GRIFFYDAM HISTORY

William Smith 1820-1908

Father of Eliza Webster (nee Smith) of Griffydam

Eliza Webster (nee Smith)

Born Griffydam 1856-1941

Webster Family

Family Of Samuel & Eliza Webster (nee. Smith of Griffydam)

Griffydam Methodists

Photograph taken at the opening of the new Wesleyan Chapel Sunday School building in 1932 L to R :- Walter Davies (local preacher and Sunday School superintendent); Frank Rowell; Herbert Rowell (local preacher and trustee and grandfather of Herbert Eric Rowell); John Johnson (Miss Florrie Johnson’s father), local preacher and always first up to speak at the “Love Feast”; Leonard Wesley Rowell (steward for 40 years with his son Herbert Eric Rowell)

Walter Davies Griffydam Welseyan Methodist Church Preacher and Sunday School Superindendent

Walter Davies on the right, his brother Herbert centre and brother Joseph on the left

Walter Davies Junior (Standing) c.1907

Walter Davies Children

Walter Davies Junior (standing) with his sisters Elsie, Emmie and Gerty (sitting) St Georges Hill

Davies 3 Generations c1949-50

Left To Right: Walter Davies Junior, Walter Davies, Jeffery Clarke Davies (son of Walter Davies junior)

The William Wilton Family

The Wilton Family Outside The White House Peggs Green Back Row: William, Herbert, Tom, George, Joe, Sarah(Walter Davies wife), Emmaline Middle Row: Maryanne, William senior, Elizabeth(Bessie), Jack Front Row: Arthur, Henry

White House Peggs Green

William and Elizabeth (Bessie) outside their home. Their daughter Sarah was married to Walter Davies, Preacher and Sunday School Superindendent at Griffydam Welseyan Methodist Chapel

Samuel Platts

Samual Platts was born in 1852 in Griffydam. His parents were Samuel, a colliery labourer, born 1815 in Worthington and Mary Platts (nee Bonser) a lace worker and seamstress born in 1816 in Breedon. They had 8 children and Samuel, their only son, also became a colliery worker. We believe they lived in a row of terraced cottages next to the school on Top Road. Photo courtesy of Molly Storer (great granddaughter)

Griffydam Football Club 1921-22 Winners Of The Third Division Coalville League

Top: T Witham(trainer), G Wheatley, Jess Croson(captain), J King, W Springthorpe, W Turner, T Cadwallader. Middle: A Sykes, F Witham, R Cadwallader, R Ward, Charlie Platts, J Hodges. Front: W Rowell, George Croson, W Bartram, H Springthorpe, J Ward

Gertrude Francis

Gertrude Francis (nee Crabtree) from Worthington her father was a carpenter. Photo taken outside the front door of The Cottage Elder Lane where she lived

Frederick Francis

Frederick Francis with granddaughter Gillian Francis (born in 1942) taken around 1946

James Edgar Francis

James with his father Frederick Francis outside their home at The Cottage, Elder Lane. James Edgar Francis was born in March 1921 and the photo would have been taken around 1934. Jimmy Francis (son of James Edgar) believes the Francis family may have came from Birmingham way .

Griffydam Young Men

James Edgar Francis (known as Son) far left, Nelson Wilton far right, Sam Dimmock centre. James Edgar Francis was born in 1921. His parents Frederick James Francis and wife Gertrude (nee Crabtree) lived in The Cottage on Elder Lane (click on picture 'Go To Link' to find out about The Cottage). They had 4 children, 3 boys - John Frederick, Tom, James and a girl Esther Many thanks to Jimmy Francis for the photograph & information about his father's family.

