West Middlesex Family History Society

Home
United Kingdom
Isleworth
West Middlesex Family History Society

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from West Middlesex Family History Society, Genealogist, St John's Centre, 80 St Johns Road, Isleworth.

The Society aims to encourage and assist those involved in the study of family history and genealogy in the western part of the ancient English county of Middlesex.

11/05/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

11th May 1868 🐎 A Turbulent Excursionist 🐎

On this day, James GALWAY a Hawker from Westminster, found himself before the magistrates, charged with being drunk and behaving in a “riotous manner.” The day before, he had come to Isleworth from the city in a pony and trap with some friends. After enjoying the fresh country air, and perhaps a few too many 'refreshers', Galway became heavily intoxicated. He began showing off and soon became so troublesome that his companions decided to eject him from the trap.

Galway, did not go quietly, clinging precariously to the side of the trap as it continued on its way. A policeman nearby, PC REDFORD, saw the dangerous position Galway had put himself in and managed to persuade him to let go of the trap.

The adventure did not end there. In order to try and get himself home to the city, Galway went to Isleworth train station but the station master refused to sell him a ticket as he was very drunk, and ordered him to leave instead. Galway refused and gave the station master a piece of his mind. He pulled off his coat, put up his fists and made a rush at the station master as if to fight him, and probably would have injured him if a quick thinking porter had not intervened. Galway was restrained, but not before thrashing around and throwing himself against the platform. PC Redford was sent for, Galway was taken into custody and the next day was fined 40 shillings, bringing his eventful trip to the country to an end.

The Middlesex County Times could not resist comparing Galway to ‘John Gilpin’, a fictional character who borrows a horse and has a comical misadventure!

04/05/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜
4th May 1897 - A Disorderly Man

On this day, a man named William CHAPMAN, described as having “no fixed abode,” was charged with using obscene language at Cross Deep in Twickenham.

Chapman had been spotted by Mr J. BIGWOOD MP outside his residence, The Lawn, while accompanied by his wife and four children. When told to move on, Chapman became aggressive, swearing and causing a disturbance. When confronted by a police officer, he reportedly declared, “take the lot up,” referring to his family, so that the Union would be forced to support them.

For this offence, Chapman was fined 10 shillings.

The Richmond Herald painted a bleak picture of the family’s circumstances, noting that Chapman was known to “tramp” his wife and children from one Poor Law Union to another. Other reports suggest the family travelled widely, moving between places such as Reading, Greenwich, and possibly even as far as Oxford in search of relief.

Further information about William and his family has been hard to find, and will probably be found amongst parish and poor law records. It's a great reminder that family history isn't always census returns and BMD records; researching transient ancestors can be especially tricky!

27/04/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

27th April 1914 – A Birth in Ealing

On this day in 1914, Edward Fletcher EMMET proudly announced the birth of his daughter, Winifred Maude Emmet, at the family home, 11 Kenilworth Road, EALING.

Edward and his wife Mabel Ernestine EARLEY-WILMOTT came from families closely connected to the Church and were well regarded in the local community. Winifred was their only daughter, growing up alongside her four brothers — Alfred, Eric, Herbert and Francis.

Winifred went on to lead a truly remarkable life. She qualified as a doctor in 1938, and the following year married James Norman Leslie THOMPSON, a science teacher. The couple moved to a preparatory school in Langport, Somerset, where Winifred began her medical career.

In the early 1940s, Winifred and James travelled to Nigeria as missionaries, where their first two children were born Michael James (1943) and Ann Karen (1946). The family later returned to England, recorded on the passenger list of the Almazora arriving from Lagos.

After further study at Lincoln Theological College, James became a curate at St Thomas’ Church in South Wigston, Leicestershire. Winifred continued to practise as a GP, balancing her career with family life. A third child, Mary Elizabeth, was born in 1950.

In 1969, the couple were honoured as Mayor and Mayoress of Loughborough, reflecting their deep commitment to their community.

