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Rainbow Hill

My grandparents Ann Ellizabeth Dawson and Alfred Hurdley were married at John The Baptist Church, Claines; they were both residing at Rainbow Hill according to their marriage certificate. Does anyone have any photographs or knowledge of this area as it was in the 1880s? I would presume that it would have been a "poor" area as that was how life was back then. I have seen the Church and the altar at which they would have made their vows and the path outside that they would have walked down after their marriage. I almost felt that I was there at the wedding and it brought tears to my eyes. I would be so very grateful of any other news of that time in history of Worcester. Ann Sherman, Dorset. 7th March 08

Jacob’s Ladder IV.

A Powerpoint (3.3Mb) based journey down Jacob’s Ladder to Porter’s Mill can be downloaded here. We have found out there was a cottage at the bottom of the hill, which was demolished years ago. Claines Friends Administrator. 12th Feb 08.

Jacob’s Ladder I

Hello, My 2x Great Grand Parents lived at Jacob's Ladder between 1828 and 1864. Edward HODGES was an Agricultural labourer. three of his nine children were born and baptised in Claines. I would like to locate their house and if it is still standing obtain a photograph. From the 1841 census I know the enumerator went to the Rockery then 1 house Tappen Hill 3 more houses in the Rockery then the HODGES House and one other in Jacob's Ladder then Porter's Lock and Porter's Mill. From this information can anyone tell if they lived at the bottom, top or along the hill. Can the house be identified? Is it still standing? Hazel McMullin 5th Feb 08

Jacob’s Ladder II

Hi Everyone, from a very snowy Canada. Still looking for info, Does anyone have any history on Jacobs Ladder,( Claines) How it got it's name etc,? what houses are on the hill now, When we were there 1950's we had no mod cons ------ What of the weir and river at "Porters Mill ? Please, any pics,

Thank you, Gillian Smith, Ontario Canada . 5th Feb 08

Jacob’s Ladder III. From Claines Friends Administrator

There are now 5-6 houses at the top of Jacob’s ladder, all on the left as you start from the top of the hill. All of these are from the 1940’s onward. It is very possible that they replaced earlier cottages, does anyone know about these? If so, please let Claines Friends know. There are no houses lower on the left or lower down the hill at all until Porters Mill. Were there ever?. As to how it got its name see Genesis 28: 12 “Jacob dreamt that he saw a ladder which rested on the ground with its top reaching to heaven”. Certainly feels like that if you walk or cycle all the way up it! By contrast a local name for the equally steep “Dark Lane” which joins the lane is “Devils Pit”. 5th Feb 08

Dear Claines Friends

My name is Kate Fearnall, and I believe my Father Henry Fearnhall, was born/ christened in Martin Hussingtree, near Fearnahll Heath. His Father was John Fearnhall & his, George Fearnhall from ?Maston/Marston? Worcestor. Does anyone have any information on my family?. Also, I wonder about the co-incidence of my name & the village name; did we take our name from the village, or was the village named after us?? any information would be very welcome. Kate Fearnall, New South Wales, Australia (See also the Family History page for similar entries...)

Canon Clinch

My great grandfather's cousin, the Rev Arthur Harold Gordon Clinch, was vicar of Claines from 1930 to the 1950s. I am trying to find out more about him for my family. Does anyone have any recollections of him that they would like to share, or perhaps a photograph of him? Craig Clinch. 7th September 07

HELLO

Further to Alan Clarks note (below)....I attended those Anorak Club outings at Lorton in the Lake District (my father Arthur Taylor was also a leader)...and the memories of those years is still with me. Not the ghost stories...Not the huge walking days we had...Not the trip to the pub to taste a cider...but the swims in the icy cold river (August)that chilled the bones ....brrrrrrrr

Memories eh! Alan Taylor. 30th July 07

Hello from Canada,

My family lived at Claines in the 1950's , on the side of a fairly steep lane (Jacobs Ladder) I started school there, at the bottom of another hill, then moved to the school at the top. My dad worked as a lorry driver at ( Porters Mill,) Would anyone have pictures or info on these areas please, I am trying to put a folder together of my life story , I need all the help I can get. Gillian Smith 13th July 07.

