Hi Paul
As this RootsChat thread was originated to enquire about John Bailey I will try and keep this post to only include info that could have possibly connections to him however tenuous. If you make 2 more posts we can communicate via personal messages if you so wish and discuss anything about Bessacarr. I am not the oracle on Bessacarr and only intermittently spend any time considering anything about the area. I will write about several things in this post and try in a separate post to show images regarding them, but my limited technology and know how may scupper that. We could exchange email addresses via personal messages to make sending the images less of a problem.
As some of my images are from old maps please be aware the date of which a map is published cannot be taken to indicate an exact representation of an area on that date eg. Houses built 10 years before may not be shown and houses demolished 10 years previously may still be included.
Googling the internet I find is my best source of information.
On any of the images you view, the railway lines are the best source for finding your bearings. Just compare any image with a modern map (Google any).
As I mentioning before Cambridge Air Photos Doncaster and images AMH49 and AMH50 are very informative when intricately studied. I now know they are dated 1965-08-05. They show Bolton Cottage, Holly/Middle Farm, Long Close (House & Field), Bessacarr Lane, Carr Lane, OLD Stoops Lane, Low Ellers Farm, High Ellers/Ellers Farm, the original end of Broughton Road (no.s 65 & 44) and Stoops Road (no. 40), Doncaster Airfield (RAF Doncaster), and much more. Compare with the maps I suggest and hopefully map images I will try and send later.
The other aerial images from ‘Britain From Above’ were taken in 1937, so John Bailey was still alive then. The area of Warren Cottage is contained in them, but little can be observed there.
Google ‘Old maps of Bessacarr Doncaster’ and click on ‘ARCHI UK’ a range of maps of Bessacarr are available for viewing. I will try and send extracts with notes.
old-maps.uk used to be a good source, but access restrictions now apply. I do have some screen shots though.
In response to your post I have the following observations-
‘Long Close’ the House first featured in a map in 1947. Goggle Earth history images can be accessed and the House was previously on this, I do not have this facility, but I did take screen shots of street view whilst still available. The railway line to the Gravel Pits can be seen running through ‘Long Close Field’ in several maps. I do remember one pair of rails embedded in the road surface of Bessacarr Lane in front of Long Close Field & House when I was young and wondered at the time why they were there. As Long Close was previously just a Field , it is possible that the quarrying company purchased it to facilitate the construction of the railway and this in turn enabled the building of the ‘Long Close House’. The later development of housing in Long Close seemed to be contained exactly in the perimeter of the field, possibly indicating that the field was sold by a different owner to a different developer than the ones in the surrounding area.
Warren Cottage is included in map a dated 1950. The land registry would I presume the best place to find details about it.
Bessacarr Lane Halt. Operational 1912 to 1924. A halt is simply that, a place where trains may halt. There maybe basic platforms, but usually no buildings. When you study the maps, you will notice there was no population anywhere near there to justify a passenger stop. The Halt I imagine was either to aid the Farms or maybe the Gravel Pits.
I know little about the murder of the gardener. The only other knowledge I have is the youths were caught at the A1M Warmsworth Interchange. Most of my limited knowledge oddly came from meeting a Doncaster Police Officer in Surrey in 1989. The gardener used to have an occasional drink with a dignified gentleman Mr Taylor of Broughton Road ( d. 1983 age 83) at Punch’s Hotel.
A few snippets now that could have had a chance of involving or viewed by John Bailey or members of his family Alice, John Frederick, Agnes etc.
At the top of Bolton Hill Playing Field near the Bawtry Road Bus Stop are 2 large limestone gate posts. They must have been there when it was just a field and may have been there centuries. Imagine the effort in transporting and erecting them there? Why?
At the THEN end of Broughton Road from approx the mid 50’s onwards there was a large house, that owned all the land in Nutwell Close and the land occupied by 67, 69,and 71 Broughton Rd all used as a paddock for horses. Ignore the gate posts and curved end, the low wall opposite 46 and 48 was the front boundary wall for that property and has been there approx 70 years and could have been often viewed by Alice, John Frederick and Agnes etc. The House was demolished approx 2005 and replaced by 3 pairs of semi detached houses.
More to follow as this post almost too large.
Regards Dave
