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ancestralenq.bsky.social
Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
@ancestralenq.bsky.social
1.5K followers 1.6K following 4.8K posts
Genealogist & Family Historian for 20 years.
AGRA Associate, Wakefield, W. Yorks.
Pharos Intermediate & Advanced Certificate
One Place Study: St. John's Square, Wakefield
www.ancestralenquiries.co.uk
#FamilyHistory
#Genealogy
#LocalHistory
#Yorkshire
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ancestralenq.bsky.social
Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 @ancestralenq.bsky.social · Nov 13
Welcome to all new followers. My name is Tony & I started my professional genealogy journey in 2024.
When I'm not researching my ancestors or those of clients I enjoy running, alternative music, travelling & exploring historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, pubs, landmarks & graveyards.
ancestralenq.bsky.social
West Yorkshire town Heckmondwike which is said to have inspired Blackpool Illuminations has switched on its lights for the 149th year with a funfair & market. 👇
BBC News - How Heckmondwike's Christmas lights inspired Blackpool Illuminations - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Heckmondwike's Christmas lights inspired Blackpool Illuminations
Heckmondwike is celebrating 149 years of its festive display.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 12:46 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Former Liverpool FC owner Tom Hicks has died aged 79. 👇
BBC News - Former Liverpool co-owner Hicks dies aged 79
www.bbc.com/sport/footba...
Tom Hicks: Ex-Liverpool co-owner dies aged 79
American Tom Hicks, who owned Liverpool alongside George Gillett from 2007 to 2010, dies at his home in Dallas.
www.bbc.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Cambridgeshire Archives has bought The Terrier of John Chettoe's Property in Chesterton from a private owner in South Africa. The document offers a snapshot of life in an 18th century village which is now a suburb of Cambridge. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chesterton historical land survey offers snapshot of village life
An 18th Century survey reveals details of life in Chesterton before it became a Cambridge suburb.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
How a Charles Dickens visit to Rochester Cathedral, Kent inspired the publication of A Christmas Carol in 1843 which was widely acclaimed to reinvigorate Christmas as a celebration rather than just centre it around an event in the life of Jesus. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Rochester Cathedral inspired Dickens to reclaim Christmas
Charles Dickens' love for Christmas arose after a visit to Rochester Cathedral, Secret Kent hears.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 7, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The grave of the woolstapler, William Marsland in Wakefield Cemetery who died 30th September 1880. Born around 1794 in Ardsley, Wakefield he was a hosier on Kirkgate in 1841. In 1851 he was a hosier worsted yarn manufacturer employing /1
With @graveyardsquirrel.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The former cemetery chapel at St. George's Field, Woodhouse, Leeds designed by John Clark for the Leeds Cemetery Company dates from 1835. Built in Greek Revival style in ashlar, delphstone & millstone grit with grey slate roof. There were repairs to the upper walls & roof /1
December 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Huge fire at former Ritz Ballroom, Bradford Road, Brighouse which dates from 1937.😥
BBC News - Fire engulfs historic old ballroom and nightclub in Brighouse - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
December 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Sadly there is a major fire tonight at the former Ritz Ballroom, Bradford Road, Brighouse which dates from 1937. 👇

