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Post by cypresslodge on Jul 12, 2009 3:09:08 GMT
Hello to all! My name is Sharon and I am from Australia. In September Im finally coming to visit Ashton Under Lyne and Stalybridge where my parents were from. Ive been researching the family tree for a couple of years and hope to do a bit of research while in England. I plan to visit the Tameside Archives to see if I can find newspaper clippings from WW1, as that aspect of the family has become a bit of an obsession with me. We are visiting the Somme and Ypres after the England visit. Does anyone here have any experience with the Archives? Is it possible to see the newspapers from that time? Of course Im hoping to find photos of some of my relatives in clippings but that may be too much to hope for. I would love to do as much research as possible but at a bit of a loss as to where to start or what to focus on. Just way too excited about the visit to think clearly I guess  Anyway I wont ramble on too much...just want to say Hello and hope to visit the forum as much as possible before my trip Regards Sharon |
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Post by lindylou on Jul 12, 2009 10:41:52 GMT
Hello Sharon and welcome. You will be able to view newspapers on film at the Archives in Ashton. I have looked at them whilst researching another topic and there are many photos and a short obit of those that had been killed. Maybe one of your relatives is mentioned. Do you know the date they were killed? They may well be on one of the War Memorials in the towns. If you go to www.tameside.gov.uk then use the A-Z of services- War Memorials you can search the database. You could also view the Library Archives site to find all the resources they have to help you. If there is any help we can give before your arrival just post a request. Good Luck |
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Post by Gay J Oliver on Jul 12, 2009 10:44:46 GMT
Hello Sharon,
Yes! the newspapers you want are all at Tameside Archives library, but it can be a bit tiring trawliing through them, so you would be better coming armed with dates. A very good friend of mine spent a few years trawling through all the Stalybridge Reporter for details of all the soldiers from Stalybridge, whose names were missing from the War Memorial and these are posted on my website: tamesidefamilyhistory.co.uk then click on Millbrook Soldiers.
She would be the best person to speak to before your visit.
Tameside Archives Library also holds the archives for the Manchester Regiment and the Manchester Regimient Museum is in Ashton-under-Lyne.
Keep in touch with your plans and ask us specific questions before your visit so that you can make the best use of your time.
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Post by cypresslodge on Jul 12, 2009 11:42:53 GMT
Thank you Gay and Lindy for your replies and advice! I was planning on visiting the Manchester Regiment Museum as one of the men I am looking for was with them ( as was my grandfather who survived the war) Percy Allen's date of date I know and I will be visiting his memorial on the Somme. Hoping I can find something about him in the newspaper archives - a picture would be great! Strictly he isnt a relative though I have pretty much adopted him. He was married briefly to my grandmother ( 2 months) when he was killed on the 10th of July 1916. Will check the memorials in the Uk to see if he is listed. The other person I would love a picture of is my paternal grandfather - William Percy Smith. When my father was born in 1925 at Stalybridge his mother died during childbirth leaving my father and his twin brother to be adopted by relatives. My dad has never seen his natural father and I would love to return with a picture of him! Ive tracked down which regiments (Cheshire Regiment and Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry) he was in and I realise as he survived the war its a long shot but this may be my only chance to research him on the spot so to speak Of course Im also hoping to meet up with relatives Ive never met before ( but have contacted via the internet) and visit any streets or sites of interest that are still remaining from the time my mum and dad were there. My dad was originally from the Castle hall area which I understand is gone now but he has promised to write down a list of places for me to visit. Also need to find some good budget accommodation in the area. Any recommendations? I am dragging my husband and 14yr old daughter along so a B& B or a quiet pub even a caravan park with an onsite cabin or van would do..lol Ive been told it can by quite nice weather in September. ( is that right?) Thank you both for your welcome and advice |
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Woody
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Post by Woody on Aug 1, 2009 5:02:38 GMT
Hi Sharon Have you found this website ? uk.geocities.com/castle.hall@btinternet.com/It gives a very good overview of the old Castle Hall area, including many photos of what it used to look like. Judging by the cars, some photos were taken in the 1960s so it’s easy to see why it was demolished. Woody PS: Have a look at your personal messages for more info |
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Woody
Full Member
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Post by Woody on Aug 1, 2009 5:06:59 GMT
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Post by Gay J Oliver on Aug 2, 2009 19:20:45 GMT
The Castle Hall website is down at present and will not be returning under it's present address.
GEOCITIES have stopped offering freespace for websites, with very little notice to their customers. It happened to me with AOL last year shortly after I redesigned my website and hosted it privately. It is very annoying because there are still a lot of deadlinks out there to mine and others websites.
I'll try and find out if Judith is making alternative arrangements for her website.
I too will miss it, it was full of nostalgia and very evocative of the 50s and 60s living in the many similar areas which were later knocked down. Despite the living conditions there are still fond memories in Stalybridge for the Castle Hall Community.
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Woody
Full Member
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Post by Woody on Aug 3, 2009 15:59:27 GMT
Hi Gay
Thanks for the info, but just to say that, mysteriously, it's still working OK for me. The site hasn't been updated since 2007, but I was able to access all the material that was there then.
Woody
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Post by Gay J Oliver on Aug 3, 2009 19:23:21 GMT
Sorry Woody,
You're right the site is still there, perhaps GEOCities have not yet pulled the plug.
I'm pretty sure now that the @ sign in the middle of the web address was causing the problem and confusing everyone since @'s are usually reserved for email addresses.
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Woody
Full Member
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Post by Woody on Aug 4, 2009 9:08:07 GMT
No problem, Gay. Good news for us if the peculiar address confuses the Geocities radar. As you say, it's a very evocative source of material.
Woody
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Post by Gay J Oliver on Aug 5, 2009 16:39:07 GMT
Hello again Sharon,
That very good friend of mine who has details of lots of soldiers from Stalybridge has spotted your request for information about Noah Jepson on the Great War Forum.
She has most if not all the information you might want about him, so I hope you don't mind, I have given her your email address. She will be contacting you soon. She got into a terrible muddle trying to join the Great War Forum to try to reply to you.
Her name is Kathryn Booth and here is her email adddress:
kathryn@kabooth.fsnet.co.uk
She is very knowledgeable about how the Great War affected families in Stalybridge and Millbrook in particular.
As I mentioned in a previous email she spent six years trawling through the Stalybridge Reporter extracting every bit of information she could about 'her' soldiers.
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Post by cypresslodge on Aug 6, 2009 6:24:17 GMT
Thanks for all the responses! Woody, I have replied to your message - thanks again for all the information. Its greatly appreciated Gay - Thanks very much for passing my email on to Kathryn. And feel free to pass my details on to anyone who may be of help - I dont mind at all! I will reply to her directly...just returned home from a dentist appointment and Im still drinking through a straw at the moment!!! Many thanks for all your help Cheers Sharon |
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