Guestbook Messages

My great great grandfather's sister EMMA JANE WALLER was baptised in Whiston 6 October 1867, parents William and Alice. I originally assumed the railway went through Whiston as William was a blacksmith and worked on the railway in Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield - hence the reason for them living there and baptising her there.

Now I'm wondering if the reason for the baptism was the fact there was a Weslyan chapel built there in 1866 and Alice Waller was a Weslyan. Do you have any further information regarding the chapel?
Thank you, Linda Martin Ontario, Canada
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I was in Oakwood Grange between 1953 and 1956. I have many memories even though I was so young. Is there anyone else who was in the children's home. I would like to get in contact. Was it burnt down? and when did it close. I understand the local authority ran the home.
Lin. Contact Webmaster if you can help.

I was raised at 222 Broom Lane in Rotherham and was christened at Whiston Church in 1942. My grand parents, Ada Crossland and her husband are both buried there. I now live in Florida (Jacksonville), USA and have not returned to the UK since about 1995. One of my favourite memories is of the view of Whiston Cricket Club field and Sitwell Golf Course from the church grounds. I played golf there as a teenager in the 1950's.
Email Me Philip Gibbs

I found an adress of my ancestors on your website and wondered if it's still there or if you knew where it was. It's the foers family at 66 The Hill.
Thanks
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Is everybody aware of the planning application for the Packman Depot on Pleasley Road. Farars Funfairs want to use this for storage and maintanace of Fairground equipment also 4 showmens living vans and 17 car parking spaces.

For those who dont know this is adjacent to Ulley Country park. If you want to object to this contact David Temple planning officer at RMBC.

I am searching my family treee. They begin here in Whiston. Then went to Tetbury and on to Dursley Glos The name is Talboys Was changed by reigistrar in Battersea later.
Email Me Sheila

i was looking for an Uncle who died on the somme in 1916, Isaac Hickman, he married Sarah Pillar from upper whiston. found Pillar family on your 1891 site. can now do more fam. history. i have Isaac's diary from WW1 ending at 0920 at Fricourt on July 1st 1916. thank you for the site it is very good
Email Me alan yates

We are interested in finding out more about Tom's ancestors from the Chesterfield / South Yorks. Area.

His ancestors include: William Simmonite (born abt 1852 in Whiston) who later lived in Newbolt Road, Chesterfield.

Eleanor Madin (or Maiden?) who married William Simmonite in 1876 at Holy Trinity in Chesterfield.

We believe that William's father was Thomas Simmonite, and Eleanor's father was John Madin. John, we think lived in St Helen's Street, Chesterfield.

Tom's a descendent of William's & Eleanor's daughter, Ida May Simmonite.

Any info about these families would be appreciated.
Email Tom and Ali

Dennis Hill born in the village 1947, lived there for 22 years. went to Whiston Primary School, School Hill, then later to Wickersley Secondary. If you need to know more about the village, feel free to contact me.
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I would like to know more about the Whiston Families that came from Whiston England. I am told My grandfather came from Whiston and moved our family here to the United States (michigan). He owned several shopping centers, stores, real estate companies, and car dealerships.
Thomas Arthur Whiston

Would love to see more history of Whiston going as far back as possible as i'm currently researching it's history myself, was surprised to learn Whiston mentioned in the Doomsday book, i didn't realise Whiston went that far back but then only today, in the library, i read about the Battle of Brunanburgh (Brunanburh) that some believe took place in Morthen in 937AD, there's no knowing if this is true of course but it is interesting. I'm a born and bred Whiston lass myself, lived here all my 45 years and i love the place...the village is my favourite place to walk....would love to learn more about the village it's self and the old buildings as i also learnt today about some cottages called 'Sheepshead Row' that were at the bottom of High Street just before you turn into Turner Lane and that were demolished in the 1950's...if anyone knows why i'd love to here from you.
Any way, love the site....keep up the good work.
Jan
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Hello, Richard James Shaw, post master was my 2 x great grandfather. I always knew the cottage as Ivy cottage not Coy's croft. One of Richards daughters Eleanor Shaw married a Frank Coy, perhaps this is were the name came from. Eleanor live at Ivy cottage until her death in 1964. Ivy cottage is no longer there, the Sorellsykes retirement village is now on the site.

