Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
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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
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
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Archaeologist Stephen Dickinson believes a hill in West Cumbria could be the King's Mound where the lost Viking king, Ivarr the Boneless is buried with his ship. 👇
BBC News - Cumbria hill could hold grave of Viking king Ivarr the Boneless - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cumbria hill could hold grave of Viking king Ivarr the Boneless
Archaeologist Steve Dickinson believes the mound could contain the 9th Century king and his ship.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 8:50 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Grade 1 listed West Riddlesden Hall, Keighley, W. Yorks which dates from 1687 & was built for Thomas Leach in the same style as East Riddlesden Hall is up for sale for £1,1150,000. 👇
BBC News - Keighley manor house with Brontë connections for sale - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Keighley manor house with Brontë connections for sale
West Riddlesden Hall in Keighley is a sister house to National Trust property East Riddlesden Hall.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 8:44 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The Victorian prison cells underneath the steps of Leeds Town Hall that date from 1864. 👇
BBC News - Inside the Victorian prison cells underneath Leeds Town Hall - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/...
Inside the Victorian prison cells underneath Leeds Town Hall
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 8:31 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The Grade 2 listed cast iron codfish collecting box at Robins Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire which dates from 1885. It may possibly the smallest listed structure at 1.2m tall. 👇
BBC News - Robin Hood's Bay cod has raised fund for RNLI since the 1800s - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Robin Hood's Bay cod has raised fund for RNLI since the 1800s
According to Historic England, the cod could be the oldest collecting box still in service for RNLI.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
A rare map of Kingsbridge, Devon from 1586 & likely commissioned by the lord of the manor, Sir John Petre to go on display at the Devon Heritage Centre, Exeter. 👇
BBC News - 'Extremely rare' map to go on show after 400 years
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Extremely rare' Tudor map of Devon town to go on display
The Tudor map, which has been in private hands for 400 years, has been secured by a £17,691 grant.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 25, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
swheritagetrust.bsky.social
Thanks to @thefnl.bsky.social this exceptionally rare Tudor map of Kingsbridge in Devon has been acquired for public research at the Devon Heritage Centre, after more than four centuries in private hands.
January 30, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Grade 2 listed Sefton Palm House, Liverpool to mark its 130th anniversary this year with a series of events. 👇
BBC News - Events happening at Sefton Park Palm House to celebrate 130 years - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Events happening at Sefton Park Palm House to celebrate 130 years
The glasshouse opened in 1896 and was restored in 2001, becoming a heritage attraction.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:07 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Watching I Was a Teenage Sex Pistol by Glen Matlock on Sky Arts 🎤🎸
January 30, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
ancestralenq.bsky.social
St. Peter's Church, Shipley near Bradford built as a daughter church to St. Paul's of Shipley was consecrated in 1909. As the population of nearby Saltaire grew at the end of the 19th century a congregation began to worship at the Technical School, Saltaire in 1890. /1
January 30, 2026 at 5:37 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Catherine O'Hara, Canadian-US actress & comedian who has roles in Home Alone, Beetlejuice & Schitt's Creek, dies age 71. 👇
BBC News - www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce...
Catherine O'Hara, star of Schitt's Creek and Home Alone, dies at 71 - follow live - BBC News
Catherine O'Hara, star of Schitt's Creek and Home Alone, dies at 71 - follow live
The Canadian-American actress was best known for her portrayals of comedic matriarchs Moira Rose and Kate McCallister.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
markcrail.bsky.social
#Chartism #C19th #History
It probably hasn’t escaped your attention that I am busy trying to flog copies of Chartist Lives. It’s full of amazing stories and it’s £19.99 in hardback, £9.99 in paperback and just £8.99 for kindle.
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G3Q7PR7Y
A pile of books, all the same, copies of Chartist Lives by Mark Crail
January 30, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
handhyorkshire.bsky.social
🧵In the nave of St Helena’s Church, Austerfield, Bawtry, is a rare Sheela-na-gig, one of only 16 recorded in England. These striking, quasi-erotic stone carvings of female figures are sometimes found in Norman churches, though their meaning remains debated. At St Helena’s, 1/3
The image shows St. Helena's Church in the village of Austerfield, South Yorkshire It is an ancient Norman church, originally a chapel-of-ease to Blyth Priory, built by John de Buisli in the 12th century. The church is historically significant as the place where William Bradford, the second governor of the Plymouth Colony and a leader of the Pilgrim Fathers, was baptised in 1589. St Helena's Church in Austerfield, is notable for including a Sheela Na Gig carving which is located within the nave of the church. There are only about 16 recorded Sheela Na Gig carvings in England, making the one at Austerfield particularly rare. It is a quasi-erotic stone carving of a female figure, a type sometimes found in Norman churches. mage: Richard Croft CC BY-SA 2.0
January 30, 2026 at 10:29 AM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
St. Peter's Church, Shipley near Bradford built as a daughter church to St. Paul's of Shipley was consecrated in 1909. As the population of nearby Saltaire grew at the end of the 19th century a congregation began to worship at the Technical School, Saltaire in 1890. /1
January 30, 2026 at 5:37 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
Grade 2 listed Sefton Palm House, Liverpool to mark its 130th anniversary this year with a series of events. 👇
BBC News - Events happening at Sefton Park Palm House to celebrate 130 years - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Events happening at Sefton Park Palm House to celebrate 130 years
The glasshouse opened in 1896 and was restored in 2001, becoming a heritage attraction.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:07 PM
ancestralenq.bsky.social
The Grade 2 listed former Batley Baths, W. Yorks, former swimming pool & sports centre which dates from 1893 sold at auction for £318,000. 👇
BBC News - Kirklees Council sells former public swimming pool and gym - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kirklees Council sells former public swimming pool and gym
Batley Baths, which has been closed since 2023, is sold for a six-figure sum at auction.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
deadsleuth.com
Aged stone in hues of a soft grey palette captured against the dying of a January day.

⛪ The Parish of All Saints. Rudston. Driffield. UK.

#DeadSleuth #ChurchCrawler #StillSleuthing 🔍 with @graveyardsquirrel.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:01 PM
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ancestralenq.bsky.social
Six of the 450,000 objects that have been unearthed as part of the building of HS2 now held in 7,300 boxes in a secret Yorkshire warehouse. Objects include a medieval die, Palaeolithic hand axe & Roman gladiator tag. 👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Treasures found on HS2 route stored in secret warehouse
Archaeological finds from the planned HS2 train line have been shown exclusively to the BBC.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 30, 2026 at 7:37 AM
Reposted by Ancestral Enquiries - Tony Smith 🌳
yorkarchive.bsky.social
Come along tomorrow as we will be hosting a pop-up exhibition on the historic bridges of York as part of Residents Festival. 

📅Saturday, 31st January 10am-4pm
📍Archives Reading Room, First Floor, York Explore.
 
Entry is free and no booking required!

#archives #york #exploreyourarchive
A historic stone bridge with ornate lampposts spans a river, flanked by old buildings in a foggy urban setting.
January 30, 2026 at 10:02 AM