Woolwich Arsenal in the 1920's

masicat

This is a real long shot, but wanted to post in the hope someone might be able to point me in the right direction. My grandad worked at Woolwich Arsenal in the 1920's. He had come over from Northern Ireland and lived at Wynchcombe Gardens in Well Hall. he died of consumption in 1930 when my dad was 2 years old. Due to losing a lot of his possessions in a house fire a short time after that, we know almost nothing about him, and we are struggling to find anything. We know he had a full military funeral in Woolwich and we know he had a lot of WW1 medals. I have tried to trace him but keep reaching dead ends. We understand he had a sister in law who lived in the Charlton area called May Manning who had married his brother. Thought I would post just in case someone on here has an idea, or maybe knows of a May Manning or family?

masicat

I meant Woolwich !

mistrollingin

Try Michael Freeman on 01730 812232. A retired school inspector who traces family history. Totally reliable, very reasonable and a very nice bloke. Did something similar for me a few years ago.

masicat

Thanks - I will

SE7toSG3

I can sort his Great War history out for you, whats his name fellah?

Tom_Hovi

Try the Greenwich Heritage Centre which is based down at the old Woolwich Arsenal site. They have all the electoral registers down there and they also have an excellent contact with the Woolwich Arsenal Historical Society - there's an old chap (I think his name is Ray) who is always down there at least once a week and he has access to all manner of staff records at the Arsenal going back to the First World War. The Heritage Centre are also excellent with family history enquiries and will give you a lot of pointers as to how to go about it. You can contact them via their website or by phone on 020 8854 2452. They're open Tuesday-Saturday (not open Mondays). Hope you have some luck. http://www.greenwichheritage.org/

LenGlover

I've found a marriage of Herbert H MANNING to May WEST registered in Greenwich in the March quarter of 1913. Volume and Page reference: 1D 1458.

Is this feasibly your grandfather's brother? If so you can obtain the marriage certificate which should give you the name and occupation of their father.

_MrDick

I can't help with your question but my grandfather came over from Ireland in the 1920's and worked at the Woolwich Arsenal and lived on the progress estate (Well Hall Rd, to be precise) in a Woolwich Arsenal House. My mum inherited it being the youngest of 12 and continued to live there until 1995 and I obviously grew up in this house. All of the houses were pased over to Hyde Housing in the 1980's but she continued to benefit from a very very low rent because she was offspring of a Woolwich Arsenal worker. They looked after their employees in those days.

ShootersHillGuru

If your grandad was born in NI then his records of birth, census etc should be available at PRONI the Publc Records Office of Norther Ireland. Searches are I think still free. Worth a shot.

masicat

Thanks all , really useful and will follow up on the advice.

Len - my dad always thought his dad's brother had a real Irish name ( Declan, Paddy etc ) but he can't remember it. However, the 1913 wedding looks interesting and will follow that up.

Valley - would be extremely likely our Grandfathers were mates. Lot of similarities. Thanks.

LenGlover

I did a search of marriages, surname MANNING spouse first name May, between 1912 and 1940.

It throws up 37 marriages in England and there are no "real Irish" christian names amongst the male MANNINGS.

Either they didn't marry in England at all or, at a guess, the "real Irish" name may have been a nickname.

I've quoted the details of the Greenwich one as you said above they lived in the Charlton area. There are others in London too.

Let me know on this thread if you want me to quote them.

masicat

Len, have just spotted this and apologise for not replying. Thanks for the information and taking the time.

LenGlover

Len, have just spotted this and apologise for not replying. Thanks for the information and taking the time.

No problem.

I hope you have (or will) solved the mystery.

LenGlover

I dont know whether there is any connection to "your" MANNING family.

Taken from The Woolwich Story by EFE Jefferson and referring to events at the time of the Coronation of George V1 in 1937:

...."and O.B.E. for Mr. A.H. Manning, a well-known personality in the Garrison, ex-councillor and Governor of the Polytechnic. For fifty three years he was a member of the choir of St. George's Church, was a cricketer of repute and a football referee."....