Winifred’s life did not slow down with age. She was an avid traveller and adventurer, trekking in the Himalayas, and travelling as far as Antarctica, Nepal and the Sahara. She maintained her West Middlesex connections accompanying Sherpa Expeditions who were based in Hounslow. A keen photographer, she shared her experiences with the Sileby Photographic Society, inspiring others with her stories and images. Even in retirement, she remained active, raising funds for charitable causes. At the age of 80, she was reported in the local paper as an inspiration for pensioners for keeping fit at the local gym.

From Ealing to Loughborough and across the world, Winifred lived a truly remarkable life.

20/04/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

20th April 1903 – Mr Cox Opens His Business in Hounslow

On this day in 1903, Frank COX opened his newly refurbished shop on Hanworth Road, Hounslow. The premises had previously belonged to John GILBERT, where Frank had worked for many years, first appearing in the 1891 census as an oilman’s assistant.

As Mr Gilbert’s health declined, Frank gradually took over the running of the business. When Mr Gilbert passed away in 1903, Frank reopened the shop under his own name as an “Oil and Colourman.” These specialist shops supplied paints, mixed colours to order, and sold items such as wallpaper and decorating supplies.

Frank advertised his new venture in the Middlesex Chronicle, reassuring customers that the prices and quality would remain the same, and hoping they would continue to support the shop as they had before.

Shortly after opening the business, Frank married Emily ROBERTS, and the business continued to grow. In 1907, the shop moved to 119 High Street, Hounslow, prompting a large clearance sale advertised in the newspapers. Around this time Frank began supplying light fixtures and fittings, and by 1908 he had expanded his range even further to include brooms, brushes, trunks and tins, proudly branding the shop the “Hounslow Oil and Lamp Warehouse.”

By 1921, the family had moved to 134 Plumstead Common Road in WOOLWICH, where Frank worked alongside his son, Frank Gordon Cox, continuing the family trade.

17/04/2026

Last night we enjoyed a talk on Heraldry by Ann Ballard. I was especially excited to see the crest after binging ! Heraldry is everywhere!

15/04/2026

Join us tomorrow night, Thursday 16th April 2026 for our next meeting! The focus of the meeting will be a talk by Ann Ballard titled Heraldry? Yes, Heraldry! Ann will be speaking from Zoom. Members may be on Zoom or at St. John's.
Register on our website for Zoom details or just turn up to St John's for a warm welcome from 7:30pm.

13/04/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜
13th April 1876 - A self confession

Alfred Richard MORRIS was charged on his own confession of being a deserter of the 24th Brigade of the Royal Artillery. When he appeared in the dock, however, he pleaded 'Not Guilty' stating that he had never been in the army in his life.

Astonishingly, Alfred had walked into Ealing police station and told police officers that he was a deserter from the Royal Artillery at Woolwich and he wished to give himself up. He said if they looked in their books they would find that this was the case. Sure enough, officers did find a soldier of his description, but this soldiers name was Alfred Edward Morris and he had deserted from Sandhurst, not Woolwich. Alfred insisted on being taken for this crime and he was duly remanded in the cells. Witnesses stated that the prisoner had been drinking but was not drunk, he could converse 'very straightforwardly'.

In the cold light of day, Alfred could not say what had possessed him to give himself up. He was a painter and had worked at the Woolwich Arsenal where spent so much time amongst soldiers that he supposed when in liquor he really fancied himself to be one! After all this, the magistrate was quite satisfied he was no soldier and discharged him with a caution.

06/04/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

🐕 The Dog Licence Law 🐕

In 1865, the Dog Licence Act was passed, requiring all dog owners in the UK to purchase a licence for their dog. The annual fee was 7 shillings and sixpence, and licences had to be renewed every year without exception.

The money raised helped compensate farmers for damage caused by dogs and funded the enforcement of the law. Local authorities employed officers to check that dogs were licensed and to issue fines to those who failed to comply.

This is why you sometimes find your ancestors appearing in the newspapers for seemingly small offences!

For example, William LAKER of 86 St Margaret’s Road in Hanwell was summoned for having a dog without a licence and fined 5s.

Licences had to be renewed each year without exception, as poor Agnes ATFIELD of Shepperton found out, she was caught when her dog accidently bit someone’s leg, she had been meaning to renew the licence but her son had been killed in action and she had been preoccupied with her grief. She was fined 2s and 6d.

