The Shakespeare Family History Site

In November 2004 Malcolm Ward made the long journey from Australia to visit the areas once lived in by his ancestors. On the 7th of November he was in the Midlands retracing the footsteps of Henry Shakespeare, who over 150 years ago made the journey 'down under.'
*St Mary's Church, Kingswinford*	First stop was the parish church of St. Mary, Kingswinford, where Henry was baptised in 1811. Although much of this building is modern, part of the tower dates to the 12th century and would have been familiar to our ancestors for nearly 1000 years.
Here Malcolm stands at the summit of Hill Street in Netherton, with St. Andrew's churchyard in the background. This street was formerly known as Netherton Hill and is probably where Henry was born. Sadly most of the buildings here are relatively modern and Henry's birthplace no longer exists, but this is a view that would have been new in his lifetime, for the church was built just over a decade prior to his departure overseas. Prior to the churches existence the ground at the rear of the church was used as a burial ground for victims of Dudley's cholera epidemic. The area containing these mass burial pits remains untouched to this day.
*St Andrew's Church, Netherton*
*St Thomas's Church, Dudley*	Next stop was Dudley. This is a view of St. Thomas's church, taken on the day. A familiar outline on the Black Country skyline for centuries this picture of 'Top Church' is unusual as it shows the church cloaked in scaffolding while undergoing restoration.

shakespear, shakespeare, genealogy, family, history, family history, ancestry, sncestors

December 2004