What's New -

Added in July 2010

• Added a large number of photographs on the Group Photographs Page. Pictures of a Valley Mission Bible Class from about 1903-1905, an Old Boys' Cricket Team from the summer of 1914 (with those who had enlisted marked) and an unidentified football team from about 1900 were donated by David Gunther. A picture apparently of the Baptist Sunday School girls group of about 1872 was supplied by Paul & Helen Whelpton and David Hallam has provided several from his own collection - including Beeston Parish Church Choir and Servers from c1928 & c1933, what appears to be a Conservative Club outing (c1900-1905), a cricketing group of Beeston worthies (c1905), a Methodist New Connection football team (c1905), and Ericssons Crowe Trophy winners 1927. Several people have added names to existing photographs - in particular, all those on the Beeston Silver Prize Band photograph are now named.
• Added a very interesting portfolio of photographs of Church Street School in 1914, kindly supplied by Richard Sutton. These, and associated research we have added about the staff and school can be accessed from the Schools page. The 1914 boys standard 3 group from the folio, a Nether Street group from c1900 and a Beeston Fields Senior School group from 1933 appear on the School Photographs page
• An excellent picture of Suttons' butchers shop on Wollaton Road has also been supplied by Richard Sutton and now appears on the Beeston Butchers page.
• Commemorative pages for John William Aby (provided by Samantha Ward) and Frederic Piggin have been added to the Beeston Roll of Honour.

Added in May 2010

• Added a number of photographs of Beeston Boys' Brigade Band (1951 & 1954) and Officers (1963) and Old Boys Football Team (1953) and a Beeston Field Junior School Prefects Group (1940/1), all sent in by David Hopcroft
• Added an additional page to the story of the development of Grange Avenue, Beeston, exploring the early history of the site - with much detail and family histories of the families involved

Added in April 2010

• More added to the account of the development of schooling in Beeston - including links to details of Trustees of the Wesleyan School and School Board members. More will continue to be added to this topic.
• A few more commemorative pages, for those who died in the Great War have been added to the Beeston Roll of Honour.
• Added an account of the Beeston Toreadors Carnival Band which was extremely popular in the late 1930s. Complete with excellent photographs with many faces that will be recognised.
• Quite a few photographs added to the very popular Faces from the Past and School Photographs pages. Janet Carr and Jenny Tudbury sent a photograph of the Boys' Brigade Gymnastic Team from about 1923 and we were able to add an early view of the Lads' Club gymnasium contributed by David Gunther, Keith Peel sent in photographs of local football teams - Beeston United, an Alan Hill Testimonial match and a Malt Shovel team - from the 1960s and 1970s. Brian Preston sent us more school groups from Beeston Fields Secondary Modern from 1948-1950 and a Lads' Club football team from 1952/3 and a photograph of a New Connexion Chapel Japanese tableau has been added from my own family archive.
• Photographs of the aftermath of the major fire at Wilkinsons Anglo Scotian Mill in 1886 have emerged from two sources. Ernest Pollard provided two which had been used to promote the quality of an office safe which is said to have protected its contents through the fire and several more have been kindly provided by Val Bird of the Bramcote History Group, from the family album of the Smiths of Bramcote Hall. This incident was already mentioned in the last item in our page of newspaper snippets included in our Miscellany page. We have now provided a link to these interesting photographs.

Added in March 2010

• A comprehensive account of the development of schooling in Beeston is now included. This now includes the photographs of the pupils of the Wesleyan School from the 1870s (previously shown on the school photographs page) and now including a new photograph of the girls' class from that era.
• Three more commemorative pages, for those who died in the Great War have been added to the Beeston Roll of Honour.
• Photographs continue to arrive for our Faces from the Past page. Janet Carr and Jenny Tudbury sent a photograph of the Boys' Brigate band from 1925 and George Tuck sent pictures of 10th Beeston cubs in about 1951, Ericssons Hockey Club from about 1955 and an Ericssons Christmas Party from 1950

Added in February 2010

• Several people are now named on the Old Cricketers outing photograph - see it at Outings and Sports Teams section of the Faces From the Past page. Thanks to Avril Wheeler and Lorraine Gerry. Avril also identified her great-grandfather, Samuel Skipworth on the 1908 picture of Beeston Sunday Men's Guild.
• Janet Carr (née Meakin) kindly sent a photograph of Church St School Boys from about 1918 which includes her father, Arthur Jack Meakin - and has added a outline of his life. And on the same page there is now a picture of Church St School Infants from about 1929, kindly provided by Lorraine Gerry.
• More commemorative pages, for several more of those who died in the Great War have been added to the Beeston Roll of Honour. It will take some time but the intention is to eventually complete a page for each of the 273 from Beeston who died.
• David Gardner has supplied a photograph of the staff of Beeston Fields Secondary School from 1964 - with everyone named.
• Haydn Morris has kindly sent a photograph he found at a Collectors' Fair. It shows Allen Gething Fletcher with an inscription on the back confirming that he was killed on the railway track near Beeston in 1897. This incident was already mentioned in the last item in our page of newspaper snippets included in our Miscellany page. We have now provided a link to the photograph and added an overview of Fletcher's life and that of John Henry Chapman who was killed in the same incident.

