Brick Wall Response
I was intrigued to read the small article about Tom Blinks and his 'brick wall'. I cannot cast any real light but thought it might just be interesting for you to know. My paternal Grandfather was Henry Blincow from Long Buckby and when I was a lad, I was called 'Blinks' by all my friends. I was fortunate in going to Kilburn Grammar School in 1938 and was, immediately dubbed Blinks by most of the boys and indeed some Masters. This nickname followed me into my first job at Park Ward Coachbuilders in N.W. London and only really disappeared when I married my wife Betty and moved to another job. I am now 83 and remember so clearly Prefects shouting "Blinks, 100 lines" or other similar penalty! Maybe this is how the name was 'corrupted' from Blincow? Who knows?
Frank. Blincow,
East Sussex
Roger Blinko suggests the old longhand cursive script used in the Census records has interpreted an 'o' as a's hence turning Blinko into Blinks.
Really, either the nickname or the handwriting is credible reasosn for the evolution of Blinks.
Anne