Author Archives: Craig Archer

Phineas Archer. Chimney Sweep of Highworth, Wiltshire

Town and Country Houses where my great grandfather Phineas Archer, Chimney Sweep of Highworth, Wilts, swept the chimneys from 1910 to 1930. Ashdown Park, Ashbury, Berks – Lady Craven. Beckett Park, Shrivenham, Berks – Lady Barrington. Blunsdon Vicarage, Blunsdon, Wilts. Bradshaws House, Kelmscott, Oxon – Mr Hobbs, Esq. Bridge House, Castle Eaton, Wilts – MajorContinue reading “Phineas Archer. Chimney Sweep of Highworth, Wiltshire”

John Archer. A timeline by Craig Archer

My great great grandfather John Orchard (Archer) was born at Fernham/Longcot, Berkshire on the 27th of April 1827 and baptised on the 29th of April 1827 at Chiseldon, Wiltshire. Son of Joseph and Ann Orchard, nee Bland (Romany Gypsies). He was the youngest of Joseph and Ann’s nine children. John was a chimney sweep likeContinue reading “John Archer. A timeline by Craig Archer”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Six.

Today in Highworth there are not many old characters like there was when I was a child; one in particular was Ernest Wheeler, who lived in The Elms, and was quite an old man when I knew him. Everyone called him ‘Slink’ and the kids used to shout names after him, sometimes shouting “Hang himContinue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Six.”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Five.

Just opposite the top end of our market garden in Station Road was Frank Bassett’s blacksmith shop. We were allowed to watch him shoe the large Shire horses which were brought in from the local farms. Some of the largest horses came from Eastrop Farm and were brought to the smithy by Reg Alexander whoContinue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Five.”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Four.

Another thing that I did quite regularly for my Grandfather Archer was run errands for him to Eric Frankis’s rope making business in Lechlade Hill. I enjoyed going there because Eric would let me watch him make ropes in his long rope walk, which was a long covered building in his garden which ran alongContinue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Four.”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Three.

When you write your childhood memories there are many things that you cannot remember at the time of writing, but additional memories come to you at the most unexpected times of the day or night; mostly when you are unable to record them. Therefore, I have tried to remember the following the best I can.Continue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Three.”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Two.

During the war years my brother and I attended Sunday school at St Michael’s Church, later when we were old enough moving up into the choir. We also joined the Highworth 1st St Michael’s Scout Troop under Scoutmaster Mr E. Tanner. At our scout meetings in the hall at the bottom of Eastrop Hill MrContinue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part Two.”

My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part One.

From when I was born in September 1936 my childhood and my early teens was spent living at number 10 Sheep Street, Highworth, Wiltshire. The small stone built cottage which was situated near the gate leading to St Michael’s churchyard had a living room, a small kitchen and a toilet downstairs, with two bedrooms, andContinue reading “My Childhood Memories. By Brian Archer of Highworth – Part One.”

Gypsies – Tents – Didcot

Extracts from a report in the BERKS & OXON ADVERTISER – 12 May 1899. Referring to the shocking state of affairs relating to a number of people living in tents at Didcot. From instructions received I have visited the Didcot tents, situated in the north-west corner of the parish, Mr. Dennis Napper, the owner ofContinue reading “Gypsies – Tents – Didcot”