Added in January 2010 (We have been away finding some sun and missing the snow but have added what came in)

• Joseph Blackwell has kindly provided a photograph of an outing leaving the Old Cricketers in 1953 as well as more names for the darts team photograph. See them in the Outings and Sports Teams sections of the Faces From the Past page.
• Janet Carr and her sister Jenny Tudbury (both née Meakin) have supplying the photograph of a Church Street School class from about 1922, which includes their mother.
• Susan Kirk (née Winfield) has identified her father George Winfield on the photograph of Nether Street School dated about 1920.

Added in December 2009

• Commemorative pages for several more of those who died in the Great War added to the Beeston Roll of Honour. Many more are in preparation.
• A group of excellent photographs of the Boys Brigade at camp in 1912 and its band in about 1913 were kindly supplied by Ed Grummitt. These have now been featured, along with some Brigade photographs we already had, in the Societies & Clubs section on the Faces From the Past page.
• Joseph Blackwell has kindly supplied a photograph of the Old Cricketers Darts Team, probably from the early 1960s. This can be accessed from the Sports Teams section of the Faces From the Past page. Some are named and more names are expected to follow.
• Using the information now available in the 1911 Census, we have added to the potted biographies of those appearing in the Beeston Rangers Football Club photograph from 1907. This is also accessed from the Sports Teams section.

Added in November 2009

• Commemorative pages for eight more of those who died in the Great War added to the Beeston Roll of Honour.
• The schools photographs collection continues to grow; Peter Church has sent a 1949 picture of Beeston Fields Junior School class photograph from 1949 - to which Sue Goodman added some names and sent a picture of a 1951 school play. Janet Carr has provided a picture of a 1920 class from Church Street School.
• Added a few additions and amendments by Ivan Morrell to his Origins of the Placenames & Fieldnames of Beeston

Added in October 2009

• The memorial pages dedicated to Old Boys of the Beeston Boys Brigade are now substantially complete and have now been renamed as Boys Brigade in WW1. A Roll of Honour for all Beeston men who died in the Great War has now been created, listing 273 names. We expect to provide an individual tribute to each of these over time.
• Maurice Oswin has sent a Beeston Fields Secondary School class photograph from 1952 and Keith Peel has added a further two photographs from that decade at that school - including its 1958 league winning football team from 1958.
• Two photographs of boys' classes at the school in Chapel Street, Beeston, dating from 1874 and 1875, have been added. These are particularly interesting as the names of almost all the boys have been recorded. Using census and other records, we have been able to further identify most of the named individuals. These important images, providing a glimpse of named Beestonians from over 130 years ago, are from the Martin family album and were provided by Geoffrey Drinkwater.
• Entries for the years 1858 and 1859 have now been added to the Beeston Burial Register transcript.

Added in September 2009

• A further 10 more memorial pages have been added to the Roll of Honour for those members of the local Boys' Brigade) who died in the Great War. This leaves seven of the 42 members who lost their lives; these will certainly be completed during October. We heve also adding some feedback from some who have found their relative in the Roll.
• George Moore.has sent us a further school photograph, this time of an athletics team from Nether Street School from about 1950, which includes his wife Alma.

Added in August 2009

• 20 more memorial pages have been added to the Roll of Honour. During September, thanks to the work of Ray Smedley, we expect to complete the memorial to the 42 members of the Beeston Old Boys' (all previously members of the local Boys' Brigade) who made the Supreme Sacrifice. A memorial in Beeston Parish Church records the names of 271 Beeston men who died in the Great War. This tragic loss of young life had a devastating impact in Beeston - a tragedy that was repeated in communities up and down the land. In time, we hope to honour that sacrifice with a memorial page to each local individual.
• Another school group photograph, this time of a class from about 1948 at Beeston Fields Secondary Modern School, kindly provided, with some names, by George Moore.

