Newspaper Articles

The Sydney Morning Herald, Sat 15 Apr 1905

Family Notices - Golden Weddings
OUTLAW-ISON. - April 18, 1855, at "All Saints", Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, England, by the Rev. Dr. Hall, Henry, third son of lates Henry Outlaw, to Ann, eldest daughter of the late George Son. of Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire. Present address: Marsden Park, via Riverstone, N.S.W. (New South Wales, Australia).

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate,Wed 5 Jan 1944

Helped to Forge Big Ben's Hammer

Born at Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, Mr. Arthur Redhouse, of Morpeth-street, East Maitland, celebrates his 83rd birthday to-day. Mr. Redhouse, who retired in 1922, was a blacksmith. He served his apprenticeship with his father, and for a time was employed by Mr.Peacock, Queen Victoria's coachbuilder. While in London he assisted a celebrated smith, George Hirst, to forge the 12½cwt, hammer for London's Big Ben.

Leaving England in 1882, Mr. Redhouse made a fast trip in the clipper "Alora No: 3," the voyage to Australia occupying 72 days. For the next 30 years, he was employed by J.and A. Brown, first at Minmi and later at Hexham. For 10 years he worked at Walsh Island, and helped to build six standard ships for the Commonwealth Line.

Mrs. Redhouse, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. Buxton, of Hexham, died 10 years ago. Surviving children are Ambrose (Sydney), Frank (East Maitland), Mrs B. Dixon (New Lambton), and Fred (Mayfield). There are 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

This is a story that the newspapers seemed to roll out many times when Mr. Redhouse had a birthday!

Other details from the 1940 version:

FATHER'S ANCESTORS HAD "SMITHY" FOR SIX CENTURIES

BORN at Fulbourne, Cambridgeshire, England, on January 5, 1861, Mr. Arthur Redhouse, of Morpeth-street, East Maitand, will celebrate his 79th birthday to-day.

Mr. Redhouse served his time as a blacksmith's apprentice under his father, whose ancestors had occupied the village "smithy" for more than six centuries.

In those days a blacksmith did most of his work at night. At dusk the farmer brought his implements to be repaired and his horses to be shod ready for work the next day. After completing his apprenticeship, Mr. Redhouse was employed in London by Mr. Edward Peacock, who was then coachbuilder to Queen Victoria.

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