Some gravestone epitaphs leap out at you and scream that there’s a story to be told here. There’s certainly one here. George Brammah was born in 1835 in Cudworth, near Barnsley. His father George was a quarryman and no doubt was working in one of the many mines or mine-adjacent industries in that part of …
For what was supposedly some sort of business dynasty, the Roberts family left little trace in public records; but this lovely, now flat, and unique gravestone reminds us that they were financially a cut above many others in this part of the graveyard. John Roberts Sr. was born outside of Yorkshire but had made his …
This story was told as part of our “Dead for the Holidays” 2023 tour. We stand here by the grave of William Helliwell, a good Todmorden name. Reading between the lines, it sounds to me as though William led a difficult life, and did not live to an old age, being only 63 when he …
Tom’s story was told as part of our “Dead for the Holidays” 2023 tour. As you’ll have heard me say before, sometimes our stories seem heavy on the tragedy. This is for two reasons: one, we are talking about people whose lives have ended, so there is always a sad ending; two, it is because …
This story was told as part of our “Dead for the Holidays” 2023 tour. I love this story for one main reason—John Turner was a teacher. It seems he was not just any teacher, either… he was someone who was absolutely dedicated to his profession, and had an impact on many lives. It is all …
Read more “33.41 – John Joseph, Mary, John, Sarah Ellen, and Charlotte Turner”
This story was originally told as part of our “Dead for the Holidays” 2023 tour. We stand here before the grave of Fanny Mitchell, whose story is touching one. Starting at the beginning… Fanny Steel was born in Buckinghamshire in 1866. She was the youngest of the 11 children of John and Harriet, who hailed …
This grave holds a man and his two wives, and one of his children. Another child of his doesn’t rest here, but had their life turned upside down by his mother’s illness and his father’s inability to manage…as well as the death of his baby sister. William Redman was born in Coley, Northowram in 1860 …
Read more “25.40 – Susy, Grace, William and Sarah Hannah Redman”
This story was told on our Remembrance Sunday 2023 tour. This is another tale that is about a family, not just a soldier. As often happens, it is filled with tragedy, and not a little graphic detail. Reader discretion is advised. John Albert Barker was born in 1882 to John and Susannah (Marshall) Barker. Susanna …
This story was told on our Remembrance Sunday 2023 tour. This is a story of not just a soldier, but an entire family that were drastically affected by the events of WW1. But let’s start with the birth of a little boy that would one day die for his country. George William Rohrer was born …
Read more “15.4 – Margaretta, George, Leopold and Sarah Mary Rohrer”
(the following is the text from our coverage of this grave on our Remembrance Sunday 2023 tour, so does not cover all the abovenamed in full detail) I’d like to share the life of Fred Ashworth with you, another of our brave Tod lads who died for his country, fighting to keep us all free. …
Read more “V7.7 – Annie, Fred, Mary, Edith, Richard and Will Ashworth”