Graham Chambers, 18 April 2005
Dear Jane,
A great website! I’ve really enjoyed reading through it.
My father’s family and his ancestors lived in and around Cottingham for many generations. My sister, Mavis (who sadly died last year), did some detailed research into the Chambers line (diagram attached). My father (Frederick) and his brother (Herbert) and sister (Hellen Laura – better known as ‘Nell’) last lived at 2 Ripley Road, prior to that I think they lived in Rockingham.
I have attached a couple of photos that might be of interest.
School children – the writing on the board says Cottingham cum Middleton No.11. My aunt Nell is on the photo (circled), and I think her brother (Herbert) is the lad I have circled on the back row. Do you know who the fearsome schoolteacher was? Nell was born in 1902 so the photo was probably taken around1909.
Rebecca Ann Beadsworth – this is my grandmother. I would be interested in finding out more about this line of my family. I note that Irene Beadsworth has contributed much to the web site.
c1900 (born 1874)
Best wishes, Graham Chambers
Keighley, West Yorkshire
18 April 2005
Hello Graham,
Thanks ever so much for your email. I think the school pic is taken outside the old Cottingham School in School Lane. At this time, the school in Cottingham catered just for infants and the juniors went to the school in Camsdale Walk, Middleton. The number on the board is Cottingham 2 (i.e. Roman Numerals). I have some other school pics from the early 1900s and they’re numbered I, II and III. The Kelly’s directory from 1903 gives the name of a Miss Wilcox as mistress – so this could be her.
I also attach the extracts I have from the 1841, 1881 and 1901 Censuses for the Beadsworths and Chambers. Looks like most of the Chambers came from Middleton. Note that I only have Middleton information for 1841 (other Censuses are Cottingham only).
I’ve forwarded your email on to Irene Beadsworth to see if she can work out any family connections!
Thanks once again for getting in touch, and I’ll let you know if Irene comes up with anything.
Regards, Jane
cottinghamhistory.co.uk
Jane,
Thank you for your reply and the census information. I’ve been trying to match up the dates that Mavis (my sister) had researched with those present on the census returns – not easy. Sadly I don’t have all Mavis’ sources. It was interesting to note that my grandparents (Frederick & Rebecca) lived at Church Street, Cottingham in 1901, I was always under the impression that they lived at Rockingham. One of the attached photos shows my grandmother Rebecca with children (Herbert b 1899, Ellen Laura (Nell) b 1902, and my father Frederick b 1908) outside what I had always understood to be a house in Rockingham. Is this the Church Street house? By this time my grandfather had died (my father was born posthumously).
I have very fond memories of Cottingham – I was born and raised in Kettering but we visited my Aunt Nell & Uncle Herbert at weekly intervals. Herbert worked (all his life?) for John Shrive, farmer of Middleton, and walked us endlessly around Cottingham, Middleton & Rockingham. Aunt Nell worked all her life at the Clothing Factory in Cottingham. Neither Herbert & Nell married and lived together as brother & sister all their lives. I now live in Keighley, West Yorkshire but visit Northamptonshire to see my nephews who live in Kettering. The last time I came to Cottingham was about 4 years ago when my sister and I did a trip down memory lane.
Best wishes, Graham
I was looking at the website with my nephew Mike yesterday and he recognised the photo of the Cottingham football team from the 1920/30s – apparently his mother (my sister Mave) had a copy of this photograph. My father (Fred Chambers, born 1908) is a member of the team and is sitting on the bonnet of the bus (back left). I can remember my father talking about his footballing exploits.
Best wishes – Graham
I’ve just come across some more old photos featuring members of the Chambers family in Cottingham that I’d like to find out more about – might you be able to help? I’ve attached a sample – my aunt Ellen Laura (Nell) Chambers is on the right, but who are the rest of the party? Is the groom John Glover? Can you help?
I greatly enjoy the newsletter.
Best wishes,
Graham Chambers
Re. the wedding photo, the bridegroom is indeed John (Jack) Glover, the bride is Irene (Renee) nee Beadsworth – yes there are two of us!
From left to right we have Edgar Beadswoth, Sue Beadsworth, Jack Glover, Irene (Renee) Beadsworth, Aunt Polly Beadsworth, Bill Beadsworth and Nell Chambers (bridesmaid). The Beadsworths were all brothers and sisters and of course Polly was their mum. The three younger ladies all worked at the Wallis and Linnell factory.
Best wishes, Irene