Writing stories that link to my family tree

[spison]

Loved browsing Gambrill,
I'm another person who has been meaning to put this sort of information on-line (on my own website) for the family etc. It is still a daunting thought but you've given me hope. I'm impressed!
Jane

[cristol]

Hi John
I am enjoying the site – nice little stories which are easy to dip in and out of. I agree with Jane - this is just the thing I think many of us are always intending to do but don't get around to. well done.
Re the Taylors/Degans (De Gan’s?) Do you know what the Butchers shop in Finchley was called? You have it as Finchley High Street, but this would most probably have been Finchley High Road. This road is very long and incorporates several areas. I was just wondering because I have a few books on the area around Finchley (it's where I grew up and still have family in the area) and might come across a photo.
Lesley

[Gambrill]

Hi Lesley,

Re the Taylors/Degans (De Gan’s?) Do you know what the Butchers shop in Finchley was called? You have it as Finchley High Street, but this would most probably have been Finchley High Road. This road is very long and incorporates several areas. I was just wondering because I have a few books on the area around Finchley (it's where I grew up and still have family in the area) and might come across a photo.
Lesley

Thanks for your comments, and offer of North Finchley information.

Re: High St or High Rd - I checked my source document (a Marriage Certificate for my grandfather Frederick Taylor, issued in Colchester, Essex), and the groom's address is listed as 52 High St., North Finchley. At the time (1904) he was a widower and probably lived above or close to the butcher's shop. I don't know the name of the shop.

Having looked at a map today and given some other addresses I have (see below), I suspect you are right that it should read 52 High Road, North Finchley.

I have 1901 census records for Frederick and his future wife: Frederick lived at 4 Torrington Park, N Finchley; his bride-to-be at 50 Lodge Lane, N. Finchley. From 1911 Census for Frederick, his wife & children, address is Vine Cottage, Ballards Lane, N. Finchley (I bet there aren't any "cottages" there today!).

I spotted all 4 addresses on Google Earth map, and they are all within 400yds of each other. From my spotting, 52 High Rd, N. Finchley is close to the junction of High Rd, Ballards Lane and Woodhouse Road.

Hope this helps, and I would be most interested in any photos or information you have about this part of Finchley in the early 1900s. You can contact me via my website, or carry on this dialogue.

Hope to hear from you,
JohnG

[cristol]

Hi John
Yep all those references are very familiar to me – I am feeling quite nostalgic now !
And yes, I am pretty sure it should be High Road –(I lived on the High Road for over 20 years although a little bit further along just into Whetstone.) I have never come across any other reference to it as High Street and am not aware of any changes of street name at all.
But with the number given as 52 and that I now know it is "North Finchley" it should be easy enough to find pics of the general vicinity for the period they were there Leave it with me.
Lesley

[cristol]

Hmmm....Maybe not quite as straightforward as I thought! Google map has 52 High Road as right next door to where I went to School. In fact it shows the bus stop where I used to get the bus home ! There are flats there now (as in my time) so not sure whether there were shops there at one time or whether re-numbering has taken place -more detective work required on my part
Lesley

[cristol]

Whoa Google maps is very badly captioned – they have High Road Finchley described as High Road Barnet (completely different area !!) and other roads are badly captioned too

[cristol]

Me again !
Found some of Torrington Park and also corner of lodge lane - will scan and e-mail to you asap probably tomorrow. In the meantime to whet your appetite you will find two pics of houses in Torrington Park c1900 on the web -site Barnetimagebank.co.uk (www in front) - url barnetimagebank.co.uk/frontend.php(www in front)
Enjoy
Lesley

[cristol]

Hi
Sorry not managed to send pics yet - some won't scan too well at home. Will get my husband to scan at work but as it is Bank holiday here on Monday, it won;t be until tuesday at the earliest.
By the way I have found a reference to the High road being re-numbered which makes a lot more sense, as where no.52 is now seemed unlikely for a butchers shop. I have however found a butcher's shop at the old 86 High Road so we are getting warmer.
Lesley

[ash33au]

well done mate

[Zen Rabbit]

Excellent site! I am in the process of writing up my family at the moment so it has been quite inspirational.