Griffydam Young Men

Nelson Wilton second left, James Edgar Francis next to him (front). Many thanks to Jimmy Francis (son of James Edgar Francis) for sharing the photograph

Young Men of Griffydam c. 1938

Taken in the cunneries top field with Mrs Herp's house on Elder Lane in the background From L to R:- Fred (Joseph Frederick) Hodges who was Sam Hodges's cousin, Ken Marshall?, Nelson Wilton, Arthur Wilton, Sam Dimmock. Sam Dimmock & Sam Hodges were later to become Japanese POWs (see photos below) Fred Hodges emigrated to New Zealand soon after the War ended and Arthur Wilton emigrated to Australia in the early 60's. Many thanks to Michael Hodges for the photograph

Pantos At The Welfare Institute

L To R TOP Roy Johnson, Janet Beniston, Vernon Smith, Gerald Callagan FRONT Children's names not known

Welfare Institute (Beaumont Centre) Darby & Joan Club 1954

L To R FRONT ROW Christine Allcoat’s Grandma, Mrs Hill, Mrs Wilton, Mrs Brooks, Mrs. Reed, Mrs Harvey, Mrs Flo Morley, Mr. Wilton MIDDLE ROW Mrs O’ Reilly, Mrs Dimmock, Mrs. Richardson, Mrs Morley, Sarah Barkby, Mrs Barkby, Mrs. Fern, Mrs Fairbrother, Mrs Watkins, Mrs Morley, Mrs. Howkins, Mr Barker ?, Mr Morley. TOP ROW Mrs. Williamson, Mrs Brown, Mrs. Hutchinson, Mrs Rowell, Mrs Morley, Mrs. Morley, Mrs Bradley, Mr Harrison, Mrs Harrison (the first five ladies were thought to be the helpers)

Welfare Institute (Beaumont Centre)

Vernon Smith (2nd Left), Chairman of the Beaumont Centre Management Committee, receives a cheque for £100 from Mr Reg Burton on behalf of customers of the New Inn, Peggs Green. With them are the landlord & landlady of the pub Mr & Mrs E Bradford

Welfare Institute (Beaumont Centre)

Darby & Joan Club c.1954/55 Members mainly came from Griffydam & Peggs Green

Welfare Institute (Beaumont Centre) 1955

FROM L TO R ON BENCH Janet Draycott (Grandmother of Sheila Fisher), Albert Draycott (grandad), Mary Williamson (Sheila Fisher’s Mum), Lillian Platts BACK ROW L TO R Mrs. Morley, Sarah Barkby, Liza Waterfield, Mrs. Dimmock, Mrs. Leeson, Louie Hutchinson, Mrs. Marshall

Miss Florrie Johnson

A much loved Griffydam teacher at her retirement in 1971. She lived at 25 Top Road all her life and died in 2006 at the age of ninety-nine. From L to R:- Miss J. Townsend, Miss Florrie Johnson, Mr S. Towers, Mr K. Hutchinson, Jane Elson (School captain).

Jack Harris

In 1940 Jack Harris opened a general store in part of what is now 39 Top Road, Griffydam. Jack was a well known character in the locality. He had a valuable gold watch with the inscription Sergeant Horace Hoult which led to rumours that he may have been was some kind of spy.

The Hodges Family

In 1916 the Hodges family lived in this house on Middle Road, Griffydam. Thomas Hodges was a coal miner. The children shown in the photo left to right are Thomas Wilmot Hodges, Frederick Hodges and Zilpha Hodges. It is thought that the house was demolished when the bungalows on Top Road were built in the 1960s

Mrs Witham Outside The Chapel Caretaker's Cottage

Mrs & Mrs Witham lived in the caretakers cottage in the grounds of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel (Top Chapel). Here you can see Sarah Witham outside the cottage having a rest from cleaning as you can see with the carpets outside. The Cottage was later demolished.

Sunday School Outing

Taken in the late 1940's. The people known to be in the photograph are: A – Rose Bradford, B - Archie Burton, C – Dennis Else, D – Ron Burton, E - Mrs. Liquorish, F - Florence Hilda Burton.

Samuel Hodges

Surviving Japanese Prisoner Of War 4859871 Lance Corporal Samuel Hodges 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment From Griffydam Born 1.09.1918 Click on link to see Sam's diary

Sam Hodges Return After WW2

Samuel Hodges (2nd from right) and George Chippendale from Ravenstone (2nd from left) arriving at Leicestershire station after the war.

