| 8. |  Henry George WESTWOOD was born on 27 Mar 1875 in St Albans, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK (son of James WESTWOOD and Mary Ann GRAY); died on 8 Aug 1964 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK. Other Events and Attributes:
- Census: 1901, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Census: 1911, New Marford, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Occupation: 1911; General smith
- Census: 1921, Necton Rd, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Census: 1939, 16 Necton Rd, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK
- Probate: 23 Sep 1964, Oxford, England, UK
Notes:
The following written by his son Cecil, describes Harry Westwood's life as a blacksmith carrying on the business that his father Jim had.
http://www.wheathampstead.net/history/JimWestwood.htm
Master Blacksmith (Harry Westwood)
by Jim (Cecil) Westwood (post 1950)
Jack of all trades - but master of iron - this was the village blacksmith of 50 years ago. Such a man was Harry Westwood of Wheathampstead.
From his blacksmith's shop at the rear of the Two Brewers Inn (now the village newsagents) he hammered out shoes for cart horses, tradesmen's horses, and the gentlrmen's riding hacks. He repaired the ploughs, made hinges for the farm gates, fitted iron tryres to cart wheels and solid rubber tryres to bicycles. He hand forged implements for the farmer, casement and widow fittings for the houses. He even releathered the beer engines for the pubs. In fact he would tackle any job in the village in wood or iron. He started at six o'clock in the morning and worked until 10 o'clock at night. After a busy day at Wheathampstead smithy he would walk four miles to Kimpton in the evening to work in the little forge there.
Harry's great love was wrought iron work, and at creating gates he was a master. Here the solid country craftsman became an artist in iron. Every part of his gates were hand forged - a virgin bar of iron was plunged into the red hot fire. Then on the anvil Harry hammered and sculptured his forging - With a strong arm, a quick eye and a soul, he wrought from the iron design and beauty.
Each forging was then passed to his son Alf for fitting by rivets to the frame and slowly the delicate tracery of the gates was created.
The Westwoods with their wrought iron work were forging strong links with the past as they worked together. They were carrying on a traditional craft which came to England from Venice in the 14th Centruy - an example of iron work of this period is the iron gate leading to the choir stalls in the Cathederal at St. Albans. The Westwoods in 1913 made all the wrought iron work for the Church of St. Peters at Gustard Wood, and due to a last minute decision to have wrought iron altar rails, Harry worked for a fortnight almost to the point of exhaustion, in order to complete the work in time.
They also made the gates at Shaw's Corner for Bernard Shaw. Alf is the proud possessor of two of Bernard Shaw's famous short pertinent post cards.
Further examples of their work are the Churchyard gates at Wheathampstead, the lovely gates at Red Gables, West Common, Harpenden and at Mr Waltons, Amwell Lane. Also Inn signs at the Plough and Harrow, Wheathampstead and the Harrow, Harpenden. Many homely pieces of domestic iron work like door knockers, bell pulls and foot scrapers can be seen everywhere in the village of Wheathampstead.
Harry won the Bronze Medal of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths for his work, but his greatest satisfaction was penned by Bernard Shaw in his brief post card which read "Job well done etc."
Presumed family members with him on 1939 register. He is a widower, as Louisa pre-deceased him in 1936.
Birth:
From 1939 register
Census:
1911 census for New Marford, Wheathampstead:
RG number: RG14 Piece: 7664 Reference: RG14PN7664 RG78PN377 RD139 SD1 ED12 SN205
Henry George WESTWOOD, head, married, aged 37, general smith, born Wheathampstead, Herts
Louisa Maria WESTWOOD, wife of 8 years (three children), aged 34 years, born Wheathampstead Grace Marian WESTWOOD, daughter, aged 6, school, born Wheathampstead Herts
Grace Marian Westwood Daughter - Female 6 1905 School Wheathampstead Herts
Alfred Henry WESTWOOD, son, aged 3, school, born Wheathampstead Herts
Phyllis Louise WESTWOOD, daughter, aged 11 months, born Wheathampstead Herts
Census:
1921 Census for Necton Road, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England
First name(s) Last name Rel.to head Sex Birth year Age in years Birth place Occ. Employer
Henry George Westwood Head Male 1875 46 years 4 months Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England Blacksmith Own Account
Louisa Maria Westwood Wife Female 1877 43 years 11 months Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England Home Duties -
Alfred Westwood Son Male 1907 13 years 11 months Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England - -
Dorothy Westwood Dau Female 1913 7 years 10 months Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England - -
Cecil Westwood Son Male 1914 7 years Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England - -
Edward Westwood Son Male 1920 1 years 4 months Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England - -
Census:
Westwood Household (4 People)
16 Necton* Road , St Albans R.D., Hertfordshire, England
Henry G Westwood 27 Mar 1875 Blacksmith
Dorothy Westwood 03 Aug 1913 Unpaid Domestic Duties
Cecil Westwood 03 Jun 1914 Motor Works Engineer
Edward J Westwood 20 Feb 1920 Gardener
Ref: RG101/1666E/017/38 Letter Code: DFPI
*Also transcribed as Necton but is Nector Rd on 1936 probate entry for Henry's wife. Is written now as Necton Rd.
Probate:
WESTWOOD Henry George of 16 Necton Road Wheathampstead Hertfordshire died 8 August 1964 Probate Oxford 23 September to Bernard James Turner accountant. 2547 pounds.
Died:
Probate entry.
Henry married Louisa Maria HOWARD on 5 Nov 1902 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK. Louisa was born in Jul 1877 in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK; died on 19 Nov 1936 in NectonRd, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, England, UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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