Bowell

[suzan]

Hi

My Grandmother was Alice Bowell who was born in 1889 in Charlbury Gas House. Is this house still there? if so where in Charlbury? Also where is the cemetary in Charlbury? Thanks

[Peter Goodey]

If you find her in the 1891 or 1901 census, you'll be able to work out for yourself where it was in relation to other clearly identifiable buidings.

At a guess it may have been near the old gas works just south of what is now Forest Road - not far from the railway station.

[Peter Goodey]

By the way, the address is subtly different in the 1901 census.

[Peter Goodey]

Hey. Looks like that was a pretty good guess.

1881 census - look up Charles HITCHCOX in Charlbury.

The address - "Gas Houses".

And next door is - "Railway Station"!

[Geoffers]

The Gas Works were on the opposite side of the line to the Railway Station. The Gas house was presumably next to the works. Have a look at:
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/gazetteer/10oxfor281/10oxfor281gazC.htm
Click on Charlbury and then at the bottom of the screen 'enlarged view'

The enlarged view should open in the top left corner of the map, scroll down until you see the Railway line. It's crossed by road and just south of the road is the station, with the Gas Works opposite. There are buildings at the entrance to where the Gas works stood, but these buildings are relatively new. The museum at Charlbury has some older photos of the railway station; some may possibly show the other side of the railiway line.

There are two cemeteries in Charlbury, one by the parish church, t'other is off Spelsbury Road, opposite the Dairy, as you head north out of Charlbury. The Quaker and Baptist churches both have some headstones.

The churchyard cemetery has older burials, the new cemetery has burials dating back to the end of the 19th century.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Peter Goodey]

Y'know, Geoffers, I've read hundreds of your posts but it completely escaped me that you live in Charlbury!

[Geoffers]

I've read hundreds of your posts
The numbers soon mount up and I'm honoured that anyone would read my waffle


but it completely escaped me that you live in Charlbury!
'tis a quiet little backwater, but I suppose that's what makes it a pleasant place to live.

Suzan - I have a digital camera - if you need photos of anyhwere hereabouts, I can easily send them to you by e-mail

Geoffers

[suzan]

Thank you very much for your help and kind offer to take photo's,but I shall be visiting Charlbury with my sister this Wednesday as we shall be staying at Ducklington for a few days. we had a headstone put for my Grandmother in the cemetery over 6 years ago. But could not remember where it was.

[suzan]

Also I have my G.Grandmother's death certificate and her maiden name was Mann. Her brother was present at her death in 1892 He lived at Sycamore House Charlbury. Would you know if the house is still there? Also to save time who would we contact to find out if any of my relatives are buried in the cemetery? as there may not be any headstones for them.

[Peter Goodey]

"He lived at Sycamore House Charlbury. Would you know if the house is still there? "


The Royal Mail knows -

Sycamore House
The Playing Close
Charlbury
CHIPPING NORTON
OX7 3QP

[Geoffers]

Also I have my G.Grandmother's death certificate and her maiden name was Mann. Her brother was present at her death in 1892 He lived at Sycamore House Charlbury. Would you know if the house is still there? Also to save time who would we contact to find out if any of my relatives are buried in the cemetery? as there may not be any headstones for them.Peter's given you the answer for Sycamore House, which is on the east side of The Playing Close.

The Playing Close is a green (opposite the Co-op) off Enstone Road. Said to be the length of a bow shot and to have been used for practice in days when the Law required it.

The burial registers for Charlbury are deposited with the County Record Office, the OFHS has transcribed and indexed them, a copy can be seen at the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies (above the main library) in Bonn Square, Oxford. I do not know of a plan of burials in either the churchyard or newer cemetery.

continued....

[Geoffers]

part 2.......

The local museum is an interesting browse on Sunday afternoons and an unashamed plug for the local bookshop run by Jon Carpenter, who sells books published locally about Charlbury and the surrounding area. If still available, "Charlbury of our Childhood" by Caroline Pumphrey publ 1990 ISBN 1 885072 050 9 gives the best view of life in the 19th century.

If it would help, drop me a line by e-mail or Private message and I'll give you my 'phone number so that if you get stuck or lost, you at least have a local point of contact.

Geoffers
Charlbury, Oxfordshire

[Geoffers]

Further to my last postings, I've just had a stroll down to the Playing Close. Sycamore House is at the end of the close, on teh junstion with Enstone Road. It's a large c.18th century three storey farmhouse built of Cotswold Stone.

Geoffers