The Smithson family of Richard Cooper Street, Goole

I was recently contacted by a descendant of John B Smithson of Goole and his wife Edith Mary [nee Binnington].  The couple lived at first in Estcourt Street, where John had a rag and bone yard, and then for many years in Richard Cooper Street, at number 52 where they were well known and respected. John was a chimney sweep.

Their great grand-daughter is happy for me to share this information about them here:

 "John and Edith reared a pig in their backyard and the residents of Richard Cooper Street would take their scraps of food to feed the pig until it was ready to be harvested. My Great Grandfather would then distribute the meat to the residents who had helped to feed it and a feast was had by all!

 My Great Grandmother was a very stern, stiff upper lipped lady who had her own wooden chair, pride of place, adjacent to the wood burner in the Queen Victoria public house on Hook Road, Goole. There she would sit smoking an old Warden pipe. Not one of the locals would ever dare to sit in this chair for fear of the wrath of Edith Mary, my great gran.

John and Edith had six children; John, Billy, Owen, Sam, George Henry and Mary. Sam and my Grandad were both boxers known as  Sam 'Boy' Smithson and 'Sonny Boy' Smithson."

Richard Cooper Street, Goole

My new book about the history of Goole seems to be going well - I think that quite a few are being bought as Xmas presents.

I have had quite a lot of interest in the pictures of the Richard Cooper Street coronation street party which appears on the front cover and, with another one, inside. It was then a very close community and it is very sad that both Richard Cooper Street and Phoenix Street are now demolished.

I had several Richard Cooper Street pictures to choose from. Here is one I did not use and wonder if anyone would like to identify the children shown here. I think it also dates from 1953.

Although it was identified to me as Richard Cooper Street, there is a chance that it is not and so I would be very grateful to know.

Richard Cooper Street party picture