Marian Winterton
Thursday, August 9, 2007 21:12 |
Dorothy Bentley
Hello, I have been studying my family tree and have a lot of old photographs taken of Dorothy Bentley (my Great Aunt) by her father Joseph Bentley who was a keen photographer and took many photographs of the opening of Sutton Park in July 1912 with Mr. James and Sir. J. Horsfall walking in the procession - I didnt realise that this 'Sutton Park' was associated with Sutton in Craven because we have been looking for a place called Sutton Mill which I now realise is Sutton in Craven. My Great, Great Uncle Joseph was married to Miriam Green whose father was a joiner and builder their address at the time of their marriage was 3 Eastfield Place, Sutton Mill - does this house still stand and does anyone remember Dorothy who I believe never married and lived in the family home. I would be happy to share these photos with you if anyone is interested in seeing them of the procession of girls dancing and the floats if I can scan them to a visable degree. |
paulw
webmaster
Friday, August 10, 2007 08:36 |
Hello Marian
Sutton-in-Craven is made up of two wards - Sutton, the original settlement centred on the High Street, and Sutton Mill which grew up around the old corn-mill at the bottom of Main Street and expanded when the textile mill was built. The two wards are effectively merged into one village now, but members of the parish council still represent the individual wards.
I'm pretty sure Eastfield Place still stands, it's between Gordon Street and I will double check and could take a photo and email it to you if you would like to see how it looks today.
Local historian Doris Riley produced a book about Sutton Park called "One of the Gems" several years ago but it is out of print and not easy to get hold of. Cross Hills library has a reference copy, Keighley and Skipton libraries may have them too. I have a copy on loan from a villager at the moment, it has some photos of the opening of the park, I wonder if any were taken by Joseph Bentley?
I would love to add your photos to the gallery, hopefully we can make arrangements about this.
Paul
(webmaster) |
Marian Winterton
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 20:31 |
Thank you Paul for all of the information it is a little difficult to find certain places but your explanation of how Sutton in Craven has evolved in to the town it is today was very interesting I look forward to seeing more on this webpage and hope I can contribute in some way. I thank you for taking the photo's of Eastfield Place and hope the photos taken by Joseph Bentley can be shared, I think he only took photographs of family and don't know that he had any published but during this trip of finding our family tree we have been surprised by our findings more than once.
If anyone can remember anything to do with Dorothy Bentley and her life please contact me no matter how small or trivial - thank you. |
paulw
webmaster
Saturday, August 18, 2007 09:09 |
Hi Marian
Many thanks for sending me the scans of your photos of the opening of Sutton Park. I've set them up on a new page in the gallery. They really are wonderful images from a bygone age.
Paul |
Andrew Monkhouse
Saturday, August 18, 2007 11:23 |
Simply extraordinary, what an amazing set of photo's of Sutton almost 100 years ago. The first 4 shots must be of High Street heading towards the Kings Arms corner, but it kinda looks different (to me anyway). Maybe some of the buildings in these pictures are no longer there.
Thank you Marion and Paul for enabling us to see these incredible images. Amazing to think this all happened pre-WW1 |
Andrew Monkhouse
Saturday, August 18, 2007 11:29 |
My apologies Marian, I mis-spelt your name in my last posting |
Marian Winterton
Saturday, August 18, 2007 21:37 |
Hi Andrew,
I am so pleased to of actually linked these photographs to Sutton - I am very proud to be related to Joseph Bentley but more amazing is that just over a week ago I had no idea that the Sutton Park it mentioned was your 'Sutton Park' I am sure Joseph would of wanted the photos to be viewed and hope they bring as much satisfaction to Sutton residents of this century as the events did when they took place and with modern technology what was sitting for over 90 years in a dusty old photo album are now on view and able to be shared.
|
Denis Pickles
Norfolk
Sunday, August 19, 2007 08:22 |
The photographs of the procession at the opening of the Park are absolutely wonderful. A little bit before my time, though only by quarter of a century! No wonder the Park looks less manicured and more like I remember it. Incidentally, the first few photographs were taken in Crosshills - some at the top of Station Road and others on the Main Street near the [Laycock's?] organ works, not far from Sutton Lane End. The 'Tiller Girls' must have danced and pranced for miles that day!
I was in Sutton for a couple of hours last week, making a quick sketch of 'The Nook' from a position near the old bus stop. I actually saw the great local historian, Doris Riley, but she was dashing [as only one of advanced years can] to catch a bus and hadn't time to talk. Pity. I'll have to content myself with reading the book.
Things look much the same as they are show in the 1912 photographs, but in some ways more dilapidated ie. The Mill gate and the stone steps on the pavement outside Carey Overend'shouse are definitely more worn. That's what the passage of time does for you! I'm going the same way!
Thank you Marian |
paulw
webmaster
Sunday, August 19, 2007 10:30 |
Hi Denis
Thanks for identifying the locations of some of the photos - I'd been wondering just where some of them were taken and was all set to go on a recce yesterday armed with printouts but the constant rain put paid to that idea. I'd like to get a positive identification on all the locations and I'll update the captions and re-arrange the order.
Paul |
Andrew Monkhouse
Sunday, August 19, 2007 12:05 |
Ahh, well done Denis. Yes Crosshills it is (the first few photo's).
I was blinkered in thinking that all the snaps were of Sutton in relation to the opening of the park in 1912, High Street kinda looked like High Street, but something just wasn't right....because it was Crosshills !!!
