Scholars Bus Service

I have to admit to having a personal interest in  this article in Derbyshire Times 22 November 1935. I travelled to Tapton on the school bus from Whittington for many years, as I remember it was a free service at that time. It is interesting to see in this article the discussions that went on about charging for the journey in 1935. I think the school originally opened in 1931 to scholars, perhaps prior to this article children from Whittington had to make the not unsubstantial journey under their own steam. 

Whittington's Vanishing Points of Interest

This article appeared in the Sheffield telegraph 7 September 1929 written by a 'Native'. 

J W THOMPSON

I saw this advert in the Derbyshire Times from 1932 and it made me curious where Thompsons Bakery was in Old Whittington and who J W Thompson was.

After a bit of online research I found that J W Thompson was quite an influential man in the Whittington area and latterly the Mayor of Chesterfield. I wonder if Thompson St on Whittington Moor is named after him? Perhaps someone will know.

You can read more about J W Thompson and the bakery at https://oldwhittingtonops.com/thompsons-bakery/

The Gisborne Flannel

I was reading the old newspapers and found this short piece regarding the 'Gisborne Flannel' in the Derbyshire Times 24 December 1943. I had no idea what this was but was intrigued by the article and decided to have a quick look.

Apparently Francis Gisborne set up a charity in the 19th century for 'PURCHASING OF FLANNEL AND COARSE WOOLLEN CLOTH YEARLY AT CHRISTMAS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AMONG THE POOR RESIDING WITHIN THE PARISH.'

There are recorded accounts at the Derbyshire record office and Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent record office for different Derby parishes but no mention of any Whittington accounts but obviously Whittington recieved a share of this charitable bequest!

I wonder if anyone knows when this bequest finally ended or if it is still carried out in some form, would be interesting to find out!

FAMILY LINKS

I posted a story about John Bryan who lived in Whittington late in the 19th century, much information supplied by Raewyn Young his great granddaughter.

The story has sparked the interest of many descendants of John Bryan and it has been lovely to see all these family members ‘meeting up’.

It is what I hoped would happen when I started this One Place Study, a resource for people who had ancestors in Whittington many years ago who have never perhaps been able to visit the area, people swapping stories and families finding new information to enhance their family history.

It reminds me that it is important to keep finding information and updating the website with stories about Whittington and its people, and hopefully some other families might find their ancestors originated in Whittington! 

JOHN BRYAN

I was contacted recently by a lady in New Zealand, Raewyn, who had come across the Old Whittington One Place Study website, quite by accident.

Raewyns grandmother was born in Old Whittington and she has supplied me with some family information, and I have managed to find a few records to help her expand her family story.

I am grateful to Raewyn for taking the time to share this information, I love to hear stories about people who lived in Whittington in the late19th early 20th century, and especially to see photos of the people who worked and went to school in the community at that time.

The Bryan family story can be read here https://oldwhittingtonops.com/john-bryan/

Petty Larceny

I am not sure whether it was the mother or the child sentenced to three days locked up! Derbyshire Times and Courier 29th December 1877.