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Keeping The Past Alive, Manchester (2026)

06/01/2026

I thought I’d share this little 1860s carte-de-visite.

A young lady in a wonderful crinoline gown, standing in a photographer’s studio, with one of those painted outdoor backdrops that were so popular at the time.

The archery details are what I like most. She’s holding a bow, and the round piece hanging from her belt is an archery scorecard, worn as part of her outfit. Archery was a popular and respectable pastime for women in the 19th century, often enjoyed socially at clubs or outdoor gatherings.

A handwritten inscription on the reverse tells us that her name was Emma Grove, and that she later married and became Mrs Thwaites, a note that gives us a further peak into her life.

A small photograph, packed with character.

I’ve been a bit quiet on here lately, but this felt like a good one to share.

05/05/2025

This mugshot, taken in the 1870s, shows a man worn down by hardship. His tattered jacket and tired eyes reflect a life of relentless struggle.

Samuel Tappenden was born in the 1820s, a time when poverty gripped much of England and starvation was a constant threat to working-class families. His father, Thomas, earned a living as a brickmaker, backbreaking labour that involved digging clay, moulding it by hand, and firing it in kilns. The pay for labourers was one of the lowest in society, but like his father, Samuel took up the same trade. In 1841, the Tappenden family lived in Keymer, a rural village in West Sussex. The dwelling was right near the local brickyard, surrounded by many other families employed in the same industry.

By 1850, Samuel had moved to London, where he married Louisa Crush at St Peter’s Church in Eaton Square, a notable Anglican church in the heart of the city. However, their union appears to have been troubled. Within a decade, the couple were living apart. He was boarding with the Hieron family in Farnborough and Louisa had moved in with her sister’s family in Hackney, where she found work in the laundry sector.

Tragically, Louisa died just two years later, in 1863, from pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 38. Her death certificate listed no known details about her husband, even stating uncertainty about whether she was widowed or a spinster. Samuel was not present at her death. In 1871, Samuel reappeared in the records, living in Willesden on Canterbury Road, listed as “married” and sharing a home with a woman named Elizabeth. However, no certificate has been found to confirm that they were legally married.

His life continued to unravel and, in 1873, he was arrested for stealing a shirt — a petty crime that hinted at desperation. He was sentenced to 21 days of hard labour at Wandsworth Prison. Samuel continued to fall deeper into poverty and ended up at St George’s Workhouse in 1876, an institution for society’s most destitute. He died there in December of that year from bronchitis, aged 50.

Samuels' story would not have been all that unfamiliar for a working-class individual—petty theft for necessities, stints in the workhouse, and a life of social marginalisation.

12/04/2025

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟱 𝗶𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟵𝟱!

This little boys story is as heart breaking as it is brave. Edward 'Teddie' James Coster was born in 1890 in Chorley wood, a scenic village in Hertfordshire. His early years were defined by an unsettled home life, his parents, James Coster and Mary Jane Brogden, separated when he was still very young. With no stable home, he was placed into care.

At just five years old, he became one of the thousands of children sent to Canada through the child migration schemes. The program was a charitable effort to give impoverished and orphaned children from Britain a chance at a better life abroad. While many were treated well, plenty faced neglect and exploitation.
In 1895, Edward crossed the Atlantic aboard the Parisian, arriving in Ontario at Orillia Station. There, he was adopted by Duncan Anderson, a farmer in Simcoe, and spent his childhood working the land as a laborer.

Meanwhile, back in England, the situation with his biological family had gone from bad to worse. In 1910, Edward’s father, James commited su***de after jumping into the River Thames. An inquest held in Wandsworth concluded a verdict of “su***de while temporarily insane.” Although James had lived apart from Edwards mother, Mary Jane, for nearly 18 years, he had continued to support her financially. A letter written by him was discovered and published in the newspaper but the contents are too sensitive and emotional to repeat in this text. His stepfather spoke of a man who was steady in his work, regular in his habits, and had lived quietly for nearly two decades. Whether Edward ever learned of his father’s fate remains unknown.

By 1916, the war had already claimed millions of lives and Edward, now in his 20s, he enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Over the next four years, he served with honor in both the Ontario regiment and Simcoe foresters. His courage carried him through some of the war’s most brutal battles, including Passchendaele, where he was wounded.

After the war, he stayed in Canada and began a new chapter. In 1923, he married Olava Narveson, and together they had two daughters, Isabella and Gladys. The family made their home on Princess Street in Regina, where Edward found steady work as a plumber with Regina Plumbing and Heating company.

Edward passed away in 1950 at the age of 60. His obituary described him as the dearly beloved husband of Mrs. Olava Coster. He was laid to rest with pride in a Soldier’s Plot at Regina Cemetery—a quiet resting place for a man who had lived through war and loss yet built a life of dignity and love.

