The Walker Hornshaw Connection

Walker and Gomersal Reunited Genes

2011-12-27T14:18:00.001-08:00

Frederick Walker died in 1898, he had come to Bradford before his marriage to Elizabeth Hornshaw and lodged with his elder sister, Sarah Ellen Gomersal and her son Frederick Walker Gomersal, (who later became a tailor). Sarah Gomersal, nee Walker ran a boarding house at 44 Church Street in Manningham, Bradford, she named her only son after her brother Frederick Walker.

Charles Frederick Walker and Frederick Walker Gomersal were first cousins, although Frederick Gomersal was around thirteen years older than Charles Walker. By some amazing coincidence, some of the descendants of Charles Walker and his cousin Frederick Gomersal, who later lived in Apsley Villas, Manningham, Bradford, have been in touch with each other once again. I am sure the Great Ancestors caused this to happen.

Beatrice M Houseman, Havana House, Knaresborough

2011-12-04T20:43:00.000-08:00

The Houseman family were farmers and they were also friends of the farming Walker family of Goldsborough. I am trying to find out more about them. I know there was a Beatrice Mary Houseman and also a Beatrice Maud Houseman. I believe that Beatrice was a favoured name within the Houseman family. If anybody reading this can tell me any more details about the Houseman family or indeed,anything about where Havana House was in Knaresborough, Yorkshire this would help tick a number of boxes.

Above is a visiting card belonging to Beatrice M Houseman, which was in the possession of Charles Frederick Walker, 1889-1982.

Remember Sunday? - The Eternal Flame

2011-11-13T18:59:00.000-08:00

Remembrance Sunday was big news. All the red poppies the two minutes silence, the parades, HM The Queen and the Royal family doing their bit; every news anchor sporting a prominent red poppy.

But, hey wait a minute, hang on, however heavy the pathos and the glory boys of war, the absolute truth is that over the last hundred years alone millions of people have died well before their time all because of government induced wars and no amount of ceremonies or poppies is ever going to take away the absolute SHAME of that fact. War is not glorious. True, it may be a fact of life throughout the ages, but glorious it definitely is not.

We conducted our own ceremony for those Worshipful Ancestors who have passed over as a result of war, on Remembrance Sunday, very early in the morning.

High House Farm, Goldsborough

2010-09-27T19:56:00.001-07:00

Great grandfather, Frederick Walker was born at High House Farm, in Goldsborough, near Harrogate. His father Robert Walker owned 174 acre High House Farm, a four bedroomed property, recently for sale at £1,100,000.

Farming and horse training ran in all the families on all sides. However, only the eldest son inherited the running of the farm and Frederick Walker was a younger son, so he became a registered plumber and went to Bradford in West Yorkshire looking for work. After boarding at 44 Church Street in Manningham, Bradford, he met and married Elizabeth Hornshaw, who also came from a farming family. Elizabeth's parents were John Hornshaw and Louisa Makepeace, a Huntingdon born Londoner. (One branch of the family are Londoners and are buried in London.)

Frederick Walker lived at 7 Athol Road in Manningham with his wife and children. When he died in 1898 he was buried in Goldborough. His tombstone reads 'Frederick Walker of High House'. His wife died in Bradford in 1900 and their children were brought up by their Hornshaw relatives at 7 Athol Road in Manningham Bradford.

High House Farm For Sale

The Hornshaws of Whyns Farm, Thorpe Arch, Yorkshire

2010-08-31T17:38:00.000-07:00

(click image to enlarge)

The above images are courtesy of the book entitled 'The Hornshaws of Thorpe Arch, Yorkshire' by John Edwin Wood.

The photo shows my Great Great Great Aunt Isabella Hornshaw and my second cousins Harry Hedley Hornshaw,Leah Hornshaw and Rachel Hornshaw. Also shown is Walter Hargrave and the farm dogs. The photo was taken in 1899.

My Great Great Grandfather John Hornshaw who married Louisa Makepeace in Knaresborough was actually the first in line to take over Whyns Farm at Thorpe Arch. John was around two years older than his brother Thomas who actually took over Whyns farm and ran it with his wife Isabella. However John Hornshaw had left home around the age of 15 possibly after a family argument and became a saddler in Knaresborough. He did the rounds a bit, living with his wife Louisa in Liverpool, then returning to Thorpe Arch before finally settling in Bradford West Yorkshire. However John Hornshaw remained on good terms with his brother Thomas, so John possibly did not want to be a farmer as there seems to have been friendly feelings. between the two brothers.

Thomas Hornshaw drowned after falling from a bridge in to the river Wharfe on Good Friday, April 3, 1874. It is a well documented case. After his death, Isabella firmly believed that Thomas was still there in spirit helping her to run Whyns farm and she became a weathy woman following his apparent advice from the spirit world at a time when other farms were failing. Isabella insisted that the decisions she made were really being made by her husband Thomas.
Whyns farm was bought on a compulsory purchase order by the Ministry of Defence in early 1940 and all the farm animals and farm machinery were sold. Again this is quite well documented as there was a lot of opposition to the sale.

My mother once stayed at Whyns Farm as a child when it was being run by cousin Rachel, Isabella's daughter, who my mother said was quite bad tempered! Isabella Hornshaw was apparently a very forceful character and good businesswoman who was known throughout the district.

However, if my Great Great Grandfather John Hornshaw had taken over Whyns farm at Thorpe Arch near Wetherby, as was his right, as the eldest male, then his son Richard Hornshaw would have been a farmer instead of a director of Lister's Mill in Bradford, in those days one of the world's premier mills. John Hornshaw attended the funeral of Samuel Lister, 1st Baron Masham in 1906.

