46 High Street

Occupants

Some of the owners of the property also lived there.  Click here to read about the OWNERS of the property.

This page details the various people whom we know to have lived there as tenants.  The photograph on the left shows the house in the early 1900's with its tenant at that time Robert Withers (see below).

Ann Gayner - at the time of the 1840 Tithe Survey it was noted that Ann Gayner was renting the house from William Gabb.  The 1841 census shows that Ann Gayner was aged 69 and of independent means.  She was living with Ann Smith aged 11 in her household, but another household appears to have been sharing the house.  In that household were Elizabeth Hooper a dressmaker aged 30 and Hester Britt a dressmaker aged 15.

Ann was the widow of Charles Gayner, a baker.  Their children and grandchildren played important parts in the life of Thornbury High Street.  Click here to read more

The Slys - the 1851 census shows that the house was occupied by Richard Sly, a common carrier aged 57 from Horsington, Somerset.  He was living with his wife, Sarah aged 52 from Rugby, their two children: Elizabeth, a straw bonnet maker aged 20 born in Olveston and Ann who was described as 'At home' aged 14, and Richard's brother, James, a retired brewer, unmarried and aged 52, also born in Horsington.

The Slys had moved to Thornbury by 1837 when their daughter, Sarah Hannah, was baptised on 18th April 1837 and Richard was described as a brewer.  The 1841 census shows Richard living in 8 Upper Bath Road.  He was described as a brewer aged 45, living with Sarah aged 40 and their children: Elizabeth aged 10 and Anna aged 4.  Richard's brother, James was listed as a brewer living in 14 Rock Street which is where Richard and James did their brewing.  By 1844 James had vacated the Brewery.

In 1858 Elizabeth became involved in a dispute which gained national newspaper coverage.  Click here to read more about John Watson Dalby and the church pews.

Richard died aged 67 on May 2nd 1860 "at his residence" and he was buried on 6th May 1860.  The 1861 census shows the house was occupied by Elizabeth now a straw bonnet maker and milliner and her mother, Sarah, a widow aged 60 (who was described as a 'boarder').  The 1869 Rate Book shows Elizabeth was still living there.

In 1871 Sarah and her two daughters were living in Silver Street.  Sarah was described as a pauper aged 74 and Elizabeth as a straw bonnet maker aged 40 and Sarah Ann as a 'living from 'allowance from grandmother' aged 34.  Sarah died aged 74 and was buried on 20th December 1871. 

The Minute Books of Thornbury union have been partly transcribed by Tony Cherry and Alan Thoburn who may have found a clue as to a problem that arose in the Sly family in the early 1870's.  On the 29th December 1871 Mr Sainsbury reported that his attention had been brought to two young women named Sly who were of unsound mind caused by drinking. The Relieving Officer was directed to mention it to the police and if it became necessary to give notice of them to the magistrates. 

We do not know whether this was Elizabeth and Sarah Ann Sly and if so whether this was the reason why they were living on their grandmother's money.  However we do know from later Minute Books of Thornbury Union that Elizabeth Sly eventually became an inmate of Gloucester Lunatic Asylum.  On 1st May 1874 a letter from Elizabeth Sly, an inmate of the Gloucester Lunatic Asylum, requested emigration to the colonies.  The request was turned down.  On 8th May 1874 a letter from Mr Toller, Superintendant of the Gloucester Lunatic Asylum, stated that Elizabeth Sly might be discharged on trial if arrangements could be made for looking after her. The Relieving Officer No.1 was instructed to find a suitable place where Elizabeth Sly might be taken care of whilst on trial.  Mr Toller was to be informed of progress.  In June of that year  Mr Toller stated he would obtain the Order for the discharge of Elizabeth Sly and requested she be collected. 

Elizabeth's sister, Sarah Ann died aged 39 and was buried on 1st June 1874.  In July a letter was read to the Board of Guardians that was from Mr Samuel Sly of Wincanton regarding the case of Elizabeth Sly lately discharged from Gloucester Lunatic Asylum on trial and requesting the Board to inform him of the result.

Sadly, in March 1875 the Gloucester Union stated that Elizabeth Sly (late of Thornbury) had become chargeable to that Union and was likely to be returned to the Lunatic Asylum.

We don't know what happened to Elizabeth, but it does not seem she had a happy life.  In 1891 she was a ' lunatic' in the County Lunatic Asylum at Wootton St Mary.