Added in July 2009

• A Roll of Honour commemorating those from Beeston who were killed or died of wounds during or as a result of the fighting during the Great War, 1914-1918 has been started. This is based on the work of Ray Smedley and starts with those members of the Beeston Old Boys' Association who made the Supreme Sacrifice.
• Added a transcription of Phillimore, Beeston Marriages 1558 to 1812 by Trish Symonds which we have restructured so that it is presented in a convenient tabular format for ease of use.

Added in June 2009

• The growing complexity and interest in the site meant that it was time to add a Site Search which can now be accessed from an option on the right of the top-of-screen navigation bar throughout the site. A site map is also available through this route. An option is now provided on the Whats New page (see above) so that regular visitors can sign up to be notified by e-mail or RSS feed when new items are added. Please note that these facilities include some mild, non-aggressive advertising, as the cost of providing these facilities advertising-free is prohibitive for a site that is now getting fairly large.
• More school photographs of Beeston Fields Secondary School have been added - three from 1948-1950, sent in by Geoffrey Pearson and two from 1959/1961 from Malcolm Potter. Interestingly, these last two group photographs include Paul Smith who, of course, went on to achieve international success as a fashion designer.
  
  These photographs are the first to support the identification of individuals in the group, revealed by placing your mouse over each face. We intend to extend this feature over all photographs, where applicable - and to enable links to related information where appropriate.

Added in May 2009

• Alan Mann looks back on his early life in Beeston and gives us an interesting insight into an era that has now passed
• More details of the Carlisle Family added to the story of the descendants of Elizabeth Nutt with help from Elizabeth Ann Carlisle.
• Added an excellent photograph of the Beeston Sunday Men's Guild from about 1908, sent in by Judith Huntridge.

Added in April 2009

• The maps and tables associated with Ivan Morrell's The Origins of the Placenames & Fieldnames of Beeston have now been added, with the kind permission of their authors, Geoffrey Drinkwater & Stephen Wallwork

Added in March 2009

• We are very pleased to include the text of a Ivan Morrell's work on The Origins of the Placenames & Fieldnames of Beeston. We hope to include associated maps and other supporting information during April

• The collection of school and other group photographs continues to grow. This month, Lucy Thornhill provided a Beeston Fields picture from 1944 and Ed Grummitt sent in a photograph of Church Street Infants from about 1918 as well as two of local athletics clubs from around 1901. Names continue to be added to existing photographs.

• Excellent photographs of Rev. Thomas J Oldrini (Vicar of Beeston 1854-1885) and his wife Maria (née Drage) have been provided by Carolyn Noon. This can be accessed using a link on the Oldrini Family page.

Added in February 2009

• Many more names added to the class photograph from Beeston Fields Junior School from the mid 1940s, thanks to Barbara Swann. Two more groups added to the Faces From the Past page.

• An excellent collection of photographs from the Burnham family album, provided by a descendant, Paul Day. These can be seen by following the links on the Burnham Family and on the page for the Next Generation. They have also been added to the respective individual pages in the Burnham genealogy.

Added in January 2009

• Another school group photograph - this time of the 1950 class at Beeston Fields Secondary Modern School, kindly provided and named by David Stones.

No more this month as it was a time for getting away and finding some sun! But much more in the pipe-line to look forward to.

Added in December 2008

• Another school group photograph - this one of Beeston Fields Secondary Modern School from the mid 1940s provided and named by Ron Farmer. And more names provided for the 1948 photograph by Anthony Morrell. Two more groups added to the Faces From the Past page.

• A transcription of The Diary of Sergeant William Jowett which vividly describes his experience in the Crimean War.

• The story behind the Crimean War Memorial on which William Jowett and three other Beeston men are commemorated - and an account of the life of Robert Oldham who was the only survivor of the Crimean War from Beeston.

Added in November 2008

• David J Gunther tells the story of George Edward Hodgkinson who was born and lived his early life in Beeston and went on to become known as "Mr Coventry" as a result of his work in local politics in Coventry - including a leading role in that City's rebuild after World War 2.

• Added detail about the appearance of William Frederick Wallett (grand nephew of "The Jester") in the Barnum & Bailey tour of Europe in 1900/1901 where he was accompanied by his wife Florence May (née Lillo). Thanks to information provided by Christopher Wentworth-Stanley, who provided details of the baptism of their daughter Florence May Lillo Wallett while they were in Vienna.

• Geoffrey Drinkwater describes his boyhood memories of Chilwell Road Methodist Church between 1932 and 1939.

Added in October 2008

• The history behind the shop at 39 Chilwell Road told by David Hallam - who goes on to look at butchers shops in Beeston in the first half of the 20th Century.

• Grenville Chamberlain tells the story of an accident at Beeston Station in 1908

• More group photographs added to the Faces From the Past page.

