On Whit Monday, 19th May 1902, two dozen parishioners of Bayford met at 10:20am at ‘the locked gate between Bayford and Fanshaws’ to ‘Beat The Bounds’, in celebration of the Coronation of King Edward VII, which took place on 26th June in that year. Here is a list of names that appeared in the Mercury:
Here are some photographs. Do you recognise anyone? If so please let me know so that I can add the names.
The descendants of some of these people still live in Bayford. We can identify some people from the 1901 census.
Henry Clinton Baker, aged 62, was ‘lord of the manor’. Henry his son.
James (57) and Mary Ann (54) Brace lived at Church Cottages. He was a woodman and his son Nathan a stockman. His other son, Abraham (14) mention here was a Post Office Boy.
Alfred Waddington was a farmer and lived at Bayfordbury Farm.
Charles Owen Catling lived with his parents, Owen and Sarah Ann at Bayfordbury Gardens. He joined the 6th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment, was killed on the 10th July 1916, aged 25 and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to those who fought at the Somme and who have no known grave. He is also mentioned on his parents gravestone in Bayford Churchyard.
James Hill (10) was the grandson of William and Charlotte Hill, who lived at The Green. His grandfather and father, Richard, were farm labourers, as was Mr Dudley.
Henry Childs lived at Clay Pits Farm with his wife Sarah. Alfred John Childs lived with his wife Rosa, and Frederick Childs lived nearby at New Pond Farm with his wife Julia. They each had a son killed in WW1. Christopher, Henry’s son, joined the 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry and was killed age 18 on the 6th January 1917. Frederick Childs, son of Frederick, was with 3rd Tank Supply Coy. and died aged 27, on the 21st August 1918.
Walter Durgan was a woodman and his wife Mary Elizabeth kept the village Post Office, with son Walter Dennis. Mary died young at age 43 in 1909.
Job Jones was the publican, with his wife Sarah Ann and four daughters. He died August 31st 1910 and is buried in the churchyard with his wife.
John Cheek was the village blacksmith. He died in 30th October 1943, age 66 and is buried in the churchyard with his wife, Rose Sarah.
Joseph Fletcher lived next door with his wife Ellen and was a farm labourer. His daughter Ellen was in service. He had seven children.
James Bird was a woodman, wife Sarah. James died 8th February 1908 and is buried in the churchyard with his wife and children.