Memories of Canon Cifford Carver

My Uncle, Canon Clifford Carver was Vicar of Claines in the late fifties early sixties. My mother ,his sister June ,used to live at the Vicarage before she was married(in the church) and both my sister and I were christened there(all by my uncle). I can remember being passed through the kitchen window as very small child and a lovely staircase and sitting room. I was probably about two. I was wondering if anyone remembered my uncle( he died in April 1990 a week after marrying my husband and I).

Anna Hyndman (nee Owen) 12th Feb. 07. (Please Let Anna Know and copy Claines Friends in)

Hello everyone at St John the Baptist, Claines.

Many years ago a very good friend and mentor left St John the Baptist, Upperby Carlisle by the name of Peter John Wedgewood ‘Wedgie’ to his friends. He ran the Life Boys as it was then at Petteril Bank Harraby Carlisle and I was one of his boys. I had an accident one day when I was knocked down by not a car but a pedal cycle. Within hours ‘Wedgie’ was there with his motorcycle and sidecar to take me out for runs and generally be my guardian angel. Then he decided to move to St John the Baptist, Claines which devastated all those who had grown to admire, love and respect a man who could and would always follow God. It was a sad day for us and a celebration for you. But he never went away and forgot about us, he always had it in his heart to remember where we were and the guidance we still needed from him. He showed where he had left part of his heart when the Anorak Club was started and he continued his work with the young by taking them to Lorton Parish Hall a small village a short distance from Cockermouth and Bassenthwaite Lake. There I often stayed with them and my parents Harry and Kathleen Clark did the cooking and set up a lot of the kitchen before Wedgie and the club arrived from Claines. I remember lying in the hall at night and Mr Wedge would start telling Ghost Stories – enough to frighten all of us into screaming especially when the nearby Lorton Hall was haunted by the Grey Lady and when someone was knocking on the window from the outside. I remember such good times – digging the latrines, filling the palliasses with straw to sleep on and the mountaineering he used to take us on. How he is missed.

Yesterday, 5th February I had a meeting in Worcester and I was drawn to St John the Baptist, Claines. Why I do not know, I think it is because when Mr Wedge died I could not pay my respects to him especially someone who guided my life, my thoughts and my career so much. I met (sorry forgot his name) and he showed me ‘Wedgie’s Bench’, the pew where he sat and the name on the scroll and I was drawn to remember the Reverend Peter John Wedgewood. I could see he was there so tall, so happy and so welcoming to all who was touched by his heart.

The names that I was reminded of Ken Lloyd, the Sansomes on the farm I visited – the memory of happy times.

When I told my parents where I had been last night, Harry is 81 and Kathleen 85, they said it is Peters Anniversary this week – I knew then why I was drawn to visit your Church and your memories of an Assistant Priest who touched everyone he came to meet and know.

Alan Clark, Rayleigh , Essex – formerly of Carlisle, Cumbria. 5th Feb 07

Hello from John Mothersdale

Just to say hello to everyone now at Claines. I attended Claines Church regularly from the early 1950's until 1972. My wife Veronica and I were married there by Clifford Carver in 1962, I was confirmed there in 1951 and our three children were all baptised there. We moved to West Yorkshire in 1972 and we are very settled here. I have been a Lay Reader at St Matthew's Church, Rastrick in Wakefield Diocese for nearly 25 years. We are a Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP) with the Methodist church here and have been for many years. If anyone reading this remembers us we'd be delighted to hear from you. ( I was delighted to read the Claines entry on the ACNY website by the way.) John Mothersdale. Jan 07

POW Camps

We have had a query for any recollections or details of Prisoner of War Camps that used to be around Claines. Do you know of any, or have any contacts that do? Perhaps you can recall some placements of the POW’s locally. Please let Claines Friends know. Jan 07

Tinkers Cross.