Added in September 2008

• More school photographs - this time from Beeston Fields Junior School - many of then named. These are from Malcolm Thurman and from the author's own collection (and memory).

• Further demographic analyses from the author's comprehensive Beeston database.This one looks at Occupations in Beeston in 1861 and identifies trends since 1851.

• An update of the genealogy of William F Wallett. Includes more on the Loughlins, the American circus family that the Walletts married into - with thanks to Claudia Sam Balcziunas of that family for photographs and family detail.

• Added a new section in Topics entitled Faces From the Past - a collection of group photographs of Beeston people as members of church groups, societies, clubs, sports teams and on outings.

• Several additional Beeston sources added to the References page.

• A vivid description of life in Union Street, High Road & Beyond written by Jack Martin.

Added in August 2008 (where did July vanish to !)

• The story of the building of Grange Avenue, Beeston and something about the lives of those who developed it.

• An almost complete naming of the 1951 (or, perhaps 1950) photograph of Beeston Fields Secondary Modern group, kindly provide by Anthony Morrell.

Added in June 2008

• Additional material on the history of the Royal Oak on Villa Street, Beeston.

• More detail about the Elliott family including many excellent photographs from the family albums. The family of Alfred and Elizabeth (née Burnham) Elliott ran the Royal Oak for many years and, from 1913, operated a well-known butchery business in Beeston, mainly on the High Road and later on Chilwell Road.

• Two very early (but annotated) group photographs for Church Street School to the Beeston Schools page. These are from the Geoffrey Drinkwater collection - look out for much more from this source. Also added to that page are two for Nether Street School from the Elliott family album, two for Beeston Fields Secondary Modern (partly annotated) from Jim Daykin and one from Barrie Fines of Beeston Fields Junior (also partly annotated). Both Jim and Barrie now live in Australia.

Added in May 2008

• A history of the Royal Oak on Villa Street, Beeston - which dates from about 1853.

• The story and genealogy of the Burnham family which arrived in Beeston from Clifton about 1829 and operated a family joinery business on Villa Street for upwards of 150 years. The family opened the Royal Oak pub in about 1853 and, through marriage, became connected with Elliotts the butchers, Belfields the bakers and other local families and occupations.

Added in April 2008

• Added an account by Mollie Wade of Comfy Buses that was being operated by Arthur Howe and Louis Powney by the early 1930s.

• Provided an overview of the development of Industry in Beeston and re-organised the topic headings which will lead to detailed accounts of specific local industries. Also included an analysis of Occupations in Beeston in 1851 - which is intended to be the first of many demographic analyses from the author's comprehensive Beeston database.

Added in March 2008 (Sorry for the break - we have been away finding some sun)

• Added another school group photograph for Church Street School and four for Nether Street School to Beeston Schools page. Four of these are from a collection of documents believed to have been owned by Harold Bernard Garratt (see story in the Beeston Blog)

• Added a Miscellany Section which will be used mainly to feature ready-made, Beeston-related contributions from others. This can be accessed from any of the horizontal menu bars throughout the site. To start it off, we have included two excellent contributions from Trish Symonds from Australia.

Added in January 2008

• The promised significant additions to the story of Samuel Theodore Bunning and Beeston Brewery are now incorporated - included links to his autobiographical notes and other material. A large amount of additional genealogical material will be released shortly.

Added in December 2007

• Significant additions to the story of Samuel Theodore Bunning and Beeston Brewery. Added a link to a list of licenced premises owned by Beeston Brewery. The Mason/Bunning genealogy has also been updated. Significant new Bunning material was discovered towards the end of the month and is being incorporated as December ends; it will be published very early in January.

• Notes and images from the early days of Beeston Fire Brigade and its station at the top of Stoney Street have now been added. Further contributions are invited.

• Additional narrative on the origins of the Hudston family - in particular, the family of Thomas Hudston. More about the Hudston family is coming in from members of this family around the world all the time and will be appear when it has been fully researched.

• Names have been added to the Church Street School phototographs for c1910 and c1914

Added in November 2007

• Added the remarkable story of Samuel Theodore Bunning and Beeston Brewery.To support this, improved the navigation in the Pubs and Inns section.

• More added to the Beeston Burial Register transcript. Added 1856 and 1857. Hope to add more shortly.

Added in October 2007

• Added a gallery of Church Street School phototographs to Beeston Schools page

• Made a start transcribing more of the Beeston Burial Register. Added 1855. Had hoped to more and expect to do so during the coming month.

• Encouraged by Wayne Hayes, its present Manager, added the story of the Queens Hotel, Beeston to the Inns and Pubs section. A full genealogy of the Mason & Bunning families, has also been added.

