Latest title makes Lulu top 10!

Thank you readers! 'The Rise, Fall and Redemption of James Fairweather' is beginning to creep up lulu.com's history books sales chart...

Wakefield Family History Society

More information about Wakefield Prison, the first English prison in which James Fairweather spent time, can be found on the Wakefield Family History Sharing blog


A short review of the book The Rise, Fall and Redemption of James Fairweather is also included at http://www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/blog/2015/08/

Dundee's Jute Museum

The Rise and Fall of James Fairweather will be available at the Verdant Works jute museum in Dundee around mid-September.

More details about the museum can be found here:

http://www.rrsdiscovery.com/index.php?pageID=130

A special admission rate applies if you also visit the marvellous RRS Discovery...

 

Six Years In The Prisons Of England

A preview of James Fairweather's book (the full text of which is included in full in our latest publication 'The Rise, Fall and Redemption of James Fairweather'). This fascinating account of Victorian prison life shows that there is nothing new under the sun, including full body cavity searches! Substitute 'drugs' for 'tobacco' and it could have happened last week, rather than 150 years ago:

On my arrival at the Yorkshire prison I and my companions were subjected to a new, and to me most painful operation. I am quite well aware that it would be next to useless, if not quite hypocritical, in one in my position to lay claim to any considerable delicacy of feeling, or to appear to be over scrupulous in matters of common decency. But there will occasionally, however, be found even amongst convicts those who will bear a pretty long period of imprisonment, during which they are subjected to a variety of contaminating influences, and yet not have their moral sensibilities completely destroyed. Of these I was one, and I felt that the treatment which I had now to undergo was conceived in a barbarous spirit, and was well-fitted to destroy utterly any feelings of self-respect which my previous experiences had still left me. Every part of my body was minutely inspected immediately on my arrival, in order that I might not take any money or tobacco into the prison.

Doubtless it is very desirable, and even necessary, that every precaution should be taken to prevent such articles finding their way into prisons — at least on the persons of prisoners—but the fact remains that, notwithstanding these inspections, both money and tobacco do find their way into prison, and are every day in common use amongst the prisoners. Prisoners will have tobacco, and tobacco cannot be got without money, so that both must be obtained; and the result has been that the more rigorous the inspection, the greater the ingenuity required to evade it.

The trials of skill and invention which goes on between the convict and the inspector, like those between artillery and iron plates, have as yet only proved that, given the power of resistance, the power of overcoming it will be found. One of my fellow-prisoners verified the truth of this conclusion by taking five sovereigns into prison with him, notwithstanding all the care and experience exercised by the inspector.

The Rise, Fall and Redemption of James Fairweather

A 150-year-old Mystery Solved

The book 'Six Years in the Prisons of England', published anonymously in the 1860s, offers a fascinating glimpse into the harshness of Victorian prison life.

Written by a once wealthy and respectable Dundee jute merchant, the author's first-hand account describes the conditions under which he and fellow convicts were kept and exposes the many failings in the prison system of the day.

Now, a century and a half after his story was first told, the author is identified and the events leading to his fall from grace, his imprisonment and subsequent release are laid out alongside the original text. 'The Rise, Fall and Redemption of James Fairweather' provides a detailed and unique accompaniment to a fascinating human story and an important social commentary.


This title is now available at 'lulu.com':


http://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-robinson/the-rise-fall-and-redemption-of-james-fairweather/paperback/product-22323581.html

The book includes the complete text of the original 'Six Years in the Prisons of England' along with photographs of people and places mentioned in the text.

New Title Will Solve 150 Year Old Mystery

A new book promises to reveal the truth behind a remarkable series of events that took place a century and a half ago... publication is expected in 3 to 4 weeks time.

Crime & Chaos, First Impressions

Feedback is beginning to trickle in about Crime & Chaos in Victorian Penkridge

"Have just read the book well worth a read, added information to my family tree about two tragic accidents and many well known Penkridge people past."

