In any recounting of history, editors (I hestitate to use the term "author")
are entirely dependant on those that have gone before, as sources of information.
Those source in turn may have used other prior sources as well. This work is no
different, perhaps even more so because this editor lives half a world away
and has not yet even had the privilege of visiting Pannal, the home of his ancestors.
My journey into Pannal history started with a search for my family background -
gr.gr.grand-father was born at "Follifoot End" and lived at "Spacey Houses" when
he married, before emmigrating to Australia. Through the internet, and specifically
the kind people on the
YORKSGEN genealogy research mailing list,
I found that "Spacey Houses" was a public house on the outskirts of Pannal. So
just like "Clancey", I wrote the publican a letter, "just on spec" (though NOT
"with a thumbnail dipped in tar"). That kind anonymous publican in turn passed
it on to Mrs. Anne SMITH, of "The Pannal Village Society", a local historian
and self-published author. So started a correspondance.
Anne's second book, "Postcards From Pannal" is the inspiration and basis of
this web site. As my family history research progressed, I discovered that many of
the sources for Anne's book were in fact distant relatives of mine, viz:-
Mrs. Lydia WARD (nee WILKS), my gr.gr.aunt, a local historian and prolific
publisher of Postcards of scenes of the district in the early 1900's.
Mr. Frank KNOWLES, a grand-son of my gr.grand-father's half-brother.
Miss Kathleen BARNETT and her sister Mrs. Dorothy MIDGLEY, grand-daughters
of Lydia WARD.
Mr. Eric BYFORD, (with whom I had the privilege of corresponding before
his recent passing), husband of Joyce BARNETT, another grand-daughter of Lydia.
Mr. Peter BATTINSON, who also lent family photographs to Anne.
Mr. Bernard COBB, one of Lydia's nephews.
There are a few quotes from the following books included:-
"Pannal Past and Present - The Past and Present of an Ancient Yorkshire Parish",
c.1921, Rev. Mark ROWNTREE (vicar of St. Roberts, Pannal, from 1883-1920).
The History and Topography of Harrogate and the Knaresborough Forest", 1871,
William GRAINGE; facsimile edition published 1988 by M.T.D.Publications of Guiseley, Leeds.
"Postal History of Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon", by R.WARD and W.A. SEDGEWICK.
