Messages Received 17th Nov 2010 Subject: Evans, Wootton and Allen Families Hello, my name is Gill Evans and my family (my mother and father’s side) come from Syresham. My mother was a Wootton and my father was an Allen. My father’s family were related to the Woottons. My mother’s father was Ira Wootton and his father and mother were Thomas and Jane Wootton (nee Barrett). Thomas’s mother was a Payne and they had a small holding behind the King’s Head Pub in Syresham. They were blacksmiths and wheelwrights. My maternal grandmother was Maude Hedges and her maternal grandfather was James Whitlock. Our ancestors also managed the Fox Pub. We are also related to the Wrightons. My brother is compiling our family tree and has gone back to 1804. However, I do know that one of our ancestors (a Payne) in the 17th century had three daughters who quarrelled constantly, so he built them a house each and told them “to get on with it”. This village or hamlet is now called Pimlico. In about 1920 my mother and family moved to Tiffield as my grandfather needed to be closer to his work. My grandmother, Maude, died in 1922, aged 36. She had four daughters, my mother, Marjorie (11 years old), Una (10 years old), Dulcie (7 years old) and Joan (4 years). Maude died of complications after childbirth, having giving birth to a stillborn son. My aunt Dulcie who married Percy Austin, lived 4 High Street, Syresham for the rest of her life and died in 1987. Her husband died of a broken heart in May 1988 and are both buried in Syresham. They had no children. Gill Evans Received 7th Sept 2008 Subject: May Day Photo 1954 Yes, I do recognize the boy walking beside the May Day wagon. If I am not mistaken, it is very much younger me! Assuming that the date of the photograph is correct, I was 10 at the time, in my last few months at the village school before going to Magdalen College School in Brackley. In another photograph on the Crowfield site (Syresham School 1970) is my late father, Tom Harvey, “centre stage” as the Head Teacher of the Syresham C. of E. School. I am a little rusty as to exact dates, but I think he was there from 1952 to 1976 (he died in 1977) and my mother (Joyce Harvey) was living in Syresham until 2003 (she died in January 2005). As for me, I have lived in Canada, currently in Ottawa, for over 40 years, though I periodically have visited the village to see my Mother, the last time, unfortunately, for her funeral service in the Church. I have been in England more recently (May-June of this year) as my younger brother (Tim) lives in Buckingham. I am not sure what “train of surfing” got me to the site, however, I did find it interesting in its references to the Fox pub. I remember the occasional summer Sunday evening walk over the fields from Syresham to Crowfield and a drink at the pub – I am sure, not alcoholic at the time!! The recent development of Crowfield means little to me, but I am amused by the comments with respect to the parsimony of Maude Payne who appears in the same photo as my Dad (extreme left front). She was, of course, related (cousin?) to the Payne brothers (Bill, Ted and Tom) – Home Farm in the centre of Syresham village where I learned to milk cows, or, more frequently, “mucked them out”. Martin Harvey Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Received 26th Sept 2007 Subject: FoxFarm I was looking on the web site concerning the history of the residents of the Fox .I bought the Fox and surrounding land in July 1977 from Maud Payne and Family. Kitty Payne was a tenant at the time she lived a lone, her husband was dead when I bought the property.I renovated the property making it bigger in the early 80s. She lived in part of it I lived in the other part of it.I married in 1994 and Kitty Payne died in 1994. I still own the property at the moment Saul and Rose Marston are renting the property from me. I hope this fills the gap which is missing on the history of the Fox Farm as it is now called Angela Tarry Received 15th Dec 2006 Subject: Lacemaking in Crowfield I research and collect anything connected with lace making in Northamptonshire including historical information. Your readers might be interested to know that I have in my collection an old lbone ace bobbin with the inscription 'DAVID ADAMS CROWFIELD' . Are there any members of an Adams family still in Crowfield? Regards Dianna Smith Received 7th Feb 2005 Your website is fantastic! I was so pleased to find it and read about Crowfield's history as some of my ancestors lived there. Also to find the photos of William Garrett James who was my great great grandfather. He married Ann Giles (formerly Wootton) and Joshua Wootton was her brother. I am a bit confused though as the photo of William Garrett James states he was 82 in 1927 but according to his death certificate he was 82 when he died in 1913. Can anyone clarify this for me? Also if anyone has any information about James and Wootton families I would be delighted to hear from them. Ann Dennison Received 15th Dec 2006 Mary Manders. She was my great-great-grandmother, born in Crowfield approx. 