Whyns farm captures the imagination of many for some reason so much so that J E Wood wrote a book on members of our family.

Tribute to some of Bradford's Finest from Times Past

2010-08-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the help of a couple of illustrious gentlemen who contacted us through one of our websites, We now have yet more information about two of our relatives, fake fur inventor great uncle Edward Jefford (who was actually French) and also great uncle Bob - AKA Horace Robert Walker. Both were very pleasant, kindly relatives. I don't understand the English spelling of 'Edward' though, as Great uncle Edward Jefford spoke with a strong French accent and was every bit the traditional polite Frenchman.

George Washington is a Distant Cousin!

2009-12-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

The Makepeaces were cousins of the Washingtons. During the 16th and 17th century, the families owned Sulgrave Manor in Oxfordshire, England. Whereas in later years, many a Makepeace may since have feathered a cap with a taste of humility, the true perception of grandeur is in evidence through documentation presented on 'thePeerage.com' (link below) - scroll down to Abel Makepeace, who married Mary Washington and take note. Grandeur and humility? Maybe!

The Peerage

Fattorini's Jewellers, Skipton Castle and Charles Walker

2009-12-04T19:08:00.000-08:00

Marie Fattorini (full name believed to be Zita Marie Fattorini 1888-1975) was once the girlfriend of Charles Frederick Walker. Her sister Dorothea Marie Fattorini was also very fond of him. These signed photos from both Fattorini girls were presented to Charles Walker on October 3, 1908.

Their father, Bradford jeweller Antonio Fattorini, also lived on Athol Road off Oak Lane in Manningham Bradford in 1898. Unfortunately Charles Walker's father, Frederick Walker, seventh son of a Goldsborough farmer, from the 174 acre High House Estate, Goldsborough, died around this time. His body is buried in a Goldsborough, North Yorkshire churchyard and the inscription states Frederick Walker is 'of High House, Goldsborough'. No mention is made of Bradford at all, but in 1898, Frederick Walker was residing at 7, Athol Road, Manningham and working as a plumber. His wife Elizabeth (formerly Elizabeth Mary Hornshaw) died in the Autumn of 1900.

The five Walker children were left as orphans and brought up by their unmarried aunt Lucy Hornshaw. To say that they had lost both their parents, the Walker children coped very well as can be seen from the selection of original postcards on the previous post, but they did not have the opportunity for frivolous pastimes and Charles Walker was a very austere man. He was born in May 1889 and died in February 1982, at almost 93.

Charles Walker had attended Bradford Technical College and trained in Chemistry and Dyeing, receiving his Diplomas in 1907. He was given a job at Lister's Mill when he was 14 because his uncle, Richard Hornshaw was a director of the mill, however, his fist job was sweeping the mill floors as he was made to start at the very bottom, before starting in the Dye House and eventually becoming Manager. He worked at Lister's Mill until 1960 when he was nearly 71. Richard Hornshaw had himself worked up from being an office junior, book keeper, silk salesman and Silk Mill Manager before becoming a prestigious director of the vast Lister's Mill (now apartments). Lister's velvet was famous throughout the world.

There were (and still are) several branches of the Fattorini family. Interestingly, the Fattorini family of Bradford who made both the Football Association Cup and the Rugby League Challenge Cup. The family are the current owners of Skipton Castle, Skipton, North Yorkshire, a big step from Athol Road, Manningham and they used to make the little metal jewellery gifts on sale in the castle gift shop. Really if you go to Skipton castle there is only one partially ruined wing open to visitors, so you are not actually seeing the whole castle. The Fattorinis live in the rest of it themselves.

Messers Fattorini and Sons

Skipton Castle

Rayson Wade Hornshaw and Frederick G. Hornshaw

2009-12-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

Rayson Wade Hornshaw and Frederick G. Hornshaw were the cousins of Charles Walker and his brothers and sisters. Their father was Richard Hornshaw of 'Woodbrow' Heaton Bradford. Their mother, Charles Walker's aunt, was Maria Hargreaves.

Rayson Wade Hornshaw lived at Fernhill, 34 Moorhead lane, Bradford in the 1920's. The area of his house was later demolished and the more modern 'Roundwood' area was built up Moorhead Lane, near Saltaire in Shipley, West Yorkshire.

Katherine Balcombe, Charles Walker, Richard Hornshaw and James Jewell Lott

2009-12-03T07:32:00.001-08:00

I have put these postcards on here (the reverse only), to show what a loving, caring family these ancestors of yesteryear were.

Earlier this year, I was in touch with a distant part Polish cousin, called Mr K. who furnished me with some of the things I was missing and so I was able to tie in these postcards, which told their story all along.

Katie Balcombe, was Katherine Emily Balcombe born around 1889 in Ticehurst, Sussex. Her sister Florence Amy Balcombe married John Gordon Campbell and later emigrated to Australia. They were the descendants of Emily Makepeace, one of William Makepeace's daughters.(See previous posts).

The Lott family, who now live in America, were descended from Mary Makepeace, again a daughter of William Makepeace and we are descended from Louisa Makepeace another of William Makepeace's daughter's and John Hornshaw.

