A CURATOR from Yorkshire is determined to find a Harpenden man who is linked to the historical mansion which houses his museum. Grant Scanlan, curator of Dewsbury Museum in West Yorkshire, is trying to trace Harold Newman, formerly of Barnfield Road, whos

A CURATOR from Yorkshire is determined to find a Harpenden man who is linked to the historical mansion which houses his museum.

Grant Scanlan, curator of Dewsbury Museum in West Yorkshire, is trying to trace Harold Newman, formerly of Barnfield Road, whose ancestors, the Hague family, occupied Crow Nest Mansion from 1798 to 1893.

Grant, who has been at the museum of childhood for nine years, said that he was desperate to find out more about the mansion: "The museum is going through a period of refurbishment at the moment and we want one of the exhibitions to be about the house itself.

"We have a letter on file from Mr Newman dating from 1997 and in it he expresses great interest in the mansion and the Hague family."

Grant said that Crow Nest, which has the appearance of a Georgian mansion, may date back as far as the 11th century: "We think there was something on the site around the time of the Doomsday Book.

"It certainly has an interesting history and it was during the Hagues' period of occupation that the house was substantially developed."

Grant has so far only discovered that Mr Newman's Barnfield Road property was sold in 2007 and has asked local residents to contact him at grant.scanlan@kirklees.gov.uk should they have any more information about Mr Newman or his family.