Genealogy Chat

I am about to go to Woolwich to try to find a monument to the Fead Family, with a view to getting some photgraphs..
I am lead to believe the monument is in Woolwich Park.
Does anyone have a an actual location for this monumernt?
The first mentioned person is Lt General George Fead, who died 20 Nov 1815.

Thanks
Stuart

Woolwich is in the London Borough of Greenwich, which is one of the greenest Boroughs in London.
As far as I am aware there is nowhere called Woolwich Park, I lived in the area for many years, Do you have any more information?

Hi Seasalt

Google search shows Woolwich Park to be "on the waterfront east of the ferry terminal in Woolwich"

I guess an alternative could be Woolwich Common !!

Stuart

Could this help?

"Woolwich Park is now known as Royal Arsenal Gardens. This riverside park successfully combines a number of diverse features into a relatively small space, these include a well used skate/skateboard park, sculpture on both an ecological and historical theme, an ecologically important wildflower meadow planted on artificial banks around a central area of short mown amenity grassland(in an area of deficiency in natural green space), and ample hard landscaping for community festivals. Perhaps of most importance however is the parks location beside the Thames something extremely rare in London where residential development usually takes precedent over public realm."

Unless you are off on your trip tomorrow, unless Seasalt knows where the statue is, it might be an idea to contact the tourist board of Greenwich.

EDIT - that last sentence is a bit garbled!
Lets's hope Seasalt can pin it down.

Failing that, delay your visit until you have had the chance to talk to Greenwich tourist office/board.

If you are making the most of the dry weather tomorrow, at least if will be good for a stroll along the river ;-)

after Googling -


FEAD, GEORGE (1729?–1815), lieutenant-general, colonel-commandant fourth battalion royal artillery, entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, as a cadet 1 Sept. 1756, became a lieutenant-fireworker royal artillery 8 June 1756, second lieutenant 1760, first lieutenant 1764, captain-lieutenant 1771, captain 1779, brevet major 1783, regimental major 1792, lieutenant-colonel 1793, brevet colonel 1797, regimental colonel 1799, major-general 1803, lieutenant-general 1810. As a lieutenant-fireworker he was present at the famous siege of Louisburg, Cape Breton, in 1758. He was afterwards taken prisoner at Newfoundland, but exchanged. Returning a second time to America he served there six or seven years, part of the time at Pensacola. He served in Minorca from 1774 to 1781, and commanded the artillery during the memorable defence of Fort St. Philip from August 1780 to February 1781, during which he lost an eye by the bursting of a shell. He was one of the witnesses on the trial of Lieutenant-general Hon. James Murray, the governor, on charges preferred by Sir William Draper [q. v.] He went to Newfoundland a second time in 1790, and in 1794 served under the Duke of York in Flanders. He went to Jamaica in 1799 and commanded the artillery there many years. He was made lieutenant-governor of Port Royal in 1810.

Fead died at his residence, Woolwich Common, 20 Nov. 1815, in the eighty-sixth year of his age and the fifty-eighth of his military service, thirty years of which had been passed abroad. He had nine sons in the service, several of whom were killed or died on duty abroad.

Hi Detective,

Thanks for the info much appreciated. We were going tomorrow anyway for other reasons so hopefully searching Royal Arsenal Gardens would be an opportunity also.

Regards
Stuart

Hi Choccy,

Thanks. I had the background info, however I am led to believe that this monument has sons, daughters, wives, etc etc, names inscribed with where
they all died and at what age they were.
This is the reasson for going to get photographs of the monument. There may
infact be two monuments as the info I have is that there is a South Monument and a North Monument.

Regards
Stuart

have you tried this site ? lots of info on members of the Fead family


http://genealogy.kirkpatrickaustralian.com/archives/index.php

http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/woolwich_park/map

Woolwich Common at present has been completely taken over by the Olympics. Limited access to 'common' ground.

The only thing you can really spot with ease is the War Memorial (which has recently been restored) which is on the corner of Academy Road/Ha Ha Road.

Hope you find your memorials.

The Woolwich Park I found on Google is not any where near Woolwich Common. It appears to be opposite St Mary's Church.

When I was a child we regularly walked from Woolwich ferry through maryon Park, Maryon Wilson Park, Charlton Park and then Hornfair Park where we would swim in the lido.

You may find some help at the firepower museum nearby. Unfortunately it is closed on Sunday.

The Olympic site at Woolwich looks like a kids construction set. And as for Blackheath it is tragic how they have knocked down the gates of the park and made such a mess.

I am not looking forward to it at all.

I see you are researching Harringtons Piglets Pal. I have some of those too in the Chigwell area.

There is no park opposite St. Marys Church that I can think of. Unless the memorial is in the church gardens.

The Royal Arsenal Gardens are farther down Woolwich Road, I think they are the new gardens by the Thames Barrier.

Hi to everyone,

Thanks for all your comments and ideas. This mornings excursion was not fruitful in finding the monuments but very enjoyable all the same as the weather as extremely good.

Will persevere with my searches. I am sure something will turn up

Regards
Stuart

Oh well, at least you got some 'fresh' air.

Try the Tourist Board before your next excursion....they may have moved the statue.

Stuart
What was your source of information?

You might find that one of the best places to enquire is the Heritage Centre (based behind the Firepower museum).

Just google - then you can call them. They may be able to help.

Hi
Thanks to all for your messages, URL's and comments. They will all be
investigated.

Regards
Stuart

There is a Fead here in case you have not seen it.

http://saobits.gravesecrets.net/f.html

London, England, Deaths and Burials, 1813-1980 about Lieutenant General George Fead
Name: Lieutenant General George Fead
Record Type: Burial
Estimated Death Date: abt 1815
Burial Date: 27 Nov 1815
Age: 86
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1729
Parish or Poor Law Union: Woolwich St Mary Magdalene
Borough: Greenwich
Register Type: Parish Register

Spoke to someone from Greenwich tourist office yesterday and she said it rang a bell and she will see if she could find anything.
LK