The postcard signed 'Jewell' is from James Jewell Lott and 'Mrs Mort' is Charles Walker's aunt, also descended from Louisa Makepeace and John Hornshaw. Her husband was Charles Henry Mort, originally from Bradford. The postcard addressed to 'Miss Hornshaw' at 7 Athol Road, Manningham Bradford, is for Miss Lucy Hornshaw, Charles Walker's aunt and sister to his mother, Elizabeth Mary Hornshaw and Lucy was also the sister of Richard Hornshaw, a director of Lister's Mill in Manningham, Bradford.
(see previous posts).

I hate pedigree charts because these were real people, not just statistics. The postcard written in French is to Edward Jefford, the French husband of Nellie Makepeace Walker (Charles Walker's sister), from Edward's sister, Lillian Jefford.

Mr K., a former Public School boy from Stowe School, Buckinghamshire, is a descendant of Caroline Makepeace, as is composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle, yet another of William Makepeace's daughters, who became Caroline Harrison on marriage. Though some of their relatives were Lancashire postmasters, this part of the family, did inordinately well for themselves, perhaps due to a craving for social status.

Charles Walker was Manager of Lister's Mill Dyehouse, Manningham, Bradford. He was a Master dyer in charge of the dyeing of the Queen's Coronation velvet. He was not a publicity seeker, but did give a radio interview about dyeing the Coronation robes
very grudgingly. He did not seek fame, fortune, or social status in the same way some of his relatives obviously did.

Stanley Makepeace-Lott

2009-11-30T21:59:00.001-08:00

A member of our Tribe, Stanley Makepeace-Lott, is a part of the Makepeace Clan, and a DNA helix relation, stemming back once again to Great Grandfather William Makepeace and his wife, Grandmother Mary Cragg (three times removed). As he was descended from Mary Jane Makepeace, the sister of our direct relative Louise (or Louisa) Makepeace, we are all distant cousins, but cousins and blood relatives nonetheless. At one time they all lived down Brunswick Road in Liverpool, but Louisa and her husband John Hornshaw, moved from Liverpool to Bradford, West Yorkshire, whilst the Makepeace/Lott branch of the family stayed in Liverpool.

I paid £15.00 last week for a musty, second hand copy of cousin Stanley's book 'Twopence for a Rat's Tail'. I got to page 73 today and so far so good. An interesting, gripping story, but its not got the edge on Lowryesque, 'Mill' city, Bradford an all them 'highfalutin' relatives, including old Sir Harrison Birtwistle - ought just to remember that old Willie Makepeace, our just and sound ancestor, so 'e be, was in fact, a SERVANT an' a damn diverse one at that, sir! Ran the 'ouse, the coffee shop and many a more - Ollie Bernard Sparrow, perhaps? So be you in Stowe, or Felixstowe or the Americas or just in your own self important state, you ain't no posh gent, you are thee posh gent 'caus aint no one gonna furnish your threads to such a standard, man. Arise, Sir Willie!

Alexander John Mort

2009-11-25T23:54:00.000-08:00

Alexander John Mort was the son of Annie Wetherell Hornshaw and Charles Henry Mort. Annie Wetherell Hornshaw was born between July-September 1867, in Bradford, West Yorkshire and was one of the daughters of Louise (also known as Louisa) Makepeace and John Hornshaw. Annie was the aunt of Charles Frederick Walker. Annie is possibly named Wetherell because a relative was a Vicar of Ticehurst in Sussex, Southern England, where other relatives of the Makepeace line come from.

Annie Wetherell Hornshaw married Charles Henry Mort between July-September 1895 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Charles Henry Mort was born between October-December 1869 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The couple also had a daughter, Zita Makepeace Mort, born between April- June 1899 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. However at the time of his death in October 1918, John Alexander Mort lived at 28 Wilson Street, Newark, although he was born in Bradford. He died aged only 21.

We remember John Alexander Mort here with respect. (He was the author's third cousin). People sadly tend to forget just what a debt the nation owes to thousands of young, very patriotic, men who died in the First and Second World Wars, to keep this nation free. A few sad, red paper poppies and a bit of lip service just don't cut it, anywhere near.

LCpl Alexander John Mort - CWGC Certificate

The History of the Hornshaws, Walkers and Makepeaces

2009-11-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

Whilst browsing round the internet I came across a large collaborative family tree site, with a lot of my direct family on it and I wasn't really best pleased. To start with, I loathe pedigree charts, they are far too clinical and impersonal. How can you get the idea of a real living person from a chart? Yes, you might get the idea of who belonged to who but its just not the same as actually knowing things about those people and treating them with love rather than mere statistics.

Secondly, the site I came across, though informative, was not 100% accurate in regard to some family members. Charles Walker was my grandfather and his uncle was Richard Hornshaw a director of Listers Mill who died in 1918 (see newspaper cutting in previous article). Richard Hornshaw's sister, Elizabeth Mary Hornshaw was my great grandmother and really her father John Hornshaw who was married to Louisa Makepeace, should have inherited Winns Farm at Thorpe Arch, but for some reason his younger brother Thomas Hornshaw, who drowned in the river Wharfe got the farm instead. I own many original documents, plus an old postcard album from the 1900's when some of the Hornshaw/Walker/Makepeace family were living in Manningham, Bradford. There seems to have been lots of falling out going on in both sides of the family.

I have personally met, apart from my grandfather Charles Frederick Walker who was born in may 1889, my great aunt Alice (Walker) at her home in Clifford, Boston Spa, in August 1970, my aunty Nellie Makepeace Jefford (nee Walker) and French uncle Edward Jefford. I last got a Christmas card from aunty Nellie in 1982, shortly before she died. I have also met my French second cousin Philip Jefford. In addition to this great 'Uncle Bob', Horace Robert Walker, former Lord mayor of Bradford,who lived in Frizinghall, Bradford, was a much loved great uncle, as was his wife, great aunty Sylvia.

