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.

 

Horsforth Cemetery

A few weeks ago I ventured to Horsforth Cemetery for the afternoon to do some more grave hunting. I had been there before a few times but each time I had managed to miss finding my great grandparents grave, so went back to take some more photos and to find the elusive grave.

The first grave I found was that of my great, great grandfather's brother, Joshua Thompson, his wife, Miriam, daughter Mary Kneeshaw and son-in-law, Reginald Fairleigh Kneeshaw.

Grave of Joshua & Miriam Thompson nee Roberts, Reginald Fairleigh & Mary Kneeshaw nee Thompson

Grave of Joshua & Miriam Thompson nee Roberts, Reginald Fairleigh & Mary Kneeshaw nee Thompson

The second grave I came across was that of Harold & Louisa Meeks, one of the past owners of Meek's Greengrocers on Town Street in Horsforth. A family run business which opened in the early 1880s by George Meeks, Harold's father and finally closed it's doors in the early 1990s, when Harold's great grandson was running the shop. My father did part-time work for David Speight, the son of Ethel nee Meeks in the 1970s in the shop. Although Harold & Louisa are not direct ancestors of mine, their daughter, Ethel married Harold Speight whose mother was Ethel nee Thompson the sister of Joshua above.

Grave of Harold Meeks and Louisa nee Hibbett

"In Loving Memory

Of

HAROLD MEEKS

died 18th July 1941 aged 65 years

Also Louisa wife of the above

died 27th January 1965 aged 81 years"

Now for the graves of my more direct ancestors, my great grandparents...

...Walter & Kate Davidson nee Parkinson, my great grandparents...

Grave of Walter & Kate Davidson

"Treasured

memories

of a dearly loved

father and mother

WALTER DAVIDSON

died 21st July 1969

and

KATE DAVIDSON

died 23rd October 1970 

aged 78 years" 

...and the elusive grave of Harold and Alice Poole nee Thompson and Harold's mother, my great, great grandmother, Grace Ellen Poole nee Binns...

Grave of Grace Ellen Poole nee Binns, Harold Poole & Alice nee Thompson

"In

Loving 

Memory of

GRACE ELLEN POOLE

died 31st July 1917 aged 47

also HAROLD

son of the above

died 4th February 1954 aged 59

also ALICE

dear wife of the above

died 12th October 1973 aged 78"

Grave Hunting at Nab Wood Cemetery

Today as we drove past Nab Wood Cemetery to get to a Lego Fair my husband wanted to see, I persuaded him on the return journey to stop off at the cemetery to visit the grave of my great, great, great grandmother, Sarah Hannah Poole & her son, my great, great grandfather, Fred Poole. I had found a reference to the grave on FindAGrave.com which aided locating the grave by already seeing a picture and knowing it's size, shape & colour.

Photo of my ancestor grave at Nab Wood Cemetery

In Loving Memory

of SARAH HANNAH

beloved wife of JAMES POOLE

who died May 17th 1922

in her 82nd year

"at rest"

Also of JAMES POOLE

husband of the above,

died at Melbourne, Australia

Also of FRED POOLE,

Son of the above,

died 8th April 1948

aged 87 years

When I eventually found the grave of Sarah Hannah & Fred Poole, I was more surprised to discover that the neighbouring grave was that of another set of my great, great, great grandparents, John & Jessie Binns. John & Jessie Binns were Fred Poole's parents-in-law.

My ancestors grave at Nab Wood Cemetery

A close up of the inscription

In 

Loving Memory of 

JOHN BINNS 

died Sep 27th 1904 

aged 65 years

also JESSIE wife of the above

died Dec 10th 1921

in her 78th year

Further close up of the inscription on John Binn's gravestone

Also ROSE HANNAH

daughter of the above

died Aug 5th 1896

in her 16th year

Last close up of John Binn's gravestone inscription

Also CLARISSA

Wife of JIM BINNS

Died May 7th 1919 aged 52 years

I am presuming that perhaps Fred & his wife, Grace Ellen Poole nee Binns bought the adjacent burial plots for their parents. Otherwise it would be a strange co-incidence that they're buried in neighbouring plots.

We had a further general wander around the rest of the cemetery and found a grave for Ada Poole nee Druce, the wife of Charles H Poole. Charles H Poole was Fred Poole's brother & son to Hannah.

Grave stone for Ada Poole

In Loving Memory of

ADA

wife of CHARLES H. POOLE

died July 7th 1926

aged 47 years.

All in all I feel it was a worthwhile trip especially finding 2 more ancestral graves which were unexpected finds!! 

Looking at the full picture

I don't know about you but when I first began researching my family history, it was all data collection. I mainly collected all the dates of birth, marriage and death of my ancestors, alongside recording where they were and what they were doing every 10 years on the censuses.

As time went on I started to want to unlock some of the facts in this data collecting exercise that I'd done previously. What did it mean that my ancestor was born in January 1899 or was baptised on 25th December 1888? 

You had to look at the facts around the bigger picture...

