A Span of Bridges - Sepia Saturday

Bridges have been a popular theme for Sepia Saturday posts.  So the challenge this  week was on what to focus on   - arches, rivers, stone detail, decorative designs.  people looking down -  A bit of all of all of these  in my post.  And I even managed to unearth some photographs I had not shown before! 

Here the stone detail is  the focus  with a footbridge   spanning the Leader Water on the Carolside Estate, near Earston in the Scottish Borders.  Carolside House is an 18th century mansion   with its gardens open to the public in summer.  

 

 

Looking down, you can just make out the bridge in the middle of this  photograph,   taken when out on a walk up the Huntshaw Hill .

More looking down - but not for the faint hearted! A footbridge over the rocks at Tintagel Castle in Cornwall. The castle is best known for its links with the ancient King ARrhurs.  

 

 

 

Also looking down -people on this covered wooden bridge in Kaprun, Austria. 

 

 Lattice work on this footbridge at Aviemore Rail Station in the Scottish Highlands.  

 

Another footbridge with attractive wooden fencing in this autumn scene. 

 

 

 

An Archway and Pillars for this bridge over a stream in Lazienski Park in Warsaw, Poland, designed in the 18th century 

Back to Britain 

 

 

 More archways in this  charming vintage image of the Arches on the impressive Leaderfoot Viaduct,  built in 1865 on the cross country route  of the Berwickshire Railway  between the east coast and the central Scottish Borders. 

 

My father  grew up in the village of Broseley, near Ironbridge, Shropshire, known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution with  the world's first ever cast iron bridge, built in 1779  over the River Severn. Dad's father worked at the power house at Coalbrookdale, which meant a 35 minute walk each way each day over the bridge.   The local historical society has been particularly helpful in my family history. The Ironbridge Gorge is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

 

 

 

 

 

Another historic distinctive bridge because of its design  - The Forth Rail Bridge, crossing the Forth estuary near Edinburgh   is a celebrated Scottish landmark, and a milestone in the development of railway civil engineering,  

 

Built in the aftermath of one of the most infamous railway engineering failures  - the Tay Rail Bridge disaster in 1879, it was the first major structure in Britain to be made of steel and its construction resulted in a continuous East Coast railway route from London to Aberdeen in north east Scotland.   

 

The railway bridge, had the world's longest spans (541 m) when it opened in 1890.  At the height of constructive, it employed a workforce of 4600 with the loss of  57 lives.  It remains one of the greatest cantilever trussed bridges and continues to carry passengers and freight today. It now has been given   a World Heritage status.

 

 

 Forth Rail Bridge photographs courtesy of Pixabay. 

 

Until 1964 and the building of the Forth 'Road Bridge.   the only other way for vehicular traffic, cyclists, and pedestrians to cross the River Forth was by  a centuries old ferry service.  It  We lived 6 miles away and my father often travelled north on work, and left early to try and avoid the long queues for the morning ferries - a real bottleneck for everyone. 

 

You get a glimpse of the River Thames here through this garland archway at St. Kathrine's Wharf in London.  It was opened in 1828 as part of the London Docklands, but is now a marina area, popular with visitors. 

 

 

 

 Looking down from a hilly view point  - the Skye Road Bridge in the Scottish Highlands It  cannot be called historic, as it only opened in 1995, but the island is an iconic  symbol of Scotland's history.  The bridge across Loch Alsh links Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland with Kyleakin on Skye  with one pillar  on the small island of Eilean Ban. 

And if you  hanker after the romantic route, singing  "Over the Sea to Skye",   you can still cross by ferry from Mallaig to the south of the island. 

 

 

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 Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs. 

 

Click HERE to see more posts  from Sepia Saturday bloggers.

 

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Generations in the Back Yard - Sepia Saturday

A happy family group sitting in their  "back yard"  is this week's prompt photograph from Sepia Saturday.   Below are five generations of my family taken in their varied back yards.  

 

 

 

This was the family photograph I took with me when I left home for the first time for a year working in the USA.  Taken in the back garden in our home in Edinburgh, 1965.

There is an anecdote  here connected with "back yard". Many years ago I spent a year working in the USA and was invited to visit a work colleague, who commented that we would sit in the "back yard".  I wasn't too sure about that prospect .  It conjured up an image of TV's soap opera "Coronation Street" set in the north of England, with back-to-back terraced houses with a small paved or cobbled   back yard for storing the dustbins and bikes - very utilitarian.  I was wrong,  of course,  with my interpretation, for Instead I found that this American "back yard"  was a large garden with a beautiful lawn and flower beds - so much for transatlantic misunderstandings!  

 

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Taken in a typical English back yard, my grandparents William Danson and Alice English posed for a photograph before he set off for war in  1916.   They lived in a terraced house on Bull Street, just off the Square, in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire,  The houses were demolished in the 1960's and replaced by a small shopping mall. 

Bull Street, Poulton-le-Fylde, where my Danson grandparents lived until 1926. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing in the back yard, my mother Kathleen Danson and her sister Edith. c.1914, daughters of William and Alice above. 