Whereas I have come across a couple of relatives since doing these genealogy blogs and they have given me considerable information for which I am grateful,at the same time I get a bit annoyed seeing pedigree charted information about what are to me, still very close relatives, sprawling all over the internet, without asking us, the close relatives if we mind. I see them as people, not charts.

Our Family Tree Study - Hornshaw

Hornshaw Monuments

Harlington Craven of Girlington, Bradford and his Family

2009-10-11T14:31:00.000-07:00

Mrs Doris Walker, was adopted by relatives and became Doris Richardson. She was born as Doris Craven, on December 9, 1896, at 214 Girlington Road (Manningham as it was known as then) Bradford. Her father was Harlington Craven, an iron moulder and her mother was Johannah Craven (formerly Nolan). Harlington Craven's father, Thomas Craven, was born in Baildon, Shipley, near Bradford in 1840. Thomas Craven was an iron foundry foreman.

Harlington Craven was born in 1876, He lived with his parents, uncle Jesse Craven and his brothers and sisters at 22 Hoxton Street, Girlington Bradford. Johannah Nolan was born in 1878 to James and Bridget Nolan, both from Wicklow, Eire at 40 Essex Street, East Bowling, Bradford. Her father was a railway carriage builder. As is shown above, Harlington Craven's brother Lambert was already working in a textile mill at the age of 13.

By 1881, Harlington Craven already had three brothers and three sisters; these were, Ann, Lambert, Miriam, Aquilla, Emma and Fred Craven. His mother was Sarah Craven. His married uncle Jesse Craven also lodged with the family at 22 Hoxton Street, then in Manningham, now in Girlington, (boundary changes) Bradford, Yorkshire.

When Doris Craven was born in 1896 her parents were both quite young. They went on to have more children, including Johanna (junior) and Winifrid Craven. But the family unit did not last. Johannah Craven left her husband Harlington, for reasons we do not know. She also gave her children up although she may have kept daughter Johanna junior with her.

Daughter Doris was adopted by affluent Bradford wool merchant relatives and became Doris Richardson. Doris's adoptive mother (younger than her husband) was Joanna Richardson who died in 1916 aged around 37. It is quite confusing because of the constant repetition of the names Johanna/Johannah/Joanna in the family.

Daughter Winifrid Craven died as a young child in a children's home. Now we come to the awkward bit. Obviously it was still rather scandalous for a Catholic wife to leave her husband, in those days because she could not get divorced or marry again whilst the husband was still alive.

Why none of the Cravens could look after the children, especially as there were so many Cravens is another mystery. How could Harlington put one of his children in a Catholic children's home, where she died (Winifrid), let another be adopted(Doris) and a third presumably walk from his life (Johanna)?. Why did none of his family offer to look after the other children?

Johannah Craven went to work as a housekeeper for a Mr Hartley. When Harlington Craven died, Johannah married Mr Hartley and so became Johannah Hartley.

Doris Craven Richardson married Charles Walker, his relatives being the Walker and Hornshaw farming families of Goldsborough and Thorpe Arch, North Yorkshire and also the Makepeaces of Brampton Park, Huntingdon (see various previous posts), the Richardsons being Richardsons Importers and Exporters (China & Japan) Ltd., warehouse at Canal Road, Bradford.

Johannah Nolan Craven Hartley, a psychic, spiritualist and trance medium also had another daughter, known in 1976 as Eileen Cross, possibly her married name. Doris's sister Johanna Craven(junior) married Frank O'Brien and her son was Colin O'Brien, of Goostrey, Crewe, Cheshire (see previous posts). Johanna junior died of tuberculosis in the 1930's.

Harlington Craven and Johannah Nolan were the writer's great grandparents. We do not know at present much about our other Craven relatives but there must be many out there,today, as well as the relatives of great aunt Eileen Cross, half sister of Doris Walker. From around 1920, Doris Walker became very close to her natural mother Johannah, once more. If anyone knows anything about any of them please feel free to let us know.

The Brampton Park Makepeace Connection

2009-10-01T07:07:00.000-07:00

This has to be the bit of genealogy I don't like. So many people are proud that family members were servants and the like, but I'm not.

The Makepeaces were cousins of the Washingtons (Think George Washington a distant relative also). At the time of King Henry V111, the Makepeaces were close friends with the Parrs and the Seymours (Jane Seymour, third wife of Henry V111, Katherine Parr, 6th wife of Henry v11) and the Makepeaces lived in Sulgrave Manor (as did the Washingtons their cousins) and were invited to King Henry's Court.
Yet for some bizarre reason, several hundred years later, descendant William Makepeace became a footman. Maybe the family had fallen on hard times, which some branches still do to this day.

The children of William Makepeace were born at Brampton Park stately home in Huntingdon near Cambridge. One daughter Louisa married a Hornshaw from Whynn's Farm, Thorpe Arch,Yorkshire, from who the writer is descended. The other daughter, Caroline, married a Thorpe Arch grocer, Mr Harrison. One of William's children, born at Brampton Park, Huntingdon, died in Bradford, West Yorkshire in the early part of the 20th century. There was a son also called William who became a butcher.

Mystery surrounds William Makepeace senior, he became a butler, then managed a large house in London before running a coffee shop in Regent's Park London. To say he had been a servant he acquired reasonable sums of money and some say this was hush money
from the Bernard Sparrow estate for other sorts of services rendered (think Lady Chatterley's lover) and it is thought that some of his children were related to the Bernard Sparrow family.

