Join me on his A-Z journey into A SENSE OF PLACE where I reminiscence on places that are connected with my family history or are part of my own personal memories.
P is for POULTON-LE-FYLDE -
My Ancestral Home
The small town of
St. Chad's Church in photographs taken by my uncle Harry Rawcliffe Danson |
Poulton is a much older settlement than its more famous neighbour
Reminders of the past are still visible in the Market Square, with its market cross, stone slab for selling fish, whipping post, and stocks.
Here sitting in the stocks is the only photograph I have of my great grandfather James Danson (1852-1906), He is the bearded figure looking very merry and clearly enjoying life. By all accounts of his grandchildren, James was something of a ne'er do well with anecdotal comments that "Granny had a hard time with him".
Poulton War Memorial in the Square, with the names of two of my great uncles - John and George Danson remembered.
Reminders of the past are still visible in the Market Square, with its market cross, stone slab for selling fish, whipping post, and stocks.
Here sitting in the stocks is the only photograph I have of my great grandfather James Danson (1852-1906), He is the bearded figure looking very merry and clearly enjoying life. By all accounts of his grandchildren, James was something of a ne'er do well with anecdotal comments that "Granny had a hard time with him".
James was born in 1852 at Trap Farm, Carleton, the nineth child of Henry Danson and Elizabeth Calvert. A joiner, he married 18 year old Maria Rawcliffe in 1877 at St. Anne's Church, Singleton and in 1881 they were living at Potts's Alley, off Poulton Square. It was ironic that Maria, one of seven daughters, and James with six sisters (and two brothers) should go on to have ten sons (eight survived infancy) before their only daughter Jennie in 1897. james died in 1906 at the age of 53.
I love this photograph of my mother and aunt, Kathleen and Edith Danson, who are the two little girls at the front of this photograph
All dressed up, they are in some kind of procession (Empire Day or Gala Day? ) at Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, with the group lining up outside St. Chad's Church. It must have been taken around 1912, judging by the age of my mother and aunt, and also the dress of the bystanders. My aunt recollected that the little boy behind (Thomas ?) had been sent the Indian banner by an uncle in America.
Poulton War Memorial in the Square, with the names of two of my great uncles - John and George Danson remembered.
Copyright © 2013 · Susan Donaldson. All
Wow, that is definitely a sense of place. A lovely piece of history.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME post!! I love the photo's!! Your Great Grandfater photo is a HOOT!!!!
ReplyDeleteConnie
A to Z-ing to the end
Peanut Butter and Whine
Thank you, Joab and Connie, for taking the time to comment. Poulton is a special place for me and I was so delighted to get that photograph of my great grandfather - only about 10 years ago - through my mother's cousin.
ReplyDelete