 

 

A typical back yard in South Shields, County Durham.  Here my husband perched on the bike with his older brother keeping watch. c.1941. 

 

My husband with his maternal grandparents  Matthew Iley White & Alice Armitage.  South Shields,   c.1939. 

              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My husband this time on the shoulder of his Uncle Matty 
with his father Jim alongside  in a very natty pullover, c.1940

 

 

 

 

 My mother in their first married home, mnear Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire c.1938. 

 

The same back gardeb  c.1944  and the first picture of myuself with my father.  m

 

 

 Outside our back door.  

 

 

 

 Little me, perched on  my very own chair  which was passed down (with new covers) to my daughter and grandaughter - but we never thought to take a photograph of   them in it - a pity! 

 

 

Enjoying sun, wearing the popular style of the day - a skirt with straps.  

 

To  the younger generations

 

  

 

Daughter on the back door step,  Hawicm in the SCottish Borders c.1990

                                                

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granddaughter in  the back garden exploring this new world of snow for the first time in 2010.  Earlston, Scottish Borders. 

 

 

 

 

Somebody's idea of fun!  Playing at snow angels in he back garden 2018.  

 

1998  - a lovely family group of three generations, taken after my brother's wedding - and yes he did wear that red shirt for the occasion! v Dad in the middle, with my niece and daughter seated. 

Happy family photographs that make me smile! 

 

 

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 Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs.  

  

 

Click HERE to see more posts 

from Sepia Saturday bloggers.

 

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My Uncle Harry Rawcliffe Danson - A Man of Many Parts

This week's prompt photograph from Sepia Saturday features a man posing in front of a car.  

Well,  I covered owners and their  cars a few week's ago.  So instead, the tall, slim figure of the man in the prompt reminded me of my favourite uncle, Harry Danson, who drove not only a car  and  motor bikes with sidecar, but also sailed a small yacht off the Lancashire coasts at Fleetwood.  

 

 

Lots of words can be used to describe my uncle.  He was a man of many parts  - a joiner, soldier, Dunkirk survivor, a skilled do-it-yourselfer, productive gardener, keen photographer, yachtsman  - and ballroom dancer. 

 

 

  A young Harry

 

 Harry Rawcliffe  Danson (1912-2001) was the middle child of five, born to my grandparents William Danson and Alice English in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. His middle name came from his grandmother Maria Danson, nee Rawcliffe. The photograph above is the only one  I have of him as a child, and is part of a group photograph of the family, taken in 1916, as my grandfather set out to war.

Harry followed his grandfather into becoming a joiner. and I remember him making a miniature table and chairs for my doll’s house.  Not surprisingly he was skilled in  do-it yourself.  

My next knowledge of Harry was from his army photographs.

Young man around town - look at that  hairstyle! 

The reverse of the photograph indicates it was taken in Salisbury -when Harry was undergoing Army training? 

 

  

I think there is an Errol Flynn look about him here! 

            

This signed menu of December 25th 1939,   written in French and typed on very flimsy paper,  was found 60 years later  amongst Uncle Harry's papers.    He was in France with the British Expeditionary Force, 9/17th Field Battery.  

 

In the Sergeant's Mess,  breakfast was cold ham with piccalilli, eggs, coffee and roll and butter;  for dinner  - turkey with chestnuts, pork with apple sauce, potatoes, and cauliflower followed by Christmas pudding, apples, oranges, and nuts, with cognac, rum and beer - a wonderful feast in difficult conditions and testimony to the skill of the catering corps!

Five months later Harry was one of the many men evacuated from Dunkirk, saved by the flotilla of small ships.  Sadly many of the men who were at this meal may not have survived.   My mother used  to tell how Harry arrived back home from Dunkirk  still in the uniform in which he entered the sea to be rescued.   He never talked about his wartime experiences, but seeing commemoration services or documentaries on TV could bring tears to his eyes, so the memories remained very strong.

 

 Harry  later served in North Africa.

Harry had a short lived marriage in the 1940's and never remarried.   He returned to the family home (below),   living with my widowed grandfather and his sister.  He resumed his joinery trade  renovating the house, and taking pride in his  garden, with floral displays in the front and productive fruit and vegetables at the back and in his greenhouse.  

 

 

 

 I recall him taking his sister (my Aunt Edith) out for a Sunday run in his motor cycle and side car.  He later progressed to a car, extending the driveway, by knocking down the gate and tresllis, and turnip the hen hosue int oa garage.  

 

Living close to Blackpool,  the UK home of ballroom dancing, Harry could often be found on the dance floor of the Wint r Gardens or Tower Ballroom - and he was never short of partners.   

 With a good friend, neighbour & dance partner, c.1970's. 

Harry was a keen photographer, at one time having his own dark room to develop pictures. He took this photograph of St. Chad's Church, Poulton-le-Fylde, noted for its carpet of crocuses in Spring.  Dansons back to 1736 were baptised, married and buried here.  