I have a lot of information on the Shaw family. The one thing I don't have is old photos. If anyone has any, specifically of Ivy cottage I would love to hear from them. Also if anyone has a connection to this family.
Thank you
Lorraine Weaver

i am looking to trace a penpal i used to correspond with, her name was Judy Avrin and this was in the late 1940,s early 1950,s am hoping to trace her. thankyou

Email Me beryl arnold

An excellent site, full of information and obviously maintained by enthusiasts. The Whiston Manorial Barn was of particular interest. Keep it up!

Brian Smith

I have a memoriam card for an ancestor, Ann Houlder who died in 1866 aged 84 and was interred at Whiston Church. Do you think this would be St. Mary Magdalenes or were there other churchs/burial grounds in Whiston at this time. Her maiden name was Keyworth and she married a Robert Houlder/Holder/Older They had a daughter also called Ann who married Samuel Stinson in 1839 at Whiston. Their place of residence at the time of their marriage was Guilthwaite. Having difficulty finding anything about Robert Houlder/Holder/Older.

Email Me Pat

Hi all! Adding to my previous remarks of 10/04/06, it should have read "my great grandparents, John Henry Smith and Maude Smith nee Belk came from Whiston and my Grandmother Alma Lyne nee Smith was born there is is buried in Whiston Churchyard as is my Grandfather John William Ewert LYNE, who we think came from Swallownest. If any one has any pertinent information, no matter how trivial, please don't hesitate to Email Me Any and all information is greatly appreciated. I found my GT. Grandmother on the 1891 census. There were lots of brothers and sisters listed also, so there must be a ton of relatives around. Love to hear from all of you , Best Wishes, Jim Cook

Heard about you from the Treetonwebsite. My Grandmother and Mother came from Whiston. They were John Henry Smith and Maude Smith nee Belk and were Born around 1877 and died around 1944. My Gt. Grandfather workd at the Treeton Colliery all his life. I have no history on them other than their names. I was born in Treeton and moved to Toronto, Canada when I was 10. My memories of that time are spotty at best.

Thank You for your Website, Jim

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I have been researching my family history ,and have recently discovered that my great great grandfather ,(Joseph Broadhurst)on the 1901 census was living in Whiston Yorkshire ,with his son Jeffery and his wife Lizzie . He was 75yrs old on the census. I would like to know if there are any Broadhursts in the church yard or if anybody remembers anything of them . Jeffery was 32 on the census .

Julie

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My name is Melody . I am currently a second year undergraduate studying at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. I will be starting my dissertation in September. I am hoping to write a paper about the experience of the female labour force during World War Two. I am taking the well known statement that, 'Everybody experienced their own war...', I am hoping to discuss the effect of 'Individual Situation', by that i am going to examine the homefront during the war and how, class, especially the perception of class - internally and externally, together with geography, that of town versus the countryside; would have had upon the kind of female war work that women would have undertaken in each area.

I am hoping to include two case studies of my grandmothers war time labour experiences to support my findings and compliment my paper. I am writting to your website because, while my maternal Grandmother came from Manchester, my paternal Grandmother was a residenrt of Whiston for over 50 years. My Grandmothers name is, Mrs Nellie Emeny. She lived with her husband Samuel Emeny and her family at 30 Turner Lane, The Green, Whiston, Rotherham. From what my parents can tell me, my Grandmother worked on the land, as part of the local Land Army. I am also interested in Whiston generally during the war, but especially with regards to the roll of women.

I am wondering and hoping that you may know if Whiston Parish Council has any wartime records, written and pictorial, that i may be able use as research material and include in my final paper.

