Hi Barbara. My father lived in Airedale as a boy, he was a miner before joining the Royal Engineers and serving in WW2. He was only 19 when he was evacuated from Dunkirk. My mum was from Berkshire, they lived in Castleford for some years after getting married and used to take the youth club from Holy Cross on camping trips. They eventually moved back down here to Berkshire and that’s where we’ve grown up. His brother Maurice, on the Roll of Honour, was a bit older than him, his daughter Jean still lives in the area but she was only a very young girl when Maurice died.
Hi Barbara. Have just found your site after searching for information of St. Ives Well. I was born and brought up in a small cottage at the bottom of Willowdene lane, Newtown, opposite Raines Farm and played (quite safely in the early 50’s) around the well and also paddled in Bennys beck. Also reading of the Almshouses was interesting as my great, great, great grandfather Thomas Cunningham lived in St.Nicholas Almshouse and died there on 3rd March 1863 (I have copy death certificate) My maternal grandparents also lived in Robsons Almshouses. My maternal great grandfather was a farm labourer to the Fox family at Fairy Hill Farm and my grandmother was born in a farm cottage there. Although I dont live in the area now it is so familiar to me and the stories that my grandmother told me.
Hi Alison
Pleased you liked my Blog.Do you still live in Airedale?
Barbara
Hi Barbara. My father lived in Airedale as a boy, he was a miner before joining the Royal Engineers and serving in WW2. He was only 19 when he was evacuated from Dunkirk. My mum was from Berkshire, they lived in Castleford for some years after getting married and used to take the youth club from Holy Cross on camping trips. They eventually moved back down here to Berkshire and that’s where we’ve grown up. His brother Maurice, on the Roll of Honour, was a bit older than him, his daughter Jean still lives in the area but she was only a very young girl when Maurice died.
Hi Alison
My granddaughter lives in Berkshire.
B.
Hi Barbara. Have just found your site after searching for information of St. Ives Well. I was born and brought up in a small cottage at the bottom of Willowdene lane, Newtown, opposite Raines Farm and played (quite safely in the early 50’s) around the well and also paddled in Bennys beck. Also reading of the Almshouses was interesting as my great, great, great grandfather Thomas Cunningham lived in St.Nicholas Almshouse and died there on 3rd March 1863 (I have copy death certificate) My maternal grandparents also lived in Robsons Almshouses. My maternal great grandfather was a farm labourer to the Fox family at Fairy Hill Farm and my grandmother was born in a farm cottage there. Although I dont live in the area now it is so familiar to me and the stories that my grandmother told me.
Hi Carol
Thanks for your comment.
Barbara