Notes and Queries | History of Bath Research Group

Note/Query: Combe Down and Expectant Mothers From: Mathew Mayes 30-May-2022

                     Mathew Mayes' Grandmother was evacuated from Grays near Tilbury in 1940 to give birth to his late father at Combe Down. It is also recorded on his birth certificate that he was born at Combe Down/ He asks, "does anyone know if there was there a place that dealt with expectant women and where would that have been.

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Note/Query: Display of Books On Local History the Library in Moorland Road, Oldfield Park From: Peter Cullimore 30-May-2022

                     Peter has emailed to let our members know about a new display on local history books at the community-run library in Moorland Road, Oldfield Park.
http://www.moorlandroadcommunitylibrary.com/post/local-writer-feature-and-local-history-display

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Note/Query: Invitation: Gresham History lectures From: Lucia Graves 30-May-2022

                     Lucia Graves has emailed to invite members to attend free Gresham History lectures in June; you can register via the webpages to watch online or in person (or online to watch on catch up. Subjects include:

    Bernini and the Remaking of Rome
    A Modern History of Sex: Abstinence
    Protestant Missions and European Empires: Allies or Adversaries
    Inigo Jones and the Architecture of Necessity
To book etc please go to https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now

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Note/Query: Suzie Moon asks about St Martin's Chapel From: Suzie Moon 11-Nov-2021

                     John Plass, the stonemason who singlehandedly laid all the stones at St Martin’s Chapel. He is buried in the churchyard. It would be interesting also to know what the training/apprenticeship etc was for a stonemason working in Bath.
Another interesting and relevant area is researching how paupers were buried (their coffins, the number in the grave, the actual burial service etc) and what happened to unmarried mothers and unbaptised babies as we understand they may have been treated differently (and there were quite a few of these who died in the workhouse).
What happened to St Martin’s Chapel after the workhouse was closed and the buildings were taken over by the NHS – so roughly 1930s to end of the century.

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Note/Query: When were the "1 Mile from the Guildhall BATH" Erected From: Brian Fooks 11-Nov-2021

                     Does anyone know when the "1 Mile from the Guildhall BATH" stones were placed on several main routes around Bath? Entry Hill still has a stone. on the bridge, but the metal sign has disappeard some time ago. I would like BANES to replace it but when I enquired they said they have no record of it, dispite the stone has been there so long that the wall has been rebuilt around it. It is part of Bath's history.

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Note/Query: History of The Royal Hotel, Bath From: Carolyn Eeles 11-Nov-2021

                     I'm trying to find out more about the history of The Royal Hotel, Bath. Established in 1846 it is one of the oldest hotels in the area but is sadly lacking of any of its own archives. We are really keen to find out more as we feel sure there must be some fantastic stories and individuals linked to it over its 175 year history. We are particularly keen to know more about its links with the station, The Garibaldi bridge directly linking the hotel to the station. Our aim is to greatly enhance the hotel's contribution to the history of the city. I would be hugely appreciative of any help, information you can provide me with.

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Note/Query: The laundry industry of Weston, Bath From: Penny Williamson 11-Nov-2021

                     I am trying to research the laundry industry of Weston, Bath - which was once the 'wash house' of the area. I wonder if you have published anything on this subject? I have not been able to get in contact with the Weston Local History Society and a visit to the local library was not at all productive. Bath Archives have nothing either, except a few photographs of the High Street.

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Note/Query: History of St. Margaret's [Proprietary] Chapel From: Cynthia Brooman 06-Sep-2021

                     My fifth great uncle was James William Windsor (b. 4 Feb 1776 in London; d. 28 Jan 1853 in Bath), who lived at 30 Park Street, Bath, with his wife Alicia (nee Daniels), a former London opera star, and his eight children. He was a skilled piano forte player and the organist at St. Margaret's [Proprietary] Chapel in Bath. Does anyone know the history fo the chapel?

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Note/Query: Clear Photograph of Memorial Plaque in St Thomas A Becket in Widcombe From: Penny Gay 06-Sep-2021

                     Has anyone has a really clear photograph of a Memorial Plaque dedicated to Jane Gay of Gules in the church of St Thomas A Becket in Widcombe?  I am researching who she was.

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Note/Query: Does anyone know of a Ralph Brooks, pork butcher in Bath (born 1856) From: Hilary Macleod 13-Aug-2021

                     I realise that you are not a family history group but I have so far drawn a blank elsewhere through Bath archives and records. I am looking for any information about an ancestor called Ralph Brooks who is listed as a Pork Butcher (as father of my GGfather on the Bath birth certificate in 1856). I am only deducing that he was a pork butcher in Bath at that time but as I said, can find no records of him existing anywhere in official records. I saw another query on this site which mentioned a pork butcher, so thought it was worth a try.

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From: Richard Williams 13-Aug-2021

                                        Using the Bath Historical Directories, which I have responsibility for on behalf of the Research Group, I found a large number of pork butchers in Bath - more than 30 in 1846 alone. The only one with the name Brooks is in 1846 - Thomas Brooks, porkbutcher, Coburg place, Widcombe. Coburg Place appears to be part of Claverton Street and may have been demolished in the 1960s (can't find it now). There is a pork butcher in Coburg Place, in 1852, with the name John Oatridge. Not further mentions of the name Brooks or Coburg Place after that date. No Ralph Brooks appearing in Bath at all, or on the census, however, there are several Thomas Brooks appearing but sadly none are butchers, they largely appear to be in the building trade. There is a George Brooks who is a butcher, and may have been born in Bath in 1871, he appears after 1900 in various places not far from Widcombe, but without further work on your family connections there is no reason to believe that he is connected with your ancestor. Ralph is not a very common name at the time you mention so a quick search through the

History of Bath Research Group Notes & Queries