Welcome to The Briercliffe Society Forum

my name is Beryl Giles, I have only recently joined the forum. My great grandfather was a William Bannister. He owned a shop on the corner of Stafford street and Elm street Burnley. My grandmother married his son William Henry Bannister. Does anyone know the area as I live in Staffordshire and do not know Burnley at all. I believe the Bannisters were a large family and one of the daughters,Duella, my mothers auntie had a connection to farming. My late mother spoke very fondly of harvesting on the farm. Several of my mothers cousins were talented musicians and played the organ at either Burnley or Blackburn cathedral. Would be pleased t receive any info.

Hi Beryl,

on the following site if you put the name Bannister / Banister in the search you will find loads of info --- mostly Colne and over that way.
www.oneguyfrombarlick.co.uk

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Hiya Beryl, Welcome to the site, I grew up living around the Stafford St and Elm St area, Elm Street is a very long street, it stretches from Colne Road right up to the top of Abel St, but this probably wont be of any help if you do not know the area. How long ago are we talking about of your Gt Grandfather having his shop? Elm St had numerous shops and Cotton Mills along it's length, what did his shop sell? Stafford St was off Elm St. In what area did your family have their farm? was it Clowbridge as you have suggested in your title, Clowbridge is'nt near Elm/Stafford St.


Stephanie.

Go to http://www.multimap.co.uk put Elm Street, Burnley in the search and up it comes. You can then find the corner with Stafford St and do a birds eye view to see where they lived.

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Gloria

I'd be dangerous with a brain.

Beryl, I don't know how much information you have so you may already have some/ all of this.
From the 1881 census, the shop on Stafford St was a grocer's and drapery - from the 1891 census, the shop at 14 Elm St was a grocers . By 1901 William Bannister had died and his widow (Sarah) plus son Albert and daughter (Duella, b Clow Bridge Hapton c1866) had moved to Stock Gate House, Guide which is near Blackburn.

The 1851 census shows that William was born at Lane Head c1836.

Alice Bannister, 33 head, wid, b Briercliffe
William Bannister 16, son, b Burnley
Daniel Bannister 14, son b Burnley
Margaret Bannister 12, daur b Burnley
John Bannister 9, son b Burnley
Elizh Bannister 10 Mo, daur b Burnley
James Fell 34 lodger

This looks like Alice, Daniel & Margaret in 1841 but William - who would have been 5 or 6 - isn't there. Possibly staying with grandparents?
HO107; Piece 506; Book: 21; Civil Parish: Whalley; County: Lancashire; Enumeration District: 9; Folio: 39; Page: 21
Henry Bannister 25
Alice Bannister 25
Daniel Bannister 4
Margaret Bannister 1
So probably (but NOT definitely) William's father was Henry Bannister.

IF the Henry shown is Alice's husband, then this is interesting because he looks to have died in 1845. This from the Lancashire deaths index for 1845:
BANNISTER Henry age 30. Records at Preston BU/10/21.
Certainly I can't find any male Bannister deaths around 1850 who could have been Elizabeth's father.
The clue may be in the lodger on the 1851 census. Alice died in 1859 (Lancashire deaths index BANNISTER Alice age 40 at Burnley. Records at Preston BU/32/62). On the 1861 census Elizabeth and John are living with their grandmother at 23 Rodney St Burnley.
RG9; Piece: 3065; Folio: 33; Page: 22
Betty Robinson 69,head, widow
Thomas Fell 42, son, widower
Mary Fell 7, gr'daur
Elizabeth Bannister 12, gr'daur
John Bannister 20, gr'son

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