Uttoxeter Online Magazine

Hi there, from London,

I must just write and say how much I have been delighted today to come across the page about the Uttoxeter Canal - and to see my GtGtGtGt grandfather, Thomas Brown, mentioned by name!

I had noted from the birth certificate of my GGGgrandmother (Lucy Brown/e) that her father was a "wharfinger", though I had no idea what that might be. Her marriage certificate (to one Thomas Bagshaw) stated Brown to be a "lime burner and dealer". But here it all is, explained in your fascinating page.

Her grandson (my own grandfather) was called William BROWNE Bagshaw, so that perpetuated the name.

It was great, too, to have the explanation of how the canal's opening in 1811 revolutionised the prosperity of the town, and then how it was quickly superseded by the railway. I had sort of guessed at that, from reading up about my other local ancestors, the Trubshaws, who were big in civil-engineering and had very quickly switched from canal-building to railway construction.

And that opening up of trading was totally borne out by the occupations of my ancestors in Uttoxeter; they were grocers until that time, and then branched out into being coal merchants, lime dealers etc with the improvement in transportation.

So thank you so much!

Angela Bird