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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (North Riding) => Topic started by: lesleyhannah on Wednesday 03 May 06 23:25 BST (UK)
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I'd be very grateful if anyone knowing the Scarborough area could help me on this one.
I'm trying to follow the life of my 2xgreat uncle Smith Darling, who was born 1842 and died aged 47 in 1890 in North Riding Lunatic Asylum. The cause of death was epilepsy.
Up to 1881 his occupation had been given as bricklayer (& this is on his death certificate) but in 1881 he is living with his wife, and his occupation is shown as publican. His address is 'Blue Bell', 23 Cross Street, Scarborough. I am assuming the Blue Bell was the name of the pub.
Does anyone know anything about this pub, or know where I can find information or a photo of it?
Will be grateful for any information.
Thank you.
Lesley
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Hi Lesley
If the weather is decent at the weekend I will be having a ride over to Scarborough. I've just had a look at a map of Scarborough and Cross Street isn't far from where I usually park the bike. I'll take my camera and see if there is a "Blue Bell".
Fingers crossed it's not persisting it down.
Regards
Andy
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That's really kind of you. Thank you very much. I'm trying hard to follow the life of this sad great-uncle, and would appreciate any information at all.
Lesley
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hi i have looked all over the web but don't seem to find a blue bell in cross street scarborough? are you sure it still there.for that mater,there don't seem to be any pubs on cross street . just hope i am wrong .good luck and i will keep looking .
migky
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You can search here:
http://www.1881pubs.com/search.asp
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Hi Lesley
I'm afraid the Blue Bell Pub is long gone. The site is now occupied by the Boyes' company and has been for many years - the front of Boyes Store is on Queen Street but it extends back to Cross Street.
Best wishes
Ticker
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Hi Lesley
I had a walk along Cross Street today and as Ticker said the area has been totally redeveloped and nothing older than the 1950's (I guess) remains. I did take a couple of snaps so you can see what the area looks like now. Fingers crossed I attach them properly.
Regards
Andy
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HI!
Thanks Andy, for the pictures. I don't know Scarborough at all, though my mother says it's beautiful. It was good of you to go to so much trouble, and I appreciate it.
And thanks to everyone else for your help. I'm very grateful.
Regards
Lesley
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Hi Lesley
It was a nice day to have a wander so no trouble at all taking the snaps and I was really pleased with myself for managing to post them successfully!
Incidentally, in the second photo, I was stood opposite an old pub called the Shakespeare but that is on St Margaret's Place and at the other end of Cross Street (where the silver car is in the middle of the junction) the name changes to Marlborough Street and there is a pub by this name just out of sight at the end of the road. There were certainly a lot of pubs to chose from at one time, which is probably why some like the Blue Bell disappeared.
Regards
Andy
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It's a funny feeling seeing a place that your ancestors came from, when you haven't been there yourself.
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Lol my nanna lives on that road !
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If you know of any old photos of the street - I could use as a then and now I'd be grateful.
Lesley
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did you ever get a picture of the Blue bell pub?
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No, sadly, I don't think any photos of the pub survive. I'm grateful just to see the photos of the street as it is now. I'd like to see Scarborough -one day, and maybe actually walk down the street.
I did find out more about my gg-uncle, from his divorce papers in TNA at Kew. It's a really sad story so I'm still curious for any more information about his life.
Lesley
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here you go
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Thanks, Appleby, I'm really grateful for that. It's the first time I've seen the actual place any of my ancestors (before my grandparents) lived in. Smith was living in that pub in 1881 with his wife Margaret Ann (nee Hansom). The picture reminds me of streets I remember when I was a girl. I wonder what year it was taken?
Lesley
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the clearances took place in 1933.
the pub was on the junction of cross st/longwestgate.
A few more pics of old scarboro on
www.scarboroughmuseum.com
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A good link - especially the pics of the old town. Thanks again
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Lots and lots of old Scarborough photos here http://www.commanet.org/reflect.aspx?action=searchRequest&view=thumb&language=english&freetext=scarborough
including the areas around Cross Street before the clearances.
Emma
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my ancesters had this pub in 1871/2 ish, this is the first time i have ever seen it!
many thanks for adding it on here.
(by the way they were james fryirs and his wife matilda nee howe. they had several pubs around scarborough town during their lifetime)
just one thing, where it says blue bell, i am sure that it also says 1896, can anyone throw any light on this? am i seeing this correctly?
if so this may not be the original blue bell pub........
tina
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it's strange to think Tina's ancestors and mine both lived in this pub. I love the picture of it (thanks again appleby) - I've got it on my desktop as a screensaver. Tina, I don't know what your family history is, but going on Smith Darling's story I think this pub could have told some amazing stories. Smith is one of my ancestors that I'd really have loved to meet - I may not have any famous ancestors, but I certainly have a whole load of rebels and eccentrics.
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hi lesley,
i am born and bred in scarborough going back at least 10 generations and counting. (my daughter and grandaughter were also born here).
if you were born in scarborough around 1800's then you are probably related to everyone. i am ceratinly related to myself at least once! (have not worked out what cousin i am to my self, might be interesting. lol!)
until the railways came to scarborough and brought new blood into the town, alot of 'cousins' married 'cousins' i always say THATS the reason i am so nutty! lol! (well you have to be to do this hobby which can be sooooo frustrating and exciting at the same time!)
happy hunting
tina
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My great great grandfather Thomas Bell was the publican in 1861 so it is great to see the old photo and discussion about the pub
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I've just realised that in the 1861 census it is called the Blue Ball and is at 22/23 Cross Street.
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Smith seemed to make enough money out of the Blue Bell to apply for a divorce in 1883 (very expensive in those days, and not a normal thing for ordinary working people). He accused his wife Margaret Ann (nee Hansom) of adultery and got a decree nisi. Unfortunately it came to the attention of the judge that Smith had produced a son with a Scottish teenager - and this adultery on his part led to his application for divorce being denied. He had apparently used all his savings in pursuing this legal route, and died soon after, aged 47, in Clifton Lunatic Asylum (via the workhouse).
Margaret Ann disappeared - I never found any trace of her after this.
So, as I say, I reckon the Blue Bell walls could have told some fine tales over the years.
Lesley
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This is the bluebell, junction of cross street and longwestgate