Tracks I'm Listening To Right Now
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A Day to Drive
Since it was a Bank Holiday weekend, the roads didn't appear to busy, and I had some time off work, I decided to take a trip around some of the towns, cities and villages identified in my family history research.
Setting off from Chorley at 5.30am, my route took me down the M61, M60, and M62 east-bound through Leeds, after which I picked up the A1(M) southbound, skirting Doncaster. This road had light traffic and took me all the way to Grantham, my first stop.
Grantham is famous for its connections to Sir Isaac Newton and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. It has also retained a semblance of its historic identity, despite the attempts of chain retailers to give it mass-produced shop facades like the rest of featureless British towns these days. Its market still straggles down the centre of a road in the town centre 2 days a week, and its ancient buildings and monuments are carefully preserved.
I was interested in Grantham, since that was where my 4th great grandfather Joseph Walker (1782-1853) died. He ended up in the workhouse there, presumably when he became too infirm to make a satisfactory living in his trade as a journeyman shoemaker. The workhouse was in the parish of Spittlegate, though the churches in this parish didn't appear to have burial grounds. No records in the library cast any further light on my ancestor, though there is a reasonable file of material about Grantham's various workhouses and poor Law administration.
From here, I took the A52 to Bottesford, where Joseph had lived and worked after coming to Lincolnshire from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. His son Joseph (1825-1852) was also a journeyman shoemaker, living on Queen Street. St Marys was the church where all the usual family ceremonies took place, but after Joseph's death, the family made their way back to Derbyshire via Nottingham.
I followed in their steps, driving through Nottingham and on to Mansfield, and thence to Chesterfield, Buxton via Chatsworth House, Stockport, Manchester, and home - a 320 mile round trip.
On my next trips, I intend to see Somercotes and Riddings, and Toxteth Park (where my mums family came from before moving to Barrow in Furness).
Setting off from Chorley at 5.30am, my route took me down the M61, M60, and M62 east-bound through Leeds, after which I picked up the A1(M) southbound, skirting Doncaster. This road had light traffic and took me all the way to Grantham, my first stop.
Grantham is famous for its connections to Sir Isaac Newton and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. It has also retained a semblance of its historic identity, despite the attempts of chain retailers to give it mass-produced shop facades like the rest of featureless British towns these days. Its market still straggles down the centre of a road in the town centre 2 days a week, and its ancient buildings and monuments are carefully preserved.
I was interested in Grantham, since that was where my 4th great grandfather Joseph Walker (1782-1853) died. He ended up in the workhouse there, presumably when he became too infirm to make a satisfactory living in his trade as a journeyman shoemaker. The workhouse was in the parish of Spittlegate, though the churches in this parish didn't appear to have burial grounds. No records in the library cast any further light on my ancestor, though there is a reasonable file of material about Grantham's various workhouses and poor Law administration.
From here, I took the A52 to Bottesford, where Joseph had lived and worked after coming to Lincolnshire from Chesterfield, Derbyshire. His son Joseph (1825-1852) was also a journeyman shoemaker, living on Queen Street. St Marys was the church where all the usual family ceremonies took place, but after Joseph's death, the family made their way back to Derbyshire via Nottingham.
I followed in their steps, driving through Nottingham and on to Mansfield, and thence to Chesterfield, Buxton via Chatsworth House, Stockport, Manchester, and home - a 320 mile round trip.
On my next trips, I intend to see Somercotes and Riddings, and Toxteth Park (where my mums family came from before moving to Barrow in Furness).
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Cropduster's New Single
Yes, Cropduster have returned to the studio and put another CD together. Hear it at their MySpace page.
Reading List
Well, since I last updated, I've read The Belfry Witches (a kids book), Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, and Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein.
The Belfry Witches wasn't the type of book I used to read as a child, but it was nonetheless entertaining. Kane and Abel, is a classic, that juxtaposes the fortunes of two men, one born with every advantage, and the other with just his ambition and determination.
Starship Troopers is a good read - I haven't seen the film - and stylistically different from the other novels I've mentioned in this blog. It's subject is the near extinction of the human race through warfare with an alien race, but its tone is light.
Yesterday, I bought No Mercy by Colin Forbes, and read the first 45 pages in the pub. It opens well, with a couple of different angles to capture the imagination.
The Belfry Witches wasn't the type of book I used to read as a child, but it was nonetheless entertaining. Kane and Abel, is a classic, that juxtaposes the fortunes of two men, one born with every advantage, and the other with just his ambition and determination.
Starship Troopers is a good read - I haven't seen the film - and stylistically different from the other novels I've mentioned in this blog. It's subject is the near extinction of the human race through warfare with an alien race, but its tone is light.
Yesterday, I bought No Mercy by Colin Forbes, and read the first 45 pages in the pub. It opens well, with a couple of different angles to capture the imagination.
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Times they are a'movin'
It's been a while since my last update so here goes. Cropduster were great live. The chess is still going well, though I tend to make some obvious mistakes. I sign my contract for the new house this Tuesday (which has taken a while), and work is the same as ever - tedious. I have to admit though, I've been there six years in the same job, having abandoned my management training when I knew I would be getting a divorce. However, it's free shares time again, so I can hold out a little longer.
For any recruiters out there, my e-box is hungry for career opportunities to be passed its way. I enjoy work that involves with people on a face-to-face basis, though not in sales or marketing (which limits my options). I'm particularly good at explaining concepts and putting across ideas, which is why I often have to look after the new staff in my current role. I'm highly numerate and literate, and good with I.T.
I enjoy researching my family tree, and have built up a good collection of primary sources to reinforce that research.
I'm based in the North West but I don't have to stay here, so drop me a line.
For any recruiters out there, my e-box is hungry for career opportunities to be passed its way. I enjoy work that involves with people on a face-to-face basis, though not in sales or marketing (which limits my options). I'm particularly good at explaining concepts and putting across ideas, which is why I often have to look after the new staff in my current role. I'm highly numerate and literate, and good with I.T.
I enjoy researching my family tree, and have built up a good collection of primary sources to reinforce that research.
I'm based in the North West but I don't have to stay here, so drop me a line.
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