Navvies at Lower Laithe Reservoir nr Haworth

[bizarreoflondon]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if the significant lurking geniuses could help me? I suspect that some distant family might have been Irish navvies building Lower Laithe reservoir near Haworth.

Does anyone know if they were enumerated as with other navvy communities on the censuses? This problem is intensifed as I can't seem to find when it was started or finished?!

Also the location of any water works records seem shrouded in mystery.

Any help much appreciated, not sure where to start even,

Bizarre

[barcroftlad]

The Keighley News archives would be as good a place as any to start.I clearly recall an article in there many years ago about the passing of the last surving navvy on the Lower Laithe reservoir. He was Albert Steele and the father of a good friend of mine. I cut the article out and stuck it in my scrap book, but now it seems to have disappeared. I'll send Jan a pm with my friends number and she might be good enough to ring him and have a chat. he might remember stuff better than me and he will certainly remember when his dad died. Easier at that side of the world! Cheers.

[maryb]

Would you like to give this lurker (not genius)some names to go on.

Maryb

[keighleyboy]

Lower Laithe Reservoir was begun before World War 1, which interrupted its progress. It was opened on 11 August 1925 by the Marquess of Hartington.

[barcroftlad]

Feb 22, 2011 10:23:42 GMT maryb said:

Would you like to give this lurker (not genius)some names to go on.

Maryb

Hi Maryb - barcrofter has been in touch and is going to follow it up. He knows the person I mentioned. Cheers

[maryb]

No problem Bill,if they started it in 1912-14 I wouldn't have been able to check the 1911 census.

Maryb