If you do find anything that i would be able to use you can e-mail me.

Thank you for taking the time to help me.

Melody

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I was born in Whiston ,but moved to Sheffield when I married in 1957,Most of my family still live there so i still frequently visit, I has changed a lot since i lived there but I still have a great fondness for the place and would eventualy like to live back there.I was born in a cottage on Hungerhills road they have long gone,Iwould love to see photographs of the road if anyone still has any.I love the site and find it very intresting.

Brenda Turner Nee Wood

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i remember when i used to live in whiston and there was a stable in the village centre and we used to have a meetin around it and sing christmas carols as a community and we used to have gala days and my mum and her friends always used to decorate the floats for it they were the fun times!!

Georgina gibson

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I live at high street and am looking for old pictures of the cottage pre-modernisation or after as well as a bit of history of cottage, pictures links will do. I used to play football for the Hind in early 90s, with such greats as Stan, Dancer & Mando! (yes he played once for them but denies this) bruce brothers from kimberworth managed by Dave Hepenstall

Peter Keenan

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Thankyou for this interesting site. It is great to find out a bit about where my ancestors lived and grew up. My Great great great grandparnets George and Elizabeth Wordsworth were married at St Mary Magdalene Church, Whiston {1824} and Great great grandfather Thomas Wordsworth was both born {1830}and married {1859}to Susannah Machin in Whiston. Thomas was a farmer occupying 68 acres at Herringthorpe Hall farm house and lived there with his 9 children before moving to Australia approx 1884. I would also love to hear anything else about Whiston, my ancestors, the Wordsworths and pictures of the area including Herringthorpe Hall in the time frame of approx 1830- 1884. I'll be back, to hopefully find out more

Thankyou. Wendy.

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Hi to every one in Whiston, great site with so much information.I have been researching my family tree and found out that my ancesters came from Whiston. My family name is Hardwick and I know I have a lot of relatives who are buried in the churchyard and that they resided in Guilthwaite hall around the late 1800,s. I would be interested to find out if any other Hardwicks are still about. Also related through marraige to the Spendloves, Styring, Roddis and others, Any help or other information would be appreciated.

Thanks Michele

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My father was stationed in Chapeltown Park in the Royal Artillery. I remember that place quite well.

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This email refers to one of Bill's stories

I was just wondering if anybody knows anything regarding the ownership or history of the Orchard veiw cottage in Whiston village which is currently derelict,this is out of pure curiosty as i m confused as to why it is not up for sale .I am also unsure if this property was once the old Wishing well restaurant? If any one knows anything about this property please e-mail me as i am desprate and finding it difficult to find information elswhere!

Thankyou please Email Me

while looking through your web site my wife spotted an old photo of myself when I played for the cavaliers, there were a lot of old faces there that no longer live in Whiston. A reunion would be good. If anybody is out there gives us an e mail.

kev Hatfield

A nice site, would love to see more old photographs of whiston

I particularly like the photographs and look forward to seeing the January 2005 ones when they come on.

My name is Lisa Whiston-Howard. Whiston is my maddien name. I was just looking through your web site, which I found over a year ago. You have added to it and it looks great. My father had always heard there was a town or castle with our family name in England, he was excieted that I found your website. We have been trying to find where we came from over in England and where our name came from. It is not a common name, at least not here in the states.

If you look enlarge the Waterloo Well map, you can see Whiston Old Mill, Look for Cowrakes Lane/Moorhouse Lane. It is next to Melrose Cottages on the map.

My grandmother was born in Whiston and I have found the family BARRATT in the 1901 Census living at Old Mill, Whiston. Is it still there? If not where was it?

I was born and brought up only a few miles from Whiston and spent many summer days exploring there. Now live in the Isle of Man but visit Rotherham regularly.

Nice, tidy, straight forward website.

