Swan Hotel c1960, Bibury
Swan Hotel c1960, Bibury Ref: B530008
Memories of Swan Hotel c1960, Bibury
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Bibury & local memories
Read and share memories of Bibury and Gloucestershire inspired by Frith photos.
Apprenticed at Arlington Mill
My great-great-great-grandfather John Luker (1793-1853) was appenticed in 1805, for a period of 9 3/4 years, to Thomas Poole, miller at Arlington by Bibury. He became the first of four generations of millers in Painswick, Stroud and Gloucester. I first visited the mill in the 1950s with my father, when it was said to be in working condition, but had not been used other than as a warehouse for some years. My most recent visit about 1993 found a very different story with it having become a pseudo museum (but really a tea shop)- fortunately a good part of the machinery was still in existance, but certainly no longer viable. I would encourage any 'public' use to include the preservation of the water wheel and the milling machinery, and of course the leat. A wonderful old mill in a beautiful location. Does anyone have any history of its origins? There is nothing to be found in the 'official' History of Gloucestershire, vol. 9.
1906
My great, great grandfather, Frededrick Smith, died at Bibury Mill on 10 December 1906. He was living with his daughter and son-in-law, Thomas Turner, at the time. I visited the Museum almost 20 years ago and seem to remember Frederick Smith written on a wall behind a glass case!!
Brownett's of Bibury
My parents Dorothy (Dot - nee Brownett) & Edward King lived in the Mill residence when I was born, staying with my grandparents Mr & Mrs Brownett. Mr Brownett was "Head Gardener" at the Swan Hotel and I understand they were renting the residence. Both parents were in the RAF, married at St Mary's church at the end of the war - I was born in 1949. My Mum - Dot Brownett, had siblings Jack (Air raid warden) and Nelly. A lady called Ethel lived in the adjoining cottage heading up the hill towards Ciren. After we moved up to Crick/Rugby in the Midlands we regularly visited Bibury for long weekends and school holidays thru ~ 1969 when Nan Brownett died in Fairford. Grandad Brownett was killed some years earlier (1955~60) when he was struck by a heavy lorry while delivering "a food hamper" to the "Manor House" from the Swan on his bicycle/trailer combination. I reckon this picture is around 1968-70 ? ... Read more
Family From Bibury
My memories from / about Bibury are: I was born there in Bibury Cotts - 15 April 1947. My parents were married there - George Lacey / Joyce Iles. My grandparents lived at number 8 Arlington Row. My parents marriage was actually a double marriage as my aunt (my mum's sister Josephine) was married at the same time to Jack Causey. My brother was also married in Bibury (reception at the Swan Hotel). My grandfather worked for many years at Bibury farm. My mother worked at the Swan Hotel. My grandmother's maiden name was HOLTHAM - and I would dearly love to obtain ant information about the HOLTHAM family to assist my family tree research. I also know just one member of the WEMBAN family who I met when we were working together in Exeter. His name - Les Wemban. We discovered through working together that we were born in the same village.
Family Tree
I have found that two or three generations of the 'Hart' family were born in and around Eastleach, including Coln St Aldwins and Northleach. My curiosity led me to Arlington Mill - it seemed a likely place for work. One address was the village Manor, so I presume they had a tied cottage. What a lovely area to live and work in those early 1840-1870s. Later generations lived in Birmingham. I suspect that when the wool trade moved away from the Cotswolds and farming became more mechanical, they joined the many families moving to nearby cities for work and to raise their children.
I must visit the area and gain more info and see if any Harts are at rest in the local churchyards.
Christobel Knight, nee Salmon. 19/7/09
