lapham somerset
Author: maggie roper Date: 20 Jun 2004 8:53 PM GMT
Surnames: Lapham, Crees
Classification: Query
Would love to hear from anyone who has any connections with William Lapham born April 1832,baptised in Kilmington and died 1873 in Kilmington Somerset married Eliza Crees(d) born 7 july 1833 Whatley Somereset married 17 april 1854 in Whatley Somerest . Had at least 12 Children
Regards Maggie Roper

The Fussells and the Ironworks

Some branches of the Fussell family had lived in Whatley parish since 1750. The Fussell family had been engaged in edge tool production since the mid eighteenth century. The lake in Chantry which powered the Stoney Lane ironworks was built in several stages. In 1806 an agreement was made between Edward Portman of Bryanston Dorset and James Fussell of Mells to construct a watercourse in Downhead to help supplement the stream flowing into Chantry, notably Castle Hill Stream. The stream on the east side of Asham Wood was unreliable in the summer. The first lake built probably in 1806, is now the southern part of the main lake, and is largely silted up. However some of the dam and sluices could still be seen until a few years ago. A map of 1822 shows that the lake had been enlarged and a canal, parts of which are still to be seen, was channelled under Stoney lane, the iron works being on the north side of the lane. The level of the lake was raised by about two feet at a later stage; the old banks, lined with stone, can still be seen in the waters.

Mr. Anthony Powell further raised the dam and re-enforced it during his tenure of the Chantry, as there was a danger of it collapsing.

A further lake and works were built at Railford at a later date, possibly 1830. The stone dam still exists, with a large hole in the centre, through which the stream flows. The canal from the lake to the works is well preserved and there is more to see of the Railford works themselves, than the Stoney Lane works which have almost all disappeared. There is a large tapering chimney fifteen metres high, with other walls, water ducts etc in the gardens of Railford cottage. Up to about eight years ago there was a plaque, thought to have read ‘Thomas Fussell 1840’. A number of the old grindstones have been halved and the resulting semi-circles used as steps throughout the garden. After the iron works closed the Railford premises were used as a saw mill until the 1920s.

Up to a dozen men from Chantry used to work in the edge tool factories until they closed in 1895. They produced tools of high renown which were sold not only in this country, but abroad. There is said to be a collection of Fussell’s tools in The Curtis Museum in Alton, and some of their pattern books are held in Winchester.

Unfortunately most of the Fussell family papers have not been located, and only the occasional property deeds have been discovered.
Copyright © 2003 [David Rawlins].
http://www.dixon.org.uk/chantry/page01.html

• Married: 17 APR 1854 in Whatley, Somerset - Frome Somerset 5c 1023 Jun 1854

1. Thomas Edwin Lapham b: BEF 6 JAN 1856 in Whatley, Somerset, England
2. William James Lapham b: BEF 31 MAY 1857 in Whatley, Somerset, England or Doulting, Somerset, England or Doulting or Dawlton, Somerset
3. James Lapham b: BET 1857 AND 1858 in Whatley, Somerset, England or Doulting, Somerset, England
4. Sarah Ann Lapham b: 26 JUN 1859 in Great Elm, Chantry, Whatley, Somerset, England
5. George Lapham b: 12 NOV 1860 in Railford. Whatley, Somerset, England
6. Joseph Lapham b: 22 APR 1862 in Railford, Whatley, Somerset, England
7. Albert Lapham b: BEF 27 SEP 1863 in Railford, Whatley, Somerset, England
8. Rose Maria Lapham b: BEF 30 OCT 1864 in Whatley, Somerset, England
9. Frederick T Lapham b: BEF 4 FEB 1866 in Whatley, Somerset, England
10. Emma Sophia Lapham b: BEF 25 JUL 1867 in Whatley, Somerset, England
11. Dinah Lapham b: 29 OCT 1868 in Whatley, Somerset, England
12. Jessie Lapham b: BEF 13 NOV 1870 in Whatley, Somerset, England
13. John Lapham b: ABT 1873 in Whatley, Somerset, England r Chantry, Somerset, England
14. Henry Charles Lapham b: BEF 29 MAR 1875 in Chantry, Whatley, Somerset, England

1. Title: Maggie Roper http://genforum.genealogy.com/lapham/messages/311.html
2. Title: Peggy Goodger <peggy@goodger72.supanet.com> Rootsweblist
   Note: Someone has just sent me some Baptism and marriage transcriptions from the
   Holy Trinity Parish Church at Chantry (3 and a half miles West of Frome)
   Repository:
   Media: Electronic