The SWAN INN, Hanworth, 1851 and today COMPLETED

[mentmore]

Keith

If you Google The Swan, Hanworth, there is a photo.
It still stands.

[Keith Sherwood]

Phil and Mentmore,
Funny how a thread that has been sinking slowly without trace (for 2 and a half years) has a last death twitch when being supposedly quietly laid to rest in the Completed graveyard...
Thanks very much for all that extra information, and I'll definitely follow up those two leads, then re-contact my sister-in-law, whose family were involved,
very best wishes,
keith
N.B. Now to "Complete" the rest of the long list I was given yesterday...

[kt4u]

Hello Keith
Are you related to the Gatfields of Hanworth? Mr Gatfield the Blacksmith?
I live in Hanworth and there is a block of flats named after him "Gatfield House"

There are also other flats named after old residents of Hanworth and I was thinking of getting their descendants all together for a history walk\day.

best wishes
Katy

[Keith Sherwood]

Katy,
This is extraordinary!  The GATFIELD's are my sister-in-law's family, and the reason that I said I'd do a bit of research for her was the occasion of my mother's 80th birthday party nearly 5 years ago, when most of our family gathered.
She's away on holiday at the moment, but I'll tell her the news when she returns next week...
Are you a local historian for Hanworth, or simply an enthusiast for the area?
Look forward to hearing more about this!
Regards, Keith

[kt4u]

Hello Keith
Well - yes - I am a local historian for Hanworth -(just a title I have given myself)!
As I am sitting here I can glance out of my window and see Gatfield House!  You may like to read some history of the area that I've put online:   www.buttsfarm.org and follow the history link.
My ideas for researching the area came from: I was born here; I knew that when it was built (council housing estate) it was a model esate, I wondered where the name Butts Farm came from, I was asked to buld a website for the local community - that was when the Ah! moment came and I put my research online! and I love tracing my family tree and finding out what was happening when my ancestors were alive!
So Gatfield House was one of 7 blocks of flats on the estate - not perhaps the prettiest flats but very roomy inside - some are on two levels so could be classed as maisonettes.
In the early days everyone knew their neighbours - all the children went to the same schools - walking to school! I have some very good friends who grew-up in Gatfield House.
All the best
Katy

[Keith Sherwood]

Katy,
This is all fascinating stuff, and I'll certainly contact my sister-in-law about it all when she gets back from her holiday on Wednesday.  One of her GATFIELD direct ancestors was definitely a blacksmith, but I gave her all my research 5 years ago, and need her to refresh my memory...
Very best wishes, keith

[kt4u]

Hello Keith
Another little snippet for you: there is a Forge Lane in Hanworth - named after the forge that was there - whether it is the one Mr Gatfield was working at I'm not sure - in Forge Lane there is Forge Lane School - which my daughter went to.
Best wishes Katy

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi again, Katy,
Sorry I didn't acknowledge your post back in August, but as Christmas is a time when families get together, yesterday was no exception and I picked up the thread of this investigation again with my sister-in-law.  The Daniel GATFIELD, blacksmith and churchwarden, who is mentioned in connection with Enclosure awards of 1800 in Hanworth in that link you provided on post 13 is definitely her 4-times great-grandfather, and she is descended through one of his sons, James GATFIELD, b.1807, (also a blacksmith) and then through two generations of namesakes Edward GATFIELD's; the family moved north of the river to Poplar some time after the 1851 Census.
She's actually given me a wonderful photo taken possibly at the turn of the 19thC/20thC showing her great-grandfather in a group of men working on what looks like some kind of railway/tram line, and I'm thinking of posting it on Rootschat so that those very clever people on here can touch it up a little, or at least identify when the photo was taken or where in London it might be situated.
Have you in fact arranged any local history days in Hanworth since you last spoke of the possibility on here...?
Very best wishes, keith

[kt4u]

Hello Keith
Thank you very much for your very interesting message (good fun this!) -   and no I haven't  arranged any local history days...yet...where do you live? I will be having a little meeting - I made a powerpoint show re Mr Whiteley who took over Butts Farm late 1800s that I will show at the meeting... I've got caught up in volunteering to get our community centre rebuilt and sadly the history has slipped but this year I want to spend more time on history - it is so interesting.
Many thanks and best wishes for 2011
I'll send you another post with a facebook group that I am sure you'll be interested in.
best wishes
Katy