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Topics / Lost Buildings / Providence Chapel
Topics / Lost Buildings / Providence Chapel
Topics / Lost Buildings / Providence Chapel
Topics / Lost Buildings / Providence Chapel
Thomas and Emma Platts were married in 1879 and are shown in the 1881 census as living in Griffydam with their first child William, Thomas's widowed mother Jane (a dress maker) and his brother Amos.​
They lived in Main Street (now known as Elder Lane) in the first cottage to the left of Top Chapel.
They may have been the first family to live in the cottage although there is a suggestion that Thomas's father William Platts may have lived there before them.
Thomas & Emma remained in the cottage for the rest of their lives and it is where they had all their children.
A photograph of the cottage in 2018 (now known as Alf's Cottage)
Thomas was a general labourer and later a surface manager at Coleorton Colliery (Bug and Wink).
Thomas and Emma's first child William sadly died aged around 1 year. They had a further 11 children over a period of 20 years who were all born and lived at the cottage. They were:​ Martha, Thomas, James, Joseph, Mary Maria, Emma, Charles William, Eliza, Priscilla, Frank and Gertrude Jane.
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Thomas & Emma Platts
The wedding of daughter Mary Maria Platts to George Hill taken outside of the family cottage. Thomas and Emma are sitting either side of the bride and groom
Thomas & Emma's children remained in the local area apart from Priscilla and Walter who moved away.
Priscilla 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.
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Walter was a colliery labourer and boarded in the household of Charles William Kenny, Nottinghamshire. He died at the age of 26. He is thought to have been killed in a pit accident at Dinnington in Yorkshire in 1913 and is buried in Griffydam Wesleyan Methodist graveyard.
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Priscilla and her husband Montague
Walter Platts
Thomas and Emma's son Charles served with the 17th Royal Scots and was wounded severely in both legs during WWI having seen much service, and being wounded twice previously. During the second world war, Charles was the platoon officer of the Worthington Home Guard.
He married Daisy Annie Bent of Uppingham in 1920. Charles was a colliery worker. They had 2 children Charles born in 1920 and Margaret Edith born in 1923. We know they were living in Middle Row, Griffydam in 1939.
Margaret Edith met Alf Redburn on VE day and they were married 4 years later at St. Matthew's Church, Worthington. Following their marriage they moved into the Platts' family cottage on Main Street (18 Elder Lane) together with Edith's parents Charles and Daisy. Her grandmother Emma Platts, who was then a widow, lived with them also until she died aged 89 after spending all here married life in the same home.
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Margaret Edith and Alf did not have children.​ Alf worked at Breedon Limestone Quarry where he later became a foreman and worked there for the rest of his working life.
They were the last of the Platts family to live in the cottage. Margaret Edith died in 2001. Following Alf's death in 2017 the cottage was sold and named Alf's Cottage by the new owners.​​​​
Charles Platts with his mother Emma Platts
Wedding day of Margaret Edith Platts and Alf Redburn
Charles and Margaret Edith, son & daughter of Charles & Daisy Platts
Margaret Edith and Alf are buried in Griffydam graveyard with Margaret Edith's parents Charles and Daisy
Further information about Thomas and Emma Platts and their large family can be found in Samuel T Stewart's publication here>
Additional photographs and details of the family can also be found on the People Gallery page of this website click here