But among my uncle Fred Weston's collection was a photograph of Tommy Rogers of Ironbridge, Shropshire, the place often cited as the birthplace of England's Industrial Revolution, and Tommy was a coracle maker.
The world's first iron bridge, with its 100 feet span was built in 1779-1781 across the gorge of the River Severn. However many local people objected to paying the tolls,
so they used coracles to cross the river instead.
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| Tommy Rogers, Coracle Maker of Ironbridge |
You might be wondering, where is the boat ? Well, it is on Tommy's back, for Tommy Rogers was a coracle maker. loosely woven frame traditionally covered in animal hide, but in more recent times calico, canvas, and coated with a substance such as bitumen.
Tommy was a well known local character, known as a poacher and the local newspaper regularly reported
his appearance in court on poaching charges. He also helped to build the new
police cells and court room in Ironbridge - only to be one of the first
people to appear there.
My father, John Weston, grew up in Broseley the other side of the river from Ironbridge. He had very fond memories of his childhood there with his parents, Albert Ernest Weston and Mary Barbara Matthews, brothers Fred and Charles, and sister Madge. My grandfather had a 35minute walk (one way), crossing the bridge to Coalbrookdale where he worked in the Power House.
The River Severn flowing between Broseley and Ironbridge.
In Broseley, Dad sang in the local church choir from the age of seven and was vice-captain of the school football team. He remained an ardent football supporter all his life and was proud to have known local footballer Billy Wright from Ironbridge, who was the first player in the world to be awarded 100 international caps.
Broseley football team - Dad is on the second row right
I always think of my Uncle Fred as a very genial man, though my memories of him are hazy.
The two brothers John and Fred,
with a rather grumpy looking child between them - me!
A 1960's photograph of the smiling brothers
The Ironbridge Gorge was granted the status of a World Heritage site in the 1980's and is now a major tourist attraction.
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Hi Sue...neither of your links work from Sepia Sat. The second takes me right back to SS page, and the first says no post available. Keep trying! I'm glad I had another link, which again said there was no post, but I went through your bio to the main link. It's just the boat post link that's not working right.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThank you, Barbara, for your comment - much appreciated, as I had no idea my second link was not working. I felt sure I had checked it. Anyway a third attempt has been posted on the Sepia Saturday page - let's hope that works! Regards, Susan.
DeleteNow that I've read about your "boat story" I also want to say how I learned about Ironbridge. In a book by Charles Todd, with a picture of the bridge as the cover...or it might have been another mystery in a series taking place around WW I.
ReplyDeleteI've visited Ironbridge once and thought it was the most beautiful engineering. But the coracle is real practical craftwork. I imagine the builders of the bridge used them during its construction.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great bridge -- and the greenery is lovely.
ReplyDeleteMade me look! I had to go online & lookup what a coracle was. Interesting that most of them are round in shape but I can see why - especially in a river current. Even without direction, I would have known your Dad right off in the football team picture. He had a very distinctive face. And the brown car behind the trailer - do I recall a picture of you, sometime back, perched on the hood of that car? :)
ReplyDeleteWow, from the looks of that coracle -- well crafted though it might be -- I think I would rather pay the bridge toll! Lovely bridge and great selection of photos chronicling your family's relationship to it.
ReplyDeleteCross the river in a basket? No thank-you.
ReplyDeleteAnd you all for taking the time to comment.
ReplyDelete