William Makepeace of Brampton Park was the writer's great(x3) grandfather, via her maternal grandfather, Charles Walker, who's parents were Elizabeth Mary Hornshaw and Frederick Walker, also the son of a farmer from High House Farm, Goldsborough, North Yorkshire.

History of Brampton Park Officers' Mess

Richard Hornshaw, Director of Lister's Mill, Bradford

2009-07-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

We came across this newspaper article just a few hours ago, regarding a prestigious Great Uncle, a former Director of Lister's Mill, Bradford. The cutting is dated September 20, 1918, from the Bradford Daily Argus. People came to his funeral from as far away as America and Liberty's of London sent representatives. Richard Hornshaw was an extremely well liked and important man.

Harold P Richardson, 1916, Leamington Street

2009-03-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

The house in the old photograph is 36 Leamington Street, Manningham, Bradford. It was, at the time, the home of Harold P Richardson, a woollen stuff merchant and relative of George Richardson, previously of Mornington Villas, Manningham, Bradford. He did not live there very long.

In those days it was the custom for people who could afford it, to employ help in the home, even in smaller houses. A man living on his own would often employ a housekeeper, or someone to cook meals/tidy up. Those who could afford it would employ a maid, even in a regular sized terrace house. This gave work to others at the same time. In a larger terrace, a number of workers were often employed, i.e. housekeeper, cook, someone to tidy and do the washing.

Doris Richardson was brought up in a house with servants. It was probably just the size of a large town house, but in those days, people in business were expected to employ help. One day at a tennis tournament, as a young girl she said to a woman, 'Excuse me, I can see your arm through your blouse'. It was so offensive in Edwardian times, to say such a thing, that the housekeeper was instructed to send her to bed with no supper.

Even when Doris Richardson married Charles Walker - she was forced to marry and caused a bit of a scandal, she was 17, he was 24 and went to live in what would be considered an ordinary sized terrace at 92 Fairbank Road, Girlington, Bradford, in 1913, much to her distaste, but the house was bought and furnished for her by Pa Richardson and she had no choice, she married in December 1913 and Jack Richardson Walker was born in May 1914.

Doris Richardson even then was provided with an Irish maid-of-all-work, called Molly, by Pa Richardson. Molly slept in the attic at 92 Fairbank Road. Doris being part Irish, her mother being Johannah Nolan, had a good knowledge of Gaelic and frequently called Molly something which sounds like 'Clawpork'. (No idea how to spell it!) Molly would say 'Don't call me a 'clawpork' Mrs Walker'. I was told this first hand by Doris Richardson Walker.

One day, Doris walked out on her children, leaving them with Molly and went to Blackpool. She was persuaded to go back. 'I'd be having tea with the Queen now, if I hadn't had to get married', she used to grumble to me. A probable exaggeration, (who wants tea with the Queen anyway? - no disrespect), but she'd certainly come from a wealthy family in part, at least.

Doris Richardson was one of the first pupils ever to attend St Joseph's College a Catholic Girl's School in Cunliffe Road, Manningham, Bradford in around 1907. In those days, it was a school where families had to pay well to send their daughters. She was well educated, especially for girls in those times and was still studying at the time of meeting Charles Walker, who in some ways was her nemesis.

She was always well dressed, even as an old lady and wore extremely high heeled shoes, never dressing like a granny but always elegant. I think she was bitter, because she thought she could have made more of herself but in other ways she made the best of it.

Doris Richardson Walker retained full contact with her Irish roots. All her friends were from Eire, or closely connected to Eire and Irish friends would come to stay at Duchy Drive, Heaton, Bradford in later years. The family has a Banshee which appeared at the time of Doris Walker's and also Sheila Walker Barraclough's death.
We are proud of our part Irish roots.

The 1915 Letter and The Family's Gypsy Caravan

2009-03-14T16:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Charles Walker outside his family's caravan, which is mentioned in the 1915 letter, shown here.

George Richardson of Mornington Villas, Manningham, Bradford

2009-03-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

2 Mornington Villas, Manningham, Bradford in 2007.

Doris Craven Richardson, (the writer's grandmother) married Charles Walker in December 1913. She was brought up from being a youngish child and adopted by distant relatives, the Richardson family, owners of George Richardson & Co, originally of 2 Mornington Villas, Manningham, Bradford. The writer still owns some Richardson memorabilia, including the Chinese paper, part of which is shown below, that came from the Richardson warehouse in Canal Road, Bradford.

Other members of the Richardson family were solicitor Robert Richardson, a Victorian solicitor of firm Richardson Morris, who was also American Vice-Consul for Bradford in West Yorkshire around 1880 and his son, Harold Percy Richardson, also a wool and stuff merchant who Doris Craven Richardson referred to as 'Pa' and who later lived at 36 Leamington Street, Manningham Bradford. Robert Richardson had spent some time both in Sheffield and St Hellier, Jersey. Around 1880 he lived at 5 Walmer Place (next street to Mornington Villas), Manningham, Bradford West Yorkshire. The Richardson's were a weathy family who employed servants. Doris Craven Richardson was one of the first pupils to attend nearby St Josepth's College when the school first opened in the early 20th century.

Original trading document as part of the company's links with China.

