COTTAGE NEAR BASCHURCH AND WESTON

SHROPSHIRE ARCHIVES PHOTOGRAPH PH/B/3/117

This tiny cottage and the lady standing in the doorway fascinate me.  The description on the photograph says that it is between Baschurch and Weston and that it was demolished in the 1930s.  It belonged to the Noneley family.

When we were photographing these photographs in Shropshire Archives, my colleague, John Ravenscroft noticed that the lady standing at her front door seems to be wearing a gas mask.  The building was demolished in the 1930s so presumably it came from WWI.  Perhaps it is one she had from a relative?

Anyway, I went into FindMyPast to try to find out who she is.  Here are the details of the local Noneleys in the last available census – 1911.

Address:  Weston Lullingfields, nr Baschurch

Annie Noneley	Granddaughter	Single	19	Housekeeper	Born Loppington
Edward Noneley	Head	Widower	81	Carter on Estate	Born Baschurch

Address:  Penny Rush, Weston Lullingfields

Thomas Edwards	Head	Married	32	Cowman on farm	Born Baschurch
Charlotte Edwards	Wife	Married	31		Born Cockshutt
Elizabeth Edwards	Daughter		8	School	Born Baschurch
William T Edwards	Son		5	School	Born Baschurch
Louisa J Paddock	Nursechild		2		Born Baschurch
Elizabeth Noneley	Visitor	Widow	47		Born Cockshutt

Address:  13 Baschurch, Baschurch

Elizabeth Noneley

Head

Single

43

At home

Born Baschurch

Address:  Weston Lullingfields

Job Noneley	Head	Single	44	Waggoner Farm	Born Baschurch
John Noneley	Brother	Single	48	Labourer Builders	Born Ruyton-11-Towns

Address:  Warren’s Yard, 44 Shropshire Street, Drayton-in-Hales, Market Drayton

Sarah Noneley

Head

Single

73

None

Born Yeaton

It is difficult to decide who the lady in the photograph is from the census as the date of the photograph is unknown.  The only clues are the gas mask (issued from 1916 onwards) and the note that the cottage was demolished in the 1930s.  Maybe the 1921 census will reveal more when it is published.

If anyone knows anything more – such as the whereabouts of the cottage or more about the family – I would be interested to know.

Sue Pugh

14.8.14