Steve Woodward
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Grandaughter to Samuel Roddis Just trying to find family members of his daughters Matilda and Annie

Margaret Moussadis
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I grew up in Whiston and still have family living there. It was great to see all the spots that I knew as a kid. I left Whiston 7 years ago and would love to return for a visit but until that time I will just keep visiting the website so that I can feel at home. My parents and brothers still live in Whiston and I hope to return next year for a visit to show my children where I grew up.

David Clarkson

My family have too lived in Guilthwaite Hall but have no idea why the 3rd story of the house has disappeared. Fantastic place to live and felt very privaledged. Also I think my step mum lived in Holly house about 15/20 years ago.

Caroline

My father David Stevenson was born in Whiston, I was born at Listerdale maternity home in 1966 and grew up in Whiston. I left in 1987 to live in Hull. I am now teaching English at a university in China. Whilst feeling particularly nostalgic and homesick one day I put in a search for Whiston and found your site; which inspired me to create a powerpoint presentation to show my students.The website is very informative and I have learned alot myself whilst researching.
Thanks
Rebecca Stevenson - Zibo, Shandong Province, China.

Stumbled across your site while looking for something on Google, I moved to Whiston about a year and a half ago and have learnt more today than I have in the last year and a half, thank you for providing an interesting and informative view of the place I live.
Anna

My Nan, & Family were born and bred in Whiston, her name is Gertrude Lee, born 1914, hoping to find something of Family history, she will be 90 this October, would like to give her something from "Home" to mark this wonderful occasion, Can you help ?
kind regards,
shirley dix
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My mother told me before she died that my Grandfather Thomas Ward was born out of wedlock possibly at Guilthwaite and that the alleged father was believed to be a young man called Deakin who lived at the main Hall where Great grandmother worked as a domestic. She was banished and soon replaced after the "young master" made her pregnant and young Thomas was brought up by his grandparents. Much of my family history passed down has proved inaccurate but your website mentions a Mrs Deakin of Guilthwaite and I eventually found a Thomas Ward on the 1881 census living at Guilthwaite with His Grandparents Charles and Ann Ward; incidentally no sign of poor Maria his mother. It seems that what can be verified indicates the story may be true. I was also told that great great grandfather Charles was related, possibly brother, to Thomas W. Ward industrialist, and allegedly world pioneer of "recycling" industrial waste of Carbrook Hall, Sheffield's most haunted house. I have traced 7 out of 8 of my great grandparents to Guilthwaite, Aughton, Aston cum Aughton, and Todwick Common the exception being the mysterious Mr Deakin....

Keith Arrowsmith
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Does anyone know the whereabouts of Margaret Rosser born 1953 in Whiston

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Hi, I lived in Guilthwaite Hall between 1979 and 1984 as a teenager (name Nicholson) and was quite fascinated by your website. When we (my family an I) lived in Guilthwaite Hall we discovered in the loft of the house that it had once been a three story house as the old walls still remained. It would be fascinating to know whether you have found any old blueprints of the house. I know that Rotherham Library has some old maps of place showing the paddock adjoining the main road to be an orchard and that Charles II lived there for a short time when he was a child.

Clare
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I deeply regret that, as I drove by the signs to your village, that I was unable to find the time to visit. Is the village name at all related to William Whiston who was at Cambridge in the 1600's?

Thank you for the information and a short trip down almost memory lane.

Bill Whiston
Grandson of Lionel A. Whiston, who left UK in the early 1900's for Massachusetts.

Very interesting site and well structured
Allan Whiston Email

Hi There!!
How long has this site been up and running? I am surprised I have only just found it if it's been around a while...
I live in Whiston and absolutely love the village. I am really keen to find out names of previous families and stories from Whiston etc, especially anything to do with Holly Cottage. Information on how old the buildings in the village are etc...
This really is great! I think more history and photos would improve the site (I know someone who has lots, but then again, I am sure you do too, if you are true Whiston'ers!).
So, who are you then?? Current locals or past residents??
Well Done! I really enjoyed looking around this site and whistonweb is now in my "favourites".
Thanks
Hayley

I will always remember the Churchyard as 3 of my relatives were buried there.I have lived in Norfolk for the last 50 years.