1854, and married to Thomas Manders who was born in nearby Radstone. Mary and Thomas were living in Birmingham at the times of the 1881 and 1901 censuses, as Thomas was a railway worker, but Mary had returned to Crowfield by 1926, when I assume she was a widow. This photo was taken by my grandfather in 1926, so Mary would have been about 72 years old at the time. I have yet to establish the connection, but I believe that Thomas Manders was either the brother or cousin of Charlie Manders, who you already have on your website. Charlie was also born in Radstone. Syresham – I believe this photo is of Bell Lane, also taken in 1926. Brackley – also taken in 1926. click here for the photos kind Regards, Claire Glover, Old, Northants. Received 20th Feb 2003 Mary Manders. She was my great-great-grandmother, born in Crowfield approx. 1854, and married to Thomas Manders who was born in nearby Radstone. Mary and Thomas were living in Birmingham at the times of the 1881 and 1901 censuses, as Thomas was a railway worker, but Mary had returned to Crowfield by 1926, when I assume she was a widow. This photo was taken by my grandfather in 1926, so Mary would have been about 72 years old at the time. I have yet to establish the connection, but I believe that Thomas Manders was either the brother or cousin of Charlie Manders, who you already have on your website. Charlie was also born in Radstone. Syresham – I believe this photo is of Bell Lane, also taken in 1926. Brackley – also taken in 1926. click here for the photos kind Regards, Claire Glover, Old, Northants. Received 27th Jan 2003 I’ve just found your web page, and was amazed to see a photograph of Charlie Manders! My maternal grandfather (Bernard Wall) visited his grandmother, Mary Manders, in Syresham in 1926 – he rode a bicycle from Coventry! I have several photographs of Syresham and Brackley from that holiday. I believe that Mary Manders was a neighbour of a Mr. Friday – I can find many, many “Friday” entries in the 1881 and 1901 censuses. Mary Manders was born in Crowfield, and I believe Charlie Manders was her brother-in-law. I can find records in the 1881 census for Thomas and Mary Manders (who at that time were living in Birmingham), plus Thomas’s siblings, Charles, Sarah and William, who were living in Crowfield. Charles is listed as an agricultural labourer. Sarah Manders, his sister, married Joseph Capel and moved to Shenley Church End. Sarah was a pillow lace maker. I don’t know Mary’s maiden name. I wondered if you had any further information about the Manders family? I am quite happy to let you have a copy of my photo of Crowfield-born Mary for your own records. Kind Regards, Claire Glover, Old, Northants. Received 1st Oct 2002 The Fox was an alehouse not a pub. It is thought that the original idea was for it to be open at midday to provide fare for the farm workers. It was not allowed to sell spirits. What my mother also remembers is that it had a very old fashioned skittle alley. (circa 1933) Apparently it was food for the goats that was kept in the chapel and that was by her brother who was a Blackwell. In the local dialect pronounced 'brackle'. Also as Crowfield had no school the children had to walk across the fields to get there. Trevor Jones Received 9th Aug 2002 I am truly amazed that there is this web site at all on Crowfield. I told my mother who knew it well. My grandmother came from Syresham and appeared to be related to most of Crowfield residents at one time. My great -grandfather worked for the Timms Family. One of my mother's relations had the Fox Inn and another kept his goats in the chapel. My grandmother's family name was Hedges and her mother was a Whitlock. Trevor Jones Received 13th Mar 2002 I am hoping to come 'home' for a visit (never know which is home now UK or USA)in June so I shall try to visit Crowfield and look up some old friends and maybe introduce our new grand-daughter to some of them. Best Regards, Margaret Mears Received 13th May 2001 Message with Janice Cynewski Hi, This is from Janice Cynewski Don's mother. Was great to see your web site on Crowfield we have many fond memories of our 3years at Karitza house. Is Margaret and her family still at Whistley cottage? I think she had 3girls would love to hear where thay are now. Margaret Mears how come you're living in SC now - give us an update. Does anyone there remember the costume party we had at Karitza House ? I think we have an old 8mm movie of it? Who is at the farm now we also have a movie of sheep shearing there. Will have to get them out and have a look. I think Ron & Janet's pool and yard