Topic
Topic ID 6526
20/04/2012 by Marilyn
Wrays woodyard / builders
This is a very long shot but I am told someone once saw a photo of a woodyard at the base of the Water Tower in Bengeo.
From my research I believe this was possibly owned by the Wray family who lived in Church Road and before that Fanshawe Street and even earlier when it was called Molewood Road and came originally form Tewin.
I have tried HALS and the Museum and all the books I know of without success so I just wondered if anyone else had ever seen this photo?
The field that is now Woodhall Close was known as Wray's field in WW2 so I am sure there is a connection, still working on it but any extra info always welcome.
There could be a connection to the Shepherd family of Hertingfordbury but working on that!
Replies
Reply ID 87440
23/04/2012 by Marilyn
I can now confirm this was the Wray family and they made fences etc up to around WW2 .......but I still have not found that elusive photo!
Reply ID 88463
20/06/2012 by Marilyn
Just to bring this up to date I finally found a picture in the museum yesterday of the woodyard and the trees with the track that is now The Drive c 1912 long before the Water Tower. It was actually taken of Mr Johns the father of W E Johns in his back garden in Duncombe Road I suspect whoever took it 100 years ago never dreamt it would prove so interesting to us in the 21st century!
Reply ID 88464
20/06/2012 by dennismoore
Apologies for taking you off on a tangent Marilyn, but if Mr.Johns lived in Duncombe road in 1912, could it be possible that his famous son spent his childhood there? He would have been 19 in 1912.
Reply ID 88467
20/06/2012 by Marilyn
It's Ok I am fine with go off at a tangent, that's how you find things out, I was looking for something different when I found this. Can't post the photo because of the Museum rules but anyone can go and look at it at the kiosk it is the very last photo on the last page of the "roads" section. If you want a copy they will do you an A4 one for £5
No I don't think he ever lived there, he probably spent his childhood on Cowbridge, they were on Cowbridge 1901 and 1911 although W E was not at home by 1911. His father can only have lived there under 2 years before he died. Not sure how long his mother lived there as a widow though got some more digging to do on that.
W E Johns granparents lived at 3 (I think) Castle Street so he may have spend some time there
Just found in 1911 W E was was a border in Cheadle Cheshire and a assistant sanitary inspector then of course the war etc he probably never lived in Duncombe Road himself.
Reply ID 88468
20/06/2012 by dennismoore
Thanks. [:)]
5 replies