In December 2010, I am finally recording some of my research for the Wilding family who originated in Suffolk. Here is my family story.
Robert Wilding (1889 - 1970)
Robert Wilding was my grandfather. He was born 6th April 1889 in Galleywood, Chelmsford; the son of William Wilding and Mary Ann Cole. By 1901 he was living at 22 Marks road, Romford with his widowed mother (Mary) and three of the younger siblings. The elder children, Margaret, John, Kathleen, Walter and Charles are no longer living with their mother.
Kathleen Wilding is a general servant in 1901, living at 122 Coldharbour Lane at the Croker residence; and it is likely that she married in 1909 in the Camberwell area of London.
Robert spent the rest of his life in Marks Road, Romford. By 1911, he is a boot makers asistant living at 61 Marks Road, aged 21. He marries eight years later to Ethel Maud Littlechild (daughter of William Littlechild and Esther, nee Beard) in 1919 at St Andrews, Romford, again listed as a boot maker. Ethel lists her home address as 26 Drummond Road. This address is the home of Frederick Wilding, the brother of Robert. It is believed that they stayed at this address for a period of time, and then disappeared to Bristol for a while.
Quote from a distant relative - "She remembers hearing about Edith living with her parents before she married Robert and then after the marriage she is sure that they moved away. She thinks they went to Bristol for a while. Apparently they then returned and moved into 26 Drummond Road with Ethel and Fred for a while. She does remember your Great Grandmother, Mary Cole and also remembers visiting her in Marks Road. At this point in the conversation her Granddad also remembers Mary, as his grandmother Elizabeth Runacres (Nee Souter) lived with her in Marks Road for several years."
They have an only son in 1924, Kenneth Wilding; born in Romford. The later Kelly directories of 1929, 1933 and 1937 list Robert as having his own boot repairer business at 3 Mildmay Road, Romford. Mildmay Road is an adjoining road to Marks Road.
Robert and Ethel are living at 25 Marks Road later in their life; and around 1960 their son, Kenneth, and his family move into the adjoining house at 27 Marks road.
About 1973, both properties in Marks Road are purchased by the council through compulsory purchase, and this part of Marks Road is then redeveloped. Robert died just prior to this in 1970, and Ethel moved to Albany Road, Hornchurch just prior to her death in 1973.
The online family tree on this site was recently updated (August 2009) - it has taken me four years!