is also on the movie. Had many great cups of tea at her house and her & Margaret taught me how to knit but I haven't done any since. The Botson's I think lived across the street and had the milk run whenever the boys got sick at school they would ride home with them. Will write more later would love to hear from old Crowfield friends. Janice Cynewski Received 7th May 2001 Message with Rod James I see you have question marks as to the author of Syresham My Home. My father tells me the song was written by the rector of Syresham, Thomas Horne, who was incumbent during the First World War. Indeed he had his wish in that he is buried in Syresham Church yard. We have a programme dated November 26th 1915 which contains the song. However the last verse you quote... "If you want to get to Syresham, You book to Brackley town etc etc" Does not belong to the song Syresham my Home it comes from another song entitled "Syresham a Merry Medley". And is the first verse. The second verse reads.... We're going to have a Civil Corps, In Khaki they'll be dressed, Lieutenant Timms will lead the boys, The boys are of the best. Our camp shall be at Crowfield, On the farm of dear old Geary, The lion-hearted Herbert Shall cheer us up when weary. There is also a chorus Take your seats for Syresham! For Syresham's the place Where they never never quarrel, Nor fall into disgrace; Where all the boys are brothers And all the girls are sweet: If you tumble down at Syresham, They'll set you on your feet. There are another three verses each mentioning people living at the time. The rector probably wrote this song too. Hope this may be of interest to you Rod James Received 17th April 2001 Message with Don Cynewski I spoke to Margaret Mears today and looked at the Crowfield website. This is really great. My parents are currently on their way back from Florida and should be arriving back at their home in Maine this week. I am certain they will be corresponding with you. I am one of the twins - unfortunately I can't tell which one - Don Cynewski Received 17th April 2001 Message with Margeret Mears. See it hereMore on The Cynewski family Received 14th April 2001 Message with Margeret Mears. See it here The Cynewski family Received 2nd April 2001 Message with Raymond Mears. See it here Recollections from the 1940's Received 15th Feb 2001 Message with from Debroy and Marge Mears. See it here More details of the building work in the 50's and 60's in Crowfield Received 14th Feb 2001 Message with photo of renovation of Karitza in 1950's from Raymond Mears. See it here The Mears family did a lot of the building work in the 50's and 60's in Crowfield Received 13th Feb 2001 from Robert Wood The reference to the 'old workshop' comes as a bit of a shock. As a boy I dug the foundations out for the workshop, Mum and I mixed tons of concrete for the footings and floor and the bricks were reclaimed from a couple of old cottages that were demolished. The cottages were behind the telephone box. The bricks were wheelbarrowed up to the workshop where all the old mortar was knocked off, using an old as I remember. Even the old mortar was reclamed by seiving it through an old bed spring base and it was then mixed with new cememnt to make the mortar for building the workshop. Now calling it 'old' has put me in my place. I keep telling folks that I am getting old. I have put feelers out to get in touch with Helen Boscott as was, who with her family was the first owner of one of the dwellings that Harry Mears built. I will let you know if I get any returns. Robert Wood, Heathfield, East Sussex. Received 11th Feb 2001 Message with photos from Penny Mears. See it here Received 4th Feb 2001 Hello, How nice to see a site for Crowfield and what a brilliant idea. Who am I? My name is Stuart Mears. I was born in Karitza Cottage in 1961. My Grandfather - Harry Mears did alterations to the cottage in 1955. Grandad also built two other chalet type bungalows in the village.( Shasta and The Pines ) I now live in Northampton but I still have fond memories of Crowfield as a boy, especially visiting Gran and my Uncle Deb who built Stonesthrow. Thanks for getting this site together. I will be looking for news from now on. Dad said he will e-mail some pictures later on. Stuart Mears. Received 3rd Feb 2001 Hello Crowfield, I see my sister Mary has got her name in print so as the oldest member of the 'Crowfield' Wood clan I feel that I should make myself known again. On this initial visit I shall limit the chat to just a hello and await a return. Well done on creating the site and I hope others will get to hear of it, for example the Crowley family and Mears family. We had great times as boys, and a few bad ones if I remember correctly. Speak again. All the best Crowfield. Robert Wood, Heathfield, East Sussex. See Also Messages from the Mears Family