27
Jun
2021
Manor House, Ratlinghope
Photographs show that the Downing family had a developed pattern of making visits to Ratlinghope in Shropshire from as early as 1899 right up to 1939. Continue reading →
Buildings and Residences
03
Mar
2021
16 Woodbourne Road, Edgbaston
The first family home of the Noel and Molly Downing was 16 Woodbourne Road, a large house in Edgbaston. The house is situated within two miles of both the centre of Birmingham and the Downings’ Maltings in Smethwick. Continue reading →
02
Mar
2021
47 Selwyn Road, Edgbaston
The family of Noel and Molly Downing lived at three addresses in Edgbaston and Harborne from 1919 to 1945. For about eleven years, 1919 to 1930, they lived at 16 Woodbourne Road. Continue reading →
13
Jan
2021
3 Paragon Buildings, Cheltenham
For nearly twenty years a number of the Marten family lived in Cheltenham, in a place they called ‘Lamberhurst’. It was in fact part of a Georgian Terrace in Bath Street called 3 Paragon buildings. Significantly, it was very close to Cheltenham College, the boys’ school. Continue reading →
05
Jan
2021
George MacPherson of Edinglassie Lodge
George MacPherson was born on 28 May 1851 in Edinglassie Lodge, Aberdeenshire. He became an Ironmaster and industrialist based in the West Midlands, living in Lloyd House, Penn. Continue reading →
01
Nov
2018
Villa San Giorgio, Taormina
Colonel Thomas Bradney Shaw-Hellier moved to Taormina in Sicily and lived there for the last four years of his life from 1907 to 1910. There he built the Villa San Giorgio with his friend the leading Arts and Crafts designer C. R. Ashbee. It is now known as the Ashbee Hotel. Continue reading →
24
Oct
2018
The Cottage, Upton, Near Andover, Hampshire
Noel and Molly Downing bought The Cottage, Upton in Oct 1945 for their retirement. It had six or seven bedrooms and for the next twenty nine years the house welcomed a number of guests – old friends and family that came to stay or just visit for the day. Noel died in Oct 1965 and Molly in Sep 1974. Continue reading →
11
Oct
2017
52 Selborne Road, Ilford
52 Selborne Road was the home of the William Henry Morgan and his extended family between 1928 and 1950. It was just around the corner from 129 Empress Avenue, where the family had lived from about 1914 until 1928. Continue reading →
27
Mar
2014
Parkhill House Dyce
Parkhill House in Dyce Aberdeenshire was the home of Florence (Dolly) Crombie, nee Showell. Continue reading →
09
Jun
2010
Llanbrynmair
The Downing family, notably William Edmund Downing, had an association with the village of Llanbrynmair in Montgomery from about 1890 to 1910. Continue reading →
16
Mar
2010
The Lloyd House
The Lloyd House in Lower Penn briefly came into the ownership of the Evans family as a result of Charles Evans marrying Sophie Marsh of the Lloyd in 1804. The Lloyd or Lyde was a mediaeval manor but seems to have changed hands many times. Continue reading →
07
Oct
2009
Spout House, Smethwick
The Spout House, Smethwick, was probably built in the early 1700’s and was demolished in 1937. It was situated on the corner where Londonderry Road meets Taylor’s Lane. Continue reading →
03
Feb
2009
The Wodehouse, Wombourne
The Wodehouse is the house at the heart of an ancient estate in Wombourne, Staffordshire. It was acquired by Samuel Hellier in the early 18th century and as the favoured residence out of London was largely developed by the Hellier family. Continue reading →
22
Jan
2009
Downing’s Malthouses
The Downing’s Malthouses are still standing undeveloped in Gloucester Docks. Continue reading →
18
Jan
2009
Stourton Hall
Stourton Hall is a large mansion in Kinver, west of Stourbridge. It is given as the residence of Walter Showell, the brewer, in the 1901 census. He died at the property shortly afterwards on 31 Jul 1901. Continue reading →
14
Jan
2009
Elm Lodge
Elm Lodge Hagley was the home of William Edmund Downing (WED) and his family from about 1894 until the death of his widow, Hannah Pitt Showell in 1941. Continue reading →
10
Jan
2009
Tan-Yr-Allt, Llandudno
Tan-Yr-Allt was the holiday and later retirement home in Llandudno of Thomas Lee Downing (TLD) and his wife Ida Mary Downing. Continue reading →
08
Jan
2009
Penn Hall
Penn Hall was rented by Henry John Marten in the 1850’s and was the birthplace of most of his children including his daughter Floss. There is a good description of its history on the Wolverhampton local history web site. Continue reading →
15
Dec
2008
The Green House, Tettenhall
The Green House Tettenhall is the three storey building pictured on the right and still stands today in the centre of Tettenhall to the west of Wolverhampton. Continue reading →
15
Dec
2008
Holly Lodge
Holly Lodge in Smethwick was a substantial residence built in the early 1860’s by William Downing on the back of his successful malting business. Continue reading →