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paulw
webmaster
Sunday, August 19, 2007 19:36 |
Hi all. I've identified the location of all the photos apart from two that I'm not 100% sure of. I think they're taken on Holme Lane along the wall bordering the Park but can't tie in the viewpoint exactly. The top of the wall looks different too, round stones as opposed to triangular. If anyone can positively identify the location please let me know. I've updated the captions on the gallery page. |
Denis Pickles
Norfolk
Sunday, August 19, 2007 20:28 |
I think that you are correct in identifying the two doubtful locations as alongside the Park. I think that the photos were taken looking down the road towards Sutton Mill from a position across the road from the Black Bull. Perhaps opposite what is now the 'Up Sutton' park gate? In fact, the others photos showing the Bull were probably taken from the same place - the photographer had merely swivled his camera. The drystone wall which forms the boundary of the park would have been rebuilt and railings fitted sometime after the opening. Isn't the dressed stone wall on the right of the same construction of that round Harltleys Mill? In fact, the pillar is probably the boundary of the mill yard. Am I right?
And what on earth is the weird contraption in the park on the extreme left of those pictures? Is it an artists easel or perhaps a stake holding up a sapling. |
Andrew Monkhouse
Sunday, August 19, 2007 21:21 |
Ahh, well done again Holmes, I think you're right in that Joseph Bentley would have simply swivelled around and shot the images down Main Street. In fact is that The Vicarage in the distance ? Elementary dear Watson
Can't make out what the contraption 'artists easel' is to the left of the 2 shots. On the first shot, there's almost a ghostly image of somebody sat underneath it looking left (my vivid imagination working over time again)
Also on the final photo, there's a building in a field just to the right of the Church tower which looks out of place. I don't ever remember seeing that before. I lived at the top of Harper Grove for 20 years with our back garden bordering those fields and used to go 'conkering' and 'progging' in the row of trees to the left of the Church tower.
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paulw
webmaster
Monday, August 20, 2007 08:27 |
Hi Denis - yes you're absolutely right, I had a look this morning and the wall on the right hand side is definitely the boundary wall of Greenroyd Mill. When the Park wall was rebuilt the corner must have been taken back, as the dry stone wall in the photos comes further forward than the current wall. |
paulw
webmaster
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 09:28 |
I've been told by Peter Whitaker, local historian, that the Cross Hills photos are of the procession celebrating the coronation of King George V. This would date them as 22nd June 1911, just over a year before the opening of Sutton Park. I've set these up on a separate gallery page. |
Marian Winterton
Friday, August 24, 2007 09:32 |
I would like to thank you all especially Paul for his hard work in sorting out these photographs and discovering two large events that took place not just the one - our search for our ancestors roles and contributions to the area are on going so if you ever come across the surname Bentley we would be interested to know. We will keep watching this wonderful community site and hope one day to actually visit. |
paulw
webmaster
Friday, August 24, 2007 10:26 |
Thanks Marian - we are indebted to you for discovering the photographs in the first place, and for scanning and sending the CD to me all the way from France. Good luck in your continuing quest!
Paul |
Josie Walsh
Friday, August 24, 2007 19:31 |
Hello Marian
Had a look at the MIs for St Thomas Church, Sutton In Craven and found a gravestone inscription for Joseph & Miriam Bentley, details as follows.
In Loving Memory of Joseph Bentley
born 23.5.1871 died 8.9.1928
Also Miriam his wife
born 12.7.1875 died 9.2.1940
I also have a copy of the marriage certificate for this couple who were married at Kildwick church on the 25.10.1899. If you would like a copy of this please let me know and I can sort out a copy for you.
Josie |
Josie Walsh
Friday, August 24, 2007 22:00 |
Hello Marian
Thought you might like this Memorial Inscription which is in St Thomas Churchyard, Sutton in Craven for the Bentley family.
In Loving Memory of Joseph Bentley
born 23.5.1871 died 8.9.1928
Also Miriam his wife
born 12.7.1875 died 9.2.1946
I also have a copy of the wedding certificate for the above, if you don't have this I could arrange to send this onto you.
Josie |
Marian Winterton
Sunday, August 26, 2007 21:06 |
Hi Josie,
Oh how thoughtful of you I am so very pleased to read that especially the dates of the deaths would love to have a copy of the wedding certificate if that is possible - can I ask did you actually get the inscription from standing gravestones? we have trailed many cemeteries in the hope of finding headstones but so often found nothing I realise that from this generation that more than likey the stones have been taken away or leant against a wall to prevent them falling over.
Again I can't thank you enough for your time in finding this information.
Marian
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Josie Walsh
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 10:00 |
Hello Marian
If you email me I will arrange to send the copy of the wedding certificate onto you
josie@cravenindexes.co.uk
Josie |
Andrew Monkhouse
Tuesday, September 4, 2007 20:40 |
More magnificent photo's from 'Great Great Uncle Joseph's archives'. Keep 'em coming Marian, they're fantastic.
On seeing the 'children playing in the beck' picture I immediately wondered whether Joseph Bentley's trigger finger may have also snapped the other Holme Beck photo which is featured in the gallery. Guess we'll never know.
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Marian Winterton
Wednesday, September 12, 2007 20:06 |
Just thought I would pass on this information that has come to be about Dorothy Bentley and it appears that she was cremated on 22nd December, 1986 and her ashes scattered in Waltonwrays Cemetery Skipton - if anyone can remember her living in Sutton or if she was in an old people's home it would be nice to put her lifestory together - Thank you |
