Widney Works, Oldfield Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire

[Abiam2]

Hello again,

Some of you may remember my search to find out where my father worked as an aircraft fitter during the war.  I found a snippet of information whilst in Maidenhead telling me that at the Widney Works in Oldfield Road they were making aircraft parts for Handley Page Ltd.  This included the chassis for the Halifax bombers and radar equipment used to locate U boats out in the Atlantic.  They had 300 workers there and I am wondering if my father was one of them.

I know1942 is a long way back now but I am hoping someone may be able to help me find out more,

Regards,
Abiam

Can I explain the next 3 posts.  They are nothing to do with above but a helping hand to sort out a problem elsewhere!
Thank you Abiam

[daval57]

Took me a while to find this!  How's this working out?
Hope it was just a blip.
Dave

[daval57]

PS I'm scared! 
First time posting outside a Scottish board.
Must have a wee whisky to calm down......
 

[Abiam2]

How very brave of you!!!  You must get out more.  Anyway this message did not end up in my personal messages.  So I think it was a blip!  Possibly caused by me clicking the notify box.
I do appreciate you taking the time to help.  And I have very pleasant memories of Portsoy in 1958 - coach all the way from Victoria, London.  Took forever but worth it,
Abiam

[Juliefrances]

Hi,

My Grandfather Ernest Warwick (1887-1956) worked at Widney Works, not sure of the dates though but he was a blacksmith by trade. My father (1925 - 1999) and his family lived for a time in Oldfield Road.

Julie

[Abiam2]

That's interesting.  Still hoping someone will remember something,
Regards,
Abiam

[Warwick122]

I can't help you with the works but where was your father born? I am a fellow Warwick (origins from Reading and Tilehurst) but have quite a reasonable database of Berkshire and Hampshire Warricks and Warwicks and might be able to give you some other info.

Warwick122

[Juliefrances]

Hi,

My Fathers name was Frank, born Maidenhead 1925, one of 11 children, his father Ernest born 1887 also Maidenhead, his father James born 1850 in South Moreton - came to Maidenhead sometime between 1871 and 1881 and worked on the railroad.

Julie

[Warwick122]

According to my researches (and please check them!!) James Warwick moved initially to Bray around 1882, and then moved to Maidenhead between 1885 (birth of Beatrice) and Feb 1886 (birth of Ernest), although he moved back to Bray again in 1891 and was back in Maidenhead again in 1892 for the birth of his next child!  Like most railway companies, if you wanted to be promoted, you had to move around the country, but most would stay within their own company.  I should imagine that the depression in the farming industry and the switch to arable led him to give up his job as a herdsman (or perhaps it was betwwe pay, but a more dangerous job.  The National Archives might well have his staff records.
Thanks for the info about your father and grandfather - I have quite a bit about the South Moreton ones, although I don't come from that branch.