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ancestralenq.bsky.social
Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
@ancestralenq.bsky.social
1.6K followers 1.7K following 5.6K posts
Genealogist & Family Historian for 20 years.
AGRA Associate, Wakefield, W. Yorks.
Pharos Intermediate & Advanced Certificate
One Place Study: St. John's Square, Wakefield
www.ancestralenquiries.co.uk
#FamilyHistory
#Genealogy
#LocalHistory
#Yorkshire
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Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳 @ancestralenq.bsky.social · Nov 13
Welcome to all new followers. My name is Tony & I started my professional genealogy journey in 2024.
When I'm not researching my ancestors or those of clients I enjoy running, alternative music, travelling & exploring historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, pubs, landmarks & graveyards.
ancestralenq.bsky.social
An urgent appeal launched to raise £50,000 to restore the 13th century rare oak framed spire at St. Dubricius church, Porlock, Somerset. 👇
BBC News - Appeal launched to restore rare Porlock church spire - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Appeal launched to restore rare Porlock church spire
An urgent appeal has been launched to raise £50,000 to save a historic church spire.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 5:00 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Hull Minster secures £230,000 of funding for renovation which includes restoration of the grand organ. 👇
BBC News - Minster secures £230k for renovation works
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hull Minster secures more than £230,000 for renovation works
Hull Minster's heritage manager says the money will be spent on renovation works at the site.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 4:56 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A plague stone that dates from 1604 at Little Hob Moor, York has been used to raise £936 for nearby St. Leonard's Hospice. It was originally filled with water or vinegar to wash the coins of those suffering from the plague. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The York plague stone still helping local causes 400 years on
Friends of Hob Moor maintain the historical site, and donations given go to St Leonard's Hospice.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A statue of 19th century mathematician Ada Lovelace has been unveiled outside the campus of the North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College, near her former home. It's a replica of a statue in Westminster created by Mary & Etienne Millner. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Statue of computing pioneer Ada Lovelace unveiled in Hinckley
Project leaders hope the sculpture will inspire girls and young women to study maths and science.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 10:46 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A statue of 19th century mathematician Ada Lovelace has been unveiled outside the campus of the North Warwickshire & South Leicestershire College, near her former home. It's a replica of a statue in Westminster created by Mary & Etienne Millner. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Statue of computing pioneer Ada Lovelace unveiled in Hinckley
Project leaders hope the sculpture will inspire girls and young women to study maths and science.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 10:46 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
handhyorkshire.bsky.social
On tomorrow's date 2 February in 1830 the York Museum Gardens were officially opened. The Yorkshire Philosophical Society itself was formed in 1822. Six years later part of the grounds of St Mary's Abbey were given over to the society. The Yorkshire Museum was built
The image is a print titled View of York by George Adolphus Storey. It depicts a panoramic scene of the city of York, focusing on the area around the York Museum Gardens and St Mary's Abbey ruins. The artwork is an antique print, specifically a wood-engraved print published in 1858. It provides a historical perspective of the city's landscape and architecture in the mid-19th century. The foreground features the River Ouse and the ruins of St Mary's Abbey. The large building in the centre is the Yorkshire Museum, which was built within the abbey grounds.
February 1, 2026 at 9:28 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The writers in residence at Elizabeth Gaskell's former home, Manchester which is now a museum. 👇
BBC News - 'I'm annoyed I'd never heard of fulfilling Elizabeth Gaskell' - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'I'm annoyed I'd never heard of fulfilling Elizabeth Gaskell'
Works from writers-in-residence inspired by the Victorian novelist are published in a new book.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The story of the Drypool ghost at the old Hull Citadel, a castle built by King Henry VIII.👇
BBC News - Henry VIII's lost castle and the ghost of the Devil's Post
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Henry VIII's lost castle and the ghost of the Devil's Post
Hull Citadel has long been demolished, but tales of a murdered woman and haunted soldiers linger.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:53 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The destruction of Margate pier & lifeboat station in a storm in 1978. 👇
BBC News - How Margate's jetty and RNLI boathouse were destroyed by a storm - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
How Margate's jetty and RNLI boathouse were destroyed by a storm
A storm destroyed the Kent town's jetty and RNLI boathouse overnight in January 1978.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:47 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A film, A Winter's Lion is being made about the UK's first Asian police officer, PC Karpal Kaur Sandhu who joined the police in 1971 & was murdered by her husband in 1973. 👇
BBC News - Film on murdered Met trailblazer being made
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Karpal Kaur Sandhu: Film about life of Met's first female Asian officer
