Forum Topic

Sarah Taylor · 1/9/2008 2:47:00 PM

www.HammersmithToday.co.uk Communtity Forum Topic posting

Borough History

I have just been reading a few old posts about the borough's history, and I thought some of you will be very interested to learn that we have an excellent, excellent history archive in the borough: Hammersmith & Fulham Archives and Local History CentreThe Lilla Huset191 Talgarth RoadLondonW6 8BJThe two women who run it are extremely knowledgeable, interesting and helpful. A couple of years ago I organised an evening where everyone in our street went along and looked up the history of our street. We're still talking about it!

Sarah Taylor ● 6378d22 Comments

It might be - I know of a memoir project. But why not also contact the archives and ask them? Sounds like you've got something to contribute.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6348d

Is verbal history of any value for Borough History?cheersSteve hill

Stephen Hill ● 6348d

Do support the archives at the Lilla Huset - they are also an educational resource for schools.If you have old papers, cuttings, photographs, etc, which you could give to the archives centre I know they would be very pleased to receive them. They do not have sufficient funds to go out looking for them so rely on donations.It is important to use the archives - which are a terrific resource - as a short while ago they were (so I was reliably told) under threat of being moved to another borough.This we do not want.

Rosemary Pettit ● 6348d

Oh poo - the skeleton will never be foundI have to say that in thirty years of doing this it just aint trueDo as I say and if you have a problem come back, we would love to know the out come, and it is probably something silly rather than jill the ripper??????you have to search till you find and you will, very few are brick walls

Jo Smith ● 6353d

Hi JoI do know all the details way back to 1725 of the Cross family. The main bit of this Great Grandfather is that his mother and father were from Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire and not Hammersmith. The census shows him in 1861 and I do have his birth certificate together with parents births and marriage certificates.The big question is why was he born as shown on birth certificate 14 Southbrook Street, Gold Hawk Road, Hammersmith. The skeleton may never be found.I need to do some research as to history behind the street to see if anything comes up. Have tried all sorts of ideas when searching and so happy that your Hammersmith site is so full of helpful people.Will get there one day and will also try to let you know findings.Thanks for all help.David

David Cross ● 6353d

No David that is not good enough, you just can't file it. You need to find out why she/he was there. Now find out who was there in the '51 and '61 census and see if they were related. What was the mothers maiden name and was it her brother, or if a different surname was it a sister who was married, was it a family and the same one in both years and what was everyones occupations?? Therer is so much you can do to find out

Jo Smith ● 6353d

Jim.Your a hero.Have printed the map and now a very happy man. Not sure why a search never came up with the answer and so very happy you did.I will file it with the rest of my research and see how much more I can find out about him.Many Thanks to you and all.Best WishesDavid

David Cross ● 6353d

Here is the A-Z map of the area in 1961 and it clearly shows the old location of Southbrook Street.Good luck with your enquiries. We like questions and quizzes!

Jim Lawes ● 6353d

Hi JoHis parents are from the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire area and I have all the certificates to confirm a link for family. Together with other records from local BMD publications and joining the Oxfodshire Family Group I have links back to 1725.The bit I hope to find is why his mother was in London even if a skeleton appears. He is back in the Thame area by 1861 so no help with that census.It's all down to info on the birth certificate.Thanks for reply.David

David Cross ● 6353d

Hi SteveThere is a bit more to the history of why my great grandfather was born in Hammersmith than I know. His father and mother were both from Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire area. I do have all certificates and have family history back to 1725 on this side. It's a story I would love to find even if a skeleton is in the closet.I found the genealogist.co.uk ok and did not go for ancestory.co.uk. I also found a lot of records in some publications of BMD's for my family area. That and joining the Oxfordshire Family History group together with event visits brought it all together.The biggest hurdle was this great grandfather who was hidden away from me for a while. It all cane together after a purchase of some certificates that were not correct for my family and there was only one other option. I have marriage and birth certificates to make a sound link and it would be great if I could find more on the address.Thanks for your reply.David

David Cross ● 6353d

Hi DavidGoldhawk Road Hammersmith London W6, still exists, but not a Southbrook Street, the most likely is a name change. Try going onto the Free census site and bung him into the 1861, you can then check the streets around him, or Pub names etc. If he is not on that one, you have his mum and dads name so bung them in the 1851 and see what comes up then.

