Issue 7: Manufacturing 1870 to 1920s May 2015
This is a website for people who are interested in the history of Box, in the county of Wiltshire, and its surrounding hamlets.
The site publishes articles about the characters who lived here and how the village developed. It is also a community website where you can record your story and that of your ancestors. Click on the blue headings below to read the articles.
The site publishes articles about the characters who lived here and how the village developed. It is also a community website where you can record your story and that of your ancestors. Click on the blue headings below to read the articles.
Box Brewery in the Market Place and its employees (courtesy John Dodd).
Manufacturing Centre
It is hard to believe that Box was once a significant manufacturing village when today there is scarcely any industry or employment left. This issue features the story of some of those businesses. Claire Dimond has recorded the history of the Candle Factory on Quarry Hill (now manufacturer of Price's tennis balls) and David Ibberson tells the story of Box Brewery, including the family member who joined the Australian Gold Rush.
It is hard to believe that Box was once a significant manufacturing village when today there is scarcely any industry or employment left. This issue features the story of some of those businesses. Claire Dimond has recorded the history of the Candle Factory on Quarry Hill (now manufacturer of Price's tennis balls) and David Ibberson tells the story of Box Brewery, including the family member who joined the Australian Gold Rush.
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People Index [Click left for list of People articles]
You can read the tragic story of a famous Box family in the Vezey Family, written by descendant, Clive Banks. Or enjoy Ian Chandler's amazing journey of discovery to find the Chandler Family, Box schoolmasters in the 1850s and 1860s. In the Market Place lived the Dancey Family fascinatingly recalled by Les and Chris Dancey. You can also admire the photo on the right which shows the prize-winning blooms of Isaac Southard, perhaps Box's most famous horticulturalist. |
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Places Index (Click left for list of Places articles)
Sylvia Lucas tells of her life and her family in Box's missing hamlet and we have Ronny Walker's story of Boxfields, updated with new photos. On June 15th we celebrate the 800 year anniversary of Magna Carta at Runnymead. But what did it mean for Box? We also have the story of other industries including a Perspex manufacturer and a lemonade factory at rural Box Hill (pictured left) recorded in Other Industries. |
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Victorian Box [Click blue heading left for details.]
Read about Steam Mill Cottages in the Market Place, which were rebuilt in late Victorian Box. The picture of the cottages on the right is by Val Wilson. Discover more about life and people in the village with some fabulous contemporary photographs in Class Divisions. Read a remarkable piece of research to find a new pub in Ashley, the Grove Inn, together with the story of a brutal murder by Crafty Ike Smith. (Talk about a rough area !) |
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Next Issue
In our next issue we feature the story of farming in the area, both real and fictional, and the causes of the decline in the industry which led to substantial rural poverty in Box.
In our next issue we feature the story of farming in the area, both real and fictional, and the causes of the decline in the industry which led to substantial rural poverty in Box.
Finally
New to the website? Use the Previous Issues to catch up on past stories. Still can't find something? Just contact us and we will get back to you. Don't forget to sign up on the Contact tab if you want to receive our free quarterly newsletter.
New to the website? Use the Previous Issues to catch up on past stories. Still can't find something? Just contact us and we will get back to you. Don't forget to sign up on the Contact tab if you want to receive our free quarterly newsletter.