Our Dream Trip

First stop... London, England.

Dean and I have always talked of a dream trip to the United Kingdom. It calls to us like no other place outside of our home country Canada. I suppose it comes as no surprise that we both have deep roots there and perhaps some of that longing is in our DNA.

In researching my WOODMAN ancestors, I discovered long roots in the counties of Surrey and Middlesex near London, England. I’ve been researching historic maps and have learned that these two counties are adjacent, and both are in the greater London area.

Maps from 1836 for Surrey (top) and Middlesex (bottom)

The parish of Lambeth in the county of Surrey is found as the birth, marriage, death and census place for most of the Woodman family since my 4x great grandfather William Kennedy Woodman. His son Matthew married Charlotte Susan Ann Primett in 1849 at St. John’s Waterloo, Surrey.

Marriage record of Matthew Woodman and Charlotte Primett. Source: London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 Publisher Ancestry.com

Matthew was born in Middlesex County on June 11, 1830, to William Kennedy Woodman and his wife Mary Ann Ansell. William and Mary Ann were married in the Parish of St. Mary le Strand in the County of Middlesex in the Year 1816.

Marriage record of William Kennedy Woodman and Mary Ann Ansell. Source: London, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1921 Publisher Ancestry.com

The branch, starting with my great-grandfather who was born in Lambeth, back to my 4th great grandparents:

My great-grandfather Albert came to Canada in 1908 but several of his siblings stayed in England. In recent years I have connected with a cousin, Robert, who lives there still.

Lambeth is an inner borough of London in the county of Surrey. It extends south from the River Thames. I have seen several of the current day districts throughout the Woodman research. Along with Lambeth, there is family history in Vauxhall, Brixton, and Clapham.

Because of Lambeth’s proximity to central London, the northern area became an important manufacturing centre in the 18th century. Glass and pottery works were established in the area. On Albert’s birth and baptism records his father, Matthew William Woodman’s occupation is given as Potter. On the 1871 England Census, at the age of 14, Matthew already has the occupation of “Potters Laborer”.

The parish church, St. Mary’s, where Matthew William was baptized, lies alongside Lambeth Palace which is the London residence of the archbishop of Canterbury. This is still a working parish and a family home so it isn’t open to the public but when we visit, we will do one of the guided tours on one of the open days.

Modern day Lambeth Palace.    Photo: The Archbishop of Canterbury web site.

Modern day St. Mary's 2013.    Photo: Find-a-Grave website.

There are lots of things to see and do while walking the streets where our ancestors lived. Lambeth is directly across the Thames from Parliament and the City of Westminster. It has several museums, theatres, and the London Aquarium is there. And despite my fear of heights, while in Lambeth, we will have to ride the London Eye to get a bird’s eye view of London!

 

Lambeth; Thames, River. Encyclopaedia Britannica Website. https://www.britannica.com/place/Lambeth

 

 

Photo of the London Eye. Encyclopaedia Britannica Website. https://www.britannica.com/place/London-Eye