Looking Towards "The Barracks", Upper Froyle, Hampshire

Image: © Peter Trimming Taken: 2 Jan 2010

The Barracks – Upper Froyle This building (seen across the garden of a neighbouring house), dating from the 18th century, was originally built as almshouses; there were 12 dwellings. During the Napoleonic Wars, French Prisoners of War were housed here, hence the name. Later, the property was converted to 6 dwellings, and was owned by the Lord of the Manor. Nowadays, the building contains 5 dwellings. http://www.froyle.com/barax.htm Census returns for 1841 and 1851 show that my ancestors were living in the south-west wing of the property. Below, is an extract from the 1841 Census, which gives a glimpse of how tough rural life might have been, in this period. 1841 Census: House: TC Miller's Barracks Surname/Christian name/Family/Age/Occupation Trimming Thomas Head 30 Agricultural Labourer Trimming Harriet 22 Trimming George 1 Trimming Susannah 19 Savage William 35 Savage Sarah 32 Savage Elias 2 months Trimming Henry 12 Trimming Daniel 9 Trimming Denis 3 Notes: (1) Thomas Trimming and Harriet (Savage) were my great-great-great-grandparents. (2) George Trimming, was the second of three children; the elder one having died, and my great-great-grandmother, Clara Trimming, yet to be born. She was born in 1844. (3) Susannah Trimming was Thomas’ younger sister. (4) Thomas Trimming, aged “30” (ages were approximate on the early Census returns) was Head of the household. His father had died by this date. His eldest brother (and an uncle), had been sentenced to death, for stealing a sheep, in 1827. (5) Another elder brother had died, leaving a widow, Sarah, and three children; Henry, Daniel, Denis. Sarah married William Savage, Thomas’ brother-in-law. All of the above were living as an extended family, in a small house, in 1841! I am extremely fortunate in being descended from a family which lived in the small village of Upper Froyle; a village which probably has the most comprehensive website of any in England. I am grateful to the archivists Chris and Annette Booth, for all of their work over many years. http://www.froyle.com/ The first written documentation, relating to the Trimming family, is a Will dated 1633. With a continuous presence of 250 years from that date, and with most of my ancestors being agricultural labourers, I can reasonably speculate that my family had lived in this village for several generations prior to 1633. I also have to thank Nigel, who currently lives in the house occupied by my ancestors, for permitting me to take further photographs for private use.

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