I am preparing a display about the history of Whitemead Park for the Heritage Open Day Family History on 8th September. Can anybody recall the early days of Whitemead either before CSMA purchased the site in 1970 or up to the modernisation in 2000.
I believe that the lakes were added after 1970

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=16774

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=4999

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Whitemead Park, Parkend 1906

http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Parkend-Glos/Whitemead-Park-1906.html

Philip BAYLIS - Deputy Surveyor

1901 Wales Census - Monmouthshire, West Dean, District 12

'Whitemead Park and the Station Masters' House Parkend, formerly formed Part of the Civil Parish of Newland, but now belongs to the Parish of West Dean and should be assigned to St Johns Coleford, Ecclesiastical District'

Parkend
Whitemead Park, formerly in the Newland Parish

Philip BAYLIS, age 52, Single - Barrister at Law Deputy Surveyor of Royal Forest of Dean, Magistrate, born Ledbury
Elizabeth BROWN - 42 Housekeeper, born Ledbury
Jessie DOWLE - 21, Parlour Maid, born Newnham
Lydia - 14 - Kitchenmaid, born Newnham

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The Forest of Dean an historical and descriptive account

http://www.forest-of-dean.net/ebooks/gutenberg/24505/24505-h.htm

(14 hits in this document on Whitemead Park)

1911 Census, Whitemead Park, Parkend, Near Lydney, Mon

14 rooms

Vernon Francis Leese - married 10 years, 2 children born alive, 2 living - 41 - Deputy Surveyor, H.M. Forest of Dean Woods & Forest Crown Lands, Worker Employer Commissioner, born London

Edythe Gwendoline LEESE - age 32, born Moreton, Hampsted
John Henry Vernon LEESE - age 9 - born Weybridge
Margaret Gwendoline LEESE - 4 - born Hursley
Sir Joseph Francis LEESE - 66 - Barrister kc recorder of manufacture? - born Manchester

+ 4 Domestic Servants all single

Edith HALL - 28 - born Cinderford
Rose Emily BOON - 35 - born Bridport
Emma NEWBERY - 42 - born Heavitree?
Rachel Mabel DUFFIELD - 17 - born St Briavels

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FOD records

Baptism at Bream - 30 January 1914

Frederick Joseph LEESE

parents: Vernon Francis - Deputy Surveyor of the Forest of Dean - Whitemead Park & Edith Gwendoline

(born 13 January 1914)

- other baptisms on FOD records : for Whitemead Park

Robert BRAMMER - 26 September 1830 - parents George (Servant) & Mary - Chapel: Parkend

James Davies MACHEN - 1 January 1820 - parents Edward Tomkins (Esqr) - & Sophia : English Bicknor

Marion Margeretta OSMASTON - 6 May 1915 - parents Lionel Sherbrooke (Surveyor of the Forest of Dean, Deputy Survgey of the Forest of Dean) & Selina Fanny : Parkened

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- burial on FOD records

3 MACHEN's (Whitemead Park)

James Davis - age 47 - 3 May 1824
Lucy/Anne - age 14 - 12 April 1833
Charles Vaughan - 26 - 5 January 1848

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Children's Employee Commission 1842 (Edward MACHEN - Pages 1 & 23)

and in this article comment:

'Illegitimate births are rather numerous and men and woman still cohabit without marriage'

Hence problems finding records for researchers today.

http://www.cmhrc.co.uk/cms/document/1842_Forest_of_Dean.pdf

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1851 - Edward MACHEN, Deputy Surveyor of the Forest

1861 Census, Edward MACHEN is the Rector of Staunton, born c1818, Whitemead

FOD records

Baptism at English Bicknor - 18 January 1817

Edward MACHEN - parents Edward Tomkins & Sophia * (nee DIGHTON - married 6 July 1816)
residence: Extraparochial White Mead Park
occupation: Esquire

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Edward MACHEN - 1808 - Deputy Surveyor

'In 1808, Parliament passed the Dean Forest (Timber) Act in response to a severe shortage of naval timber. The act included provision to enclose 11,000 acres (4,452 ha) and responsibility for its execution fell to a young, newly appointed, deputy surveyor named Edward MACHEN. He established his office at Whitemead Park'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_James

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1881 Census, Whitemead Park, Newland, Glos

Sir James CAMPBELL

CAMPBELL

James - 62 - Baronet, JP Deputy Surveyor, Forest of Dean, born Edinburgh, Scotland
Caroline - 64 - born Notts East Stoke

+ 3 unmarried servants

Emily WEAVING -22 - born Glos. Birdlip
Julia SIMS - 20 - born Glos. Clearwell
Frederick LOTT - 26 born Lydney

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On the 1871 Census, James & Caroline CAMPBELL are visitng

Thomas G PARRY Esq - 55 - Magistrate & Landowner - in Churcham, Glos

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Forest of Dean Forestry Parkend 1930

with

D W YOUNG Esq - Deputy Surveyor

http://www.sungreen.co.uk/Parkend-Glos/Forestry-School-1930.htm

Thanks for this information, it has filled in the gaps I had before the 1911 census.
What I now need is information about Whitemead mainly up to 2000 when it had a major modernisation.

Perhaps an open letter to the local newspapers would attract some help from those who were involved at the time ?
Good luck.

At Whitemead Park there are two 'lakes' with the original 4 chalets around them. Talking to a local man who played round the Whitemead grounds as a child he doesn't remember the ponds but the ground was very wet. Any ideas when the ponds were first installed.

Have solved the problem. A map of Whitemead Park dated February 1854 not only shows two 'fish ponds' but a garden and also a 'maze'. It shows all the buildings at the time. Available from the national archives.

I know a few years have passed since your posting but I have only just seen it.....my 8x Gt Grandfather George Whitehorne Gent. left in his will of 1675 "Parks of White Mead" to his son Charlemagne.

I wondered if you discovered any of the early history of that area.....I have been unable to trace any of the children mentioned in his will - not even his burial!

V Atkinson