03/04/2025

Tracing Forgotten Tales Through Century Old Photos📸

Alfred and Herbert, twins born in 1867 in Merton, Surrey, had ties to a family deeply rooted in London's retail legacy.

Their grandfather, Thomas Dickens, founded a drapers store in 1803 which later became very succesful. Following Thomas’s passing, the twins father, Charles, took the reins of the business alongside partners and it then became Dickins & Jones. The wealth generated by the store allowed the family to live a life of luxury, complete with numerous servants and lavish comforts.

By the 1890s, Dickins & Jones had earned a prestigious reputation, offering a wide array of high-end goods, including clothing and furniture. It had even attracted royalty, including the Princess of Wales. The buisness would later become part of Harrods and then House Of Fraser.

Alfred and Herbert chose different paths in life, stepping away from the family business. Alfred became a surveyor and married Annie Louise Hutchins in 1898 at St Mary Abbots Church in Kensington. On their wedding day, Annie wore a ivory satin dress, embroidered with pearl, sequins and orange blossoms.

The couple settled in Byfleet, Surrey, where they had two daughters: Vivian in 1905 and Moyra in 1908. By 1911, Alfred had retired at the age of 43, an early decision that marked the end of his career but allowed more time with his children. He passed away in Harrogate in 1946 from cerebral thrombosis and artery sclerosis at the age of 78.

Herbert chose to go into the legal sector and became a solicitor. In 1900, he married Edith Player at St. George’s Church in Edgbaston, which was decorated in white and yellow. Edith wore a lace gown with her mother’s wedding veil, adding a personal touch, and carried a bouquet of white heather and lilies.

The couple settled in Wandsworth and had two sons, Cecil in 1904 and Arthur in 1905. They later moved to Kent. Sadly, Edith passed away in 1910 at the age of 38 from nephrosis, kidney disease that caused swelling and led to heart failure. Herbert remarried Helen Willocks three years later. Herbert passed away on Christmas day in 1941 at the age of 74 from uremia and an enlarged prostate.

The Dickins retail legacy is still thriving.While the iconic Regent Street store closed in 2006 and smaller branches were rebranded under House of Fraser, the heritage of lives on. Today, House of Fraser proudly celebrates its history through its in-house label, Dickins & Jones, which upholds the values of craftsmanship and determination that the original family established over 200 years ago.

27/03/2025

In 1869, this 28-year-old woman was sentenced for the murder of her husband. The couple had been married for five years, and on the surface, their marriage appeared to be running smoothly. However, tensions were brewing, leading to a tragic end....

The full case and story is on my YouTube, I've linked it below. Don't forget to subscribe if you enjoy these videos!

Much appreciated everyone.

23/03/2025

For 25 years, this man shut himself away in his crumbling mansion. James lucas was born in 1813 to wealthy landowners and had once enjoyed a life of comfort at Elmwood House in Hertfordshire. However, after the death of his mother in 1849, his behavior began to take a disturbing turn. For three months, he lived alongside her decaying body, unable—or unwilling—to part with her. When he finally buried her, it marked the beginning of his withdrawal from the world.

Consumed by fear and paranoia, he grew distrustful of his relatives and others, driving him to isolation. He sealed every window and door with thick wood, chains, and locks, transforming the once beautiful mansion into a cage of seclusion. The house began to deteriorate under the weight of neglect. James solely lived in his rat infested kitchen, where he slept on a bed of ashes and soot. He wore no clothing and draped himself in a thin blanket for warmth, and paid no mind to cleanliness. His hair grew long and matted, eventually reaching his waist—a reflection of the years of self abandonment.

Despite this, he still received deliveries of bread, milk, and gin and maintained some level of contact with the outside world, speaking to visitors through a barred window. His eccentric lifestyle made him a national curiosity, and people from all over the country traveled to see him, including Charles Dickens. In particular, James enjoyed the company of children and beggars, often giving them pennies and sweets on holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.

Many thought he was suffering with mental illness and attempts were made to have him committed to an asylum, but James was too articulate and clever. In 1874, after suffering a stroke, James was found by one of his watchmen paralyzed and barely conscious. The police, led by Inspector John Reynolds, forced their way into the mansion, breaking through the barricades that James had spent years building. He was then moved to a nearby farm for further care but Two days later, on 19th april, he passed away.

At the time of his death, his fortune was valued at £120,000. Following his passing, workers cleared 17 cartloads of dirt and ashes from his house. James was laid to rest in the family grave at hackney churchyard. In 1893, the mansion was demolished.

