(click the thumbnail & linked text to view photographs)
My mother is Alice Dixon....or should I say Margaret Alice Dixon (nee Boyd), The Boyd being from Wardley.  Her older sisters are Ann Taylor Johnstone (nee Boyd) known as Nancy, now deceased and Jane O Donnell (nee Boyd) known as Jean.   Their last home in Wardley together with my Grandmother Margaret Alice Boyd (nee Taylor) and my Grandfather John Holmes Boyd was at
15 Lingey Gardens. My Great Great Grandparents lived at 3 Smokey Row some time  from at least 1877 as my Great Grandmother was born there.  My Great Great Grandfather was called Michael Boyd and his wife was called Elizabeth Boyd (nee McGiven).  They were married in 1874. They had 5 children (at least thats all I have found so far)...   Jane click to viewBoyd born in 1877 at the Smokey Row house.  Subsequent children so far are  Edith Boyd born in 1883,  Michael Boyd born in 1885,  Isaac Boyd born in 1888 and Maggie Boyd born in 1890. (I assume she was really called Margaret).  I think there may have been at least one other child.  I know they lived also at 48 Waggonway Street, as that is where my Grandfather was born to Jane Boyd (unmarried). Michael Boyd died sometime in 1889/1890 I believe, although what was the cause I do not yet know.  My Great Great Grandmother Elizabeth Boyd (nee Mcgiven) married for the 2nd time to a Walter Hibbert (Who was born in Chesterfield Derbyshire).  They went on to have at least 2 children together.  Elizabeth Hibbert born in 1893 and Matilda Hibbert born in 1896.
Jane Boyd (my Great Grandmother) married a Walter Winlow (Born in Washington)  and they had a further 4 children Isaac, Elizabeth, Edith and Violet.
I know that My grandfather worked at both Pit seams at Wardley pit, and that he joined the army underage and was best friends with John Gage.  He used to use the little wooden shed reading room near the post office when I was small. (Men only).
My Great Grandmother at the time of giving birth had been a Domestic Servant (General) but I do not know where. My Great Great Grandfather Michael was a Coal Miner also, but which pits he worked at I do not know.  My Step Great Great Grandfather Walter Hibbert was also a Coal Miner (Coal Runner/Hewer). Michael Boyd (My Great Uncle) was a Coal Miner (Putter) and Isaac Boyd (Great Uncle) was also a Coal Miner (Trapper). There is also a Norman Boyd (Born 1900) who I believe to be the son on Edith Boyd (also unmarried) who was living also at 48 Waggonway Street at the 1901 census. (Norman was born at Chopwell).
I have found one or two family secrets there, and who knows what else I will manage to find as I carry on looking.
I used to visit Wardley every weekend and stay with my grandma at 15 Lingey Gardens, so I know some of the area quite well.
I hope some of this is of interest to you, and should you find anything that might relate to the Boyd's, Hibbert's or McGiven's, not to mention Taylor's and Hara's I would be very interested to hear about them......... Ann Broom (nee Dixon)