Tag: Morris family

  • Telling the story of the families of the past

    Telling the story of the families of the past

    Our new publication reveals more of the lives of the past residents of The Weaver’s House.

    The Families of Black Swan Terrace delves into the family histories of the house and its surrounding cottages, built in 1455. Volunteer Clare Chamberlain, who herself has a family connection to the house, undertook considerable research to build on the foundations of the previous family history booklet, Who Lived in Black Swan Terrace?

    The Families of Black Swan Terrace includes all the previous knowledge contained in the original, plus a substantial amount of new research, photographs, and reminiscences gathered from various families with links to the terrace. It has been a process of several years to bring it to print, and we will be celebrating its publication at the Open Day on 13th May, during Local and Community History Month. The house and garden will be open from 10am until 4pm. As usual, admission is free and no booking is necessary to enter the site.

    Huge thanks to Carol Hudd who researched and wrote the first booklet, to Clare Chamberlain for the additional research and writing of the new edition, and everyone who has contributed along the journey. We are very grateful for your help.

    Have you seen our plans to bring even more of the terrace’s history to life with a new exhibition space and installation in the garden area? We would love to hear from anyone with a connection to the buildings in the terrace or the court buildings behind – even scraps of information will help to build up the story!

    Please can get in touch with us via history ‘at’ theweavershouse.org (normal email format, just changed the @ to avoid spam!) or drop in at one of the upcoming Open Days.

    Class of 1931, Spon Street School
  • News: Very special visitors came to our Open Day

    News: Very special visitors came to our Open Day

    There were some special visitors to the June Open Day at The Weaver’s House. Maggie and Brian Morris surprised our volunteers by producing a photo of Maggie standing in the garden of The Weaver’s House on her wedding day in 1962.

    A young woman in a wedding dress stands next to her father
    Maggie Morris on her wedding day in 1962

    Maggie lived in what was then 34 Court 3rd House, just behind The Weaver’s House, with her parents Wesley and Joy Collins. She lived there from 1958 until 1962 when she married Brian in the October. They were married in St John’s Church on Spon Street. The wedding dress Maggie is wearing in the photo was white and turquoise with the stunning full petticoat shape that was so fashionable.

    A woman holds a black and white photo of herself as a young woman on her wedding day
    Maggie Morris holding her wedding photo. By Clare Chamberlain

    In the original photo Maggie is standing with her father Wesley. 54 years later she stood on the same spot with Brian while volunteer Clare Chamberlain took their photo. Clare herself is descended from residents of the Weaver’s House who lived there in the early twentieth century. Truly a piece of family history!