16/03/2025

In the blink of an eye, everything can change, and for baby Harold Nesham Bax, life was cruelly stolen before it even had the chance to unfold.

Born in 1877 in Devon to Bonham Ward Bax, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Emily Harris Nesham. From the start, his life was filled with loss. Just a few months after his birth, on July 15, 1877, his father died in Japan, succumbing to dysentery-a gastrointestinal infection, common in soldiers and naval officers due to poor sanitation and contaminated water overseas. He was buried thousands of miles away from his family at Oura International Cemetry in Nagasaki. The loss of her husband left Emily to raise her three young sons and daughter alone, but life would continue to be cruel.

In 1878, just a year after his birth, Harold passed away in Plymstock. Harolds mother, Emily, had lost both her husband and youngest child within two years. Despite all the devastation she faced, she went on to raise her three remaining children, Margaret, Arthur, and Robert, who, by 1901, had all carved out their own lives. With each married, and her son's careers now flourishing, Arthur became a respected clergyman, while Robert followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Royal Navy and rising to the rank of Commander. Emily lived to the age of 89, passing away in 1932 in Birmingham.

I'm sure this picture of Harold would have been kept close to his mothers heart throughout her life, a symbol of a son she lost but never forgot. Hopefully I can find living relatives and give this picture to them, keeping the family’s history alive for future generations.

09/03/2025

𝗜𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟴𝟬, 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗴𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆. 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱.

"David Anderson, labourer, and Ann Grimes, Hawker were placed on trial for the manslaughter of Ann Manson, in the house of Anderson, No 1, Church Walk, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle on the night of 16th or the morning of the 17th of October.

The female prisoner lodged with Anderson and the deceased woman, who lived together as man and wife, and on the night of the occurrence, all three were the worse for drink. The deceased seems to have become jealous of Grimes, as she was heard around 9 o’clock Saturday night to order her away and call her opprobrious names. The neighbours heard a quarrel and a fall, and on their being called in, Anderson said that Grimes had struck the blow which caused the deceased woman to bleed to death from a wound on her left temple.

Mr. Strachan argued that it was quite evident that the fatal quarrel occurred whilst Anderson was fast asleep in a state of drunkenness. His Lordship agreed with Mr. Strachan and directed the jury to find a verdict of not guilty, which was accordingly done, and he was discharged.

Mr. Boyd, on behalf of the female prisoner, contended that the woman had, had a quarrel and the accused woman had inflicted the blow in self-defense. The jury found her guilty, and she was sentenced to five years penal servitude."

During her arrest, Ann gave the false surname "Grimes" to the police, possibly to protect her identity. Interestingly, her children later adopted this surname, though the reasons for this remain unclear. The family surname was actually Graham.

This wasn’t her first brush with the law. She had already served 18 previous short sentences, indicating a long history of trouble with authority. A heartbreaking detail found in her records revealed she had birthed 16 children, 9 of which had passed away, a tragic reflection of the harsh realities many families faced during this time.

While in prison, Ann maintained a close relationship with her son, Andrew, staying connected through frequent letters. Meanwhile, She was assigned to oakum picking, a grueling and painful task that involved untwisting old, tarred rope. This labour was a common form of punishment in prisons, and it often left prisoners’ hands raw, bleeding, and cramped.

Ann served three years of her sentence before being released in 1883 on licence, which led her to the East End refuge in Finchley. She remained there for just under a year before returning to Newcastle, where she took up residence with her married son, Charles, and her two younger sons, Michael and William.

By 1911, Ann, now in her 80's was living in the Newcastle workhouse hospital. Her life came to an end in 1914 at the age of 85, after she fell into a coma caused by an intestinal obstruction.

05/03/2025

New video up on my YouTube now! Any support from any of my followers on here would be much appreciated :)

27/02/2025

Alice Diamond: Queen of the Forty Elephants

The forty elephants were an infamous gang who operated in Elephant and Castle area of South London from the 1870s to the 1950s, striking fear into the hearts of the city's elite of the west end. Made up of working-class women, they were masters of thieving and deception, known for shoplifting and pickpocketing skills.

Alice Diamond, one of the gang's prominent leaders, was born in 1896 in the Lambeth workhouse. Her father, Thomas Diamond, a labourer with a criminal history, had been charged with larceny and assault in the past. Her mother, Mary Ann Alice Black, also struggled with poverty. Like many families of the time, the Diamonds faced financial problems.

Alice had already begun her descent into crime in her early teenage years, stealing a chocolate bar, a seemingly small offence in comparsion to later antics. A number of other theft offences would follow and In 1915, at the age of 19, the newspapers crowned her as queen of the 'Forty Elephants' and sucessor to Mary Carr, the leader.

