Forest of Dean FHT Forum - Message for Slowhands

Message for Slowhands (reply)

wes — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 03:12:08 +0000

That's very kind of you. If you recall the photo I posted of Park Villa it had a double pitched roof with 4 tallish chimney stacks. The Google Earth image shows what at first I thought was a similar roof but on closer inspection it looks like 2 pitched roofed structures close to each other and no chimneys.

Thanks again for your help.

Wes

Message for Slowhands (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:55:52 +0000

I'm pretty sure the former Park Hill Forestry lodge still stand in its 2 acres of wood/orchard, this was behind Park Villa.

Next time I visit Bream I'll see if I can trace it or its remains....

Message for Slowhands (reply)

wes — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:40:29 +0000

Hi, Slowhands

it's almost a year since you identified the location of Park Villa, Whitecroft for me.
I've found Park Villa on a 1924 map and looked at its immediate surroundings on Google Earth. The field and plots haven't changed much. There is a building on what I believe is the the plot where Park Villa was in 1924 but can't really see it too well.

Do you know if Park Villa is still there or has it been taken down and replaced with something else ?

Thanks, GW

TOPHAM family of Whitecroft (reply)

G. Wesley — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 04:22:10 +0000

Thanks for all that information, slowhands. It's certainly the right family and it sounds as though the house is still there. G.W.

TOPHAM family of Whitecroft (reply)

G. Wesley — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:15:02 +0000

Thanks for that , Ray. The facade and porch look similar. The house in the photo has a double pitched roof so, as you say, if it is the same , major chnges have been made.

G W

TOPHAM family of Whitecroft (reply)

slowhands — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 07:43:15 +0000

Park Villa is on Park Hill, off the New Road leading from Whitecroft up to Parkend. ( behind it stands the Park Hill Forestry Lodge)

Deanfield is in Folly Road Parkend.

TOPHAM family of Whitecroft (reply)

Ray — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 04:58:47 +0000

I wonder if Park Villa was originally Parkend Villa, built in 1840 by a quarry owner. It looks very similar but has probably changed structually over the years. If so it is now a b & b called 'Deanfields' I stayed next door when I visited in June. The house is situated opposite the village green in Parkend very close to the Woodman pub. Take a look at the house on their website 'www.deanfield.org.uk. If this is the house then a William White, the Iron Works Clerk, and his family lived there on the 1881 census. And of course its very close to Whitecroft. Hope this helps.

Ray

Park Villa and TOPHAM family of Whitecroft (reply)

slowhands — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 22:44:11 +0000

Park Villa
1876
John M. PROTHEROE colliery manager, Park villa Whitecroft

location >>>
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/
co-ords 361704, 206415

1901 Whitecroft, Drapers at Park Hill, Whitecroft
John Topham abt 1864 Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England Head West Dean Monmouthshire
Hannah Topham abt 1858 Redhill, Surrey, England Wife West Dean Monmouthshire
Arthur Topham abt 1890 Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England Son West Dean Monmouthshire
Edith Topham abt 1893 Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England Daughter West Dean Monmouthshire
Esthel Topham abt 1900 Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England Daughter West Dean Monmouthshire
Walter Topham abt 1896 Arlesey, Bedfordshire, England Son West Dean Monmouthshire

TOPHAM family of Whitecroft

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 21:58:05 +0000

Photos of the house and shop together with the details were sent to us by Gordon Wesley
http://www.forest-of-dean.net/gallery/fod_variety_2/

Park Villa c1901
I'm hoping that someone can identify this house. Sometime between 1901-1905 it was owned/occupied by the Topham family and is described on the back of the photo as "My uncle's house in the forest". I guess the photo was taken during this period

On another photo it is called "Park Villa". In the 1901 census their address is West Dean. Later their address was Whitecroft, so I guess the house could be in either West Dean or Whitecroft areas

-------

Unknown Shop c1901
We think it was a shop owned by John Topham (of the same family as lived in the Park Villa) in Whitecroft between 1901-1905

There was also a shop called Bailey Hill Stores, Yorkley belonging to his niece Charlotte Wesley during the same period, but we think this photo is of the shop in Whitecroft as on the back it says it is "2 miles from my sister's shop" which would be about the right distance from Yorkley

If someone can identify this shop and if it is still standing that would be a great bonus!