In times gone by, the way to learn a craft and earn a living was to be apprenticed to a master. You would be legally bound to the master for ...
The length of time involved in an apprenticeship – often seven or even ten years – inevitably meant that there were problems, some more serious than others. The records cared ...
Many of the apprentice records held by Warwickshire County Record Office relate to paupers. The parish had to care for children when their parents died or became unable to support ...
My Grandfather William Billings worked for Lord Warwick as a carpenter and had his workshop at the rear of 12 Coten End, next to the cattle market. The photo was taken ...
I started a five year student apprenticeship at Rugby, straight from school and home in Sussex in 1956. Competition for a place was strong. I believe there were 1,200 apprentices ...
Just two months into my first year at Coton House I was just getting used to motorbiking to work when the Suez crisis erupted and petrol rationing was introduced. Funds ...
After realising that I needed help from the apprentice welfare office, I was worried. I had in my mind that by failing to be self-supporting my whole future again threatened ...
The Falconer’s Quest is the latest attraction at Warwick Castle. The tagline, “join Warwick’s Falconer on an epic quest of discovery to find the finest Birds in all the land,” ...
In part one, we looked at Sam Robbins’ roots and the journey from humble beginnings to a flourishing business empire in Rugby. Here, we look at the legacy he left ...
Ask any of the older folk in Rugby town and they’ll probably know the name Sam Robbins, or at least remember some of the shops and buildings in his (and his ...
In the early 20th century, Ernest Carl Maisey was a well-known and popular figure around Warwick and Leamington. He was born in Leamington Spa on 5 February 1879, the son ...
After his service in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment during World War One, Ernest returned to his work as a master printer and partner with his father in the family business, A. ...
August Schneider had spent the early part of his life in Kenilworth as an active member of the community.
As a British citizen and a single man August was conscripted and ...
The Schneider family had the misfortune to be Germans living in Kenilworth at the outbreak of the First World War, and August was an English passport-holding German in Germany at ...
After his role in the First World War, August Schneider returned to Kenilworth.
Back to Germany
Life continued to be difficult for the family in Kenilworth after the war and in May ...
Sidney Slatter was working for his father in Whichford, Shipston on Stour, when he faced conscription in March 1916. It was feared that his call-up to war would mean disaster for ...
Edgar Ronald Gardner (known as Ronald) was exempted from combat in World War One, working instead as an agricultural labourer. By World War Two he had become a film-maker and was ...
Ronald had previously worked as an agricultural labourer during World War One.
A film making career beckons
As an electrical engineer Ronald was always interested in amateur cinematography and in 1935 produced ...
After his time serving in the Royal Engineers during the First World War, Kenneth returned to Stratford.
Back to the family home and business
Kenneth married Eva in 1925 with a daughter ...
Kenneth and Carl Huxley were born in Stratford to parents Thomas and Elizabeth. They had two sisters and the family were living in Evesham Road, Stratford, in 1911, when Carl ...
On Sunday 10th February 2019 commemorations were held for the hundredth anniversary of the death of trade unionist and MP, Joseph Arch. Coming from a family of agricultural labourers, he ...
Frederick Elisha Freer was a tent-maker and manufacturer of canvas goods throughout his life and many will remember his business in Smith Street and later West Street, Warwick. He was ...
The Cocks family led their life at Napton Locks as carpenters on the Oxford Canal for more than a hundred years. The story begins with Thomas Cock who was born ...