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Friday 27 February 2009

Lazy Dayz ...

Bit of a flying visit tonight ...

Well I've been a right lazy lump today and not touched the site at all. Am raring to go again tomorrow although I have the girls coming round tonight so might not be an early start !!

Have decided that the weather forecast is a bit dodgy - you might as well lick you finger and stick it out of the window but it looks nice so I'm going to keep it for now.

I hope you all have a great weekend whatever you might be doing (all 3 of you!)

Thursday 26 February 2009

Barrett's 1910 Directory ...

I've added the 1910 directory today and it's amazing how many people and tradesmen and women came to Thornton between 1892 and 1910. A lot of the tradesmen have a 'j' after their name eg: 'joiner (j.), cooper (j.),' and I can't find out what it means so if anybody knows I'll steal your answer and pretend it's my own (kidding).

Am late tonight as was stood losing the will to live in the queue in the Kentucky in Cleveleys which seems to only employ special people and I don't mean that in a nice way!


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Wednesday 25 February 2009

Google Earth Ocean ...

I'm busy at the moment typing up Barrett's 1910 Directory for Thornton and it's amazing how the population increased when The Alkali Company came. There was one entry which made me smile - a Mr Fairclough who was a 'joiner and undertaker' .. talk about cutting out the middle man !! I'll hopefully get it on tomorrow.

Now to Google Earth Ocean. I got really excited when I saw that you could now go into the sea and see the seabed so I downloaded Google Earth last night in great anticipation of going in search of pre-roman ports and Singleton Thorpe off Cleveleys beach. But, it is so slow and I never once managed to get under the surface of the water. It's really interesting to view Thornton from different angles though. I ended up taking it off my computer as it seemed to slow everything down. If anybody else has managed to go into the sea please let me know how the flippin eck you did it !

I've found a great site today for editing your photo's which is free (a word I like) and extremely easy to use. You have to register but you don't have to give loads of info.

Click on the link to try it out ...
Picnik

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Tuesday 24 February 2009

Wignall and Widgets ...

I forgot to mention yesterday that I added information on the site about Wignall Memorial although there isn't very much to go on at the moment until I do a bit more digging. Today I've added a page which gives a brief run down of where and what Thornton is, and has been ( almost confused myself there !)

Today I've been playing with Widgets which are my new favourite thing. For those of you who don't know what they are (and that would include me before this morning rock star quiz ) they are bits you attached to your site with extra bits on - and that's a computer fact! In the side bar I have added a Thornton 3 day weather forecast (don't blame me if it rains on your smalls) Local News and Wyre News. The news are linked to the Gazette. I've set the weather in Farenheit (old money) as it's the one I use but if everyone prefers Celcius I'll change it.

Just for Fun ... (always makes me laugh-turn your sound on)
run with your arrow keys and jump with the space bar
* Free Extreme Pamplona *


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Monday 23 February 2009

Word Verification error ...

Apologies if you are trying to post a comment but Brian has just told me that the word verification is not loading. I will try and sort it out as soon as poss.

**I've taken if off for now until it debugs itself **

Where was Thornton Village ? ...

Firstly the answer to the quiz is ...

I’m stood at a crossroads with roads straight and true,
Stanah Rd, River Rd, Hillylaid Rd and Raikes Rd,
Its name has been moved and is known to you.
This was the original Four Lane Ends.
A ‘maker of hides’ names the place on my right,
St Nicholas Owen was known as a joiner who was a ‘maker of hides’ (priest holes),
To my left leads a road to a gate that shuts tight.
Hillylaid to the railway crossing gate.
Its name has been taken and moved somewhere near,
Four Lane Ends
To a place where a service is held once a year.
Four Lane Ends, the cenotaph.

Drum roll ...

In 1st place: Brian
In 2nd place: James
In 3rd place: Mike

And the prize this week is that you get to enter next weeks quiz FOR FREE !

****************************

I have been ploughing through a very large old book and have come across the following; ‘In the remaining part of Thornton the original village occupies the southeast portion on slightly elevated ground overlooking the Wyre. On the north-west slope of the same ground is Stanah.’

