John JAMES of Highfield House, Lydney

I am seeking the location of "Highfield House" which was built by John James (Ironmaster) of Lydney. I believe it stood on Highfield Road.
Is Highfield House still standing?
If so, have you the actual address?

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About 1820 a large villa called Highfield was built beside the Gloucester road north-east of Newerne, perhaps for the ironmaster John James (d. 1857), who was living there by 1839

From: 'Lydney', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 46-84. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23251 Date accessed: 13 July 2009.

1841 Highfield House
John James abt 1774 Gloucestershire, England Lydney, Gloucestershire Iron Master
Elizabeth James abt 1777 Gloucestershire, England Lydney, Gloucestershire

1851 Highfield House
John James abt 1774 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England Father Lydney, Gloucestershire

Year: 1857
Month: Feb
Day: 14
Surname: JAMES
Forenames: John
Residence: Highfield
Age_at_death: 84 y[ear]s
Officiating_Minister: Charles Taylor
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda: Esq[uire]
Notes:
Register_Reference: P209 IN 1/12
Page_No: 5
Parish_Chapel: Lydney

http://www.old-maps.co.uk/

co ords 364100 203800

today "Roman Park" stands on this area.

THE ROCKLANDS, HIGHFIELD HILL, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, LYDNEY GL15 5NA
Description: The Rocklands and Attached Garage with Courtyard Wall

Grade: II
Date Listed: 7 March 1988
English Heritage Building ID: 354467

OS Grid Reference: SO6388003754
OS Grid Coordinates: 363880, 203754

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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hello
do you have any connection with AMOS and SARAH JANE JAMES of Blakeney Hill please.

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Name: Amos James
Probate Date: 3 Apr 1936
Death Date: 4 Feb 1936
Death Place: Gloucestershire, England
Registry: Gloucester

..of Blakeney Hill, probate to Amos James Miner Effects £293

1911 Blakeney Hill, Glos
Amos James 39
Sarah James 40
William T James 14
Beatrice M James 12
Bessie M James 10
Amos James 8
Albert S James 3

1901
Amos James abt 1873 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah J James abt 1870 Yorkley Slade, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
Edith K James abt 1896 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
William T Jamesabt 1897 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Beatrice M James abt 1899 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie M James abt 1900 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Elizabeth Purnell abt 1821 Blakeney Hill, Gloucestershire, England Aunt East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1891
Month: Dec
Day: 6
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Amos
Grooms_Age: 20
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Blakeney Hill
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Mason
Brides_Surname: JONES
Brides_Forenames: Sarah Jane
Brides_Age: 21
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: Servant
Brides_Residence: Yorkley slade
Brides_Fathers_Surname: JONES
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: William
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: The mark of William Turley
Witness_2: Annice Turley
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Edward S Smith
Event: Marriage
Memoranda: Father of Groom deceased
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 94
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

1881
John Hale abt 1826 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Hale abt 1844 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
Jeremiah Hale abt 1867 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Emma Hale abt 1877 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Ann Hale abt 1878 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Moses Hale abt 1880 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary J. Jones abt 1867 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Step Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Hanah Jones abt 1869 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Step Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Amos Jones abt 1873 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Step Son West Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1872
Month: Jun
Day: 23
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Amos
Fathers_Forenames: Thomas
Mothers_Forenames: Emma
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Blakeney Hill
Occupation: Labourer
Officiating_Minister: A.D. Pringle Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P50 IN 1/3
Page_Number: 68
Parish_Chapel: Blakeney

Year: 1865
Month: Dec
Day: 24
Grooms_Surname: JAMES
Grooms_Forenames: Thomas
Grooms_Age: 34
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Bream Woodside
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: James
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Shoemaker
Brides_Surname: WATKINS
Brides_Forenames: Emma
Brides_Age: 39[?]
Brides_Condition: Widow
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Bream Woodside
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Wintle
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: George
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both mark
Witness_1: Mark of James Hook
Witness_2: Mark of Mary Ann Wintle
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Cornelius Witherby Incumbent
Event: Marriage
Memoranda: [Inserted beneath grooms and brides names respectively] (Mimy[?]) (Briers[?])
Notes:
Register_Reference: P57 IN 1/8
Page_Number: 46
Parish_Chapel: Bream

Year: 1829
Month: Dec
Day: 27
Parents_Surname: JAMES
Child_Forenames: Thomas
Fathers_Forenames: Edward
Mothers_Forenames: Harriet
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Bream
Occupation: Shoe Maker
Officiating_Minister: Henry Poole Minister
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Taken to Newland
Notes:
Register_Reference: P57 IN 1/2
Page_Number: 49
Parish_Chapel: Bream

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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Slowhands
thanks for your info, the Amos James Blakeney Hill (1871-1935?) shown in the 1901 census is my grandfather, is he any relation to you?