Does anyone have a photograph of the thatched cottages that used to stand at Tinkers Cross, just past Claines School? George Drinkwater, whose family lived there for many years would love one. Contact Claines Friends.

Stephen Agnew, Vicar of Claines, Sept 06

‘Go and make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28: 19).

This command has been at the forefront of many initiatives in the Church throughout the ages.

It is with that in mind that the latest initiative in Claines should be welcomed. The ‘Friends of Claines’ website is an attempt to reach out and make connections with people both in the locality and far away. It can be used as effectively by people who live in Australia as by people who live on Claines Lane. Such is the wonder of modern communication. Such a tool can be and should be used to help us share our faith and our concern for all people and help to bring them together. The possibilities of such a site are endless. Please us it and enjoy it.

You hum it, I’ll sing it!

Vestry conversation between Choirmen Ernest Houghton and Maurice Sansome, early 1950’s. “Ay Maurice, do you know this hymn tune?”. “No- I don’t”. “Nor me, so I’ll hum the tune and you sing the words”.

Choristers Chronicles (Phil Sansome, Sydney, Australia, 29 Aug 06)

Back-to-back weddings at Claines on Saturdays were (and presumably still are) a challenge for Choirboys faced with the prospect of looking angelic and singing much the same stuff three or four times over with a quick break, football game or fight in the graveyard in-between.

Payment for singing used to be around 2 shillings, dispensed immediately after each ceremony, and it was pretty much spent with the same degree of immediacy on peanuts or Vimto from the Mug-House.

Thus replenished (and albeit somewhat dishevelled), by about the third wedding the Choir Boys stood equally divided, usually bored and facing each other across the aisle, hymn books cupped in hands, and they would 'load' the open hymn book with a line of peanuts, to be aimed and quietly flicked across the aisle as projectiles at the ear or head of the facing chorister (no-one was brave enough to have a go at the Vicar).

More often than not the ceremony would then pass with the delicate strains of "Love one another" interjected with an occasional metallic ping as a peanut bounced from a head or an organ pipe and landed back in the aisle.

Warfare of this nature was subtle enough to escape the scrutiny of the Vicar and the Choir men (usually asleep at this stage having used the Mug break to take replenishment of a different form), until one day, after a particularly energetic exchange, there were enough peanuts on the floor of the aisle to cause a new Bride to blush and bare more than she intended to at such an early stage in the nuptials, as she walked to the alter and slipped hassock over cassock on the way to be blessed.

Vestry Recollections...

Part of the training the choirboys receive is to help understand the major church festivals. During one training session the question was asked, “So Connor, what happened at Christmas?” A concerned Connor replied “I don’t know, I wasn’t here”!

The choir were prepared to sing the anthem “Lead me Lord” by Samuel Wesley. It starts with an alto solo, on this occasion to be sung by Mr Smith Worrall. Alongside the title and composer were written the usual instructions for musical pace. Unknowingly the vicar announced, “The choir will now sing the anthem “Lead me Lord- slowly without dragging”. Poor Smith Worrall snorted his way through the first verse in hysterics!

Any Gardners in the Parish?

Hello, My name is John Gardner, I live in Norfolk. I am trying to trace ancestors whom I believe lived in Claines for part of the 1800's . John Gardner was born in 1810 in Lambeth Surrey, but obviously moved to Worcester because at the age of 19½ yrs he joined the Worcestershire regiment. He served over 20 yrs, leaving the army as Colour Sergeant I have him living at Claines on the 1871 Census, his family were wife Mary, sons John & Albert, and daughter Fanny. I know the son John married a Mary Ann in Birmingham, but wondered whether he returned to Claines? Contact John Gardner

See also the Family History page for similar entries...