Besfords

The history of the Besfords

Latest articles

  • David Besford (1897-1991)

    David Besford (1897-1991)

    David Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (neé Turnbull). David was born on 1st February 1897 at Middleton Street, Amble, Northumberland. 

    Read more

  • David Besford (1863-1954)

    David Besford (1863-1954)

    David Besford was born on 11th September 1863 at Cowpen Colliery. He was the son of John and Margaret Besford.

    Read more

  • John William (Jack) Besford

    John William (Jack) Besford

    John William Besford was born on 20th November 1891 at 19 Church Street, Amble, Northumberland. Always known as Jack, he was one one of twelve children, eight of whom survived to adulthood.

    Read more

  • George Besford (1893-1966)

    George Besford (1893-1966)

    George Besford was born at 19 Church Street, Amble, Northumberland on 31st January 1893. He would go on to serve in the Northumberland Fusiliers in the First World War.

    Read more

  • David Besford (skipper)

    David Besford (skipper)

    David Besford was the skipper of the St. Patrick trawler in Lowestoft.

    Read more

  • Mary Besford (later Thompson/Turner) (1888-1985)

    Mary Besford (later Thompson/Turner) (1888-1985)

    Mary Besford was the daughter of David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull). She was born on New Year’s Eve 1888 at Togston Terrace, Broomhill, Northumberland. She was David and Mary Besford’s first child (of 12). Her father was working at Broomhill Colliery in 1888.

    Read more

  • Thomas Besford (1899-1994)

    Thomas Besford (1899-1994)

    Thomas Besford was the son of David Besford and Mary Besford (née Turnbull). Thomas was born on 8th November 1899 at Chevington Crescent, Northumberland.

    Read more

  • Besford Court

    Besford Court

    Besford Court was the last great, gothic English country house. It is a Grade II*-listed building, located in the village of Besford.

    Read more

  • Besford House

    Besford House

    Besford House, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, was built originally as a private residence in 1893. In 1911 it was set up a boys’ home, as a way of getting children out of the workhouses. It has now been restored as a family home.

    Read more

  • Besford Church

    Besford Church

    The church of St Peter in Besford is a wonderful example of English church architecture and one of only a few timber frame churches in England.

    Read more

  • John Charles Preston (Jack) Besford

    John Charles Preston (Jack) Besford

    Known as Jack, John Charles Preston Besford was a dentist and amateur swimmer, who became British and European swimming champion, and won the British backstroke title seven times from 1927 to 1936.

    Read more

  • Dr John Besford

    Dr John Besford

    Dr John Besford is a retired Harley Street dentist, famous for his specialism in prosthodontics.

    Read more

  • John Besford (1872-1954)

    John Besford (1872-1954)

    John Besford was born on 5th February 1872 at Cowpen Square, Blyth, Northumberland. John was the son of Alexander Besford, a coal miner, and his wife Elizabeth (Bessy) Besford (née Mills).

    Read more

  • Cowpen Square

    Cowpen Square

    Cowpen is situated on the southern bank of the River Blyth. The opening up of the Cowpen North and South pits at the end of the eighteenth century led to the building of Cowpen Square in order to house the coal miners and their families who came to Cowpen to work in these pits.

    Read more

  • Thomas Besford (1833-1914)

    Thomas Besford was born at Espley, Northumberland, in 1833. He was baptised at the parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, Mitford, on 21st April 1833.

    Read more

  • Mary Besford (later Ferguson) (1822-1883)

    Mary Besford was baptised at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Horton , Northumberland, on 27th January 1822. Her parents were Robert Besford (1792-1844) and Mary Besford (née Marshall).

    Read more

  • Ann Besford (1825-1896)

    Ann Besford was the daughter of Robert Besford (1792-1844) and his wife Mary Besford (née Marshall).

    Read more

  • William Besford (1823-1906)

    William Besford was born at Dam Dykes farm, near Cramlington, Northumberland. He was baptised on 3rd of August 1823 at St. Nicholas’s Parish Church, Cramlington. William’s parents were Robert Besford (1792-1844) and his wife Mary Besford (née Marshall).

    Read more