General Chat

Was it the one whose photograph was shown who died? I think it was.

As soon as I saw the photograph I said the woman was consumptive. They had the look.

I have a photograph of my great-grandmother with the exact same look and a school photograph with a little girl in it who patently was not long for this world.

Finally some proper genealogy. :-D

Excellent! loved Mary Berry she absolutely hooked finding out more about her ancestors, and seemed genuinely pleased to learn about the other Mary Berry. I am looking forward to Martin Shaw next week<3 <3 <3

When it started I did think that I was not going to enjoy it. But it was good.

However, is anyone else getting fed up with all these famous people being troubled that their ancestor was

A criminal
In the Workhouse
Was illegitimate
Was desperately poor
Died (that always gets me!) 'Oh he died' - really........

Seriously, we all find these things and logically they are more likely to be the norm for most of our ancestors, even some of those with better off relatives will find some skeletons!!


:-D

Yes DazedConfused , it does irritate me because I refuse to believe that someone of Mary Berry's age in particular wouldn't know at least some social history. Younger ones I can understand but by her age most of us have at least seen reference to the workhouse, or poverty in the 19thC etc even if it's only half remembered from school, or tv programmes or books set in the period.

I think that a lot of people who have come from "comfortable" if not "well-to-do" backgrounds, would assume that the workhouse had nothing to do with their family. ( I know not everyone would assume this).

I remember when doing research on my family, and finding a didtant cousin (with an unusal name) born c1901, I was very sad to see he had died! Yes, I didn't expect to find him alive now! but he had died as an infant! I was surprised at how sad I felt on finding his "very early) death.

Perhaps some of these celebs. feel the same way, when they find that their ancestors died comparitivly young.
Perhaps also, if they had "fallen on hard times" it was worse if they had died as a pauper, without ever being able to hold their head up in society again.

The workhouse was such a place of fear - and carried a stigma - that I think that most of us don't want to think that any of our own family spent any time there.
Reality may come like a bucket of water, thrown over us.

At least we get to find in in the privacy of our own homes.


Quite a few of the celebs featured have had family in the workhouse, or living off the parish. I hope that in finding out about it, they might be more tolerant in future, of those that have no choice but to apply for stste benefits. (or am I living in cloud cuckoo land).

Having said all that, yes, it is sometimes annoying that the celebs seem so unaware of their countries social history.


Especially if they appear to be intelligent and well educated.

My great Aunt, who died when I was in my 40s was born in the workhouse (1896). So even within my living memory there were people born there. I cannot be the only one. I am now 60.

A lot of us must have rellies who were born or died in the workhouse.

This did not always mean that they were residents (inmates).
It was often the case that they were born or died in the workhouse infirmary.
Often the only hospital available (in the pre NHS years) to them.

In the mid-sisties I worked in an NHS Hospital, which was built next to the old workhouse infirmary.

The workhouse infirmary building still stood. However it had become a hospital/home for the elderly and or infirm.

Many of my older parients were still scared that they may be sent to "The Workhouse" worried in some cases to the point of tears. They would offer to pay for their treatment, so they would not be "sent away".

It made me realise how close the workhouse was to some people. An ever present threat.

one of mine was in charge of the board
that run the work house at Pickering

Oh I know my g/grandmother was an inmate. as the baptism certificate for her daughter (my aunt mentioned above) states that she was one.

As she had been a Domestic Servant (I believe she was actually a Nanny, as I have a lovely photo of her in uniform with her charge) she most likely got pregnant while working.

I loved the Mary Berry episode – much better & back to the better style of programme.

I wish the martin Shaw one would be like this – but think its going to be like the others I just like watching him on screen & listening to his voice.

I was so looking forward to the Patrick Stewart one & it was so disappointing - but just seeing him on the screen & listening to him made up for it.

The old Work house in my town was turned in to the General Hospital & that’s where I was born, Funny enough i now live on the grounds of the old workhouse – they sold off a lot of the land. So I have sort of gone back to my roots.

I remember finding out about a great grandparent who has a very good business as a boot maker.

He lived in a good part of the town for at least 3 census - kept moving onward & upward to better parts of the town. Then they all disappeared – found 3 in the work house – oldest girl in service, 3 lads In a Technical school – still trying to find the other 2 little ones. Yes it was upsetting - would love to have the time to find out what happened. Maybe in a few years time.

I do find I get upset if I am wondering around a graveyard and reading the memorials – or seeing a stone with lots of family members on it who died young. It must have been so upsetting for the families to keep losing children.

my nana was born 1873 and lived in a workhouse until she was put to work as a serveant I remember her as she died when I was 10 years old

sally w <3

Martin Shaw tonight, back at it's normal time :-)

Emma

I really enjoyed tonights programme...... :-)

Me too, Mersey. I can never see too much Martin Shaw, he's lovely. <3

Interesting story as well.

couldnt resists looking up when the grandad died and it seems to be 1978 reg as Joseph Edwin
whereas he married as Edwin Joseph

very interesting story with no phony melodromatics

I also enjoyed tonight's programme.

Martin Shaw was so natural, no airs and graces or pretentiousness. He was interested in his family and ancestors and looked genuinely pleased to see the old building still standing didn't he?

Agree, Mau - the first one I've seen take a photo too :-D

I thought that it was really interesting. But perhaps because I am biased.
Used to work just around the corner from where he worked (and he is just a few months older than me) perhaps I've walked past him in the street.

Have visited Key Hill Cemetery - when doing family research (for the in-laws) and looked at the plaques on the wall of people whose bodies had been moved and the graves built over.

Have a close rellie living in Winson Green, and know that area.


It was good to see so many familiar places. His story was good too.
Not just stuck on just one person.
Showing him searching, searching, searching ------
Making it obvious that all documents are not easilt to hand. - You have to look in the right place, and then WAIT.....
Good that he was able to be in touch with a "lost rellie"
Great that he found that there are at least two sides to a story - and to take with a pinch of salt any story that is passed down the family.


He must have bee really delighted to find that THE old building in Cleament (is that the right name) was the one connected to the family.

Many of us visiting old sites would have found that the street has been demolished - so could feel his joy.

All in all -- a good nights viewing. Thanks to Martin Shaw and the producers.


Tess :-) :-) :-) :-)

Does anyone know if, and when this is repeated? Colleague at work absolutely adores him - but had to work this evening :-(