I'm stumped for now as Raikes doesn't seem to fit.

For Fun

To be is to do - Socrates ..
To do is to be - Sartre ..
Do be do be do - Sinatra

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Sunday 22 February 2009

Sunday Quiz ...

Where am I ?

For this weeks quiz I have done a riddle which I hope isn't too easy !

I’m stood at a crossroads with roads straight and true,
Its name has been moved and is known to you.
A ‘maker of hides’ names the place on my right,
To my left leads a road to a gate that shuts tight.
Its name has been taken and moved somewhere near,
To a place where a service is held once a year.
Where am I?
confused smileys

DON'T POST YOUR ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS -
* Post them here *
Just fill in 'your name' & 'e-mail' and send your answer.

I'll reveal the answer tomorrow ...

For Fun

Click on the link to find out where in the uk people with your surname were living in 1881 and 1998.

* National Trust Names *


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Saturday 21 February 2009

Trade Directory ...

Evening all ... flying visit tonight

I have added Barrett's Directory - 1892 for Thornton tonight. It's a bit like an early yellow pages so doesn't list everybody and in 1892 it also covers Fleetwood and Cleveleys. I will add the 1910 one when I have finished typing it.

***

These pictures are from an advert but wouldn't they be great instead of speed camera's !! Especially if they moved them around.
http://planetsmilies.net/happy-smiley-74.gif























Don't forget the quiz tomorrow night !!

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Friday 20 February 2009

Dykes in Thornton ...

Gosh where did that week go ?

It's Friday again and I've just had one of the worst things that can happen to a girl .. went to crack the seal on my drink of choice ( a very small bottle I might add ) and the top just span round and round and wouldn't come off! I thought through all the practical things to do and then just stabbed the top with a very big knife (don't try this at home unless desperate). It's such a shame because now I will have to drink it all or it will evaporate.
http://planetsmilies.net/happy-smiley-84.gif
Anyway I have added a google map showing the dykes in Thornton (keep it clean) which I will keep adding to as and when I spot them.

I've also started to investigate Thornton for Cleveleys Railway Station and have also added a map for that showing the current and the original route. Am a bit confused as on the 1847 OS map it shows the railway going into what appears to be the sea across the entrance to the dock at Fleetwood but I can only put down what I see. I missed an old Railway Ticket for sale on e-bay yesterday which I would have got for the site. James posted the other night that he worked for a time at Poulton's Old Railway Station on the Breck opposite the Royal Oak. I didn't know it had moved but it did.

Hope everyone has a great weekend.

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Thursday 19 February 2009

Gone Fishing ...


Wednesday 18 February 2009

Sandyforth Bank ...

I've been fiddling around in the engine room today trying to make the site easier to get around. I have added 3 new buttons to click on the Home Page:




A full list of all the pages on the site.




Brings you straight here.




Takes you to the Thornton Cleveleys Forum
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I've also added details of Sandforth Bank which built 1873 and has also gone on the Top 10 Oldest. I remember it as The Victorian House Restaurant, which was a bit creepy, must be the ghosts of the nuns lingering about !
I've also added some pictures of Hill House Farm which aren't the best quality but beggars can't be chosers.
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Tuesday 17 February 2009

Calf Heys ? ...

Well I've had another gathering trip to Fleetwood Library today .. took my passport ;-)

I've added an image of Fishers Fold today

If you're ever wanting to find local information the Local History Section upstairs is great and the staff are really helpful. Also if you are wanting to start tracing your family tree (hints and tips here) 'Ancestry' which is one of the biggest geneaology sites is free online at Wyre libraries .. that's a saving of £85.

I've also been looking at the listed buildings in Thornton and on Meadows Avenue it lists 'Calfs Hey'. It must be referring to Oulder Nook/Parr's Cottage as surely it must be listed, but I've never heard it referred to as that .. have you?