Filming for a new movie about the UK's first female Asian police officer is wrapping up in London.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:41 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Campaigners are fighting to prevent the closure of the UK's oldest surviving Indian restaurant, Veeraswamy, founded in 1926 which is in dispute with its landlord, the Crown Estate. 👇
BBC News - An iconic Indian restaurant might have to shut after 99 years.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Veeraswamy: UK's oldest Indian restaurant calls on King to save it
Supporters of Veeraswamy, which has operated for almost 100 years, are petitioning the King to intervene.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:34 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Campaigners are looking to raise £35,000 to buy Wamphray church, near Beattock, south Scotland for the community. The church dates from 1834 & sits on a medieval church beneath its churchyard. 👇
Fight to save Wamphray church linked to St Cuthbert and Russian royalty
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Fight to save Wamphray church linked to St Cuthbert and Russian royalty
Residents of Wamphray in southern Scotland need to raise at least £35,000 to buy their local church.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:27 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The story of Anne Askew from Lincolnshire who was burnt at the stake in July 1546 at Smithfield, London. Anne challenged the belief that when the priest blessed the bread at communion it physically became the body of Christ preaching this in public & privately. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Why Anne Askew was burnt at the stake for her beliefs
Lincolnshire-born Anne Askew challenged views on women and religion before her execution aged 25.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 1, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The beautiful St. Wilfrid's Church, Calverley between Leeds & Bradford was founded in 1154 with a 14th century tower & 15th century upper stage of tower & clerestory. The chancel, vestry & porch were restored in 1868-70. The accompanying graveyard is not currently accessible. /1
January 31, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
As I walked around on the footpath of the perimeter of the cordoned off churchyard of St. Wilfrid's at Calverley I made a new friend. 😍
January 31, 2026 at 8:55 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Former Labour minister & FA Chairman Lord David Triesman has died age 82. 👇
BBC News - Labour peer and former FA chairman Lord Triesman dies aged 82
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lord Triesman: Labour peer and former FA chairman dies aged 82
He joined Tony Blair's government in 2004, holding prominent roles in politics until his death.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 9:49 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
As I walked around on the footpath of the perimeter of the cordoned off churchyard of St. Wilfrid's at Calverley I made a new friend. 😍
January 31, 2026 at 8:55 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A few more shots of St. Wilfrid's Church, Calverley looking across the atmospheric churchyard.
January 31, 2026 at 6:03 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The beautiful St. Wilfrid's Church, Calverley between Leeds & Bradford was founded in 1154 with a 14th century tower & 15th century upper stage of tower & clerestory. The chancel, vestry & porch were restored in 1868-70. The accompanying graveyard is not currently accessible. /1
January 31, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Welcome to all new followers. My name is Tony & I started my professional genealogy journey in 2024.
When I'm not researching my ancestors or those of clients I enjoy running, alternative music, travelling & exploring historical buildings, churches, cathedrals, pubs, landmarks & graveyards.
November 13, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
groomb.bsky.social
Street Scene, painting by Yorkshire artist Allen Tortice, b.1948 in Wakefield.
January 29, 2026 at 8:43 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
groomb.bsky.social
Leeds, 1954, photo by Marc Riboud. Young French photographer on his first assignment for Picture Post.
January 29, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
groomb.bsky.social
York-born Guy Fawkes was executed on this day 1606 with other Catholic plotters against James VI of Scotland and I of England. Asked why he had so much gunpowder, he allegedly replied that his intention was ‘to blow you Scotch beggars back to your native mountains’.
January 31, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
handhyorkshire.bsky.social
Introduced in 1815, the Corn Laws imposed tariffs on imported grain to protect British landowners by keeping food prices high. While they safeguarded rural interests, they were bitterly resented in industrial areas, where expensive bread weighed heavily on working-class 1/5
This is a British political cartoon from 1815 titled The Blessings of Peace or the Curse of the Corn Bill, published by S.W. Fores and etched by George Cruikshank. It satirizes the Corn Laws of 1815, which imposed high tariffs on imported grain to protect British landowners from foreign competition, keeping domestic grain prices high. The cartoon depicts the stark contrast between the wealthy landowners (the "masters") on the shore, who are determined to keep prices high at "80 shillings" per quarter, and the impoverished "poor" who are struggling to afford food. Image. British Museum CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
January 31, 2026 at 6:12 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The dials & devices at the Oxford History of Science Museum. 👇
BBC News - Did this inspire His Dark Materials 'golden compass'? - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Did this inspire His Dark Materials 'golden compass'?
A beautiful brass dial bears an uncanny resemblance to the contraption used by Lyra Belacqua.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 8:53 AM