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Foreman Yardley R W Council

J

Jenga

Guest
Hello everybody,

I'm researching my family tree and have found what I believe to be my g-g-grandfather:

Henry EDKINS, b. abt 1857 Yardley, Worcestershire

In the 1901 census, in Stuarts Road, Stechford, his employment is listed as
"Foreman Yardley R W Council".

From the original image on Ancestry, scrawled over the top is something that might say "Road Lab", but I cant be sure.

Does anybody know what this might mean? Was he simply a road digger trying to make his job sound more impressive? :)
 
Jenga, Worcester had what are now districts of Birmingham ie- Hay Mills, Yardley, Stetchford and others, these districts passed into Birmingham in 1911 so your g-g-grandfather was born in and worked for Worcestershire, i don`t know what the words you describe mean, but R W must refer to R?- Worcester.
 
Jenga, Point of interest Hay Mills Police Station, fronting on to the Coventry Rd (A45) never had the Worcestershire Coat of Arms removed from above the entrance, it was converted into a pub some years ago the Coat of Arms are still there.
 
Jenga.

How about Road Labourer and the 'R' for Rural?

I seem to recall a few years back coming across an 'Edkins' living in Woodbine Cottage, Lea Hall Road or Lea Village, Yardley, Worcestershire.

I will try and find it.
 
Jenga

Bingo! Here it is, an Edkins Family History. I entered a search for Lea Hall, Yardley, Worcestershire and came up with:

https://www.gwydir.demon.co.uk/edkins/evi00012.htm

I have a friend named Edkins and I remembered referring her to this website.

On a census is recorded 'Ag Lab'. This is an Agricultural Labourer, therefore it would appear your Road Lab is a Road Labourer.

Hope this is of some help for you.
 
Jenga. A little more for you:

Quote, "Edkins Family History 00012. George Edkins, 54, Stechford, Worcestershire.....Son of Harriet Edkins of Woodbine Cottages, Lea Hall Road, Yardley, Worcestershire."
 
Judy 39.

Thank you for kind comments. A little more info for Jenga from an elderly friend's story of his childhood in Lea Village and from when he started shool in 1927. I have only just come across this because of my interest in local history.

Quote, "Living in a country area there were few playmates of my own age, but I remember Norman Edkins who lived in a house near the Lea Tavern. His family left to live in Fieldhouse Road Stechford in the late twenties. When I moved to Bierton Road Senior School I used to go to his house at lunchtime to eat my sandwiches. This was during the depression when his father was out of work for several years in line with thousands of other men. His mother would take in washing and do cleaning to make ends meet as many other women did. Unfortunately Norman died in his late teens."

Thank God those days are over.

Junie
 
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