Samuel Dimmock

Surviving Japanese Prisoner Of War 4860501 Lance Corporal Samuel Dimmock 1st Battalion Leicestershire Regiment From Griffydam Born 07.09.1919

John Howkin

Surviving Japanese Prisoner Of War 956459 Gunner 148th Bedfordshire Yeomanry Field Regiment Royal Artillery From Pegg's Green Born 10.08.1919

Charlie Wright

For many years, from 1939 through to the 1980s, Charlie Wright was a dairy farmer at Brand Farm, delivering milk to the surrounding villages, initially in churns and by horse and float. Here he can been seen with young Alan Taylor delivering milk on the float with Billy the horse c.1949.

Charlie Wright c.1939

Charlie Wright of Brand Farm delivering the milk on his motorcycle and side car

Alan Taylor c. 1949

Alan looking after Billy the horse whilst Charlie Wright makes a milk delivery

Mr Hines and Mr King

The above is a remarkable photograph of a proud marksmen and friend with their trophy of a rabbit standing outside the Travellers Rest. Their names were Mr. Hines and Mr. King. The photograph was taken c.1920.

Sarah Darby & Granddaughter

Sarah Darby with granddaughter Pauline Hill Holmleigh, Bottom Road

Martin Pepper

Martin Pepper in his garden in Osgathorpe after a shift at Lount Colliery. Martin is the great uncle of local Griffydam resident John Bramley

Flo & Alice Dimmock

Flo & Alice Dimmock in Griffydam c.1930. Sisters Of Samuel Dimmock

Mick Upton & Jack Hill

Two Griffydam miners who rescued Owen Johnson who fell down his grandmother's well in October 1934. Mick slid down the rope into the well while Jack held onto it. Mick crabbed the child by his clothes and Jack hauled them both up to safety

Owen Johnson & His Mother

1934 Photograph from the Leicester Evening Mail after 2 year old Owen, from Bottom Road Griffydam, fell 32ft down his grandmother's well. His grandmother, Mrs Joseph Wesley, sought help from Mick Upton and Jack Hill who came to his rescue. Remarkably Owen escaped with just a few cuts and bruises.

George Kilby

George Kilby was the landlord of the Griffin Inn 1916-1921 and the Waggon & Horses from 1922-1933. Here he can be seen in the garden of the Griffin.

Mrs Williamson

Landlady of the Griffin Inn taken outside the pub in 1931 with her son. Her husband Tom Williamson was landlord

Griffin Inn Domino Team

The Griffin Inn Domino team c.1959 Left To Right: Albert Kilby, Jack Hill, Ben Stone, Albert Abbott, Harry Frear, Thomas Hodges and Arthur Else

George Kilby With His Sons

George Kilby was Landlord of the Wagon & Horses from 1922 to 1933. He was also Landlord at The Griffin from 1916 to 1921. He had 10 children. His four sons from left to right:- Jack, Albert, Walter and Joe. He later became a coal miner and died in 1947.

Charles Abbott Pepper

Charles Abbott Pepper was in charge of a Butty Gang at Bug & Wink employing his sons. They walked from Osgathorpe to get to work. Charles is the great grandfather of Griffydam resident John Bramley

Travellers Rest Football Team

The Travellers Rest Football Team (thought to be named Griffydam Swifts) in 1904 pictured outside the Pub

Thomas & Emma Platts

Thomas and Emma Platts came to live in Griffydam following their marriage in 1879. They lived in Main Street (now 18 Elder Lane) in the first cottage on the RH side after the chapel. This photograph of them would have been taken c.1900. Apparently, they were the first people to live in the cottage and lived there all their life and it is where they had all their children, although there is a suggestion that Thomas's father William may have lived in the cottage first

Emma Platts Parents

Emma Platts Parents William & Maria Bailey

Thomas and Emma Platts

Thomas and Emma had 12 children over a period of 20 years who were all born and lived at the cottage on Main Street (now 18 Elder Lane). They were: William, Martha, Thomas, James, Joseph, Mary Maria, Emma, Charles William, Eliza, Priscilla, Frank and Gertrude Jane.

Wedding Of Maria Platts & George Hill

Thomas & Emma's daughter Mary Maria Platts and George Hill on their wedding day in 1913. The photograph was taken outside of the family cottage on Main Street. Thomas and Emma are sitting either side of the bride and bridegroom.

