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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Oxfordshire => Topic started by: old scotsman on Tuesday 01 November 11 14:27 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to find out more information on my wife's Great Grandfather William Thomas Hunt who had lived most of his adult life at 21 Percy Street, Cowley St John.
When he died in 1932 he was a retired Letterpress Pressman which sounds as if he was working in some sort of publishing house.
Is there a present day local paper in Cowley St John that I could contact?
Ian
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A quick google suggests "The Oxford Mail". Somebody with more local knowledge may have some other suggestions.
Harry
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On reflection, what about Oxford University Press ? - they've been in operation from the early days of printing.
Harry
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Ian
Cowley is a suburb of Oxford City to the East and includes parts of the Cowley Car Complex. That car factory had its own printing press I think it was called Nuffield Press. The factory has had many owners over the years since it was started by Lord Nuffield.
There is of course the University Print as well which was the more famous.
As i recall the Oxford Mail which also included the Oxford Times office is off the Botley Road in Oxford and they have an archive section.
I hope this helps in some small way
Nigel
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Hello,
Percy Street is one of the roads running between Cowley Road and Iffley Road at the bottom end nearest to the City. As well as those mentioned, another place that a printer pressman might have been employed is Hunt and Broadhurst on the Botley Road, although this is on the other side of Oxford. They made and printed notepads, contract school exercise books, and the like, from 1906ish onwards.
Vicwinann
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Thank you for all the replies it has been of help.
Vic after a quick hunt for Hunt and Broadhurst I found the following
"After University the family business beckoned so Charles joined his father and uncle - William Hunt - in the business, steering it to become an international manufacturing organisation under the name of Hunt & Broadhurst Ltd."
The William Hunt tied in nicely but their had to be a marriage between a Hunt and Broadhurst or a Parsons and a Broadhurst to make it work. It was easily ruled out as being my William.
Nigel the Nuffield Press looks good so I am going to investigate it to see what I can find out
Harry thanks for the pointer to the to the Oxford University Press, may go that way if the Nuffield Press goes nowhere.
Again thank you all for your replies, it has been a great help
Ian
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Nigel
The Nuffield Press was originally called "The Morris Oxford Press" established in 1925 to print "The Morris Owners" magazine and renamed to "The Nuffield Press" in 1942 William would have already retired by then so will have to rule it out.
Harry looks like I will have to investigate the Oxford University Press
Thanks All
Ian
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Ian
Ah yes thats it - my Grand Dad was Lord Nuffield's chauffeur for quite a while so me memory is a bit aged.
At least it gets you a bit closer to your quest
Nigel
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It's nice to get a lot of pointers and gradually rule them out Nigel I have emailed the Oxford University Press to see if they have any Archives of their employees might get an answer there.
Ian
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[quote
Nigel the Nuffield Press looks good so I am going to investigate it to see what I can find out
Harry thanks for the pointer to the to the Oxford University Press, may go that way if the Nuffield Press goes nowhere.
Hi again,
From the online annals of the Oxford Mail it looks like the Nuffield Press went into liquidation in June of this year, so chasing up staff records might prove difficult.
Why do you say that you must disregard it as a workplace for your wife's ancestor? It started in 1925 so is within the time range of a retirement in 1932, or was your William Hunt really in his dotage when he died?
If it should eventually prove to be the right final workplace (Holloway, Cowley) and it definitely is the closest to Percy Street, then there are some good photos of the buildings on the net. I lived just round the corner when I was first married 47 years ago.
Vicwinann
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Hi Vic
He died in 1932, he was 67 years old when the Morris Oxford Press was established in 1925
Ian
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Listed under 'Printers' in Kelly's Directory of Oxfordshire, 1915:-
W Green & Son, 46 Percy Street.
This is obviously the closest to your William, but there were dozens of other small firms including two on Cowley Road.
Hope this helps :D
Carol
P.S. Anyone remember Mowbrays, Blackwells, or the dreaded Pergamon?
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Hi Carol
W Green & Son seems logical as William got Married in 1882, in 1881 he was in lodgings at Higgins Row Oxford St Clements and by1891 he was living at 32 Percy Street. By 1901 he had moved to a larger house at 21 Percy Street where he lived out the rest of his life.
Logic says that he would like to live near where he was employed but I doubt if it could ever be confirmed. I am still waiting of Oxford University Press to get back to me.
Ian
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Oxford university press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the Oxford university and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the vice chancellor known as the delegates of the press. They are headed by the secretary to the delegates, who serves as oxford university press's chief executive and as its major representative on other university bodies. Oxford University has used a similar system to oversee the Press since the 17th century.
Knowledge Quest (http://www.kqeinc.com/)
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Hi danavjet, and welcome to RootsChat :)
Thanks for your input, but I'd be surprised if William worked for OUP. He lived in Percy Street for many years, close to several smaller printing firms. OUP is quite a distance away and census/parish records show that the adjacent area, known as Jericho, housed a great many print workers.
I lived in East Oxford for over 20 years - William's children would have gone to the same infants' school as me! - and I also had ancestors in Jericho. It just seems unlikely that he would have travelled to Walton Street every day :-\ but I wonder if Ian's heard any more from OUP?
Regards,
Carol
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Hi Ian,
I don't know if you'll ever see this message but I might have some useful information for you on the Hunt family. My grandmother was Edith Hunt and I have information on Hunt & Broadhurst, including the family tree going back quite a few generations.
Let me know if you are still reading these messages and I can share what I have with you.
Best,
Gareth