Crime & Chaos In Victorian Penkridge

We are pleased to announce the publication of our latest title, 'Crime & Chaos In Victorian Penkridge'.

The book is available for purchase worldwide from lulu.com at the following link:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/paul-robinson/crime-and-chaos-in-victorian-penkridge/paperback/product-22269886.html

This collection of stories from nineteenth century Penkridge covers a diverse range of events, from drunken brawls to burglary, drownings, railway accidents, child neglect and animal cruelty. It includes surprising revelations about poverty and neglect in the village, tragic loss of life and a number of gruesome and unexplained deaths.

 

Read about the activities of the village fire-fighters and policemen, and how the local courts and workhouse dealt with those who wouldn't obey the law or couldn't look after themselves. Meet brazen fraudsters, runaway husbands, feuding families and the foul-mouthed fighting women of Penkridge past!

Excerpt From Coven Book

Here's a tiny excerpt from 'Coven In Times Past', as published in the Village News a couple of months ago (click for a bigger image):

The full copy of this edition of the Village News can be viewed online at:
http://villagenewsandvillager.co.uk/Editions/Village%20News%20February%202015-16pp.pdf

New Penkridge Book Imminent

Crime & Chaos in Victorian Penkridge will be available from mid-July via the usual sources - full details will be posted here in due course.

As a taster for those who have been following its progress, here are two photographs of the cover from the final proof copy. No prizes for guessing the view depicted on the front-cover artwork!

New Penkridge book nearing completion

A new book about 'goings on' in Penkridge, Staffordshire during the Victorian era is nearing completion. It should be published within the next few weeks and will be available from the usual sources... watch this space!

Coven In Times Past - more feedback

It's now over two months since publication and lots of avid readers (especially locals who have lived in the area for decades) have been giving their verdict via Facebook, email and in person.

So far all the feedback has been extremely positive - recent comments on the Facebook Coven and Brewood page include:

"It's a great book - mom and dad have truly enjoyed reading it! The anecdotes are amusing!"

"A great book"

"Fascinating book"

Thank you, readers!

Tales From Four Towns Reviews

It's wonderful to get some positive feedback and this customer review on Amazon shows that the book seems to be reaching its intended audience...

"I liked this book very much. It was entertaining and informative. The structure of the book makes it that you can pick it up and read from any page, not just start to finish. A lovely gift for family or friend who once lived in the area and has moved away."

See what other people think of this book on amazon : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Tales-From-Four-Towns-Wolverhampton/dp/1291649719#customerReviews


The Black Country Bugle ran a pretty positive review as well:

http://www.blackcountrybugle.co.uk/New-local-history-book-filled-tales-towns/story-20414313-detail/story.html

John Smith of Coven - New Information

The work of John Smith (and his father, also John) is covered in some detail in 'Coven In Times Past' but this information arrived a little too late to be included in the book.

The illustration, from 'The Engineer' of 1862, shows one of Smith's inventions - a machine for drying grain.

Index

Here is the (unformatted) index from 'Coven In Times Past', which includes a large number of names that may be of interest to those engaged in family history research.

Please note that this is copyright material (copyright Paul Robinson, 2015) and, therefore, must not be reproduced in any form.