At the time of 1871 Rate Book and the 1871 census the house was unoccupied.

The 1890 Rate Book shows the house was vacant and owned by the Representatives of late Ann Harris Collings.

John West - the 1891 census shows the house was then occupied by John West, a grocer's porter aged 42 from Bristol.  He was living with his wife, Harriet, aged 43 from Thornbury and their son, Albert who was aged 10 having been born in Bristol.  The 1881 census shows John was a bargeman living in 5 Woburn Place, Clifton.  He and Harriet had two children: John aged 7 born in Thornbury and George aged 5 born in Clifton and baby Albert.  The 1901 census shows them back in Bristol - John was a confectioner living at 84 Gloster Street, Eastville.  He was living with Harriett and son, George, also a confectioner and two visitors, including Ada Allen aged 12 from Thornbury.

James Thomas - the 1894 and 1899 Rate Books show the house was owned by Samuel Collings and occupied by James Thomas.  We assume that this is James Thomas who ran a shoe shop with his brother, Frank under the name of 'Thomas Brothers'.  The 1901 census shows them running their shop at 53 High Street.  By 1905 they had moved to the shop on the corner of High Street and Soapers Lane (later known as 37 High Street) but in the 1910 Rate book James's name is crossed through and replaced by 'Huins'.

Frank and James were the sons of Theophilus Thomas a gardener and his wife, Jane.  Frank was baptised in Rockhampton on 4th December 1870 and James on 18th May 1873.  The 1881 census shows the Thomas's living at Rockhampton Wheel.  The 1891 census shows James had moved to live in 51 Marlborough Street, Bristol.  He is described as a 'Stay Trade Blocker' which appears from the other people in the household to be connected in some way with the boot and shoe trade.  Meanwhile his brother Frank was a groom in Lewes in Sussex.

In 1903 Frank married Frances Jane Gazard.  They had one daughter, Doris May, who was born in 1903 but she died on 2nd October 1903 aged 4.  We know that Frank died on 20th May 1911 aged 40.

The Withers - the 1901 census shows the house was occupied by Isabella Withers, a widow aged 65 being 'supported by her children'.  Her daughter, Elizabeth was living in the same house - she was a dressmaker aged 25. 

Isabella was born in Alveston, the daughter of Robert Tovey and his wife Mary (nee Minett).  She was the widow of Thomas Withers who was born in Falfield about 1825.  On 17th September 1853 Thomas married Isabella Tovey at St James, Bristol.  The 1861 census shows Thomas was a plasterer and he and Isabella were living at Crossways with their two children: Thomas aged 2 and Frederick aged 1 who were both baptised on 5th August 1860.

They had several more children: Lucy Mary baptised on 3rd August 1862, Caroline Sarah baptised on 6th November 1864, Robert born on 26th October 1866 and baptised on 5th December 1866, Sydney baptised on 3rd October 1869, George William baptised on 4th August 1872, Elizabeth Jane baptised on 4th July 1875 and Daniel baptised on 5th November 1876.

The 1881 census shows Thomas was a plasterer and tiler and son, Robert Withers aged 14, had become his apprentice.  The eldest daughter in the household Caroline was aged16 and had no occupation.  The other children, Sidney, Elizabeth and Daniel were still at school.

The 1891 census shows the family still in Crossways. Their son Thomas was at home working as a stone mason, Robert had changed his work to become a gardener, Elizabeth was an apprentice dressmaker and Daniel was a general labourer.

Thomas died aged 69 and was buried on 5th June 1897.  It seems that it was Thomas's death which led to Isabella moving into town.  She died in 1905 aged 69. 

Robert Withers.  For a short period around 1900 Robert was living in the Castle Coffee Tavern (later known as 57 High Street).  The 1901 Census shows that Robert Withers was living at the Castle Temperance Hotel with  Caroline Elizabeth Butler who had recently taken over as manager of the Coffee Tavern following the death of her husband in 1899.   Robert  and Caroline had one son, Charles born in June quarter 1901.  Charles's birth certificate records the birth of Charles Withers to Robert and Caroline Elizabeth Withers (late Butler, nee Bevan).  However Robert and Caroline were not married, as after Caroline committed suicide on 11th September 1901 the name on her death certificate was Butler not Withers. 

