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www.OliverFamilyHistory.co.uk -> General Oliver Discussion -> "Stonesfield Slate" (and other Stonesfield books)
Post Info TOPIC: "Stonesfield Slate" (and other Stonesfield books)
Shane Bywaters


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"Stonesfield Slate" (and other Stonesfield books)
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Hi All,

Okay, have a read of Linda's last message:

'George Powell, author of the 'Stonesfield' book, died about 5 years ago at the age of 100!  His family moved to the Isle of Wight in the 1980's.'

and then have a little listen to this.

So, following this little exchange on Stonesfield books I though to myself 'I should really see if I can get some copies of those', and so I did a search to see if any where out there and a copy of 'Stonesfield: Slate to Chips' came up on ebay - so I purchased it.

Those of you familar with ebay will know that you get a confirmation email detailing who the seller is and where they're from etc.

Well, where do you think the book is being sent to me from? Only the Isle of Wight!

So what do you think, could the copy that is winging its way to me actually be G H Powells old copy perhaps - how many other would have found there way ot the Isle of Wight.

I'll be scanning for any telling signs when I get it.

Whilst I was book searching I also managed to locate and purchase a copy of G H Powells own book aswell, from a little secondhand bookshop in Warwickshire - both were at the bargin price of £4.99 - so there are copies out there if you wanted them.

Thanks,
Shane

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Linda


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George Powell, author of the 'Stonesfield' book, died about 5 years ago at the age of 100!  His family moved to the Isle of Wight in the 1980's.

Linda


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Shane Bywaters


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Hi Betty

Yes, that's right, 1024 Kilobytes (Kbs) = 1 Megabyte (Mb's) 

So the maximun file size that can be uploaded here is 9765 Kilobytes (Kb's), which equals about 9.53 Megabytes (Mb's) and 9.53 Mb's is a pretty large file size which I wouldn't imagine any of your photo's or scan's would reach.

So basically, please feel free to upload as and when - just let me know if you have any issues along the way.

Thanks,
Shane

1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
1024 Megabytes = 1 Gigabyte
1024 Gigabytes = 1 Terabyte



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Betty


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Thank you for the information on books about "Stonesfield" I will see if I can order those through the inter-library service. As regards the name of "Urban" it seems as if later in life when "Urban" married it became Herbert on his Marriage Certificate. An easy mistake as he signed his name with the usual X and so did Maria Butcher his wife. His father's name was given as Solomon Oliver (Slater) and during my research I never found another Solomon Oliver. I came to the conclusion that Urban and Herbert were the same person. By the way Shane I had thought of attaching photo of the cover of the book but did not know how many KB's = a MB - is it 1000?

Regards Betty

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Shane Bywaters


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Hi All,

Here is the cover and contents page from the G.H. Powell book 'Stonesfield':

book2_1.jpg

book2_2.jpg

Jane, as you'll see from the cover, its not my copy! - and I think its about time I returned it, it's well overdue and the fees muct be huge!

Then there is also another book, a more modern one, published by Stonesfield Parish Council in 2000 called 'Stonesfield: From slates to chips'

book3_1.jpg

Both have a good number of Oliver specific references in addition to the more general Stonesfield history.

The numbers of, locations and availability of these books across various Oxfordshire libraries can be searched here:

https://www.libcat.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Default.aspx

All three in my opinion are worthy of a view.

Thanks ladies for raising this interesting topic, a valuable addition to the information on the site.

Thanks,
Shane

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Linda


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RE: "Stonesfield Slate"
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The Stonesfield Slate book used to be for sale in the Woodstock Museum.  Ashamed to say I haven't been there for ages so I'm not sure if it is still available.

With regard to the 'Stonesfield' book by G. H. Powell, I have a copy of this given to me by Mary Clapton (Maria's Gt. Granddaughter).  I thought at the time she told me that this was a relation.  I'll contact her and let you know if she has any information about him.  It is a fantastic book and well worth trying to get a copy if you are interested in local history.

Linda


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jane


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Hello Betty (and may I echo Shane's welcome to the message board)

I was interested to read in your quotation from 'Stonesfield Slate' the mention of Mr George Powell's research. I presume he is the G.H. Powell whose book, 'Stonesfield', is also in Witney and Stonesfield libraries. It sounds like he is/was an expert on the village's history. I wonder if he and/or his research notes are still around?

To go back to the excellent 'Stonesfield Slate', here's a piece of trivia (nothing to do with Olivers, sorry!): I think its author Michael Aston is now better known as Mick Aston, the stripey-jumpered professor of 'Time Team' fame.

Jane

P.S. I am also intrigued by Urban Oliver's unusual first name. It certainly makes a difference from John, William, etc. The 1881 census shows only 159 people called Urban in the whole of England and Wales. One of them was the bizarrely named Urban Cheese! (This makes me tempted to start a new thread on silly names, but it would be nothing to do with Olivers; perhaps this is too far off-topic, Shane? Or can we have a new section for general non-Oliver genealogy chat?)


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Shane Bywaters


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Hi Betty,

Well a very warm 'second' welcome, this time to the messageboard, great to see you on here and please feel free to start or join in with any discussion's at all.

Here is the cover of the book to which you refer - invaluable reading for anyone interesting in the Stonesfield slate industry, and obviously a key part of our Oliver history.

stonesfieldslate.jpg

I think there are copies in the Witney and Stonesfield libraries that can be viewed.

Thank you also for sharing and allowing us to enjoy the fabulous picture of your grandparents Henry and Winifred, you'll see this is now in the Picture Gallery.

Speak soon,
Shane

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Betty


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"Stonesfield Slate" (and other Stonesfield books)
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Hello Fellow Researchers

I have recently been introduced to this site by another researcher of the Olivers and of course duly received a warm welcome when I first e-mailed Shane.

I have been reading all the discussions with great interest.  I descend from John Oliver and Sarah Painton,  Solomon Oliver & Maria Butcher, Urban Oliver & Jane Martha Tyson and Winifred Oliver b.1866 was my Grandmother.

My husband and I spent a very interesting and rewarding week in Oxford in 1994.  We visited the Oxford Record Office and the Local Library.  My husband was very interested in books and he came across the book entitled “Stonesfield Slate”.  If you are interested in the Slate Industry it is very informative and describes in detail all the tools you would need in the trade. I remember at that time that we could not borrow the book as I believe it was their only copy.  When I returned home to Essex I went to my local library and was able to obtain a copy through the Inter-Library service.  I had it photo-copied as it was impossible to remember every detail.   Among the many surnames it mentions Griffin, Hounslow and Oliver.

 

 

In the preface of the Book it states “The slate-making industry of Stonesfield was an obvious subject for the Museum’s early attention.  Michael Aston has attempted in this booklet to summarise what is known to date about the history and practice of the Stonesfield Slate industry and in so doing he has placed on record an important feature of the personality of the Oxford Region.  The Museum, while thanking him for this, must also acknowledge the considerable help he received from many people in Stones field and in particular Mr George Powell who made available his own researches and wide knowledge of Stonesfield’s history and without whose great assistance this booklet would have been impossible.  Richard Foster – Director”    c.1964

Betty Shillingford



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