My grandfather was born in Spalding, Lincolnshire in 1854, spent the first 21 years of his life in England and the next 30 or so travelling round the world living variously in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and, possibly, South Africa too, returning to this country about 1908. He lived initially at various addresses in the Chideoak, Pokesdown and Bournemouth area then moved to Salcome Regis and finally to Sidmouth where he died in 1934. He went bankrupt in 1887 whilst living in New Zealand where he was a sewing machine importer. In 1892 he applied for a patent for an improved sheep shearing machine in Australia and New Zealand. I have obtained a certain amount of information about his life and activities after his return to England but several gaps remain. He was an engineer according to his death certificate but had a wide range of interests. He had an apple orchard whist living at Sunbeam, Sid Road, Salcombe Regis and invented a cider apple sorting machine and a process for preserving apples; I believe he applied for patents for both. He was keenly interested in archaeology and a number of his discoveries were reported in various local and national papers between 1909 and 1929. He set up public museums at his homes, including one at Bluebell, a 22 acre hillside property at Bulverton Hill, Sidmouth. The exhibits included books, manuscripts and flint tools, mostly spear points and axes which were found there in large numbers. He loved wildlife and flowers and was also a writer and published his own book of poems 'The Inglenook' in about 1919. It appears that he went bankrupt for the second time in the 1920s. I am seeking further information about: (a) his homes and whether they still exist, (b) his inventions and whether they were patented, (c) his second bankruptcy, if in fact it did occur, and what caused it, (d) the museum and what happened to its contents, and (e) 'The Inglenook' - is there a copy available anywhere? I wonder if any lister can throw any more light on David's activities during the period following his return to live in Dorset and Devon. Any thoughts or suggestions on where I might look for additional information will be greatly appreciated. Ralph --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.507 / Virus Database: 304 - Release Date: 04/08/2003