St Mary's Mission, New Street, Andover. Help please

[ridban]

Hi there,

Today, I bought at a street market the account book for the above, thinking that it would be a great bit of history that someone with connections to this place would love to have. They start from about 1918 and detail all the fetes and fundraising events they held. There are lots of fabulous looking receipts for all sorts of expenses connected with the fundraising events from local tradesmen, including:

Frank Beale & Sons Building Contractors, Decorators and Undertakers, Estimates for provision of war memorial and rebuilding the mission and various other things.

The Andover Advertiser.

Harrods, Knightsbridge, quoting for providing Punch & Judy and Clever Dog Toby.

Ditto from Gamages

And lots more.

There is also a bit of a written history.

The accounts were kept by a Miss Ellen M Bracher. I found her in the 1881 census, but I would very much appreciate a 1901 look up, as I don't have access. She was born about 1860 in Andover. She mentions in the history that both her elder brother and her father took services in the church.

Any suggestions as to how to find someone who would be thrilled to have this?

Thanks,
Linda

[brigcs]

Hi Linda,

In 1901  she was at Church Cottage, Andover

William Bracher Head 69 Magistrate Retired Farmer born Salisbury, Wilts
Mary E Bracher Wife 69 born Andover Hants
Ellen M Bracher dau 41 born Andover, Hants
Alice Bracher dau 34 born Andover Hants
Bertha Ball 13 Servant
Emily Griffiths 29 Servant
Ethel M Durrad 19 Boarder

I wish I could help you with the book. How fascinating. Did you buy it near Andover?

Best wishes

Brigcs

[ridban]

I wish I could help you with the book. How fascinating. Did you buy it near Andover?

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the 1901!

Not Andover, but Portobello Street Market (London)  I was looking through a cardboard box full of books, when I spotted it. At first I thought it was a parish register - the Holy Grail for a genealogist!! But no, sadly. Still, I thought it was a pretty good find though. A fabulous bit of history.

I'd love to know, if anyone can help. Is St Mary's Mission and Sunday School in New Street attached to St Mary's Church? Is it C of E? Is it still there?

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks,
Linda

[brigcs]

http://www.astoft.co.uk/andoverchurch.htm

The Church is still there, I don't suppose the mission is. Maybe a vicar at the church would be interested. I wonder if there is somebody on GenesReunited who would be interested. I know somebody with a book about Andover and will have a look in there when I can.

Brig

[brigcs]

http://www.stmarys-andover.org.uk/

Here's the Church site. There's an e mail address so perhaps they'll help you. I see there is a Bracher Close in Andover.

Brig

[Little Nell]

You could also offer it to the Hampshire Record Office - it would then at least be properly conserved and available to the public at the office in Winchester.

Nell

[ridban]

You could also offer it to the Hampshire Record Office - it would then at least be properly conserved and available to the public at the office in Winchester.

Nell

Nell,
That's an excellent idea, which I will give a go!

I'll let you know what response I get from them.

Thanks, Linda

[Tuscany]

I've just come across this thread.

I live near Andover and although the Church is still there I don't think the mission is.

The name Bracher is a well known name in Andover as is Frank Beale.

If you want to send the account book anywhere I am sure the Andover museum would be very grateful to receive and care for it.  Before we had our own museum all the local finds went to Winchester and we have never been able to get them back, so this would be a nice addition to the collection.

The address is:

Andover Museum,
6, Church Close
Andover
Hants

[Littlethyme]

I can't help you with your query but it certainly took me back a few years.  By 1970 the cottage had been split into two and we used to rent 'Church Cottage Annexe' while the main body of the building was an army officers hiring.  The name cottage brings to mind a small property which it certainly wasn't: it was a substantial town house which must have dated back to the 18th century. It is quite likely that the lady ran the mission from one of the lower rooms when it was a single property as there must have been at least three or  four  large four reception rooms downstairs. 
Our bedrooms were on the third floor, almost level with the church belltower, and if we every slept in on Sunday we were almost shaken out of bed when the bells rang.
Thank you for the memories ...
good hunting