We are researching the history of Puzzle House, Trafalgar.

There are a few references to "Puzzle Shaft" which appears to be an upshaft from the Trafalgar Pit. We wonder if the house is part of the winding Building.

If anybody has any information relating to the house we would be very interested to follow up at the GRO.

Andrew & Angela

http://www.forum.forest-of-dean.net/index.php?mode=thread&id=20410

Puzzle House Trafalgar, Cinderford, Gloucestershire GL14 3JQ

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midlandexplorerboy/4751644784/

http://wikimapia.org/11737781/Trafalgar-Colliery

Trafalgar colliery near Cinderford, (fn. 23) which was in production in 1860, was developed by the Brain family and was the only large mine in the coalfield run by free miners in the later 19th century. The colliery, which in 1882 became the first in England to have electric pumps, (fn. 24) took over the workings of Strip And At It colliery to the north, and a short tramroad through a tunnel connected the pitheads. (fn. 25)

From: 'Forest of Dean: Industry', A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 5: Bledisloe Hundred, St. Briavels Hundred, The Forest of Dean (1996), pp. 326-354. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=23267 Date accessed: 20 June 2012.

http://www.lightmoor.co.uk/forestcoal/CoalTrafalgar.html

The main upcast shaft was called Puzzle, as the pit had been driven up-hill to the surface.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1336077

1911 Census, Puzzle House, Trafalgar, Cinderford

6 rooms

HALE

Joseph - 55 - married 32 years, Underground Colliery manager, born Lydbrook
Helen - 56 - born Cinderford
Sydney - son - 27 Single Coal Miner Hewer, born Lydbrook
John - son - 25 - Blacksmith - born Lydbrook
Emily - daughter - 23 - School Teacher, Council School - born Lydbrook
Bertie - 14 - at School, born Trafalgar
Ruth LEWIS - General Servant, 16 - born Lydbrook

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either side is Mrs SWIBEY or SURBEY - address: Strip and at it Colliery

and Richard TURLEY, fireman - address: Strip and at it Colliery

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1901 Census, Trafalgar Colliery ( SURBEY's next door)

HALE

Joseph - 45, Colliery Deputy Manager + his family
Helen - 46
Ada - 19
Sydney - 17 - Masons Labourer
John - 15 - Blacksmith
Emily - 13
Harold - 4

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1891 Census, Joseph HALE (Underground Manager) and his family are at Strip and at it- next door but one to

Trafalgar HOUSE

with

Francis W J BRAIN - age 35 Colliery Manager, born Hope Mansell, Herefordshire
Dorothy - wife - born Sarney? Montgomeryshire, Wales
Dolly - daughter 5 - born East Dean
Margaretta - 3
William REGAN - 40 - Office Messenger, born Londonderry, Ireland
Ethenda - REGAN - 50 - Cook Domestic Servant, born Downton, Wiltshire
Blanche S - 18 - Housemaid - Coleford, Gloucestershire
Herbert Satcham? Boarder, single 29, Cashier from Radstock,Somerset

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By using the Advance Search : two baptisms at Mitcheldean Congregational

Dorothy Anne BRAIN - 6 September 1885 and Margretta Price BRAIN - 6 September 1885 - mother's maiden name ROBERTS

On FOD records there are two marriages at Drybrook

25 March 1933, Hector BURGE, Puzzle House Brierley

and

2 September 1939, Percy Joseph Charles RODGER, marrying Rosie Mary BURGE from Puzzle House, Cinderford

There are a few references to "Puzzle Shaft" which appears to be an upshaft from the Trafalgar Pit. We wonder if the house is part of the winding Building.

If anybody has any information relating to the house we would be very interested to follow up at the GRO.

Andrew & Angela