Question from
Laura Hammersley
in Edinburgh
December 2008
I'm wondering if you
would post my email online. I'm researching my
family tree and have traced an ancestor back to
Brierley. I'm interested in finding out a bit more
about Brierley and in particular the places associated
with my ancestors.
My great great great
grandfather was George Wilson who was
the postmaster in Brierley as shown on the 1861 census.
His address was Prospect Cottage - does
this still exist? I believe his mother was called
Ann and his daughter Annie Wilson (born
around 1847) was my great great grandmother. The
name of his mother is the furthest back I have managed
to trace this part of my family tree, I don't know what
his fathers name was or what his mother's maiden name
was.
I would be interested
to hear from anyone that knows any information about
George or his family. Or if anyone has any
photographs old or new of Prospect Cottage or the post
office.
Much appreciated Laura
Hammersley Edinburgh
Reply from Richard
Hello Laura
On my
Brierley history web site
http://www.brierleyyorkshireengland.net
you will find my booklet
‘Brererley A History of Brierley’ which has references to
Brierley Post office
and George Wilson.
I have also had a chance to look
through my local history archives, and found these details.
William White’s West Riding Trades
Directory for 1838 lists a George Wilson as a shoemaker at
South Hiendley near Brierley. The Directory for 1852 has
James Wilson as a farmer in South Hiendley .
There had been a post office
in Brierley since about 1840 when it stood close to the
Three Horse
Shoes Inn
but no one by the name of Wilson on
the trades lists.
The 1861 census has George
Wilson aged 40 as a Saddler and Post Master at Prospect
Cottage with his wife Martha 34 daughters Ann 14 and Emily?
10, and Ann Wilson 83 born in Royston about 4 miles from
Brierley, she was the mother of George. George was born in
Shafton about a mile from Brierley. He must have lived in
Brierley since 1847 or earlier as his children were born
here.
The 1861 census has George Wilson
aged 60 born in Felkirk (Shafton) Postmaster & Saddler on
Church St. Brierley, with his wife Martha aged 54 born in
Felkirk (Brierley). Later the
Post Office
was moved to Cross
Hills close to the
junction with Frickley Bridge Lane Then
by 1938 it had been moved to it
present location
again close
to the Three horse Shoes Inn.
Prospect Cottage on Church Street
Brierley stood close to the east side of
Brierley School
and
a few buildings west of the Farriers Arms Inn on the corner
of Common Road , now a renovated cottage. There is a good
chance that it was the long house that later became
Fiddling
farm house.
This was recently demolished to make
way for the new Church Gate housing estate.