Maria Platts & George Hill

Another photograph of Maria & George Hill's wedding taken outside of the chapel. The Rev. Alexander who performed the ceremony is in the middle of the third row with the white beard.

Thomas & Emma Platts Grandchildren

This Photograph shows the cottage at 18 Elder Lane as it was c.1920. The two older girls in the photograph are the 2nd and 3rd daughters of Thomas and Emma's son Joseph together with three of their cousins

Platts Sisters Outside Cottage

Three of Emma and Thomas Platts daughters outside of the cottage on Main St (18 Elder Lane)

Joseph Platts & Wife Alice

Thomas & Emma's son Joseph married Alice Broadbent in 1910.

Joseph Platts

Joseph Platts with his daughters Alice (left), May (centre), Dorothy (front) outside the cottage on Main street (18 Elder Lane)

Frank Platts & Lilian Abbot

Frank Platts, son of Thomas & Emma Platts, with his wife Lilian Abbot on their wedding day

Emma (Platts) Hill

Thomas & Emma Platts daughter Emma. Emma married Joseph Hill in 1920. In 1939 the couple were living in Griffydam with 6 other family members.

Winnie Hill

Winnie Hill, daughter of Emma (Platts) Hill and Joseph Hill

Priscilla (Platts) Hide

Priscilla Platts, daughter of Thomas and Emma Platts seen here with her husband Montague L Hide. Priscilla, the only girl to leave home, went to work for a family called Taylors in Allestree, Derby. She moved to Eastbourne with them in 1916 where she met her husband Montague. They were married in 1918. Montague died in 1929 Priscilla never married again.

Walter Platts

Walter, son of Thomas & Emma Platts, was born in 1887 and the only son to leave the area. He died at the age of 26 and thought to have been killed in a pit accident at Dinnington in Yorkshire in 1913. He is buried in Griffydam Wesleyan Methodist graveyard

Martha Platts & James Reid

Martha Platts and husband James Reid outside Griffydam Wesleyan Methodist Chapel

Martha (Platts) Reid

Martha Platts, daughter of Thomas & Emma, married James Reid and they had 9 children: Emma, Louise, James, Ruth, Thomas, Maud, Francis plus Leslie and Lilian who were twins.

Leslie and Lilian Reid

Twins of Martha (Platts) Reid

Charles William Platts

Charles William Platts with his mother Emma Platts outside the family cottage Charlie married Daisy Annie Bent of Uppingham, Rutland in 1920. In 1939 they were living in Griffydam with their 2 children Charles and Margaret Edith Platts (born 03 Jul 1923) known as Edith

Charles Platts Children

Charles and Margaret Edith Platts

Alf Redburn

Alf Reburn in the garden at 18 Elder Lane. Edith Platts met Alf on VE day and they were married 4 years later at St. Matthew's Church, Worthington.

Alf Redburn & Edith Platts

Alf Redburn and Margaret Edith Platts on their wedding day Following their marriage Alf and Edith moved into the Platts family cottage on 18 Elder Lane with Edith's parents Charlie & Daisy Platts. Emma Platts who was then a widow lived with them also till she died. Alf lived there until his death in September 2017. The Cottage has been named Alf's Cottage by its current owners

Alf Redburn Photos

This photograph was found with 3 others by the new owners of 18 Elder Lane. The property was previously occupied by Alf Redburn and his wife Edith (nee Platts). Alf died in 2017. Do you recognise anyone in the photograph. If so please let us know.

Alf Redburn Photos

This photograph was found with 3 others by the new owners of 18 Elder Lane. The property was previously occupied by Alf Redburn and his wife Edith (nee Platts). Alf died in 2017. Do you recognise anyone in the photograph. If so please let us know.

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This photograph was found with 3 others by the new owners of 18 Elder Lane. The photo was initially thought to be of Benjamin Stone, the landlord of the Griffin Inn, who was good friends with the Platts who lived in the cottage where this photograph was found. However, other family members think this may possibly be Alf Redburn.

Photo Owned By Alf Redburn

Do you recognise anyone in this photo or have any information about the group or where it was taken? If so please let us know!