily for my own reference you may also find it of interest.

• Gate ie Westgate/Kirkgate/Ivegate is not a reference to a gate in a city wall but means a "street"

• There was a building at the junction of Ivegate, Kirkgate & Westgate which was the original toll booth, in which John Nelson was imprisoned in the dungeons for preaching

Bradford:

• lies in a valley which is a branch of Airedale (Aire river valley), otherwise known as Bradford Dale with the beck running from Thornton to Shipley with a considerable bend in the beck in the centre
• is the seat of four valleys
• is in a bowl with hill ridges surrounding about a 2 mile radius of the city centre, each side has a quick descent into the town
• beck or brook has diminished over time, so the once "Broad" ford is now a lesser crossing, the once wooded valley would have had more water running through it due to the woods and the coal mines have probably drained more of the water into the land which once ran through the city in the becks

The 3 main brooks are:

1. Bowling Beck which rises above Bolling Hall - in the Roughs or Parkside between Bowling & Bierley, which feeds a pond below Bolling Hall - the brook passed through Cuckoo Bridge, a single arched bridge (but now Britannia House stands on it's site - see Bradford Heritage Tour)
2. Source is at Bradford Moor, taking in a small stream at Laisterdyke and another from above the Bowling Iron Works
3. the Bradford beck - the chief stream, begins at Bell Dean or Old Allen in Allerton and is joined by Horton Beck at Shearbridge

In it's past there have been numerous floods of the town, two significant floods were:

1. 1768 when the bridge was swept away
2. 20th December 1837 which caused significant damage

• The iron manufactured at Low Moor, Bowling & Bierley is esteemed the best of the kingdom - limestone was transported from Skipton via the Leeds-Liverpool & Bradford canals to the iron works.
• Thatch was probably rarely used in Bradford due to the source of good quality stone and slate available naturally in the area.
• Agriculture was poor, all that was grown was to be eaten by the people who grew it & not to be sold, cattle was kept for milk & butter but cheese was not produced.
• Manufacturing was most common with the use of looms.

Plagues/sickness epidemics rarely hit the town, which was deemed to be due to the good westerly winds which blew over the town.  Some epidemics to note are:

• 1665/6 the black plague - from a bag of old clothes which arrived from elsewhere in the country. The stricken were sent to Cliffe Barn, near Cliffe Wood & recovered were expected to care for the sick
• 1675 the Jolly Rant - a severe cold and cough
• 1832 Asiatic Cholera
• Jan & Feb 1837 Influenza killed many

Roman Roads:

• Manchester to Ilkley - after leaving Black Stone Edge, leave Halifax on the right and Ellinworth (Illingworth?) on the left, through Dinham Park (Denholme Park?) to the west of Cullingworth and Hainsworth
• Bradford to Wakefield - via Dudley Hill, places with Street in the name often refer to places close by to a Roman Road ie Tong Street

It is interesting to note that - Bradford suffered few plagues or sickness epidemics?

Hallyng = a meadow of the manor of Bradford
Further research shows:

• Ings (OED) = meadow near watercourse, therefore possibly swampy
• Ing (Old English) = hill
• Inga = "the people of" or "family & followers" ie Birmingham - homestead (ham) of a family of a man called Beorma
• Ing = place of ie Hawkinge (Kent) - place frequented by hawks

I wonder where this meadow would have been in relation to the now street name Hall Ings and it sounds as if it was a meadow next to or nearby the hall which was near the becks and possibly slightly swampy.

Bradford had a Fulling Mill where cleansing of the wool from oils & dirts happened, but it was open to every house. There was also a water mill with access for every house.

There was a reference to a Bolleshagh which I wonder if this place has any relation to the current area of Bowling (or Bolling) & the hall their?

The Book of Me, Written by You - Week 69 - What is my most treasured possession?

The Book Of Me, Written By You is a 15 month project set up by Julie Goucher at Anglers Rest.

Each week there are prompts which require answering.

My great, great grandmother's wedding jug

Week 69 - What is my most treasured possession?

I have had to think about this a lot, well, what is my most treasured possession? I am not sure whether I have a MOST treasured possession but I certainly have a few possessions which are treasured by me, these are:

• my laptop - all my family history research is stored on here (as well as backed up elsewhere), so I would want all that work to be passed onto someone who would like to continue it or be interested in the work I have already done

• my leather bound bible - this was a 21st birthday present from my grandparents who are no longer with us, there is a beautiful inscription in the front cover which was written by my grandfather and means a lot to me

• my great, great grandmother's wedding jug - the only heirloom I have from my mother's side of the family

• my great grandmother's engagement ring - a beautiful ring which I wear occasionally for special occasions