The once grand Victorian houses soon fell in to decline, partly as a result of changing times and two World Wars in the 20th Century. The larger of the houses became budget hotels, boarding hostels, businesses and flats. It has to be said that Manningham did become, in part and at least, a dangerous red-light district, drug culture and general no-go area, the infamous Lumb Lane being featured in a 1995 Kay Mellor drama series, 'Band of Gold' and known as 'The Lane' in the series. After an outcry from residents caused by this series, trading of this nature moved to Thornton Road, in Bradford. Another establishment was the famous Perseverance Hotel (pub) on Lumb Lane, famous allegedly for scoring certain substances in the 1970s and part of the 1980s and apparently known as 'The Percy'.

Manningham is also famous for the 2001 Bradford riots, which made national news as probably some of the worst rioting ever seen in the UK in modern times. It is a million miles away from the Manningham of Victorian and Edwardian times, however. That said, Manningham has regenerated in some places, with part of Lister's Mill being turned in to housing. However run down Manningham may look, in places, it still maintains a kind of archaic charm and there is still a kind of run down beauty in the old houses, which is still apparent even with the passage of time.

Post Office Directory Entry of 1879-80.

Post Office Directory Entry of 1879-80.

Post Office Directory Entry of 1898.

Post Office Directory Entry of 1923.

MSN Live Maps Bird's eye view of 2 Mornington Villas, Bradford

2009-03-08T00:33:00.000-08:00

Introducing a further strand in this series of sites:

The Dowson Parkin Connection

The Walkers of Goldsborough, Manningham and Heaton

2009-03-06T21:23:00.000-08:00

William Walker was a farmer, married to Mary Walker. Louisa, Arthur and Charles Walker were around in the mid 19th Century in Goldsborough, near Wetherby, North Yorkshire. Apart from farming, they were blacksmiths and Inn Keepers. Other members of the close knit Walker family owned another farm, then called Tickhill Farm, near Goldsborough where Henry Walker and Hannah Walker lived with their children. The writer's mother used to stay at this farm as a small child.

Tickhill Farm, near Goldsborough as seen today. Photo by DS Pugh.

View the MSN Live Maps bird's eye view of Tickhill Farm

Frederick Walker, the writer's great grandfather, was baptised on June 18, 1850. He was the son of Robert Walker of High House Farm, Midgeley Lane, Goldsborough, Knaresborough and Alice Clemesha, who were married on November 12, 1829. Frederick Walker was married to Elizabeth Mary Walker (nee Hornshaw) of Thorp Arch. There was also a Norman Walker(Great Uncle Norman).

Frederick and Elizabeth Walker also moved to Manningham, Bradford in the late 19th Century. Unfortunately, Frederick Walker died in 1898, aged 48. He was taken back to Goldsborough, Knaresborough and buried in Goldsborough churchyard. His tombstone states that William Walker was of High House, Goldsborough and later of Manningham Bradford.

Elizabeth Mary Walker, mother of Charles Frederick Walker and his other siblings (mentioned in previous post) died around 1900. The 11 year-old Charlie Walker and his siblings were brought up by their aunts and uncles, the Hornshaws, particularly their aunt Louisa (Lucy) Makepeace Hornshaw in Manningham, Bradford, part of the Hornshaws as previous posted as being of a farming family and also of North Yorkshire. Both families had a keen interest in horses.

Norman Walker had a keen interest in sports and at one stage ran a sports outfitters before branching out himself in to sporting ventures. He lived in an attractive residence opposite Lister Park,in Emm Lane, Heaton, Bradford.

These families, together with the Nolans of 19th Century East and West Bowling Bradford (see previous posts) and some of the Barraclough's of Heaton (see Barraclough's Almanac) were and are the very salt of Bradford itself and also of all the places, towns, cities and villages the respective families are connected to.

Our Heritage and our Ancestors stand tall and proud. We respect our roots. We are very proud of them.

The Hornshaws, Relatively Speaking in Manningham!

2009-03-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

As relatives, the Hornshaws were amongst other things farmers. They owned a large farm, Whynns Farm and lived in Whynds House, (the farmhouse) at Thorpe Arch near Wetherby, North Yorkshire. The family had many trials and tribulations along their path. Some of their land was taken to build Thorpe Arch Station on (now long since gone)and in the end Whynns Farm, which no longer exists was bought for a munitions factory to be built on compulsory purchase from the government in wartime.

One tragic occurance was the drowning of Thomas Hornshaw in the River Wharfe, after falling from a bridge which connected Linton to Collingham near Wetherby, on April 3, 1874. He had been out with his friend a Mr Kay and had a few drinks at the nearby Windmill Inn, but according to his friend, Mr Kay's report in the Wetherby News, the local paper of that area at the time, Thomas Hornshaw was not intoxicated sufficiently to be incapable of going over the bridge. His widow, Isabella Hornshaw ran Whynns Farm, believing that she was still in contact with her husband Thomas Hornshaw and that he was still advising her on the running of the farm.

When Isabella died in 1919, the farm was taken over by Harry Hedley Hornshaw. He went to New Zealand but came back soon after and bought Killerby Grange near Scarborough, which is now called a play farm and is a family attraction known as Playdale Farm Park. A number of their Hornshaw relatives ended up in Manningham, Bradford, also with links to West Bowling. In fact, the Hornshaws could be found on Birr Road, Athol Road, Carlisle Road, Sunderland Road and a good number of other Manningham addresses. It is believed that some of them also emigrated to America.

