Frank Brownsell and Robert Courtman in the church c.1971
Stranding in front of the new heating system they had just installed in the church.
HDHS archive
The church clock repaired and ready to be raised to the tower in July 1904.
Left front row: Left front row: Mr Gregory (landlord of the Swan), Sammy Gibbs. Left back row: Jack Smith, Dick Rutter, Arthur Garrett (church warden), Mr Gregory (Harry Gregory's father). Right front row: Tom Nicholls (choir master), Tom Courtman (blacksmith), Harry Newbury (clockmaker). Right back row: Charles Garrett, Fred York (baker), Ted Ditum, Bill Ditum.
HDHS archive, source Moira Courtman July 1998.
Robert and Dick Courtman as Blacksmiths on a parade float, July 1908.
Photo from Moira Courtman
Robert Courtman with his display of iron and copper work in St James Church c.1970
HDHS archive. Photo from Moira Courtman July 1998.
Robert Courtman repaired the church weathervane in 1963.
HDHS archive. Photo given by Moira Courtman July 1998.
Forest Farm, threshing machine c.1930
The rick yard of Forest Farm, while Tom Courtman had it in the 1920s and 1930s - Salsey Forest is in the background.
source Moira Courtman July 1998
Albert Greenwood 1872-1949, married Jemima Courtman in 1897.
Albert Greenwood came to Castlethorpe from Manchester as a painter/gilder in the Wolverton Works. After marrying Jemima he gave up painting and they lived from the income of the shop. They also kept the Green Man pub for some years. He returned to Manchester after Jemima's death.
Jemima Greenwood, sister of Tom Courtman, ran a grocery/haberdashery shop.
Jemima came to Hanslope to be housekeeper for her brother Tom. She married Albert John Greenwood in 1897 and had three daughters.
HDHS archive, photo from Moira Courtman July 1998
The Groocock family
c.1939
This is believed to be on the occasion of the hanging of the West door to the church which the family gave in memory of Alice Mabel Ada Groocock.
Robert Courtman is on the left and may have provided the ironwork for the door.
In front is Percy Tailor the vicar.
Source: Moira Courtman July 1998
Jemima Greenwood's shop, Market Square
This shop stood at the junction of Market Square and Gold Street. It was built on land belonging to the Green Man and run by Jemima Courtman Greenwood whose husband ran the Green Man. The background sign reads Swan Inn
Photo from Moira Courtman in 1998
Rose Lane Farm, ploughing in the Waterworks Field with the pump house in the background, pre-1914
The boys are probably Robert Courtman and his brother Dick circa 1910-1914.
The tower was demolished in the 1970s. The pump house was converted into a workshop, then a dwelling.
source Moira Courtman, July 1998
Amy Tite with Dorothy May Greenwood c. 1903
Amy Tite worked for Jemima (Courtman) Greenwood in her shop and house. Later she became a teacher at the Top school. Dorothy was Jemima's eldest child.
Photo from Moira Courtman July 1998