Adams
Maria, 237
William, 195
Adie
John, 211
Albrighton Hunt, 231, 239
Amateur Dramatics, 179
Arden
John, 181
Aspley Cottage, 88
Aspley Farm, 87, 120, 128, 237
Aston
James, 69, 169
Walter, 139, 219
Atkins
Thomas, 91
Austin
John Shenstone, 71
Austins
Charlotte, 190
Avenue Bridge, 141
Badger
John, 169
Bagatelle, 227
Bailey
Emily, 196
Baker
William, 228
Bakery, 223
Ball Lane, 69, 136, 219
Barr Farm, 86
Barrett
William John, 41
Bassett
William, 79
Batchelor, 79
Bate
Phoebe, 206
Thomas, 79
Beddard
Arthur, 203
Beech
Edward, 51
Beeches
The, 45
Beeches, The, 49, 161, 164
Beer-houses, 223
Bethell
John, 190
Bickford, 35, 47, 61
Frank, 47
George, 189
Henry, 83, 208
William, 83, 86, 186, 240
Bickley
Martha, 223
Biddle
Henry, 181
Birchcroft, 122
Bird
Charles, 212
Bishton
William, 91
Bluebell Cottage, 50
Blyth
William, 181
Bowdler
Richard, 122
Bowen
Arthur, 34
Bowes
Simpson, 239
Bowling, 228, 239
Brew
Thomas, 187
Brewery, 192
Brewood & Wolverhampton Railway Company, 116
Brewood Park Cottages, 89
Brewood Park Farm, 41, 52, 53,
89, 141, 144, 145, 204,
231
Brewood Road, 26, 32, 35, 37,
41, 43, 45, 49, 50, 52, 54,
135, 141, 144, 158, 171
Brewood Upper Forge, 54, 145
Bridge Farm, 87
Brinsford, 69
John, 181
Brinsford Farm, 87
Brinsford Lane, 86
Broad Acres, 26
Broadbent
Frederick, 205
Bront, The, 145, 147
Brook Cottage, 58
Brook Cottages, 95
Brook House, 41, 54
Brooke
Richard, 69
Brooke, Edward Adveno, 166
Brookes
John, 222, 224
Brough
Elizabeth, 211
Brown
Joshua, 35
William, 47
Bryan
Thomas, 47
William, 196
Buckley
Thomas, 236
William, 236
Cadwallader
Pauline M, 197
Canals
Shropshire Union, 89, 116, 141
Staffs & Worcs, 120, 127, 134,
195, 196, 216, 239
Carbon Works, 115
Careless
Thomas, 51
Carless
Littleton, 177
Carter
George, 200
Cartmail
Ruth, 208
Cartwright
John Walker, 237
Cattle Plague, 186
Challinor
Phoebe, 223
Chambers
Thomas, 222
Chambley
Brooke, 163, 190
Manoah, 163
Sarah, 165
William, 47, 81, 163, 190
Chambley Green, 123, 165
Church Alley, 72, 157
Church Lane, 83, 135, 158
Churches and Chapels
Coven Heath Chapel, 32
Coven Methodist, 30, 37, 167
St Paul’s, 22, 27, 28, 52, 71,
163, 192, 227
Sunday School, 30
Cinder Hill, 43, 205
Claygate Road, 69
Clewley, 57
Clifft, 76
Ann, 225
Thomas, 157
William, 69
Coal Mining, 174, 235
Cockett
John, 181
Coleclough
Adeline, 192
Frederick, 37
Coley
Charles, 73
Cooper
Joseph, 30, 79
Cope
Alice, 241
Copeland, 125
Coven Farm, 72
Coven Furnace, 151
Coven Heath Wood, 76, 87, 141
Coven House, 37, 171, 210
Coven Stores, 37
Cowern, 72
Cowley
George, 112, 187
Walter, 181
Cowper
Hugh, 181
Cox
William, 63
Crateford, 114
Crateford Lane, 69, 121
Cricket, 165
Croft Cottage, 47
Croft, The, 46, 163
Cross Green, 41, 77, 83
Darelyn, 34, 35
Dark Lane, 121, 136, 169
Davies
Edward, 185
George, 92
Davis
Alfred, 204
Daw
Samuel, 220
