The Families of Black Swan Terrace meet on site
Pictured at top: family members of the Golby, Miles, Gutteridge and O’Neil families, descendants of the former residents of houses 119, 120, 121 and 122.
Following our lively May Open Day, The Weaver’s House received some special guests to celebrate the launch of our updated and much expanded book The Families of Black Swan Terrace.
As the house closed to the public, we welcomed in a number of guests whose families who had previously lived in Black Swan Terrace; members of the Golby family, the Miles family, the Gutteridge family and the O’Neil family. Eric Golby and Dawn McCarroll (Miles family) had both previously visited the terrace and told us about their connections to house 119. Eric’s dad and grandparents had lived there, and a number of years later, Dawn’s grandad had lived in 119. Eric and Dawn, and Dawn’s sister Laura, were delighted to meet each other for the very first time.
Several members of the O’Neil family managed to join us, all descendants of Eliza O’Neil from house 122 (The Weaver’s House itself), and covering three generations. And it was also the first time of meeting each other for some of them!
The star guest of the day had to be Betty Ecles (nee Gutteridge) who came with her daughter Jane. Betty was actually born in house 121 in 1923, and will be turning 100 years old in July. Betty’s parents and brother had previously lived in 120, and her uncles, aunts and cousins lived in the Courts behind the terrace. Sharp as a tack, Betty was happy to share some of her memories of the terrace with the other guests.
Clare gave a short talk about the research for the book, and about how her own family history research had started, leading to the discovery of the O’Neil family at the terrace. The history of each of the families was touched on, and how they would have interacted.
It was really quite a special moment, to have the descendants of four families of residents, all sitting together in the very building their relatives had once lived, worked, played and been a part of each others lives so many years ago, and is now another wonderful piece of the terrace’s history.
Thanks to everyone who contributed to the booklet. It is available from The Weaver’s House on our open days for £3.50. A bargain!
My ancesters did not live on Black Swan Terrace but did live nearby. They were the Toney family….silk weavers who had two son and a grandson that were watchmakers. Three generation lived at 156 ct.40 on Spon Street. Their house is no longer there but so glad to see that you are looking after our heritage.
Thank you for your comment Nicholas, that is interesting to hear – do you know what is on the site now? If you would like to contribute any family info to our new project please get in touch – history @ theweavershouse.org (remove spaces to email).