Meanwhile the Makepeaces, from Huntingdon and Marylebone, London, also came to Manningham, Bradford, after leaving London, living in Liverpool, then arriving in Bradford. Louisa Makepeace became Mrs Hornshaw and was the aunt of Alice Walker, Charles Frederick Walker, Horace Robert Walker (later Lord Mayor of Bradford) and Nellie Makepeace Walker who married Edouard Jefford and moved to France. Why a family of farmers such as the Hornshaws were, who's roots were in the Wetherby area, moved to industrial Bradford in the late 19th Century is a mystery. They were heavily connected with Listers Mill however, at least two descendants of the family are confirmed as having been directors of Lister's Mill, Manningham Bradford.

Hornshaws at Thorp Arch >>

Vera Hornshaw (nee Solomon) >>

2008-02-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

This photo of Grandpa Charlie (Charles Frederick Walker) and Nanny Doris (Doris Walker nee Richardson/Craven), was taken at Hallow Bank, Kentmere around June 1974. The house was later split in to two, becoming Hallow Bank Cottage and Horseshoe Cottage. The photo was taken in the front garden of the original 17th Century house, very like a slightly smaller version of East Riddlesden Hall at Keighley, West Yorkshire, at that time, along with the neighbouring house, Fold Howe.

Pewter plates and goblets stood in the cabinet and an old 17th Century chest stood in 'the flagged room'. Regency and mid Victorian dining furniture graced the dining room. In those days. The house at Hallow bank did not even have an electricity supply until the late 1960's. It had a generator for limited power and at night was lit by oil lamps, which had a strong smell and were brought out of the 'lamp cupboard'.

Charles Frederick Walker was formerly Manager of the Dye House at Lister's Mill and over saw the dyeing of the Elizabeth II Coronation Velvet, previously mentioned, as he was a Master Dyer. Doris Walker was a devout Anglo-Irish Catholic, who in later years suffered from chronic bronchitis. When she became too frail to attend Mass, Father Lehart of the First Martyrs Church (also called 'The Round Church') in Heights Lane, Heaton, Bradford, instead came to her home to perform Mass, which Doris Walker would never miss. Doris Walker had many friends in Eire, some of whom would come to stay with her in Bradford. As a child, the writer's baby clothes, made from Irish lawn were sent over from Dublin, Eire.

Lady Olivia Bernard-Sparrow

2007-10-15T16:31:00.000-07:00

Charles Walker told the writer in January/ February, 1977, that the family was connected to the Bernard-Sparrows. He mentioned Lady Olivia Bernard-Sparrow. We presume we are related to her daughter Millicent. The connection is not a mentionable one. Probably one that was hidden. However if we turned up and said that the Earls of Manchester were our relatives we'd probably be shown the door. The writer had never even heard of these people and only looked them up on the internet in 2006. We are not bothered who we are but we mention them here because Charles Walker mentioned them and this is a fact we do not hide.

From Baltinglass to Bradford

2007-10-05T12:52:00.001-07:00

The writer's great great maternal grandfather, James Nolan, came to Bradford from Baltinglass, County Wicklow, Eire with his wife Bridget. They lived at 40, Essex Street, Off Wakefield Road, Bradford, back in 1881 with the children that they had had at that time, Johanna and Mary Nolan. James Nolan was born in 1845 in Baltinglass, Wicklow. His parents Patrick and Mary were also born in Baltinglass in 1818 and 1820 respectively. It must have been a great wrench to leave such a beautiful place as Baltinglass appears to be, for industrial Bradford, where James Nolan worked making wagons for the railway. See link to traditional Irish folk song.

The Black Velvet Band.

2007-09-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

Introducing The Pighills Barraclough Connection.

Visit our original site, the Barraclough Almanac.

2007-07-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

The above are a selection of miscellaneous memorabilia relating to the Barraclough's Almanac website and to the Walker Hornshaw Blog.

The Chinese paper is originally from the Richardson import/export warehouse, the Bradford branch of which was based in the Hall Ings and Little Germany areas of Bradford (they were also stuff merchants) as they traded with China.

Joanna Richardson, wife of 'Pa' Richardson died in about 1916 aged only 37 years. She was the adoptive mother as well as the aunt of Doris Craven Walker. The photograph shows the Richardson's housekeeper with their cat standing outside one of their houses. A rare old cigarette card is depicted believed to have come from the Middle East. The photo of the Bedouin was taken on family travels. There are also one or two other interesting items.

The Nolans

2007-06-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

The Nolans arrived in Bradford from County Wicklow, Southern Ireland in the second half of the 19th century. They did not arrive because of the potato famine which swept Ireland, nor because of the cruel English landowners who stole the land belonging to the Irish and put families out to starve - no, they eloped.

Bridget climbed over the wall of her convent school in Wicklow and ran off with her lover, to West Bowling off Manchester Road, Bradford, known then apparently as the 'Irish Corridor' and became Mrs Nolan. Mr Nolan got work as a railway employee and Bridget worked hard keeping her West Bowling terraced house and yard spic and span, getting up at 5.30 am every morning.

The Nolans had a number of children, Johanna, Anne and James. Unfortunately, the family scandal starts here. I didn't know whether to include it but feel that all those involved deserve to be recognised and not put down or hidden away, good or bad it was their choice.

