Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

I am looking for some advice with regards to some books that I found in my deceased Mother's belongings. I was surprised to find some comments with regards to them in a post of 2009. The author is Richard Ainsworth. My Mother was born in Accrington in 1924 and lived on Hill Street. Her family and my father and his family were all involved in the textile mills. I am looking to sell these and want to know the best place.

Rob Dodson stated in his post "Ainsworth wrote a 32(?) [page pamphlet 'The Parkinson family of Lancashire' in 1932. I suspect it was funded by Henry Parkinson. I think it was given away rather than sold, and with it was a leaflet asking for anyone who had any knowledge of Parkinsons to contact Ainsworth. In 1936 he published a very thick book of the same title. Both are as scarce as rocking horse muck .I have been dealing in secondhand Lancashire books since 1969 and can recall having had 3 of the big book through my hands and none of the pamphlet, though I have one of my own."

I have in my possession the following:-

• Pamphlet, "The Parkinson Family of Lancashire - Historical Sketch", published 1932. It includes a loose leaf sheet with compliments from Henry Parkinson stating that it is a forerunner to a larger work, requesting information. In conjunction with this I also have a contemporary photograph of Joseph Henry Parkinson, with a brief history of his life written on the reverse. I assume that this is the same Parkinson. Excellent condition, with the exception of some arithmetic on the bag which appears contemporary with publication.

• Book, "History of the Parkinson Family of Lancashire" 1936. Excellent condition.

• Book, "The Old Homesteads of Accrington and District" inscribed inside to my grandmother and including a newspaper cutting from the (Accrington?) Observer, March 19, 1963, referring to Ainsworth's death. Excellent condition.

• In addition I also have two copies of "50 Years of Calico Printing" from the Calico Printers' Association Limited, 1949, one with it's dust cover and my father's Entrance Card into the Society in 1948. The other has no dust cover. Both in nearly new condition and one has a type writtien erratum slip collecting an error.

• Finally I have the Accrington Jubilee Souvenir, 1878 - 1928, from 1928. I also have a mug which accompanies this. Excellent condition.

Regards,

Leslie

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

How about an introduction about yourself first?

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Apologies, I am so used to using social media, that I sometimes forget the social niceties!

My name is Leslie, my mother was born in Accrington in 1925, her name was Jessie Elizabeth Illingworth and lived on Hill Street and my father was born in Oswaldtwistle in 1923, his name was Frederick Beard, as was his father, of Union St. I am afraid I know very little about their parents as I only ever met my maternal grandmother, who passed away when I was 7yrs old. The Illingworth branch of our family has discontinued, but there are still a number of Beards who lived in Oswaldtwistle, but whom I have lost touch with.

My father was apprenticed in the textiles trade, as a printer, joining the Calico Printers in 1949. I am not sure which mill, I think it was the one the Henry Parkinson was a manager of. He later worked at Broad Oak, before being enticed to work abroad, I believe in 1950, emigrating to work in the trade in Canada. He had developed a taste for travel whilst working as a stoker in the navy during the war, around the coast of Africa. My mother and sister went with him. They then moved around from place to place, ending up in America, where I was born in 1964. We returned when I was 5 (before any lasting damage). My father worked at the Ladybird factory in Langley, Berkshire, first as a printer, then retrained as a knitter before being made redundant and working as a station master near Reading. He died in the '80s.

I have never lived in Lancashire and although my mother researched our family tree, she stopped sometime in the '90s and unfortunately did not keep the information. I do have some certificates for the maternal side of the family.

My brother returned to Lancashire and lives in Lostock Hall, Preston,working as a train driver. My sister emigrated to the Netherlands where she is a musician.

I work as a lower limb prosthetist and have an interest in history, mainly medieval as I am re-enactor specialising in horse related activities and historical costuming of a variety of periods.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

That enough of an introduction for you, Max? haha!

PS. Welcome aboard, Leslie.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Hello and welcome.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Good intro but wrong section:p

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

That is some intro!

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Thank you very much.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

How do you delete a post?

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Okay, point taken, but as currently not very well and likely to make mistakes, perhaps you guys could give me a break?

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

[QUOTE=Leslie Depper;1114954

I have an interest in history, mainly medieval as I am re-enactor specialising in horse related activities and historical costuming of a variety of periods.[/QUOTE]

Leslie, that sounds interesting. Please tell us more.
You mention horses, are you talking the Civil War re en-actors? Where do you go to do that.
I love the smell of black gunpowder when it's fired.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Welcome Leslie! They're an alright bunch on here really. :)

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

No, unfortunately the medaeval period ended with Richard III, you know the one that will be forever known as discovered under a Leicester car park. So yes, there is balck powder from the cannon and some primitive hand guns.

I re-enact all over the place. This year I have been to Lincoln castle, Scarborough castle and an architectural museum called Avoncroft (this also houses the national phone box musem, including a tardis and a ride on model railway, so great for the kids). I usually do more, but I haven't been well.

I ether ride in armour, in battles and I have jousted, but not recently, or I do ladies hunting, with a large dress (although my name is spelt the masculine way I am actually a woman) stabbing targets, chasing a lure on horseback and generally hooning about. We set up camp for the weekend and have a good time and educate people into the bargain.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

Hi Leslie, the books you have to sell are all very interesting to our area, and probably quite scarce, although there are quite a few copies of the 1928 Jubilee book still in existence. I know a lady who lives in Accrington who is a Parkinson, I wonder if she may be interested? I think Accrington library do have copies of all the books, although it could be a good idea to check with them first. I will pm you if that's ok.

Re: Book"The Parkinson Family of Accrington" and Accrington Miscellanea
 

In case anyone is interested, I am going to be taking my collection of memorabilia for one of those Antique Roadshow style valuations at Calke Abbey this Wednesday. I am quite excited about it as I have never done anything like that before. The company is Bonhams, so they are very reputable.

If anyone is interested in the results, I will post how I got on.

Leslie