Jo Smith ● 6353d

Hi DavidI do a lot of searching for ancesters and I use the 1901 and 1891 census a lot.I've found that the ancestry.co.uk better than thegenealogist.co.uk site for gathering census and other info. - these sites hold all the census ' from wayback but they both cost - £70 approx/annum. But if you go to the library they will tell you which of your local libraries hold census records that you can search which are vittually free. The drawback is booking in and going there whereas on-line it's a piece of cake.I found my grandfathers info on line and the beauty of the census info is that it gives all the members of the houshold - so I got my grandfathers mum and dad's name as well as his brothers and sisters - and their occupations and where they were all born.The site price is worth it to me because I have relatives I'm lookin for all over the UK.In 2011 the 1911 census should come on stream and I'm looking forward to that - as I have some realtives who don't appear in the 1901 census when they should - I have a feeling they didn't want to be found in 1901!CheersSteve

Stephen Hill ● 6353d

Many Thanks Sarah. Will let you know any info I find. David

David Cross ● 6353d

Hi DavidI think your best bet would be to be in touch with the borough history archive directly, at the address shown in my very first posting. You can find the telephone number on the LBHF website. Certainly when we had our History Detectives evening, they were able to show us the 1901 census to see who lived at each address then. Good luck!Sarah

Sarah Taylor ● 6353d

Hi SarahMy name is David Cross and I live in South Oxfordshire. I am trying to do my family history and have established that a Great Grandfather was born in the Hammersmith area. Using the internet to do a search for his birthplace I have come to a dead end but have found the Hammersmith website. Is it possible that someone will know anything about the following address as stated place of birth on the birth certificate. The date by the way is 1857.14 Southbrook StreetGold Hawk RoadHammersmithI would very much appreciate any help or guidance that you can all offer.Many ThanksDavid

David Cross ● 6353d

Thank you very much for publishing this useful name and address. I will make a note of it, as I am sure I will want it in the future.

Mrs Una Hodgkins ● 6361d

Just when you thought that all your old memories of times gone by would just accompany you to your grave..as no one around you seemed to be interested..and your far away family thought it was all boring.. you discover websites like these!A wonerful explosion takes off in one's mind when you see Local History questions on Community Websites..and you have some answers to communicate with others.When I first joined the Brentford and then Chiswick Forums some 4 years back.. the first such enquiry was asked by Paul Allan who asked: were there ever Prisoner of War camps in Chiswick? Yes I wrote..in Magnolia Road.. Italians..who dished out sweets to us passing schoolkids..from their position behind barbed wire!There's nothing like reminiscing, exchanging memories, seeing what's happened to old places and buildings..and then beginning to appreciate all the splendid Victorian and Edwardian building around.Then you talk about the trolleybuses..and more.Remember to do a FORUM SEARCH for the Hammersmith Quiz. We did that some months back..and we all learned so much about Hammersmith and the interesting place it is... for silver surfers!!Both Brentford and Chiswick are fascinating too .. honest!And did you know that Acton once had an Airport? !!

Jim Lawes ● 6375d

The "newspaper" thread buddies will be interested in this.From Barbara Denny's Hammersmith book: ISBN 0-948667-32-x

Jim Lawes ● 6375d

I suggest you get in touch with them directly and ask them. They have an enormous amount of paper-based material, maps, plans and so on, so I imagine that it would be impossible - for budgetary reasons alone - to put that all online, but it would be worth a conversation, don't you think?

Sarah Taylor ● 6376d

Is there any way that the Hammersmith & Fulham Archives and Local History Centre could put made available on line for us denied the pleasure of Hammersmith.It seems that my life has been spent wanting to get back to Hammersmith. - Evacuated during the war - 4 years, redirected up north - 5 years, 5 years in the RAF in Germany , 30 years up in North Wales. I say I come from Hammersmith but the sum total of my life living in Hammersmith is about 10 years.CheersSteve Hill - formally of: Yeldham Road, Playfair Street, Wilsons Road, Lakeside Road, Aspenlea Road - all with great memories

Stephen Hill ● 6376d

Sarah,What a great idea. I must see if I can do the same for our road. Caroline

Caroline MacMillan ● 6377d