Also it's the monthly meeting of Wyre Archaeology tomorrow night: 18th Feb .. 7.00-7.30pm at Farmer Parr's.

Here's a great free site for old school photo's - they found me! ...
World School Photograph's


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Monday 16 February 2009

The Battle of Brunanburh ...

I hope everybody had a nice weekend despite to weather.

Well over the weekend I've been writing a page for the website on the Battle of Brunanburh which legend has it is supposed to have taken place in Thornton around 937AD (nothing to do with Talbot Square on a Saturday night !) I've found it quite hard going to make all the facts and dates into something that won't make your eyes roll back in your head so I hope it isn't too heavy going. I think it's because I don't quite buy this one .. it just doesn't seem quite right to me but I hope I am proved wrong someday.

Now Portus Setantiorum I think is definately ours and I have my own theory on that one which I'm keeping to myself. Come the warmer weather, and a stout pair of shoes, I'm off to investigate. I'm not sure exactly sure what I am looking for but dilusional enough to think I will know it when I see it !

Just to warn you there are e-mails doing the rounds about Osama Bin Laden which contain a virus. Don't click .. just Bin (excuse the lame pun).

A

Sunday 15 February 2009

Sunday Quiz ...

This one is a picture Quiz .. where in Thornton am I?

I will post the first 3 correct entries tomorrow (don't want to push my luck as not sure 10 people are reading yet !)

2 locations today ...

* Updated with Answers *













.................No.1..............................No. 2
...............................................disguised a bit




















.......Wignall Chapel..............Stone at entrance to St
...............................................Georges Playing Field


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Saturday 14 February 2009

You always get one don't you ...

Well we have a smart alec amongst us .. we were slowly getting more people viewing this blog and then some numpty (that's my polite word) wants to try and spoil it.

Update - Normal service has now been resumed .. phew

Tomorrow I am going to be posting round one of the 'where in Thornton am I' competition and am also busy beavering away through piles of notes for my update for the website on Monday.

See you tomorrow (hopefully)Free Smiley Face Courtesy of www.FreeSmileys.org

A

Friday 13 February 2009

Oulder Nook ...

I've been typing away all afternoon trying to make my notes into something legible and have now put details of Oulder Nook (aka Parr's Cottage) on the site. I have a great photo from the library marked Parr's Cottage, Parr's Lane showing an older gentleman (possibly Adam Parr) taken in 1892. On the back it says it belongs to Mr. A Holt so if you are out there can you get in touch. Finding out who owns the copyright on photos is like wading through treacle and driving me mad! I might just rebel soon and post all the pictures I have .. and then go and hide.

I'm signing off for the weekend now as I have a date tonight with my mate Smirnoff ( its my only vice - honestly). Anyway have a great weekend and don't forget it's the Farmers Market tomorrow.

If your computer screen needs a clean click below...
Eco-friendly screen cleaner ;-)

A

Thursday 12 February 2009

Wet and Wild ...

It's been such a horrid day today so I've spent most of it tinkering in the engine room of the site .. check out my pretty green buttons !

I was thrilled last night to get my first 'Memory Item' which I've posted. I don't want to sound patronising but well done to 'An Old One' for keeping up with technology. Dates and places are great but it's the stories that really bring the history to life.

I've now joined the Thornton Cleveleys Forum and am having great fun reminising about my mispent youth. Many happy days spent climbing trees in Tower Woods (before it was illegal to have fun) .. ah happy times.

There's a very interesting game of Celebrity Poker going on here in the 'Empty Envelopes' post. I'm running short of ideas for people born around/lived around here .. do you know any more ?

My next mission is to type up the details for Oulder Nook and if you're not sure where it is .. tune in next time folks !!

If you fancy staying up till the wee small hours, here's a really addictive free game for you ...
Bloxorz

How to Add a Comment ...

I just wanted to add a quick guide to adding a Comment on this blog. Somebody has contacted me to say they are finding it confusing so until I can find an easier option here’s a quick how to guide …

To read the Comments left by others

At the bottom of the post you want to see click where it says 0 comments , 1 comment etc. This brings up all the comments underneath the main post.