Added in September 2007

• Added a Beeston Blog to enable and encourage discussion on current queries and topics under development. This can be accessed from any of the horizontal menu bars throughout the site. It opens in a new window which can be closed to return to the previous position within the main site.

Added in August 2007

• A transcription of the 1927 History of the Parish Church of Beeston by G. W. Deverill.

• An outline of the career of Sir Neil Cossons and his early life in Beeston, marking his recent retirement from the Chairmanship of English Heritage.

• Added links to excellent histories of two Beeston schools written by Wallace Mason and published on the BBC h2g2 site. This page also includes a class photograph from Church Street School, possibly from the 1930s..

Added in July 2007 (apologies for the time since the last item - but we do have a lot that is almost ready!)

We are very pleased to be able to include all the text and illustrations of "The Pollards of Beeston" which tells the story of four generations of that family, lace makers in Beeston, and their factory, Swiss Mills. In releasing this important story in this way, it is hoped that it will assist members of a wider audience of family and local historians to better understand their own families and their community.

Added in March 2007

• Photographs taken at the re-dedication of Beeston's Boar War Memorial with details of the names of those remembered on it.

Added in December 2006

• Additional narrative on the origins of the Hudston family - in particular, the family of Revd John Hudston. Much more on the various branches of this family to follow.

Added in November 2006

• 'Black & Gold - the story of 2nd Beeston Sea Scouts, 1928 - 1988. Written by David Hallam, originally for the Group's 60th Anniversary in 1988 and now republished here with many photographs added, in tribute to Edward Smedley who died on October 6th 2006. Edward was a founder member of the troop in 1928, went on to serve as a scouter and remained a stalwart supporter of the Group all his life.

Added in October 2006

• The story of the Dobson Family. This is the first in a series of accounts of families who left Beeston for a life elsewhere in the world.

Added in September 2006

• A number of additional Beeston sources on the References page.

Added in July 2006

• First announcement of the publishing of the booklet "Pollards of Beeston"
• Over 50 more photographs of the memorials on the Churchyard pages.

Added in June 2006

• A genealogy of family of John Clifford, Baptist Minister & Social Reformer

Added in May 2006

• A narrative of the life of Dr John Clifford, 1836-1923, Baptist Minister and social reformer, particularly education provision. Although born in Sawley, Derbyshire, he came to Beeston as a small child and was greatly influenced by his experiences in Beeston lace factories and the Baptist community there.

Added in April 2006

• 10 more years (1845-1854) added to Burial Register transcription. The transcription now includes 20 years (1835-1854) and now has improved navigation and has been split into pages of 5 years each to enhance performance.
• All links from the Churchyard Memorial pages to the appropriate page of the Burial Register transcription are now in place. Many, of course, are linked to years that are still to be transcribed.

Added in March 2006 (apologies for the delay - but there is quite a lot now almost ready!)

• A full write-up of the later Oldrini generations with an updated genealogy
• More on William Bower, publican at the Boat & Horses - thanks to input from Daryl Bower.
• Additions to the list of Beeston Publicans, etc from 18th Century to 1920

Added in December 2005

• An article on Beeston Pub Checks by Grenville Chamberlain
• Corrections to the Dix Family story following further research
• List of Beeston Publicans, etc from 18th Century to 1920

Added in November 2005 :

• The completed narrative page on the Dix Family
• An overview of Beeston Pubs and a start of individual pubs

Added in October 2005 :

• New Topics menu for Beeston landmarks
• Beeston Smithy feature added to Landmarks menu
• A genealogy of William Dix, Beeston's blacksmith
• Nearly 30 more memorial photographs in the Churchyard pages.

Added in September 2005 :

• A transcript of Divine Mercy Exemplified by Rev John Hudston.
• Completion of the transcription of the text of Beeston Then and Now by Robert Mellors. This had been previously left incomplete. Inclusion of the original illustrations will follow.
• Narrative on the origins of the Hudston family and the Beeston Hudstons. Much more to follow.
• Additional memorial photographs in the Churchyard pages.

Added Earlier in 2005 :

• A genealogy of the Thornhill family in Beeston with extensive narrative.
• A full genealogy of the Harwood, Styling, Nutt, etc families with family narrative and commentary on the Elizabeth Nutt Harwood diary to coincide with the publication of the diary transcript by Notts County Council.
• A genealogy of the Hudston family of Beeston, etc.
• Notes on the Oldrini family with a genealogy
• Notes on the life of William F Wallett, "The Queen's Jester"

We have a lifetime of research to add and it is going to take years to add it all - and we are still gathering information - so keep calling back to see what is "new" !

© David Hallam - 2005-2010