Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

Hi all, totally new to this site and the world of tracing our ansestors and wondered if anyone could offer some advice.

I am trying to trace the death of a Thomas Walsh who died at the ages of 18. I have traced his burial to Burnley cemetory on 27th October 1927 therfore I would imagine his death to have been in the previous 2 weeks or there abouts. Seemingly the family story goes that he fell off a bridge to his death however recently we have been led to beleive that he fell from a tower or something at a factory. I appreciate that this seems to have happened in Burnely however your site seems to cover such a wide area that I wondered if anyone could help.

Many thanks Yvonne

Hi Yvonne, welcome to the site.

The only thing I can think to suggest is that you contact Burnley library. http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/ ... me=Burnley
They have the Burnley Express/Advertiser archive and the details would possibly have been reported. Some of the articles are indexed but as you have a date of burial, it would be a short search if the case has not ben indexed. Back then, a burial would usually have taken place within a week or even less.

Please let us know if you find out.

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Hi, just wanted to let you know that I did what you said and couldnt beleive how helpful Ann was at the Library....She found a 2 page document on his death and is posting a copy of it down to me today Only problem is I now need to find out infomration on teh place he died...seemingly its a Physical Culture Club in Burnley!

Thank you
Yvonne

That's great Yvonne. They really are very good at Burnley.

Can we help with the place?

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Mel

Searching for lost relatives? Win the Lottery!

Brilliant Yvonne, perhaps there will be more light shed when you can read the whole document. Let us know if you have any more clues as to where the Physical Culture Club is.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Hi all, just thought id let you know ive just received the document form the Library and here is the cut down version:

Printed on the 26th October 1927 in the Burnley Express:
************************************************************
FELL FROM LANDING
SAD ACCIDENT AT A FIRST NIGHT
****************
YOUTH KILLED AT PHYSICAL CULTURE CLUB
*********************
The tragedy being the opening night of a physical culture club that had changed it's headquarters was reveled to the Burnley Coroner (Mr A F Sutcliffe) at an inquest held at the town hall on Monday on Thomas Walsh (18) of 21 Simpson Street.

Peter Walsh said his son left home last Thursday with the intention of going to the West End Physical Culture Club which had that night changed its headquarters to a room in the Mitre Hotel Yard. At 9.45 the same evening his son was brought home in a taxi and was in a semi conscious state. He told him that he had been leaning against some railings on the veranda of the gymnasium and it had given way and he had fallen into the yard. He was suffering with bruises on the back of his head. He died on the Saturday.

Cecil Heywood said he was present at the club last Thursday, he had been playing football with the deceased earlier on with some other youths. after a short while he, the deceased and Rueben Eastwood, left the club and went to the landing, whilst they were there they stopped fro fresh air and within 2 seconds the deceased had fallen, Rueben herd a thud and when he turned round the deceased had fallen. .................................................................It goes on to say that they boys had been standing on a platform of what seemed to have been used one time or another as a warehouse and that the railing had given way and were not adequate put into stop this accident from happening. The finally after a lengthy investigation conclude that it was an accidental death and finished the inquest by telling the caretaker to sort of the railings.

Good job they didn't have the same H&S police as we have today!

So if anyone has any information on these places I would love to hear from them..I believe the Mitre Hotel is about to be pulled down! I hope not before I manage to get a picture, and maybe some further information!

Regards Yvonne

Yvonne,
I think it is still on google earth, no sign on it but I think it is The Mitre.
Put Burnley in, then follow A617 out towards the M65 you will see Mitre Street which runs behind the old pub.

Gloria

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Thats the one Gloria. The building next to it that says City Cabs on it has just bitten the dust. There was just a small pile of rubble when I went past this afternoon.

Mo

this is the one
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossendale ... 672106882/

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Maureen
If you can't fight, wear a big 'at