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A little family history.

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This is the home where my father grew up in England.

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That’s him in the foreground as a little fellow.

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This is the family at the rear of the house, my father second from the right.

It was a glorious estate named Lovell and I’m fortunate to have an album full of old photos from the turn of the century.

I’ve tried to research its history over the years but was never able to find much, even though I have the original address.

Enter my nemesis, AI.

And though I loathe its very existence and hate to admit its usefulness.…. after posing just one question I had a full break down in seconds.

Damn it.

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My grandfather is on the bench at the left.

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Top to bottom… my father, grandfather, and aunt.

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The whole clan. Grandfather seated on the right with grandmother standing beside. My father and aunt on the grass. Great grandmother and great grandfather (who looks like a marvelous old character!) seated on the left.

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The gardening staff. Caring for what seemed to be a popular picture taking backdrop.

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Reduced to flats.

Understandable, but still sad.

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It’s a shame so little of the original house stands today.

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It was always on my bucket list to find, but now that I have? It hardly seems worth the trip.

😰

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29 thoughts on “A little family history.”

      1. I have lived in the same general area all my life. I now own and live on the farm that I was born on. About two miles down the road is a small graveyard with two graves. They were my grandparents (several greats back) I never knew the graves were there until recently. I don’t know if my parents knew or if they just never mentioned it.

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      2. Some of those outfits, you couldn’t get out of by yourself. On a census I found it listed 7 house servants, a nanny and three groundskeepers.
        It took a village to run that house.
        🤣

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  3. What a shame that you can’t visit the original house in its original form, but that’s likely the scenario throughout most of the world now.

    The estate was gorgeous.

    I love that you have these photos, and I’m with you. I loathe AI, but the robots who WILL take over our lives certainly did find a lot of information for you.

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    1. I’ve been searching for information on that estate for years! Then bam, three seconds after asking I have it all.
      I still say we’re going to live (or die) to regret it, but I can’t doubt AI’s efficiency in this case.

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    1. When he was ten years old. My grandfather was in the U.S. on business, staying with my grandmother’s family when he became fatally ill. The family came over to be with him as he died … then stayed.

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  5. It looks like you descended from a very distinguished family! But I can understand not wanting to see what became of the place. I have a really hard time seeing what people have done to my grandparent’s house and it’s practically a cottage.

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    1. I visited my childhood home in New Jersey a few years ago and hardly recognized it. They doubled the house’s footprint and destroyed all my father’s carefully tended gardens and landscaping.
      😰

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  6. Interesting shots. You are lucky to know a bit about your past. Although you might have stayed in Great Britain and been a whole other person, different life.

    I hope you will have the opportunity to visit the city of London one day and let us know what you think.

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    1. It’s fascinating to think about.
      If.
      If my grandfather hadn’t left England and become ill his family wouldn’t have followed him to the States. If my father hadn’t followed him here he would never have met my mother and I wouldn’t exist.
      If.

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  7. I can’t believe you, of all people, turned to AI. It’s like making a deal with the devil! Impressive find though. Looks like you’re descended from nobility, whereas my ancestors were dirt-poor sheep herders. I wouldn’t want to find their old homes!

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