Does anybody have any information about the old St Mary Magdelenes Church Institute - now known as Lychgate Hall ie what it's former use was etc. Also interested in any books about Whiston
Thanks
Andy H
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I would be interested to know if there are any members of the Hitchen or Coe families still residing in the Whiston area. My maiden name is Hitchen. My grandfather was Robert Hitchen and he married Emily Coe. They had a daughter, Gladys, and three sons, Ernest (my father), Stephen and Gilbert - all of whom are dead.

My father was born in 1903 and lived in one of three cottages at the top of Guilthwaite Hill (on the right-hand side going towards Aughton). My grandfather was a miner at Treeton pit and the family moved to a house in top Bole Hill, Treeton, in the early 1900s. My two uncles never married and my brother, Derek, died unmarried in 1970 so the male lineage has discontinued. I recall hearing of a William Hitchen (Uncle Billy), my grandfather's brother. On the Coe side, my father had a cousin called Jack Coe who was a Rotherham bus driver, later becoming an inspector. Another cousin, Rosie Coe, married Horace Lynes and lived at Treeton. I recall her mother and sister, Betty, living in Treeton, too. I had a great-aunt Florrie who married Joe Snowden and lived in Retford. I am interested in tracing my family back as far as possible and would appreciate any information on these two families.
Thanks :-)
Jean Noble
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Could not find accommodation on the site
Paul Whiston
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What a lovely area this is. I just surfed in to see where my ancesters lived for a few years before moving on to Thrybergh.
William & Keziah ASKIN farrier, children, Dinah ASKIN (b.1817-Whiston,WRY) m. Aaron Roddis; William ASKIN (b.1820-Whiston,) Charles ASKIN (b.1829-Whiston,WRY)
Rena McCarthy,Lancashire

I was quite pleased to find this site, I'm originally from Whiston and my family are still there. I'm now living in the highlands but as often as possible I make the trip back. Hope to return to live there one day.
Jason Goodwill
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Good to hear from you Lynda! Enjoy your visit.
I should point out that there is also a Whiston in Merseyside
References to Whiston in Staffordshire
References to Whiston in South Northamptonshire
Webmaster

My family will be traveling to England this summer and one of the things we would most like to do is visit the village that shares our last name. Maybe we can even find some of our relatives!
Lynda Whiston
E-mail

Hello there,
I recently purchased "The Stables" in the Old School Yard, up on School Lane. I would be greatful to hear from anyone out there who knows about the history of the old school or the stone folley which sits at the top of the site.
Best regards,
Steve Crowder
E-mail

Can anyone supply me with infomation regarding a Arthur Alexander Batley D.O.B 5-5-1873. In Whiston.He moved to Birkenhead, Lancs.
With Thanks.
Robert Batley

We are US Expats currently living in Latvia and will be relocating in the Sheffield area over the next couple of months. We are planning on renting a house in a smaller village in the Eastern side of Sheffield. Do you have any recommendations or ideas on how to address this issue? We enjoyed your village while we were in the area last week looking at the new job.
Nice web site!
Regards,
Brett

My grandfather FRANK JENKINSON was born Broom Road,Whiston Oct 1892. I'm just exploring my heritage.
More history would be good!
Raymond
E-mail bull@comporium.net

Hi, there!
Interesting site and great photos. My dad was born in Whiston in 1914 and there are several family branches connected to the village. One of my ancestors is listed in the 1822 Listing. Joseph Simmonite, shoemaker. My maiden name was WADSWORTH, the family originally coming from Wickersley. One of my ancestresses drowned in Whiston Brook on her way home from celebrating Christmas at the Sitwell Arms. Her long dress and layers of petticoats became waterlogged, poor dear.
Keep up the good work!

Shirley in Canada