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I am descended from and related to James.Ellaway,Belcher,Partridge and Parker families of the area.

Pete

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My uncle, John Henry Jones (1898-1951) not a blood relative, was the LND bn. s/o Thomas Henry Jones, bn. Yorkley 1866. THJ was a railwayman who made his way to LND.

During WWII c. 1942 I recall being taken by JHJ to see his 'Cousin Amos' who had a large garden sloping downhill filled with roses many of which he grafted. Out of interest I've been trying to construct a family tree for the Jones' who were well settled in Yorkley Slade in the 19C.

I imagine that the mge of Amos has not yet made FreeBMD, unless he married out of area and I don't know his wife's maiden name. She was a rather strange woman and I believe the mge was childless.

In more recent years I was told that there were two Ivor James living on Blakeney Hill.

It looks as if my Amios cd be the s/o your Amos in the subject line.

If any of this means anything to you please get in touch for a little more information.

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It looks as if my Amios cd be the s/o your Amos in the subject line.

Name: Amos James
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1902
Registration district: Westbury on Severn
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 6a
Page: 311

Name: Gertrude Marie Lucy
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1900
Registration district: Worcester
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Volume: 6c
Page: 311

Name: Amos James & Gertrude M Lucy
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun 1936
Registration district: Worcester
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Volume Number: 6c
Page Number: 414

Name: Amos James
Birth Date: 16 Aug 1903
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1971
Age at Death: 68
Registration district: Gloucester City
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 938

Name: Gertrude Marie James
Birth Date: 15 Jan 1900
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1974
Age at Death: 74
Registration district: Gloucester City
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume: 7b
Page: 1151

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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Thanks. This seems to be him.

[correction to previoue message. Local lady said there were two men named Amos on Blakeney Hill, not two Amos James'].

However the cousin connection will be harder to prove until I can find a connection between the Jones' and James'.

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However the cousin connection will be harder to prove until I can find a connection between the Jones' and James'.

Sarah Jane JONES (1870) is Amos' (1902) mother; she has a brother Thomas born 1866 ish

1891 Yorkley Slade
William Jones abt 1826 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Fanny Jones abt 1828 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
George Jones abt 1853 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
John Jones abt 1864 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah J Jones abt 1871 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Mary Gallop abt 1881 Lincoln's in Field, London, England Granddaughter West Dean, Gloucestershire

1881
William Jones abt 1826 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head West Dean, Gloucestershire
Fanny Jones abt 1828 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife West Dean, Gloucestershire
George Jones abt 1851 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
John Jones abt 1864 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Jones abt 1866 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son West Dean, Gloucestershire
Eliza Jones abt 1868 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire
Sarah Jones abt 1871 West Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter West Dean, Gloucestershire

1871
William Jones 46
Fanny Jones 43
William Jones 21
George Jones 19
Annice Jones 17
Matilda Jones 8
John Jones 6
Thomas Jones 5
Eliza Jones 3
Sarah J Jones 10 Months

Year: 1870
Month: Jun
Day: 12
Parents_Surname: JONES
Child_Forenames: Sarah Jane
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Fanny
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Yorkly [sic] Slade
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: Samuel Edwards Vicar
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P348 IN 1/1
Page_Number: 11
Parish_Chapel: Viney Hill

Brother ?

Year: 1866
Month: Mar
Day: 18
Parents_Surname: JONES
Child_Forenames: Thomas Henry
Fathers_Forenames: William
Mothers_Forenames: Annie
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Yorkley Slade
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: JA Kelly Curate
Event: Baptism
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P245 IN 1/12
Page_Number: 6
Parish_Chapel: Parkend

--
Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>

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Hi,
Amos JAMES 1902-1971 is my Uncle. My Grandparents were Amos JAMES 1871-1936 and Sarah Jane JONES 1870-1932. They were married at Viney Hill Church on 6th.Dec.1891.
My Father was Albert James, Amos's brother.
Hope this helps your research. If you need any more info please contact.
Fred.

