On this page I thought it would be nice to put some other photos from my dad, Rowland Bott's collection, of his wider family. More of Dad as a child can be found on the '
Rowland Bott (1918-1993)' page.
Much of the family were pottery workers in the Staffordshire pottery industry which was known as The Potteries. The Botts seem to have been concentrated mainly around Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.
As well as working for others in the pottery industry, some branched out and had their own businesses such as
Longton New Art Pottery, saddlers, hairdresser and Pierrot troupe!
Here's a photo of Dad's parents Roland and Elizabeth Bott (née Insley).
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| Roland & Elizabeth Bott no date |
I was delighted by this rather surprising and fun find described by Dad as 'My Uncle Joe's Troupe'. Dad's 'Uncle Joe' was Joseph Joel George Hooson (1890-1954) and was the son of Joseph Hooson who, in the 1891 census was a Clogger and Bookmaker born in Holywell in Wales. Joseph Joel George, born in Longton, married Rosannah Insley, sister of Dad's mother Elizabeth, in 1921. In the 1911 census 'Uncle Joe' was 20 and an apprentice tinsmith working for an Ironmonger. However he obviously had theatrical and musical ambitions!
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| Hooson's Alfresco Troupe, c1920s/1930s |
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| Norman Bott, Hairdresser. location unknown c1920s |
Norman Bott (above right) was Dad's uncle on his father's side and was born in 1896. You can find out more about him on his own page - just click
HERE>
As this blog progresses I gradually will try to put more of the Botts onto this page in chronological order...
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| Edith Irene Bott c1917 |
Edith Irene (1915-1980), featured above, is Bott's sister is an intriguingly irritating photo which has its right half missing...
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| Rowland Bott, Blackpool 4th Aug 1921 |
In the photo above the image is one of the few clearly dated and is also located on the reverse both from the stamp of the photographer Charles Howell & Son. Dad added details in that it was him with his Aunt Edith Walker, née Bott, sister of his father, Roland Bott. Edith is seated; the standing female remains unidentified.
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| Raymond Aaron Walker late 1920s |
The photo of Raymond Walker (born 1919) above, is of Bott's cousin, and is the son of Edith (Aunt Edith above in the Blackpool photo) and Frederick Walker. I love Raymond's pose on the tennis court and self-assured expression.
Dad labelled this one on the back in the 1970s/1980s: 'Raymond Walker Saddlers Son'. The 'Saddler' refers to Frederick. His father, Aaron, was a saddler as recorded on the 1911 census along with both sons, Frederick and William, working as saddlers.
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| Raymond Walker at Llanfairfechan late 1920s |
Raymond appears again in similar pose but this time in Llanfairfechan in Wales. North Wales was
the destination for pottery workers on their annual Potters' Holiday and they could see the see and get fresh air.
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| L-R: Rowland, Edith, Douglas Insley 1920s |
The location of the above photo is not known but looks like the seaside to me! Rowland is with his sister, Edith, and a cousin Douglas Insley born 1915 who was the son of Isaac and France Insley. Isaac was Elizabeth Bott's (néeInsley) brother).
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| Rowland Bott & his dog Turk c1920s |
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| Rowland Bott, with Box Camera c1920s |
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| R: Rowland, L: Edith his sister c1930 |
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| Rowland Bott aged about 13 c1931 |
The above photo is captioned by Dad as 'Roly Bott possibly a visit to Stanley's farm age 13?'.
Stanley could be a relative (Stanley Hooson was a cousin; a note by Dad on a photo, and notes from a with me a long time ago suggests his Grandmother Bott's maiden name was Stanley, a family connection from Fulford with a farm, but I have not found any evidence so far of this, more likely to be Leese); or it could be a friend; or even a location as there is a village called Stanley near to where Dad lived. A mystery yet to be solved.