Day
Felix, 75
Day’s Farm, 69
Deakin, 61
Deepmore Mill, 70
Dinosaurs, 52
Dobson, 79
Duncomb, 45
Durham
John, 239
Dutton
Richard, 181
Earthquake, 206
East Beeches, 45
Emery Mill, 69
Evans
William, 112
Farmer
Joseph, 50
Faulkner
George, 201
Field Names, 96
Fifth Ash, 230
Fisher
Crowther Smith, 52
Sarah, 52
Floyd
Agnes, 181
Foot & Mouth Disease, 186
Forge Cottage, 53
Forrester
Reverend, 27
Four Ashes, 50, 71, 96, 113
Four Ashes Farm, 122, 231
Four Ashes Road, 124
Four Ashes Station, 34, 105, 111,
113, 114, 173, 175, 197
Fowler
Augustus, 112
Sarah, 58
Fox
Agnes Maud, 111
Francis
Victor, 34
Gallimore
Thomas, 198
Gamble
John, 209
Gamekeeper, 187, 196, 229
Gawn
Douglas, 27
Genner
Albert richard, 207
Sarah Ann, 208
Giffard, 89
Glover
James, 217
Go Plant, 37
Golf Course, 75
Goodacres, 55
Grainger
Thomas, 190
Grand Junction Railway, 105, 217
Grange Farm, 41, 43, 54, 63, 76,
125, 157, 225, 229
Green Ivy House, 43
Greenacres, 26, 126
Gregory
Richard, 61
Gregory’s Green, 61
Greystones Cottage, 37
Gripton
William, 79
Hadderley
John, 224
Haden
James, 216
Hadley
John, 43
Hall
John Handel, 22
Thomas, 161
Hammersley
Thomas, 239
Handley
Bill, 50
Harding
Frank Henry, 222
Hartshorn, 47
William, 240
Hayward
Herbert, 189
Mary, 158
Heath
William, 110
Heath House, 55
Hemmingsley
Mary, 211
Hickman
Frederick, 193
Higgs
John, 47
John Birch, 167
Hill
Frederick, 61
Thomas, 223
Hinckes
Theodosia, 32
Hinks
Joseph, 209
Hodges
Edward, 22, 160
Hodgkins
William, 237
Hollis
Walter, 41
Holloway
H E, 222
Holmes, 87
Homage, The, 39, 43, 201
Hood
Florence, 204
Hordern Cottages, 136
Horse Racing, 164
Hudson
Henry, 222
Hughes, 46, 47
Dorothy, 37
James, 37, 223
John, 22
William, 224
Humpage
Richard, 220
Illedge, 76
Andrew, 181
Infanticide, 195
Iron Room, 28, 33
Island Pool, 144
Ivy Cottage, 43
Jackson
Edward, 47
Joseph, 191, 227
Joseph Hand, 22
William, 169
Jackson’s Bridge (King’s Bridge),
95, 148
James
Joseph, 47
Thomas, 211
Jeaven
Richard, 181
John Smith, 73
Johnson
Dr Samuel, 52
Jones
James, 202
Thomas, 189
K Transport, 63
Keeling
Frederick J, 91, 187
Miss, 30
Robert, 204
Kench
Charles, 81
Kirk
Annie Elizabeth, 197
David, 229
Edwin, 122, 231
Samuel Martin, 231
Sidney, 92, 231
Stephen, 62, 73, 194
Latham
Robert, 239
Lawn Farm, 77, 94, 125, 160, 165
Lawn Lane, 32, 37, 43, 77, 124,
143, 171
Leek
Edward, 216
Legge
Lady Joan Margaret, 75
Leverton
Thomas, 191
Light Ash, 22, 35, 43, 63, 72, 73,
94
Lloyd
Joseph, 41
Lock-making, 49, 63, 69, 162, 169
Lovatt
Michael, 88, 206
Richard, 86
Lower Avenue, 145
Lower Green, 61, 92, 134, 205,
207
Macdonald
Albert, 112
Reverend, 30
Mail Coaches, 229, 236
Mannington
Sarah, 194
Manor Farm, 83
Mansell
Thomas, 41
William, 39
Matthews
Laches Lane, 145
Alfred, 134
Laches, The, 26, 69, 83, 120, 165,
198, 227, 237
John, 51
McLean, 37
Meadow House, 34