Harry lived  to the age of 89,  remaining active to the end of his life - and he retained his good looks! 

 

 

With fond memories of a dear uncle 

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 Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs.  

  

 

Click HERE to see more posts 

from Sepia Saturday bloggers.

 

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Friendship in the Forces - Sepia Saturday

This week’s Sepia Saturday prompt photograph  shows two friends, workmates perhaps.  wearing similar jackets.  I take a look back at family  revealing camaraderie in wartime -  a fitting tribute to them as we near Remembrance Day.    

 The Danson Brothers

 Two of my great uncles  - Tom and George Danson  in World War One army uniform.

The brothers   were from a large family of eight sons and one daughter, with five sons serving in the army, two  of whom died in the conflict.  

Tom (left) worked as a clerk at Poulton Station, but I know little else about him.  But George's story is a tragic one that I have featured  before on my blog.

 George Danson (1894-1916)   was the favourite uncle of my mother and aunt, perhaps because he was nearest to them in age and took on the role of the big brother.  He worked on W.H. Smith bookstalls at different railway stations, joined the Royal Army Medical Corps and was killed 16th September 1916 at  the Battle of the Somme,    just a week after his 22nd birthday, buried at The Guards Cemetery at Les Boeufs.

 I was lucky enough to find  on Ancestry his service record, as many were destroyed in bombing in the Second World War. His  medical report stated he was 5'3" tall, weighed 109 lbs. (under 8 stone), with size 34 1/2 chest and he wore glasses - a slight figure to be a stretcher bearer in the Royal Army Medical Corps.   Two of his letters home are in the  family memorabilia

"I had to assist the wounded at a dressing station and stuck to it for about 40 hours.  It's blooming hard work being a stretcher bearer in the field.

On Friday I was in a big bombardment and will say it was like a continual thunder and lightening going off.  As I write there are blooming big guns going off abut 50 yards away every few minutes. Don't I wish that all of us could get home.  Wouldn't that be great, lad,  there's a good time coming and I hope we shall all be there to join in."

Sadly it was not to be. 

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Grandad, William Danson (on the right)  with two colleagues.  He served in the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, fought at the mudbath that was the Battle of  Passchendaele and won the Military Medal at Givenchy, with the postcards and photographs  below kept in the shoe-box of family memorabilia.

Some  humour even in war time is illustrated by the photograph of my grandfather William Danson, that shows the camaraderie existed  amongst soldiers.

  

 

 This photo  intrigued me when I first saw it as a child. There was no Scottish connections at all on my mother's side of the family, so why was Granddad wearing a kilt and a tammie?   

 

 The story was that he became friendly with some Scottish soldiers, and as a laugh he had dressed up in one of their uniforms and had his picture taken to send home.  It must have been taken in France as the reverse of the photograph  indicates it is a "Carte Postale" with space for "Correspondance" and "Addresse".

 

 

 

 I wrote to the regimental museum at Lancaster Castle for more information and  was sent a copy of an extract from the Regimental War Diary,  and the award citation which read: 

 

"For conspicuous gallantry in action at GIVENCHY on 9th April 1918,This N.C.O commanded a Lewis Gun section...He did good work with his gun during  the attack inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy. When the other N.C.O. in command of the other Lewis Gun was wounded,he took over the gun and controlled the fire of both teams".

 

9th April was five  days after Granddad's 33rd birthday,  Grandad was a taciturn country man who before conscription had been a  livestock foreman at the local auction mart.  He,   like many of those who had experienced the horrors of the First World War, would never talk bout  their experiences. 

 

But Granddad left a moving legacy of his war   in the many embroidered postcards he sent and brought back home.   These remain my  family treasures. 

 

 

 

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My husband's uncle Matty (Matthew Iley White) of South Shields, is amongst this group of soldiers perched on a rock in India.  

Matty )1914-1978)  served in the  Durham Light Infantry in India 1933-1937
, as listed in his service book below.

  

 

Matty, seated on the left,

 tucking into his food at army camp  

  

In the Sudan, where Matty served March to October 1937  

 Images taken from Matty''s own album

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My great Uncle Frank Danson  (1892-1977)  was the seventh of eight sons born    to James Danson, a joiner journeyman and Maria Rawcliffe of Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire.  Five sons served in the First World War - I have been unable  to trace a service record for Frank.  with many destroyed in enemy bombing in World War Two.  At some point he  was injured and was in hospital in Malta when these photographs were taken - found in the collection of my great aunt Jennie Danson - the only girl in the family.

 On the reverse in Jenny's handwriting, she identified Frank as on the back row right.

 

 This  photograph seems to be some kind of celebration.  Frank is front row left,  dressed formally in his uniform and cap, but what about those two fellows on the  back row in what appears to be their pyjamas and beanie hats?

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Sepia Saturday gives bloggers an opportunity to share 
their family history and memories through photographs. 

 

 

 

Click HERE to see more posts from Sepia Saturday bloggers.