WATKINS Joseph, Ruardean, Mortgage Papers 1903 (Documents Articles)

by admin , Forest of Dean, Sunday, April 13, 2008, 03:04 (5855 days ago) @ admin

These papers relate to my own great-grandfather Joseph Watkins (1867-1917) and his home at
Cinderhill, Ruardean.

When visiting England in 1992 one of the places I went to look at was the house where my
great-grandfather Joseph lived in the early 1900s. While taking photographs of the house I
was approached by the then current owner who demanded to know what I was doing. After
telling him the reason why I was there he invited me in. Ducking my head so I could get
through the doorway it was all there preserved for me to see including the original
fireplace with the alcove for baking bread and of course much more.

To be in the same rooms that my great-grandfaher and his family had occupied nearly 100
years before, I can say first hand that I had that feeling of being "overcome". To top it all
off I was shown the Indenture (mortgage) papers with Joseph's signature on. The papers he
later photo copied and mailed them on to me.

There were older papers relating to the house and I now wish I had enquired about them to
find out the previous owners were. The original part of the house is believed to be 14th
century.

WATKINS Joseph Ruardean Mortgage Papers 1903
Miscellaneous Documents Section
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/joomla/resources/documents-and-articles

Pictures in the Photo Gallery

Joseph's House Now and Then
Original fire place and the alcove for baking bread
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/watkins_ruardean/