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Hi,

Sorry to be so long with a response. I don't know whether the following his already been related in this thread, but a few years ago I went to visit the widow of a former secretary of the GLSFHS. I think her name was Joan .... . I had told her about Amos James and as she lived in Blakeney as a child she she took me to a place (nr Viney Hill?) looking across the valley to Blakeney Hill and said "your Amos James lived in either that house, or that one".

As an afterthought, as we were about to leave I said to Joan that I recollected Amos's wife being a bit strange. If he stood up, so did she. If he went out she followed him. I recall my mother saying that she felt as is the wife was worried about a rival female.

As soon as I mentioned this to Joan she said that Amos's wife was a strange woman and was able to point to which of the two dwellings 'my' Amos James lived in.

I mention this because there were two Amos's. Are we talking about the same man?

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Hi Segilla, The Amos JAMES 1902-1971 is my Uncle, his wifes name was Gertrude (Gertie). The house they lived in on Blakeney Hill was almost set into the hillside, as the back of it was always very damp, the separate garage to the right of the house I am sure used to bear the name Gibralter on the side, but these recollections date back to the 1950's. Auntie Gertie certainly was a little strange at times, but they always made us very welcome on the few occasions that we were able to visit them, as we live over 200 miles away, and in those days didn't have a car. Are you in any way related to them? I was born on Viney Hill in a bungalow called Welwyn which is still there, but moved away from the area when only a small child. Joan may have been right about Gerties suspicions as my Dad said that Uncle Amos was a bit of a lad!
mjames.

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Hi,
Amos JAMES born 1902 from Blakeney Hill was my Uncle, he married Gertrude Marie LUCY in 1936 in Worcester, which is where Auntie Gertie was born.
Hope this helps your research.
Fred.

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Thanks Fred. Did you ever meet him? His garden which sloped down the hill was filled with roses.

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Hi Segilla,
Yes, I remember visiting Blakeney Hill many times, first as a youngster with my parents, my Dad was Amos's younger brother Albert. Then as a teenager I cycled down to Blakeney and stayed with Uncle Amos JAMES and Auntie Gertie for a few days. His garden always looked gorgeous, and he used to grow his own bedding plants from seed. It certainly was quite a steep slope down to the bottom. Just after our last visit in the early 1970's there was a terrific storm, and it washed all of his lovely plants and a lot of the soil straight down to the bottom of the hill. I liked going down there, as he was my favourite Uncle, and I have now got a lot of wonderful memories of both my Uncle Amos and Auntie Gertie and Blakeney Hill.
Fred.

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Hi Fred. Thanks for your information and it's clear that the Amos JAMES I met c. 1940/41 is the same man as your uncle. I've had a quick look at censuses and see that Amos senr's wife was Sarah J nee JONES from Yorkley, the sister of my uncle's grandfather William James Jones.

My uncle, John Henry JONES who was cousin to Amos was not a blood relative of mine. He married my mother's sister and his father took a familiar path, joining the GWR and working his way along the railway to end up in London.

My recollections of the two long holidays we spent at Yorkley are meant to be included here but are missing, so there will be another delay.

Best,

Alan Merryweather

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Hi Fred,

I see that my recollections of the Forest c 1940/41 are on this site but I can send a copy by email if you are interested.

I can also send you a GEDCOM of my JONES family which shows how they are connected to Amos JAMES who is included along with some census entries. There seem to be some remarriages and a possible inaccurate 1881 census entry.

Best,

Alan.

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Yes it is still standing and is our home.
It is on Hihgfield Hill - somehow now changed to Highfield Road
In 1920 's its name was changed to The Rocklands. I am told this was to avoid confusion with the next door Highfield Villa.
Have you details pictures of the house or details of the Owner?

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Yes.
We live there.
The name was changed to The Rocklands many years ago.
I would like to hear about it's history.
John Thurston

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Yes.
We live there.
The name was changed to The Rocklands many years ago.
I would like to hear about it's history.
John Thurston

Sorry it has taken so long to reply to your post but I have not checked this post for quite a while. My husband, John James - direct GGGGrandson of the John James who built your house, and I will be in Lydney (from Australia) this July 2014. We would very much appreciate meeting you.
Regards,
Sally James

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Forest of Dean FHT Forum

John JAMES of Highfield House, Lydney (General)

Highfield House, Allaston / Newerne, Lydney ( old map )

Amos JAMES 1872 -1936 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill ( JONES connection)

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1902 -1971 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill

Amos JAMES 1872 Blakeney Hill