The Field family of Southdown

My great-grandfather William James Field was born at The Folly in 1873, the son of James Field (1837-1915) and his wife Emma (1837-1917).  James was a farm labourer.  In the 1891 census William was listed as a groom, and in the 1901 census as a bricklayer’s labourer. According to family stories, it is thought that he worked on the Skew bridge which was widened in 1892.

William married Lillian Weston at St Nicholas Church on 7 July 1900.  Lillian was the daughter of Frederick (1854-1916) and Sarah Weston (1849-1930), who were living in Lower Cravells Road, Southdown at the time of the 1881 census. At that time Frederick was listed as a railway plate-layer.

William and Lillian had seven children, and six of them are shown in the family gathering for their Golden Wedding on 7 July 1950.  On the back row (left to right) are Doris Evelyn (1907-1978), Cecil (1909-1999), Olive (1904-1987) and on the middle row Beatrice (1905-1976), Joyce (1920-1999) and Hilda (1911-1993). Their eldest son Bert (b.1901) died in 1943.

The 1939 register of Britain shows them living at 46 Longfield Road, Southdown, where I believe this photograph was taken.