Introduction

ORIGIN

We bought our house in Yew Tree Road in late 1998. It was an apparently old house and I wanted to research its history. My Solicitor was able to pass on some of the old deeds as the property had only recently then been officially registered.

The documents were extremely useful. They showed the ownership of the fields before the layout of the road into plots in 1906. They showed that my house was built on one of those plots in 1908 by someone who subsequently lived there and they also showed its subsequent sales.

Earlier maps at the Local History Centre detailed the extent, nature and ownership of the land on which the whole road and the houses had been constructed

The Electoral Register showed some of the residents who lived in the house.

There was also a startling revelation about the creation of the road including the reasons the land became available and the motivation for its development. It led me to write a book about the character involved.

CONCEPTION

My researches had unexpectedly expanded. I found that I was now looking at the history of the whole road. Information was available about the dates houses were built and who lived in them. Gradually more and more information became available particularly from residents whose families had lived in the road for generations. 

I have subsequently continued my endeavours and update the research. The history of the road does not stop.

On occasions at the annual street party, I have put on at exhibition of this history but I then wanted to commit the history to posterity and to provide a base on which further records can be added and where residents could contribute.

It also led me to research and write a book about one of the characters involved in the history of the road. ‘The Making of Whitaker Wright’ by Douglas Hamilton available on Amazon).

YOUR INVOLVEMENT

History is a jigsaw and you may have some of the pieces to help build the picture. You may have a photograph, a document, a story, a little information about the past of the road. I am particularly interested to have the story of anyone who has lived or did live in the road for some time. You will see under FAMILIES the stories of some residents. It is all part our history.

I hope you will read what is on these pages and then add your contribution. You can help make the history. Leave a message on the contact page and I will respond.

DEDICATION AND THANKS

Most of all, I should like to dedicate this history to Mary Rowe nee Dawson. Her family have lived at various houses in this road since 1930. Not only did she supply a fund of materials, photographs and stories but gave great support and encouragement to ensure that the history of the road she loved is recorded.

Great thanks are also due to Jim and David Carter who have freely given their time and skills, advice and assistance in establishing this website and provided the technical support needed to ensure its continued development.

Thanks also to those past and present residents who have added their contribution to this history including June Bishop, Susan Black, Colin Davies, Dave & Rita Kelly, Jo Nuckowski, Bryan Roberts, Heather Dunford, Wendy Chapman. Thanks to all the contributors to the FAMILIES including those who have corrected my mistakes.

Douglas Hamilton