South Yorkshire Times, November 14.
He came in Search of Old Conisbrough.
From the other side of the world in search of old Conisbrough, came a man whose father left South Yorkshire 55 years ago, but after his trip from Queensland, Australia, schoolteacher Mr T Baddiley found little of the village and the people his father left behind over half a century ago.
The Castle.
He did not return to Australia empty-handed, however, he took back within a picture of Conisbrough Castle – changed little over the years – and a promise of further information and photographs from Mrs Doris Goodwin, who lives in Windmill Cottagers, Windmill Avenue – themselves a part of the now demolished farm where Mr Baddiley senior worked and lived.
It was Mrs Goodwin, who wrote to the “South Yorkshire Times” asking for help in her quest for memories.
She wrote, “Mr Baddiley called to ask us if we knew anything about the old Windmill Farm, which stood where the Windmill Council house estate has been built.
Left in 1909.
“Of course it has all been demolished, and we were unable to help, except to direct him to what is left of the old mill.
“It seems Mr Baddiley’s father lived or worked at the farm, leaving for Australia in 1909, and as he (the son) was over here on holiday he hoped see the farm, and maybe meet someone who knew his father in those days.
“We promised him that we would try to find some information for him and send it on, but so far we have been unlucky.”
Mrs Goodwin’s husband, Yorkshire Main face worker Mr Daniel Goodwin, told a reporter on Monday, “We have given Mr Baddiley, a photo of the Castle – he’d remember that of course. “And we’ve also asked all over the district, but no one seems to have any photos and few people remember even the farm itself, although these cottages where we lived along to the farm.”
Mr Baddeley junior, certainly couldn’t get much of an impression of old Conisbrough, but it would be interesting to hear what he and his father think of the new “village.”