Jill Sparrow

#636 I felt sorry for the rep who probably went round telling folks he "travelled in ladies' equestrian knickers." Bet he got a few strange glances!

I know someone who, many years ago, worked in the offices at Brettles. They made all manner of hosiery, socks etc, not to mention liberty bodices! They also manufactured a garment known as ladies' equestrian knickers! The mind truly boggles!

#626 Surgical stockings and support hose, eh? Ever thought about getting a liberty bodice? ....where is Ben?

#623 Have you been playing with the micromesh, 20 denier, fully fashioned seamed again, Chulla?

#618 A couple of years ago, a young(ish) male colleague had both his arms done, by which I mean covered in tattoos! He drove me bananas whingeing about the pain and endlessly covering himself in nappy rash cream! He was spending most of his salary on the project, whilst doing even more whingeing about being unable to afford to get onto the property ladder! Arms done, he was planning his next project which involved the area below his belt buckle...and you know how low they wear those these days! Ye gods and little fishes! In that area, he'll end up with a tat

#616 This getting yourself tattooed all over seems to be burgeoning, especially among females. Is it, I wonder, a cunning ploy to avoid buying clothes and just walk around in nature's own? If so, in a few years' time, they'll need a bl99dy good iron!

#45 Reminds me of that old quote: "If God had meant you to hold an election, he'd have given you some decent candidates!" I've given up reading about it. On this subject, as on most others, the level of media coverage is more puerile than Noddy in Toyland. I don't know about anyone else, but I resent being bombarded with facile, dumbed-down drivel as though I were a brainless cabbage...which I'm not! I suspect I'm getting old!

I think, on balance, the probability is that those photos show The Grange from its front elevation. So many of the photos in the archive are not annotated and researching where they were was a nightmare. Some of the buildings still exist, which makes it easier but those which are no longer standing mean reliance on people who knew them. I've shown those two images at local history presentations many times and no one was able to identify the building. So perhaps, at last, we've solved the mystery!

With these new computer systems (local authority) your boss knows how long it is since your mouse moved! It says something like..."has been away for 15 minutes". You also know how long it is since your boss's mouse moved! Equal opportunities!

#103 Cocker House was another beautiful building, buried beneath the pit tip! Bl99dy vandals!

#97 Wish I could have seen it as it was then!

#98 These are the slides I mentioned which were taken at Lamb Close House and grounds, showing members of the Barber family. I have no names or dates but recognise the only male in the shots as a Barber. Re the two shooting party shots, these were taken in Scotland but, again, no dates. I'm sure Tom Barber can identify some, if not all, of those in the pictures. Grateful thanks to Catfan for posting these images!

Thanks, Pianoman. Interesting to see what's there now.

#89 Interesting map, CT. The Grange was clearly a much larger building than is indicated by the 2 photos I have of it...if indeed they are of The Grange. There are photos taken in the garden. Not sure if I sent one to Catfan, showing J W Fryar with his dog. The grounds appear extensive. His sisters would also have lived there prior to their brother's demise.

I am inclining to the view that the image is a drawing rather than a photograph and may therefore not be totally reflective of accuracy.

The article stated that The Grange and 800 acres of land were acquired by Barber Walker in 1916 on the sale of the Cowper Estate and that the house became the residence of Barber Walker's general manager. However, we know that Fryar lived there prior to this date! Contradictory information.

#84 I lived in Brinsley for some years and heard much about old Dr Robey, whom all the older residents had known. I don't know where, or even if, he fits into the Robey family I'm thinking of but I think it likely. The new image of The Grange is interesting as there are some definite similarities with the two photos I have, e.g. the door casing. There are also some differences. Be interesting to see what others think.

Just found an article online from the Eastwood Advertiser dated September 2012 which shows an image of The Grange. I'll ask Catfan to post it for me. It states the house, Grange Cottage, the garage and outbuildings were all sold in 1953 for £5100.

I note there is a Fryar Road running off Coach Drive which, presumably, is in memory of John William. Interesting also to note the name Robey on a street name as this family was also connected with the Strelleys and the Barbers. They all intermarried and all had interests in coal mining.

In #12, Pianoman says The Grange occupied the site of what is now Thorntree Gardens. I assume that after Fryar's sudden death from appendicitis in August 1915, his successor occupied the house and so on, up to nationalisation. What happened to it after that I have no idea. I do know that Fryar was often invited to Eastwood Hall, just across the road, as a guest at various celebrations. Ruth Barber noted in her diary for 1913 that she and her cousin, Caroline Fryar (J W Fryar's niece) stayed at Eastwood Hall over New Year and enjoyed the celebrations. Eastwood Hall was the home of t

#75 Pianoman, you are probably one of the few people who can remember The Grange, even as a derelict shell. No one has ever been able to identify those photos for certain. I particularly like the windows of The Manse, with their bull's eye glass panes, although I suspect they may not be there now. As Catfan says about the 1920s flapper photo of Ruth Barber, the pictures recall a very different era.

She will make him squeal!

#71 Many thanks, Catfan. First photo shows back row: Caroline Isabella Fryar, her brother Mark Strelley Fryar. Front row: Marian Robey Bell and Louisa Mary Fryar, nee Strelley. Date unknown but prior to 1934. More Manse photos yet to come.

Many thanks Catfan. The grave of John William Fryar can be found in Greasley churchyard. His family paid for one of the bells in the church peal as a memorial and it is inscribed with his name. His younger brother, Mark, was also a Colliery manager and his hobby was bell ringing. The three people on the second photo are from the left, one of the Fryar sisters, Mark Fryar and his wife, Louisa Mary Fryar, nee Strelley.

#79 Are you sure you didn't pull one over your head and nip round to the Midland Bank...the one that liked to say "yes"?