I am currently researching the brickworks in the
Bernards Heath area of St
Albans and hope to be able to write a short biography of the principal brickmakers.
In about 1885 a James
DICKSON came to live in St
Albans where he set up a brickworks and also a wire works on
Bernards Heath and I am trying to find out more of his background. The following family information comes from the 1881 census when he was living at Dorset House,
Sevenoaks, Kent, and the 1891 census when he was living in St
Peters Street, St
Albans, Herts.
James
DICKSON, born 1844/5 in
Dublin, contractor
Rhoda A
DICKSON, born 1844/5 in
Swansea, Glamorgan
John H
DICKSON, born 1867/8 in Cadoxton or Neath, Glamorgan, scholar then contractor's agent
James W
DICKSON, born 1869/70 in
Swansea, Glamorgan, scholar then undergraduate law student
Ethel E
DICKSON, born 1879/80 in
Swansea, Glamorgan
Olga R M
DICKSON, born 1882/3 in
Swansea, Glamorgan
Susan W
RAYNER, unmarried sister-in-law, born 1840 in
Swansea, Glamorgan, living on own means
I am particularly interested to know more about James DICKSON's business activities, particularly if he made bricks in the
Swansea or
Sevenoaks areas or was involved in any erecting any major buildings.
On the family side details of his parents and their occupation in
Dublin would be helpful, while I am wondering whether the gap in the children indicates a second marriage - and whether Olga being born in
Swansea means that they returned to
Swansea from Kent - or whether it is just the case of an over-enthusiastic census enumerators "ditto".
In Hertfordshire I would be delighted to hear of any buildings which use his bricks and if there are any bricks which carry his name.