The 1905 Rate Book shows that Robert Withers was renting 46 High Street from F. Jones.  He had presumably taken over the tenancy after the death of his mother.  We know from photographs and trade directories that Robert ran a business as a coach proprietor, hiring traps.  Initially Robert lived at 46 High Street and used the coachhouse and stables on St Mary Street at the rear of 53 High Street which he had acquired by the time of the 1900 Rate Book.   The photograph on the left is a thumbnail image of Robert  Withers with his son Charles standing outside 46 High Street.  Please click on the image for a larger photograph.  By 1910 Robert had acquired 53 High Street and moved across to live there.

Robert Withers never married and brought up his son Charles alone.  Robert Withers died at New Engine, Westerleigh on 5th December 1924.

The Kings - the 1910 Rate Book shows that the house had been occupied by Charles King, but his name had been crossed out and replaced by Selina King.  Charles had been an ironmonger and tinplate worker whose premises had been further down in the High Street between Francis William's Seed Supply and Francis Gayner's shop.

Charles King was baptised on 10th February 1828.  He was the son of Nicholas King, a baker and his wife, Sarah who had lived at Crossways.  The 1851 census shows the family living at Siblands and Charles was working as a journeyman tinman aged 23.

We're not sure when or where Charles married.  His wife was called, Ann although we don't know her maiden name.  There is some confusion over where Ann was born.  In the 1861 census it indicates that her birthplace was unknown, but in England.  The 1871 census say she was born in Thornbury and the 1881 census says she was born in either Thorncombe, Devon or Bath in Somerset. 

Charles and Ann had two daughters, Selina Ann born on 25th September 1852 and Clara Mary born on 10th September 1859.  Both children were baptised at the Congregational Chapel on 22nd March 1863.  The 1859 Rate Book and the 1861 census shows Charles was living in a shop near the Swan which he was renting off George Powell.  In the census Charles was described as an ironmonger and tinplate worker employing one boy. 

Charles was one of the founding trustees of the British School when it was opened in 1863. 

The 1867 Rate Book and the 1871 census shows the family still in their High Street shop.  The rate book shows that Charles now owned the property.  The census shows that Selina had become a teacher and that they had a retired tinplate worker, Daniel Palser boarding with them.  He was aged 82 from Wotton under Edge.  The 1881 census show that both girls were still at home and both schoolmistresses.  They appear from later censuses to have been running the school from their home.

Ann died aged 62 and was buried on 22nd December 1887.  The 1891 census shows Charles still living in the High Street with the two daughters: Selina was now described as 'School mistress' and Clara as a 'teacher'.  The trade directories show that Selina was running a Preparatory School and the census indicates that the school was in her home.  Charles's sister, Ann Davis a widow aged 64, was also living with them.  She was described as 'living on her own means'.

On 7th January 1892 Clara married John Joseph Hookway Carey of Pill at the Thornbury Congregation Chapel.  John was a ship's captain.  Click here to read more about John and Clara

The 1901 census shows Charles and Selina still in their High Street home.  They also had Charles A Carey living with them - he was described as Charles's grandson aged 8.  There were still there in the 1905 Rate Book, but by 1910 they had moved to 46 High Street. 

In 1909 Charles was listed as a member of the Thornbury Town Trust.  He died in 1911.  He had been heavily involved with the Congregational Church.  Following his death, members of the Church and his friends erected a memorial to him in the Chapel which noted that he had been a Sunday School Superintendent for 59 years and a Deacon of the Church for 53 years.

Selina appears to have continued to live at 46 High Street. She is listed as running her preparatory school in the High Street in the 1914 trade directory, although her school is not included in the list of schools in the 1916 Prewett's Almanac.  As well as running the school, Selina was also involved with local groups associated with the Congregational Church.  The 1909 Prewett's Almanac mentions her involvement as Secretary for the Christian Endeavour Society and the 1916 Almanac shows her as Vice President of the Young People's Society.  She is listed in the 1918 electoral register as living in the High Street. 

In 1919 Selina married a widower, Samuel Mullett Wilmott.  Samuel was a successful local business man who was living at The Chalet, the impressive house he had built at the top of Alveston Hill.  He was also a member of the Congregational Church and his wife, Mary Ann (nee Ann) had died in 1917.  Samuel died in 1924 and we assume that Selina carried on living at The Chalet until her death in 1933 aged 80.

 This page was last updated: 26/03/2012