More miserable yet

Jen Garlinge says:

Just revisiting your blog site, which is brill. Was interested in how the farm got its current name. One of my ancestors, Henry Garlinge, was pictured in your article about the miners mission, and in the brass band, (but I can no longer find them on your site, and would be ever so grateful if you still have the article.) A Garlinge also won a prize in your infamous flower show, and I think this must be my Henry's father, Frederick John.

His grandfather, Frederick Garlinge, was a well-sinker at Snowden colliery, and dug most wells in the area. On one occasion in about 1908-1920 a child fell down a well on Ackholt Farm, and Frederick was summoned by the police - he shone mirrors down the well to see if the child had survived. (He hadn't). The child's name was Alderman. I wonder if this has any bearing on the farm being known as Misery - perhaps this, plus your family tragedy, gave it a reputation? Perhaps there were other events at the farm as well over time which added to the view of the farm as "jinxed" place.

(the flower show is here,the article interviewing the Garlinges is here)


Thanks to Jen for this story- since I first heard that Ackholt farm is now called Misery farm- I have been told versions of how the farm got its new name. Always involved: a father, a son, a shotgun, an accident, and seem to be much retold versions of the Reggie story, which I assumed to be the case, rather then there being lots of shotgun deaths leading to grisly cursed house scenarios.

But this is different, timed before Reggie’s death, and the child has a name.
The Aldermans, at one time, lived in keepers cottage, opposite the farm, and backdoor to the fredville estate. (scroll down to see the keepers cottage and the Trees of Wonder)Harold Alderman is a renowned boxing historian, and I really must speak to him.