info wanted on Cumberland Viaduct Hotel,Workington & Wheatsheaf Hotel,kirkland

[bobgraham]

Looking for someone completely different and with a rare surname, I tried ancestry and the first responses were "British Phone Books 1881-1984". I'm not a member of ancestry so I didn't get any further but it occured to me that a pub/hotel would probably have a phone and so I tried your Margaret Jones. After 200 hits and somewhere in america, i gave up but you have a more vested interest than me and might persevere to see if british phone books  comes into the equation.  (You can fast forward over the first 200 entries) ;>}
Good luck
bob

[GeoffE]

Good idea Bob

In 1939 it appeared as
Viaduct Temperance Hotel Tel: Workington 333

[bobgraham]

But is Margaret Jones listed?
bob

[GeoffE]

But is Margaret Jones listed?

No.  Only 31 JONES listed in Cumberland, Westmorland and N Lancs, 2 in Workington ... neither was her.

[steffi]

thanks,
were Frank Jones or Elsie Marietta Jones listed?
Steffi

[GeoffE]

Nope.

[genjen]

Hi,

I know it's been ages since I said I'd try to find out about the Wheatsheaf but I finally managed to get to the Records Office this morning.

Not a lot to report, I'm afraid. It seems that the Wheatsheaf landlord between 1929 and 1938 was William Simpson. No mention of Margaret Jones.

I will keep looking as there might be something in the library local studies section, which I haven't tried yet.

Just wanted you to know that I haven't forgotten you.

Jen

[steffi]

Hello,

Thanks for your help.

It really is a mystery - I've checked again today and a close family member can remember the family being at the Wheatsheaf in the 1930s :
Elsie Marietta Jones being landlady at the Wheatsheaf ; her mother being Margaret Jones nee Richardson; her father being Frank Jones; Elsie Marietta's son, Frederick also living with them at the Wheatsheaf.

I wonder if they could have been employees rather than in charge? Or is there such a thing as assistant landlord/lady? -I don't know anything about how these things work!

Thanks ever so much for your help!

Steffi

[genjen]

I suppose it is possible that William Simpson, the licensee, had managers in to run the pub. Or, did Elsie Marietta live with him without being married?

I will check again because even if she wasn't named as landlady, there should be some evidence of her being there. Not sure if it is possible to get hold of old electoral registers which would give names of the entire household.

Failing that, I need to start accosting the older members of the Wheatsheaf clientele to see what they know!

Jen