To post a Comment

Go through the steps above and scroll down to the bottom where the comments box is. In the Comment as drop-down box below select Name/URL. Fill in the name you want to show at the top of your comment (mine says History Hunter), leave the URL box empty and then click continue. Now write your comment and click on Post Comment.

The other way is to sign up for a google account at http://www.google.co.uk/ which is easy to do and you won’t have to add your name each time you post.

If you are still having problems please e-mail me at contact.thornton@btinternet.com

Wednesday 11 February 2009

Answers on a Postcard

Well I managed to get Thornton's Top 10 Oldest on last night and decided to split it into 'Buildings' and 'Houses'. Thats the good news, the bad news is my local knowledge is officially pants as I could only think of 2 places and I used one of those more than once! I still have to investigate whether the cottages at Nook are still standing but its difficult to have a proper look without looking like I'm casing the joint. So please keep your eyes open when wandering around .. answers on a postcard.

I've added details on Fleetwood Road Methodist Church today and have been tinkering with some of the pictures. I've been back 3 times to the railway now at different times of day and can't seem to get a picture that isn't either: a) in the shade or b) containing blokes in orange jackets. When the weather gets warmer I will camp out in the Bay Horse beer garden waiting my moment .. all in the interest of the site of course.

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Empty Envelopes

Have spent all afternoon researching at the library today and was thrilled to find an envelope marked 'Old Thornton Hall' .. what joy. Completely empty! I haven't managed to get anything new on the site yet today because I need to root through everything I did find. It's so easy to get distracted with all the lovely information bulging out of the filing cabinets. Hopefully am going to add Thornton's top 10 oldest in 'Places', feel free to join in.

So here's a piece of completely useless irelevant information instead ...

Beatrix Potter was cremated at Carleton Crematorium in 1943 and her ashes were taken back to be scattered at her home near Sawrey.

Monday 9 February 2009

Thornton Hall

I've added some details about Thornton Hall to the website today.

I've tried to do the best with the information I can unearth but the more I dig, the more I realise how little information there is about Thornton. Hopefully I can find out more as there is a limit to the amount of times you can say: perhaps, maybe, most likely and probably !! I have placed a plea for help in next months Thornton Community News so hopefully more information will be forthcoming from the folk of Thornton soon.

Thornton Hall is the reason that I started the website after reading a post online from a lady asking for information from Australia. Her 2 x great Grandfather was born in the Fylde and named his famous ranch in Australia 'Thornton Hall' after emigrating in 1839. She found a newspaper article saying that he had sailed to Australia on the Ship 'Hope' which he had watched being built on the River Wyre. I now know that the Hope was built at Wardley's and was probably (one of my favourite words at the moment) the last large Ship built there before the construction of Fleetwood.

Full post here

Website for Thornton Hall, Australia

I want to bring together all the information I can get my hands on and make it available online 'free of charge' for anybody looking (subject to Google ever finding my site!). Also to try and preserve some of the knowledge held by the older generation before it is lost forever.

Sunday 8 February 2009

When was the Stone Age ????

I have spent all day today trying to find out when the Stone Age was to start a history timeline for the site. I realised I was quoting lots of periods in time without knowing for certain when they were myself so thought it would be a good idea to post one.

What started as a simple query ended up becoming a bit of an obsession as every site I went on gave different dates with some waffling on about flints but never actually giving a date. I know it happened and eventually resorted to the good old Time Team site. Now I can hear a sharp intake of breath but it is just a guide and not written in stone.

The other thing is my visitor counter is going nuts (not that I'm complaining), its gone from 34 to 202 this week but I'm convinced its down to Google trying to locate my site as I'm still not listed. I have a carrier pigeon on standby just in case!

My next task is to try and sort out the jumble that is Thornton Hall or should I say Halls as it moved. Thornton Hall was originally where Thornton Hall Farm is today although on some maps it lists 2 Thornton Halls at once. Wish me luck.
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