James became a succesful businessman, but he gambled his family's fortunes away. The family were devout Catholics, but Anne fell in love with a Protestant. She became pregnant in an effort to force her parents to agree to the marriage and her partner would happily have married her, but would not change religion. Bridget Nolan and her husband refused to let their daughter Anne marry a Protestant, despite that, in 1900, pregnant with a child and not married she would face a terrible stigma and be shunned by many people. They felt that even this was not as bad as her marrying a Protestant. The tragic thing was that Lena could have had a father. Anne was forced to give up her partner by her parents. She gave birth as a single mother to her daughter Lena in 1900, her Catholicism in tact. She was a very brave woman. Tragically Lena died of tuberculosis in 1919, aged 19 years old. Anne eventually became Mrs Knight but died in the 1930's of cervical cancer in her house in Kensington Street, Bradford, at the spot where the writer of this missive bought a house in the mid 1980's. Sheila Walker, later Sheila Barraclough constantly visited her aunt at this time and loved her.

Johanna Nolan was a very 'hard headed woman'. She married Mr Craven and had a number of children - Doris, Johanna and Winifred. But she left her successful husband, again a great scandal of the time. As a Catholic, she could not divorce him, even in those days divorce was possible though it took some time. Instead she put her daughter Winifred in to a Catholic home, where Winnie later died, her daughter Doris was adopted by another family member and young Johanna (later the mother of Colin O'Brien) lived with various relatives.

Johanna Nolan Craven, after leaving her husband, went to work as a housekeeper for Mr Hartley. She had another daughter, Eileen (who on marriage became Eileen Cross). On the death of Mr Craven, Johanna became Mrs Johanna Hartley. When Sheila Walker married Arthur Barraclough all the religions were united as his mother's family had all been Quakers (i.e. Cromwell or the Society of Friends), so fire met fire.

2007-06-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

Colin O'Brien was the cousin of Sheila Walker and the second cousin of the writer. He was a kind caring individual who never ever abandoned his relatives. When he died in 2005, he requested money to be sent to a local donkey sanctuary on his behalf.

As a child, his mother Johanna Craven O'Brien died from tuberculosis and for a time he lived with the Walker family. He was very close to Sheila Walker who later became Sheila Barraclough. Colin later went to live with his maternal grandmother Johanna Hartley.

Colin originally attended Dartmouth Navel College as a young man but decided he did not wish to follow a navel career. Colin did not have an easy life as a young man and he became interested guns and rifles. He was a crack shot and later became a member of the British team. Back in the 1970's Colin went on tours with the rifle team including one to Jamaica. On his return he said how much he liked the island.

Colin attended at least one garden party at Buckingham Palace which he jokingly said 'was just like going to a football match'. He thought the whole affair was very amusing.

Colin O'Brien passed away in April 2005.

See National Rifle Association

2007-06-23T15:09:00.000-07:00

Philip Jefford was one of the children of Edouard Jefford and Nellie Walker. The family lived at St. Cloud, Paris. During the Second World War, the occupying German army took over the Jefford's home and they were forced to live in the basement and cellars. The Jefford girls, one of who was called Audrey, dressed to make themselves look like children when they were really somewhat older, so that the German soldiers would not be interested in them and leave them alone.

Philip Jefford was a secret member of the French Resistance, helping Allied agents who parachuted in to France and injured British aircrew who's planes had come down and who needed to escape in to neutral territory such as Switzerland. It was extremely dangerous for members of the French Resistance as some French people had become Nazi collaborators. The consequences for anyone caught helping the British or other Allies by the Nazi German occupying forces were horrible to say the least.

Later on Philip Jefford became inspecteur Général de la compagnie internationale des wagon-lits et du Tourisme and contributor to various books.

See Musée français du Chemin de Fer & Reisen in Luxuszügen

2007-06-16T18:19:00.000-07:00

Many a message to Manningham.

2007-06-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Charles Walker had a younger brother, Horace Robert Walker (known as 'Bob') and two sisters, Alice and Nellie. After the death of their parents, they went to live with their Aunt, Miss Hornshaw.

When Charles Walker was old enough, after studying chemistry and dyeing at Bradford Technical College, he was set on at Lister's Mill, where his uncle was a director. The Hornshaw family were in directorship at Lister's Mill right up to its final closure in the late 20th Century. At first Charlie had to sweep floors but he became a master dyer and was manager of Lister's Mill Dye House. He was in charge of the dyeing of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation ceremonial velvet and as a result was widely interviewed on the radio at that time.

Horace Walker later became Lord Mayor of Bradford in 1956-57. Alice Walker moved to Boston Spa near Wetherby and Nellie Walker married French synthetics inventor Edouard Jefford who was a consultant at Lister's Mill.

The family were friends of jewellery family the Fattorinis and Charles Walker was close to the Fattorini girls, before marrying Doris Craven Richardson in 1913 when she was only 17. Doris was adopted by her uncle 'Pa' Richardson when her parents split up.

'Pa' Richardson owned George Richardson and Sons Stuff Manufacturers of Bradford and Harrogate, they had an import/export company in Little Germany, Bradford.

Charles Walker was a keen Hockey player and played for the Manningham, Bradford team.

See Messers Fattorini and Sons

2007-06-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

Sheila Walker was the near youngest daughter of Doris Craven Richardson and Charles Frederick Walker. She was an identical twin, her sister Joan tragically died aged two. Sheila had an elder brother, Jack and elder sister, Margaret.

Sheila was the first serious girlfriend of James Douglas Hill, who later became a famous film director. He gave her a broach and wrote a poem for her 'Down Duckworth Lane, there lives a girl by name called Sheila Walker and worse for me, as you will see, she is a fluent talker' etc. Sheila turned down 'JD', as he was known, for Arthur Barraclough whom she later married.

Sheila Barraclough is pictured in uniform during her time in the RAF.

See the Barraclough Almanac