BBC News - Drive-through plan for former Brighouse ballroom - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Drive-through plan for former Brighouse ballroom
Developers say they want to turn the former Ritz Ballroom into a Starbucks coffee shop.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 7:11 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The grave of the woolstapler, William Marsland in Wakefield Cemetery who died 30th September 1880. Born around 1794 in Ardsley, Wakefield he was a hosier on Kirkgate in 1841. In 1851 he was a hosier worsted yarn manufacturer employing /1
With @graveyardsquirrel.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:40 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The former cemetery chapel at St. George's Field, Woodhouse, Leeds designed by John Clark for the Leeds Cemetery Company dates from 1835. Built in Greek Revival style in ashlar, delphstone & millstone grit with grey slate roof. There were repairs to the upper walls & roof /1
December 6, 2025 at 9:41 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Founder of What Every Woman Wants retailer Vera Weisfeld dies age 87. 👇
BBC News - Founder of fashion retailer What Every Woman Wants dies
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Vera Weisfeld: Founder of retailer What Every Woman wants dies
Vera Weisfeld founded the women's fashion chain with her husband Gerald in Glasgow in 1971.
www.bbc.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
fotofacade.bsky.social
✨Inside the medieval roof timbers at Beverley Minster, Yorkshire, one of the rafters has been dated (c. 921) and was a sapling during the reign of King Æthelstan, before England was an entity.
Touch it and you feel a kind of altitude and sense that the past is cheek by jowl.
December 3, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
listerlanecem.bsky.social
Remembering former engineer's pattern maker William Woodhead, who died on this day in 1900 at the age of 57.
The image shows a close-up of an headstone marking the burial place of the Woodhead family at Lister Lane Cemetery. The inscription on the headstone reads: In loving memory of Robert Woodhead, of Halifax, who died April 24th 1883, aged 64 years. Also of Elizabeth, the beloved wife of the above, who died October 11th 1898, aged 79 years. Also of William Woodhead, son of the above, who died December 5th 1900, aged 57 years. Also of Hannah, daughter of the above named Robert and Elizabeth Woodhead, who died April 30th 1911, aged 64 years. "At Rest."
December 5, 2025 at 4:06 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Great to catch up on Zoom tonight with the @pharostutors.bsky.social 2023 alumni to find out what everyone has been up to. 🌳
December 5, 2025 at 10:49 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Rest in Peace, architect Frank Gehry who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain has died age 96. 👇
BBC News - Legendary architect Frank Gehry dies aged 96
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Frank Gehry: Legendary US architect dies aged 96
Frank Gehry was acclaimed for his love of jagged angles and use of industrial materials.
www.bbc.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
c20society.bsky.social
Good news Friday: Developers have again been blocked from demolishing the former Central Cinema (1930) in Cambridge, over concerns around the loss of its historic Egyptian Art Deco facade.
C20 argued strongly for retention of the façade and for it to be incorporated into any new development scheme.
Image © Robert Evans Image © Cambridge History Then & Now Image © SSHS Redevelopment Partners
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Skipton, N. Yorks is the happiest place to live in the UK. 👇

BBC News - Skipton named UK's 'happiest place' to live - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Skipton named UK's 'happiest place' to live
People praise the town's friendly residents, sense of community and access to green spaces.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The eye catching Castle Inn, 1 Castle Road, Nottingham which is part of Mortimer House which also includes a cafe, shops, offices & Forhergills pub & bistro. Designed by Nottingham architect Watson Fothergill combining Gothic Revival & Old English Vernacular in red brick with /1
December 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway wins 2 awards at the National Railway Heritage Awards for the work to transform the ground floor of the water tower & for the restoration of Keighley station. 👇
BBC News - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's visitor centre wins award
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's visitor centre wins award
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway says the heritage award is a nice
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:47 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Plans to convert Grade 2 listed 20-22 Mill Street, Bradford which dates from the 1870's into a GP surgery approved. 👇
BBC News - GP surgery plan for listed Bradford building approved - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
GP surgery plan for listed Bradford building approved
The Grade II listed building on Mill Street in Bradford dates back to the 1870s.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:42 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Work to restore the Grade 2 listed Oswestry Cambrian Railway building which dates from 1866 wins award at the National Railway Heritage Awards. 👇
#Shropshire
BBC News - Oswestry Cambrian Railway building restoration wins national award - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Oswestry Cambrian Railway building restoration wins national award
The work has been given the BAM Nuttall Partnership Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 5, 2025 at 7:36 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The eye catching Castle Inn, 1 Castle Road, Nottingham which is part of Mortimer House which also includes a cafe, shops, offices & Forhergills pub & bistro. Designed by Nottingham architect Watson Fothergill combining Gothic Revival & Old English Vernacular in red brick with /1
December 4, 2025 at 8:53 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Here are the names of the "decayed tailors."
December 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A door from the Merchant Taylors' Hall, Aldwark, York
#AdoorableThursday
December 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
philgrass.bsky.social
I see #Ancestry Thrulines has a new Pedigree View. Sadly I've yet to get access, but I like the idea. More info via Roberta Estes blog:

dna-explained.com/2025/12/03/a...

#Genealogy
Ancestry’s ThruLines Has a New Pedigree View
Ancestry recently updated ThruLines and introduced a new pedigree view. I’m not sure that everyone has the new view yet, so here’s what to expect. If you do have the new feature, let’s take a…
dna-explained.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:11 PM