Anwick & Billinghay Local History Study

My most recent acquisition is this postcard, dating from approximately 1906 to 1911, entitled “Waterside – Billinghay.”

Depicting a serene boat trip down the river and what appears to be three ladies adorned in their very fine hats, two wearing white dresses, and one dressed in black (which may be significant later in this blog), however probably not the best attire for a boat trip!. In the distance, you can see the church spire of St Michael and All Angels and a large house on the hill.

This postcard presents a contradiction regarding its focal point: is it the ladies on the river or the large house in the background? The postcard does not provide any insights into its purpose, leaving us the viewer uncertain about the reasoning behind the title “Waterside.” One might initially assume that the title refers to the presence of the ladies at the waterside. However, unbeknown to me the clue was staring right at me!

I have already shared this Postcard on my Facebook Page and asked the question, does anyone recognise the big house on the hill? Pleased to say I received several suggestions saying the same, that the house is in fact known today as York House. But I was unsure if this has been its forever name?

I wonder if the ladies on the boat are from the York House?

Unfortunately, the postcard is blank on the reverse so there were are no clues to work on there.

Fortunately, a follower on my Facebook Page shared an old photograph of York House, which strongly suggests that it is the same building depicted in my postcard. Notably, the chimney pots are situated in identical positions, the windows are consistently located, and the area where the bush is located reveals additional windows aligned similarly. The overall layout remains unchanged, although it seems there may have been some extensions made over the years.

This photo of the property I found on Google Street (2009) and comparing my postcard with this photograph, I again noted considerable similarities in the building’s layout, windows, and chimney pots. I am now very sure these are the same buildings albeit circa 106 years apart.

My next step was to ascertain York House’s past history, I carried out a census address search for the village of Billinghay. A search of the 1901 census on Ancestry of which there were over 40 pages, as to be expected on the last page for Billinghay I was amazed to find a house named Waterside! Fortunately, I know the village well and by working through the census I mapped the street names which took me back to the last entry which was Waterside. I then did the same search on the 1911 census, and there it was again. Significantly, there were no properties named York House.

The question now was the Postcards title referring to the house name of “Waterside” I would say yes to that question I originally asked.

My next mission was to determine who owned Waterside? and how could they afford a property of this size in rural Lincolnshire. The 1901 census reveals the occupants to be the Creasey family, the head of the household was farmer/employer John and his wife Alice Creasey. In the census living with them was their daughter Kate aged 20 and two sons John aged 21 and Joseph aged 17.

There were also three servants, confirming this family were financially comfortable.

Now I had the family I did a backwards look at the 1891 census, this clarified the number of children John and Alice had, the census revealed at this point they had six children, and three servants living with them. A quick look at the 1881 census finds John was a farmer of 170 acres employing 5 men and 3 boys.

So who was John Creasey (b.1846 in Walcott) he was in the 1871 census a butcher and farmer of 20 acres living in Walcott. He met and married Alice Bones in Billinghay in 1870.

Alice Bones was born on 18 Mar 1844 in North Kyme, Lincolnshire the daughter of Edward Bones and Sarah Stubley. Edward Bones was a farmer of 44 acres. Alice was their third child.

Following her marriage to John Creasey Alice supported her husband whilst over the next 30 years he established himself as a successful farmer in Billinghay. By 1881 he was a farmer with 170 Acres, employing 3 Boys and 5 Men.

John and Alice had at least 10 children including twins John & William (b.1880), The youngest son Joseph took over the farm at Waterside.

John Creasey died 30 Oct 1901, Billinghay, his wealth was identified in the England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995.

By all accounts, John was well respected as his obituary confirms, reported in the Lincolnshire Echo on 30 Oct 1901.

In the 1911 census Alice now a widow of 10 years and her son Joseph was running the family farm, the census confirms the house name still being Waterside. The census records the property had only 10 rooms, which appears rather a small number in comparison to the size of the property. However, the rooms enumerated are only those inhabited this would include the living room, bedrooms and kitchen, excluding sculleries, landings, lobbies, closets, bathrooms, or any warehouse, office or shop rooms. Living with them was Alice’s unmarried daughter Emma Creasey (b.1875) Emma later married in 1918.

The Creasey farm in 1921 was now being run by their youngest son Joseph Disney Creasey. Joseph meanwhile was single and employing a live-in housekeeper and general domestic servant. The property still had nine rooms. Meanwhile, on the 1921 census, Alice, now aged 75 was visiting her daughter Gertrude and family in Leeds.

1921 Census for England & Wales

Alice Creasey died on 17 Dec 1930 at Waterside, Billinghay.

Joseph, recorded in the 1921 census son was still running the farm, by 1939 Joseph aged 84, single was living on the High Street, Billinghay. He died on 19 Nov 1949 at Waterside, High Street, Billinghay.

Joseph never married, so on his instructions to his trustees the house and farm were put up for auction, the items for sale provide a fascinating insight into the lives and wealth of this family. I just love reading through the list of possessions, I wonder who played the pianoforte!

Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian 23 September 1950

So what does this Postcard tell us – I feel it is safe to say Waterside must refer to the house on the hill, however, there is one puzzle still to answer – are the three ladies from the house, I believe with no evidence at all that the lady in the black is Alice Creasey nee Bones, (it was not uncommon for widows to dress in black) with two of her daughters.

Fast-forward to 2025, today’s address of York House is Waterside, High Street, Billinghay, I now firmly believe the title of the postcard refers to the property Waterside.

However, researching this postcard has once again led me down a path which provides a personal connection to me. York House today is a residential home where my paternal aunt spent her last years, and where I visited her!

It is remarkable how a single postcard can provide a profound insight into our local history and family heritage.

Connections

But, alas we are not finished! another surprise was waiting in the wings.

A blog I did on 31 October 24 – “A Murder most Horrid in Billinghay” details the horrific murder committed by Joseph Bones. My immediate thoughts now turned to the possibility Alice Creasey nee Bones may be related to Joseph.

Joseph Bones was born in 1822 in Billinghay, Lincolnshire, the son of John Bones (1796-1830) and Ann (Williamson) 1790-1861. Joseph had two brothers and three sisters.

My attention turned to John Bones the research confirms that he was the son of Joseph Bones and Alice Barker, they had ten children one of those children was Edward Bones (b. 1806) the father of Alice Bones.

John and Edward were brothers, thereby making Joseph Bones the murderer the nephew to Edward and 1st cousin to Alice Creasey nee Bones.

Sadly, Joseph Bones who was not fit to plead so spent the remainder of his life in Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. He died in 1879 in Broadmoor.

Once again the power of one Postcard albeit with some sadness. yet again provided us with a rich local and family history story, The insight into the lives of the 19th century Creasey family, their home and possessions was fascinating.

If this Creasey or Bones family are your ancestors, and you would like a copy of the postcard please contact me, it would be my absolute privilege to share it with you.

Comment on this blog or contact me via email jackocats2@gmail.com