I thought I’d share a few of my old photos that were sent at Christmas time to family and friends and loved ones. I’ve also added some of my recent finds to my collection that I have bought online during this year.

I have never ever seen anything like these beautiful postcards before. For Honour Freedom. 1914-1917. Souvenir of the Great War. Flags of the Allied Forces at the top. Just the bottom two are written on, I bought all three together so am assuming the three children are related. Aren’t they unusual. Such a shame we don’t have these childrens names.

Looking for more information about these postcards above I searched for the Photographer and came up trumps! Here’s a wonderful page full of information about Frank Doran of Brighton and also lots more about the Souvenir Postcards. Found on the super Sussex Photo site: https://www.photohistory-sussex.co.uk/BTNDoranF.htm

Skinner & Bramwell family. This CDV above has been written on in biro at a much later date and incorrectly as I believe it to be Mary Eliza Bramwell with her eldest son John Walter and not her youngest Alfred Edward. Mary Eliza Bramwell was born in 1847 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Sheffield, Yorkshire, as the fourth child of John Bramwell and Clarissa. She had three siblings, Clara, John Henry, and Louise.

Mary Eliza lived with her family in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, until the 1861 census then she was living at the home of William Wheatcroft Harrison, a Manufacturer of Silver Plated Goods (employing 65 people) and his family still in her home town, she was a servant of the family, she was 14. The family had just two servants, the other was Alice Foster aged 18.

Mary Eliza Bramwell was married at aged 20 to Alfred Skinner in Sheffield, Yorkshire. At the time of the 1871 census Alfred was a Warehouseman and they had one son John Walter Skinner born in 1868.They lived in Pomona Street, Ecclesall, Sheffield. 1881 sees the family living at Langdon Street, Ecclesall, Sheffield, Alfred is now described as a Sub Manager for Electro Plate company. They also had another son Alfred Edward Skinner born in 1876, too late for this photo. So my theory is that whoever wrote on the back of this CDV in slightly more modern times thought it was Alfred Edward and I think it was likely to have been John Walter born in 1868 with his Mum, Mary Eliza.

Although on the 1911 census Mary Eliza (Now a Widow) states that she only had two children with one still living, who was actually Alfred Edward, as he and his wife Mabel Annie (Hubbard) and their daughter Rhena Winifred aged two were living in the same household with Mary Eliza. (I believe that maybe Mary thought it meant ‘living with her at that household, as I found that John Walter was still alive) This also bit different from the records I have found, as I have found two other possible children Anne (1868-?)and John Alfred (1871-1871)from looking at the GRO birth/death records, I haven’t found what happened to Anne, the other option is that there was another Skinner family with Ann as a daughter and mothers maiden name Bramwell? Needs more research.

Records for John Walter Skinner who was born in Apr Q 1868 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding. He had married Mary Willis in Jul 1893 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding. He died on 14 Nov 1954 in The Hospital, Dawlish, Devon, England.
Alfred Edward Skinner born on 08 Apr 1876 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and died on 24 Dec 1960 in Newholme Hospital, Bakewell, Derbyshire. He had married Mabel Annie Hubbard in Jul 1907 in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire West Riding (Alfred Edward Skinner was a Cabinet Maker) If you know any more information on this family as always I would love to know! I have put a small public family tree on Ancestry for them: https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/tree/172526830/family?cfpid=282241275046&fpid=282241274482

To all my lovely followers Wishing you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas 🎄✨

Huge thanks to everyone that has read my Blog thoughout this year or Liked, Commented and helped with information on my Old Photos, I really do appreciate you all! Hope you all enjoy my special old photos that I will be sharing through this Christmas and New Year on Twitter and Instagram every day, not forgetting a few specials on my Facebook Page!

Till next time then……………