• What was happening in your ancestors town, village, street at the time of these significant life events? Eg mass unemployment, opening of a new railway, clearing of slums, new housing?
• What had happened 8-10 months before a birth? Eg, a marriage only months before a birth or a father home on leave from the army?
• What was happening in the World or the Nation? Eg war, peace, temperance movement, strikes, protests, death of a king?
• Was there other events happening within the immediate or extended family? Eg, cousins of similar ages, a daughter old enough to have a baby which the mother was hiding as her own, children helping with house work or child care, the father out of work?
• Where were extended family members located geographically in relation to your relative? Did that have an impact on the relationship the extended family had with one another? Eg in the same or next street, in the neighbouring town or on the otherside of the country?

Harold Poole with his wife Alice Thompson

An example which I discovered in my own family tree once I started to unpack the facts was...

...my great grandmother, Grace Ellen Poole nee Binns died on 31st July 1917 at 2 Rose Avenue, Horsforth, West Yorkshire
...1917 was in the middle of WW1
...did she have family members - sons, husband, nephews, brothers - who had signed up & were away fighting in France?
...her eldest son, Harold Poole, was overseas in France until 1918

...Frederick Poole - Grace's husband remarried on 27th April 1918 only months after his wife had passed away
...Harold, Grace's son married on 26th September 1918 - possibly home on leave?
...remember WW1 ended on 11th November 1918 and even then it may have been 1919 before troops returned home to their loved ones 

...my grandmother always told stories that her father, Harold Poole would never talk to his father Frederick Poole, one wonders whether it was due to the fact that his father remarried so quickly after his mother's death before Harold had the opportunity to grieve for his own mother, Grace.

It wasn't until I had unpacked the facts and looked at the full picture did I realise how quick succession it was between my great, great grandmother's death and her husband's remarriage, alongside the complications of WW1 and her son, his marriage and being away in France.

HELP required...?

Ok, so I need some help with this document...it is a World War One service record for my great grandfather's half brother, James Alfred Poole. 

I want to know what this street name is? It is in Bradford, West Yorkshire if that is any help.

Image from Ancestry.com accessed 13th October 2014

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below. Thanks in advance...

REMEMBERING . . . Private Harold Vernon Poole

Private Harold Vernon Poole - West Yorkshire Regiment #24181

My great grandfather, Harold Vernon Poole, was born in Shipley, West Yorkshire on 11th June 1894.

Copy of his birth certificate owned by Ruth Hogan

His parents were Frederick Slater Poole (1860-1948) and Grace Ellen nee Binns (1869-1917), he was the first child of their marriage which took place in summer 1893 in North Bierley registration district, West Yorkshire.

Frederick had been married and widowed previously, so there were 3 older half-siblings, Grace Alexandra (1883-?), James Alfred (1885-1959) and Mary Hannah AKA Polly (1888-?) who lived with the family.

In 1899, Harold became an older brother to Samuel Victor Poole (1899-1935) also born in Shipley, West Yorkshire.

By the 1901 census, the family had moved to Skipton in North Yorkshire, where Frederick was working as an engineer on the railways.

1901 census excerpt of the Poole family in Skipton, North Yorkshire
 Image from: www.Ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th May 2014

Again by the time of the next census in 1911 the family had relocated again and this time to Rose Avenue, Horsforth, West Yorkshire and now Frederick is working as a Road Steam Roller Engineman Driver. Harold is 16 years old and is working as a Mule Peaceiner.

1911 census page for the Poole family at Rose Avenue, Horsforth
Image from: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed 25th May 2014

On 28th July 1914, war broke out with Germany and at the ripe age of 18 years old, Harold was old enough to join the army, but he did not enlist until 30th December 1915.

Certificate of Transfer to the Army Reserve owned by Ruth Hogan

Certificate of Discharge owned by Ruth Hogan

He was in the West Yorkshire Regiment and went to fight in France but I am still trying to discover which Battalion he was in. He was gassed and did not have really good health for the rest of his life due to the effects of the fighting on his life, but other than this passed down information I know very little about his fighting days.

His mother, Grace Ellen, who he was very fond of passed away in Yorkshire whilst he was away fighting in France on 31st July 1917. His father would marry again quickly to Delilah Shackleton on 27th April 1918 at All Saints Church in Bradford, although he was still living at Rose Avenue, Horsforth.

On 26th September 1918, Harold married Alice Thompson (1895-1973) of Horsforth, Yorkshire. They were wed at St Margaret's Church in Horsforth. I wonder whether Harold was home on leave for this as it was not yet the end of the war and he was not transferred to the army reserve until nearly a year later on 4th August 1918 and it would be nearly 10 years later when he was finally discharged on 28th May 1926.

Photo of Harold Poole and his wife

My grandmother told me rumours that at some point after returning from war, Harold had a disagreement with his father, Frederick, which would never be resolved. I often wonder if it was something to do with the death of his mother and sudden marriage to another lady, which all probably happened whilst Harold was away fighting in the war. Delilah AKA Lily was described as being a "tarter" by another of Frederick's grandchildren.

Harold & Alice's first child was not born until 25th November 1924, when Alice gave birth to Aileen Poole, although we seem to think there was an earlier boy child or pregnancy in which the child died or was possibly still born. Later they would have another girl, Mary Verona Poole born in 1929. 

My grandmother would tell me that her father, Harold, had little to do with his father, Frederick due to the fact that he had never given him a grandson, but whether these rumours about their relationship was true who now knows.  My grandmother lived on street very close to that of her grandfather, Frederick, but she would never have recognised her grandfather if she had passed him in the street.

Harold passed away in 1954 shortly after the birth of his second grandson at the age of 59 years.