Website visitors are invited to post comments or requests regarding local history matters here, but remember this is not a family history society. If you are just starting family history we suggest you look at the following sites which provide much helpful information: www.genuki.org.uk especially www.genuki.org.uk/gs/Newbie.html and www.sog.org.uk/leaflets/starting.pdf
Unfortunately the Society cannot provide a research or enquiry service, as there are insufficient volunteers to cope. If you have a question regarding local history or a particular family or person, do post a message, but remember you are more likely to encourage a response if your initial request is simple and clear, supported by some background information. Long and diffuse questions asking for everything on a family or subject often fail.
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Title:The Starling FamilyDate: 24 Jun 2008 11:57:04 GMT
Comment: I am currently building my family tree and I have a lot of relations on my mothers side from Blakeney. So I am finding all that I can about the Starling family. Can you give me any pointers to where and how I can find out their history.
Name: Richard Williams Email:
Title:Village PumpsDate: June 20, 2008 8:33 PM
Comment: I wonder if the Blakeney Area Historical Society could help me, please? My wife and I have just returned from yet another few days in Blakeney, when this time I took the opportunity to hunt down old Village Pumps in the area. I have a website dedicated to the subject (see below), and am currently writing a short book on the topic.
I found 3 pumps in Blakeney, all off the High St., and wondered if you knew anything of their history. As one walks up the hill from the quay, the first pump is on the right, at a corner where one of the little alleyways leads off. It retains its iron handle and fulcrum attached to a wooden plank, and its operating rod is connected at one end via a bow and at the other through a stuffing box to a working barrel which is probably made of brass. A lead downpipe disappears down to the water source, and instead of the pump having a traditional spout a lead delivery pipe is taken from a side branch. There seems to be no sign of a maker's name or trademark.
A little way further down the alleyway is what I take to be a much older lead pump, with its handle and operating rod missing (as is frequently the case with lead pumps), but carrying the inscription "RH" and an embellishment in the form of a classical urn. Typically, initials on these types of pump are either those of the maker or, more often, the person who had it installed.
Further up the High St., again on the right hand side, through a gateway and part way along a driveway to a couple of houses, is what I assume was a private pump. This is a traditional cast iron pump, with a cracked working barrel (probably frost damage), but still having its handle in place, complete with a spout and a bucket hook. There's a maker's name on the side of the spout, but I couldn't get close enough to photograph it without tresspassing!
If you're still with me and I haven't bored you to tears, are you able to add any further information please on the history of any of these pumps? I'd be most grateful if somebody could take a closer look at the one with the maker's name and let me know what it says please!
There are further pumps at Cley and at Holkham which I've photographed and am currently researching. Do you by any chance know of any others in the region?
Name: David Green Email:
Title:The Green Family - DockingDate: April 13, 2008 3:10 PM
Comment: I noticed in the latest copy of Who do you think you are, an article about the Blakeney area. I have been working on a family tree for many years,and I wondered if Docking was within your area of research. I have come to a halt with my Great Grandfather who was born there about 1815. His name was William Green ,and his father was also William, and on my Great Grandfather's wedding certificate, his father was a farm labourer in the Burnham Norton area. Is there any way you could help?
Name: Margaret Holmes Email:
Title:Migration to South ShieldsDate: April 12, 2008 9:04 AM
Comment: I was interested in the article in the latest edition of WDYTYA? about your organisation. The mention of migration to South Shields in the 19th century chimes with me as I have relatives (Porter/Burcham) who did exactly that. Is there any published material about the migration, the background and any later connections between Tyneside/Wearside and the Blakeney area? I would be grateful for any reference.