Memorial Hall, 28, 33, 81
Middle Lane, 57
Midland Tar Distillers, 115
Milligan
James, 224
Monckton, 35, 71
Edward, 229
Francis, 205
Hon. Edward, 124
Inglis, 27
Moon
Richard, 79
Morrison
David, 96
John, 187
Moseley
Joseph, 219
Mount Pleasant Farm, 35, 96
Nechells, 55
New Homage Cottages, 43
New Road, 118
Nicholls
Henry, 202
Nickolds
Henry, 41
Titus, 72
Nurseries, The, 39
Oaklands Cottage, 47, 83
Oakley
Daniel, 222
Richard, 165, 198, 227, 237
Oginton
Simon, 69
Old Heath House, 56
Old Mill, 57, 124, 145
Old School House, The, 160
Olerenshaw
Charles, 96
Orchard Close, 37
Ostler, 159, 220
Owen
John Frederick, 187
Pacey
Charles, 207
Paddy
Andrew, 121
Paddys Lane, 121
Paradise Farm, 83
Paradise Lane, 86, 87, 120
Parkes
George John, 73
Parson’s Croft, 171
Peake
Fred, 207
Pearson
William, 236
Pedestrianism, 219
Pendeford Cottage, 58, 144
Pendeford Hall, 57, 143
Pendeford Mill, 141
Penkridge Workhouse, 165
Penkside, 96, 122
Perkin
James, 88
Piggott
William, 41
Pinfold Lane, 157
Pinke
Thomas, 181
Piper
Cyril, 39
Pitchford
Eleanor, 41
Plant
Joseph, 201
Poaching, 187
Police Officers
Barnett, 201
Bond, 200
Boyer, 192, 207
Burton, 191
Fletcher, 191
Horn, 237
Hurmston, 191
Lawson, 191
Lawton, 237
Maguire, 211
McCabe, 190
Poulton, 200, 201, 241
Price, 190
Snead, 201, 207
Spendlove, 190
Titterton, 227
Police Station, 41, 51
Poplars Farm, 45, 49, 81, 159
Poplars Farm Way, 122, 147
Possessions, 182
Post Office, 41, 43
Poultney
James, 192
Powell
George, 208
Preston
James, 34, 35
Price
William, 69
Public Houses
Anchor Inn, 35, 44, 50, 83,
124, 135, 192, 193, 200,
239
Ball Inn, 56, 219
Black Lion, 88, 216
Four Ashes Inn, 89, 122, 196,
197, 201, 209, 229
Harrow Inn, 44, 63, 83, 96,
150, 192, 200, 201, 236
New Inn, 34, 159, 222, 225
Rainbow Inn, 43, 49, 158, 200,
201, 223
Pugilism, 209
Pullen
Clara, 71
John, 191
Richard, 71
Richard Standeford, 71
Railway Accidents, 110
Railway House, 88
Reynolds
Leonard, 41
Michael, 175
Samuel, 91
Richards, 35
Henry, 41, 45, 47, 83, 182
Rigby
John, 111
River Penk, 53, 79, 95, 116, 134,
143
Robb
Shemilt
William, 237
Shenstone, 35, 37, 60
William, 70
Sherrett
Henry, 46
Shooting, 92, 163, 219, 237
Shotton
Samuel and Thomas, 43
Simms
Joe, 73
William, 63
Simpson, 86
Slade Heath Railway Bridge, 109
Slater
Henry, 87
Richard, 69
Slaughterhouse, 228
Smith
Charles, 75
George, 37
Saredon Brook, 70, 116, 134, 150,
John, 30, 45, 47, 49, 95, 167,
152, 239
224
Scattergood
Joseph, 91, 92
Edwin, 241
Somerford Hall, 52
School, 22
Somerford Lane, 52
School Lane, 26, 44, 45, 54, 60
Somerford Wood, 124
Schoolbred
Spicer
William, 57
Emma, 225
Sewage Works, 70
Spilsbury
Coven, 134
Thomas, 219
Coven Heath, 134
Spinke
Shadow Factory, 93
Thomas, 181
Shaw Hall, 125
Spring, 145
Shaw Hall Lane, 69
Spruce
Richard, 209
Shaw Lane, 125
James Davidson, 221
