lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Probably this is a shot in the dark ... I have a letter here, addressed to my great grandfather (I was adopted, so not my blood). The return address is 83 Grace Ave., Bloomfield, Belfast 5, Northern Ireland. The sender of the letter was a Thomas Hamilton, my Mum's grandfather's brother. In it he talks about one of the brothers, William, being sent to a home in Ballyclare. He says he was pensioned from Gallahers and talks about his children ... Roy, being in the British Thomson Houston company, another son Alan working at this Gallahers place, and a daughter who was a dressmaker. I can't find any reference to the return address anywhere on google maps, and was just wondering if someone knows if that area is still around today and what it might be referred to now? I thought it might be nice for my Mum if I could get some information together. Her grandmother died in a sanatorium in Canada - my Mum never really knew her - and her grandfather (whom I remember distantly) wasn't one for sharing information about Ireland other than to say he'd left it, and that was that. If anyone has any information about the area - or even the family name if it rings a bell - I'd love to hear about it. Thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigdog Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 the post codes are different now, they all start with BT, then 3 numbers, then another 2 letters. your best bet would be to contact the G.P.O in Belfast to find out were it was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks Bigdog I'll try to look that up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,603 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 bt5 5jj google it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Brewman 1,192 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 It runs between Woodcot Avenue and Bloomfield Gardens. Type in Grace Avenue, Bloomfield, Belfast and it should come up. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BIG G wheton machine 1,594 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 its near my grandmothers and the name rings a bell (grace ave) i think its still there its 10 mins from my place. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,603 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 the post codes are different now, they all start with BT, then 3 numbers, then another 2 letters. your best bet would be to contact the G.P.O in Belfast to find out were it was. not all are 3 numbers Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,603 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 its near the beersbridge road Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thebigdog Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 the post codes are different now, they all start with BT, then 3 numbers, then another 2 letters. your best bet would be to contact the G.P.O in Belfast to find out were it was. not all are 3 numbers always thought it was learn somthing new every day Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 That's awesome you guys are ace ... very different to a photo I have, included with the letter. My mum's grandfather would've immigrated to Canada sometime around the 1920's or so. The photo that came with the letter shows a rather stern looking couple - possibly his parents - standing in the doorway of a white cottage. There is mention in the letter of 'the old house falling to ruins' so I didn't expect to find that. But thank you so much for that info Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BIG G wheton machine 1,594 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 my gran worked at gallachers when did they work here i think most of blfast worked there or the shipyard , the ropeworks or the sirocco works 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,603 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerryward/2935180967/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 This letter is post marked 1960 Big G. I wonder if your Gran might've known Alan Hamilton? Blimey my Mum is going to be so excited when I send her the map link Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurchergrrl 1,441 Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerryward/2935180967/ HA that's funny - he says in the letter "they gave me a small pension and send me my cigarettes every week" ... I wondered why they would do that Great stuff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BIG G wheton machine 1,594 Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 This letter is post marked 1960 Big G. I wonder if your Gran might've known Alan Hamilton? Blimey my Mum is going to be so excited when I send her the map link ill ask her and find out anything else ya wana find out about the area?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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