throstle
New Member
Between 1871 - 1901 a set of Parkes ancestors lived on Hanley Street in Birmingham. Hanley St. still survives but, obviously, the slums of yesteryear have long gone. Address-wise they're listed anywhere from 26 - 37 Hanley Street and are as follows:
Parents
* Eliza Parkes/Weldin/Stokes (this is one is confusing but bear with me)
* Thomas Parkes Snr
Children
* Thomas Arthur Parkes (known as Arthur in the census records)
* Jane Parkes
* Elizabeth Florence Parkes (sometimes referred to as Lizzie)
The Hanley Street address was home to a manufacturer of all things metal - hinges, spoons, forks, brackets, etc. - and was known over the years as:
* Joseph Stokes
* Stokes & Stevens
* Ames & Stokes
* Ames, Stokes & Stevens
* Ames, Stokes & Stevens & Son
The company was in business until the mid-2000s when, sadly, it was closed after 150 years of operation. The factory still exists on Hanley Street but is currently unoccupied and looks rather forlorn. I've attached a photo below of one of their trade ads from 1896.
Anyway, the above Parkes mob all appear to - based on census records - also worked at the factory. All roads point to the business being a family affair until the aforementioned kids moved out, got married and drifted off. My GGF - Thomas Arthur Parkes - joined the army, fought in the Boer and First World Wars, and saw out his days in Smethwick working as a stoker at the Corporation's destructor. He was, literally, a shoveler of sh!t.
So...is there anyone out there researching this particular branch of the Parkes brood? Does anyone know anything about Ames, Stokes & Stevens of Hanley Street? If so, get in touch.
Cheers.
Parents
* Eliza Parkes/Weldin/Stokes (this is one is confusing but bear with me)
* Thomas Parkes Snr
Children
* Thomas Arthur Parkes (known as Arthur in the census records)
* Jane Parkes
* Elizabeth Florence Parkes (sometimes referred to as Lizzie)
The Hanley Street address was home to a manufacturer of all things metal - hinges, spoons, forks, brackets, etc. - and was known over the years as:
* Joseph Stokes
* Stokes & Stevens
* Ames & Stokes
* Ames, Stokes & Stevens
* Ames, Stokes & Stevens & Son
The company was in business until the mid-2000s when, sadly, it was closed after 150 years of operation. The factory still exists on Hanley Street but is currently unoccupied and looks rather forlorn. I've attached a photo below of one of their trade ads from 1896.
Anyway, the above Parkes mob all appear to - based on census records - also worked at the factory. All roads point to the business being a family affair until the aforementioned kids moved out, got married and drifted off. My GGF - Thomas Arthur Parkes - joined the army, fought in the Boer and First World Wars, and saw out his days in Smethwick working as a stoker at the Corporation's destructor. He was, literally, a shoveler of sh!t.
So...is there anyone out there researching this particular branch of the Parkes brood? Does anyone know anything about Ames, Stokes & Stevens of Hanley Street? If so, get in touch.
Cheers.