The requirement for dog licences continued for over a century before finally being abolished in 1987, when the government concluded that enforcement was too costly and compliance was low.

🐾 Have you found any dogs — or dog licences — in your family history?

Photo 3: my dog Buddy ©emmaalbery

30/03/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜

30th March 1908 - A Noisy Woman

On this day in 1908, Mary BURT of Laleham appeared in court charged with being drunk and disorderly in Station Road, Ashford. Sadly, it was not her first appearance before the magistrates. Newspaper reports show that Mary had been brought before the court several times for similar offences in 1902, 1903 and 1904.

However, an earlier case from 1890 reveals a far more troubling moment in her life. After quarrelling with her husband, Mary threatened to give poison to her nine-month-old son, Lionel Charles Burt, from a bottle she was holding. For this she was sentenced to one week in the House of Detention.

The experience appears to have left a lasting mark. In 1904, when summoned to court again, Mary did not attend in person but instead sent a letter claiming illness. The magistrates believed she was simply too frightened to appear, fearing she might be sent back to prison.

Her final court appearance came in 1908. Witnesses described her standing in the dock with her hair “streaming down her face”, shouting and raving. A medical certificate was produced stating that she was insane, and the court ordered that she be "dealt with accordingly’. Which is to say, she was carted off to the lunatic asylum.

On 6th April 1908, Mary was admitted to Springfield Asylum in Wandsworth. Tragically, she died there just over a month later, on 18th May 1908, aged only 39 years old.

Mary’s story is a sad reminder of how people struggling with mental health were treated in the past, and how little support was available to them at the time.

Photo Credit: © countyasylums.co.uk

28/03/2026

Annie's Rules for Genealogy

There's more in our latest journal!

23/03/2026

📜 On This Day in West Middlesex 📜
23rd March 1904 - Devonshire House in Isleworth goes up for auction.

The Middlesex Chronicle reports that the 13 room detached house, with stable and coach house, flower garden and heated vinery was going up for sale by auction.

Built during the 1850’s the area known as Woodlands benefited from an expansion which included the ‘erection of genteel houses’ as well as St John’s Church. This was financed by the FARNELL family, who owned Isleworth Brewery. William Thomas FARNELL, was the first to occupy Devonshire House until his death in 1870 - it was reported that when he died he had great wealth, worth nearly a million pounds.

The house was auctioned and Walter DAVIS was the next to move in with his young family in 1871. Walter was a wealthy provision merchant and here he raised his family. His daughter Annie had married Frank CLIFFORD, a wine merchant in 1881, but sadly the marriage was short lived and he passed away age 34 in 1883. Annie and Frank had one daughter, Grace, born in 1882. After Frank’s death, Annie moved back to Devonshire House to live with her parents. So when Walter died in 1895, the house remained within the Davis family and Annie continued at Devonshire House with her daughter Grace.

This brings us to this day in 1904. Annie had decided to sell the property, perhaps it was because young Grace was getting married and moving away and she wanted to be near to her daughter and new son in law. Grace married Theodore Evelyn Johnstone BIGG in 1906 shortly after moving out from Devonshire House and they all moved to Shepherdswell in Kent, where Annie lived close to Grace until her death in 1921.

The next occupant was Henry Thomas HOWARD, an Ironmonger of ‘Howards & Sons’ in Brentford. Founded by his father in 1860, Henry had partnered with his brother Charles in 1903. The firm was doing well, and Henry and his family of 7 children moved to Devonshire House. Henry would commute between his business on Brentford High Street and Devonshire House. It was on his commute to work that sadly in 1920, he was knocked down and killed in a tram accident.

After this, the house went to auction again in 1921, and later appeared once more for sale in 1938, described as “property for development.” After that point, the trail becomes harder to follow and the later fate of Devonshire House is unclear.
Perhaps an eagle eye follower might know what eventually became of it?

Address

St John's Centre, 80 St Johns Road
Isleworth
TW76RU

Website

http://www.west-middlesex-fhs.org.uk/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when West Middlesex Family History Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Isleworth?