Roberts
Emily, 196
James, 41
Robinson
John, 107
Joseph, 79
Rock Bank (Rat Bank), 195, 202
Rodhouse
Tom, 228
Rolliston
Richard, 56
Rookery, The, 43, 59, 134
Rope-making, 216
Roper
Reverend G, 27
Rowlands
George, 27
Royal Ordnance Factory, 83, 118,
125
Stafford Road, 50, 60, 63, 73, 96,
Philip, 35
120, 123, 124, 139, 197,
William, 46
216, 236
Tomkys
Standeford Bridge, 79, 151, 236
Joseph, 227
Standeford Cottage, 62, 71, 166 Towers
Standeford Farm, 124
Henry, 56
Standeford Green, 44, 134
Townsend
Standeford Lodge, 27, 62
Joseph, 50
Standeford Mill, 37, 43, 63, 70, Tranter
72, 150, 191
Benjamin, 221
Star Mobile Home Park, 65
Edwin, 239
Station Drive, 236
Tunckes
Steam Engines, 126, 129, 167, 170,
Richard, 181
173
Turner
Steene
Arthur, 94
Jane, 181
Turnpikes, 229
Stone House, 52
Typhoid, 186
Stradsfield Quarry, 52, 91
Vaughan
Surnames, 179
Elizabeth, 223
Tarmac, 37
George, 210
Taylor
Venables
Kate, 200
George W, 222
Telephone Exchange, 33
Vicarage, The, 160
Terry
Village Foundry, 37, 171, 177
William, 181
Wade
Thacker
Charles, 88
Roseanna, 228
Thomas, 34
Thompson
Walhouse
Ann, 56
William, 89
George, 237
Walker
Thorneycroft
Alfred, 241
Edward, 56
War Memorial, 81
Three Hammers Farm, 73, 134
Ward
Till
Alfred, 201, 204
Frank, 34
Edwin, 194
Jane, 229
Joseph, 209, 229
Samuel, 229
Sarah Elizabeth, 205
Waring
Richard, 202
William, 237
Warrington
Basil, 89
Wassall
Winifred, 34
Water Pumping Stations
Slade Heath, 127
Somerford, 127
Water Pumps, 129
Watershead Brook, 79, 145, 159
Watkins
Thomas, 91
Wayside Cottage, 63
Wedge
Michael, 71
Weekes
William, 181
Wells
Joseph, 227
West Beeches, 45
Whalley
Dick, 75
Whatton
Arthur, 43, 60
Wheelwright, 50, 220
White
Charles, 92
White Lodge, 62
Wiggin
Henry, 34
Wiggins Stores, 34, 223
Williams
Catherine, 41
John, 22
Jonathon, 50
Thomas, 50
Willington
Edward, 56, 57, 75
Willmer
John, 192
Wilson
Joseph, 91
Windmill, 69
Woodlands, The, 61, 92
Wootton
Jonah, 88
Joseph G, 190
Wright
Ann, 223
Yates
James, 223
Joseph, 75
Yeomans, 71
Annie Elizabeth, 231
John, 212
Moses, 96

Coven In Times Past

Our latest local history book is now available exclusively via lulu.com 'Coven In Times Past' is a fascinating look into the history of this South Staffordshire village and the surrounding hamlets of Standeford, Four Ashes, Coven Heath, Cross Green and Slade Heath.

With over 250 pages and more than a hundred photographs and diagrams, the book examines the buildings, roads, railways, canals and rivers in the area as well as a large collection of newsworthy events from the nineteenth century and beyond. Original research brings together profiles of notable individuals and details of farms, field names, surnames and many other aspects of the village's past.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/books_by_paul_robinson