The group would disguise as upper-class women and would dress in luxurious furs and posh attire, striking a resemblance to movie stars, they blended seamlessly into high-society settings, targeting posh west end department stores where they would take the finest goods. Underneath their polished appearances and fashionable clothing, they cleverly concealed pockets and had their clothing specially tailored, tricks that played a crucial role in their operations. Calm, calculated, and highly successful, they executed their heists with precision.

A notable one being at a jewellery shop on Shaftesbury Avenue which involved five members of the gang. The operation was led by both Hughes and Diamond. Two women distracted the jeweller with purchases, while Hughes and Diamond grabbed two trays of diamond rings and fled in a taxi. This was a prime example of the gang’s methodical approach and clever tactics.

The gang didn’t limit themselves to the high street shops. They went beyond this, they would pose as servants in the homes of the rich and wealthy, infiltrating their estates and blending in with the staff. They would carefully observe the habits of their employers, learning where valuables were kept. Once the house was empty, or when their targets were distracted, they would strike, taking what they wished.

A document from 1923, tells us Alice's criminal history, 11 charges, most for stealing clothes and some for false pretences. In 1926, Alice's reign over the gang began to decline after many succesful robberies. She was charged with wounding with intent, riot damage and assault, she was sentanced to 18 months in Holloway prison. After her release,
the gangs operation significantly faded. Alice Diamond's boldness and crafty skills would live on in history of londons criminal underworld.

20/02/2025

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝘆-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼𝘀🖼

Stephen Greatorex was a man whose life, though tragically short, was defined by hard work, family, and commitment to his trade. Born in 1858 in Wigan, Lancashire, to John Greatorex and Ann Hinds, Stephen grew up in a busy household with two sisters and three brothers. In 1861, the family lived on Poolstock Lane, a lively area in Wigan. Ten years later, they moved to Great George Street.

Stephen’s father, John, started as a groom—someone who cared for horses—before establishing a successful business as a cab proprietor. The business was built from the ground up, and although John came from a working-class family of laborers, he managed to serve the local gentry and businessmen, offering transport for the wealthy. This service was essential in an era when horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transport for the upper class. Stephen and his brother, Edward, worked alongside their father as cab drivers, learning the trade from a young age.

By the 1880s, the family business had grown, and they employed two workers, Robert Iddon and Christopher Bleasdale, as well as a domestic servant. Around this time, the family lived at the Royal Oak on Market Street in Chorley. This former coaching house, complete with stables, was an ideal location for their business. It also became a central hub for others in the same industry, and Stephen's life was now intertwined with a network of fellow drivers and business owners.

In 1882, Stephen married Sarah Catterall, and the couple settled at 22 Livesey Street. Within just a few years, Stephen was running his own cab business where he successfully carried on the family tradition while also establishing his own reputation in the community.

However, like many in the cab business, Stephen faced risks every day. In 1887, while in charge of an excursion party, an accident occurred. While driving, Stephen pulled his cart to the side of the road to allow another vehicle to pass. Unfortunately, the cart grazed a wall, startling the horses and causing them to swerve. The horses mounted the wall, and the sudden movement alarmed the passengers. Thankfully, no one was injured, but the incident highlighted the unpredictable nature of the job. The passengers, shaken by the event, decided to complete their journey by train rather than continue by cart.

Although, his life seemed to be progressing well, tragedy struck when Stephen fell ill in 1892. At just 35 years old, he passed away from pneumonia. After his death, his wife, never remarried and remained in the area where they had once built a life together until her own passing in 1920.

11/02/2025

This photo was taken in the 1870s and the story of the boy in the photo is heartbreaking. In remembrance, I've decided to bring his photo to life.

John William Mills was just 9 years old when he was placed into Dr Barnados orphange in Stepney, London. His mother, Sarah, was suffering with debilitating heart disease and his father, a labourer had died some years earlier.

Unable to care for her son, she placed him in the orphange in 1875. Tragically, John would never have the chance to grow up. Just a year later, in 1876, he succumbed to meningitis, passing away at the tender age of 9 years and 4 months. His mother, despite her illness, was by his side in his final moments. In an extraordinary gesture of compassion, Dr. Thomas Barnardo himself attended John’s funeral, paying his respects to a young life lost too soon.

It has been an honour to bring this photograph to life through color, honoring the memory of a boy who lived and died in the shadow of Victorian England.

May John William Mills never be forgotten.

Keeping The Past Alive

06/01/2026

05/05/2025

12/04/2025

03/04/2025

27/03/2025

23/03/2025

16/03/2025

09/03/2025

05/03/2025

27/02/2025

20/02/2025

11/02/2025

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