High Street

Number 63

We apologise for the poor quality of the two photos shown above, but this house always seems to appear on in the distance of all the old photos we have.  The one on the left showing the decorated house and it is thought to have been taken in 1911.  We suspect the event being photographed was a procession celebrating the coronation of King George V which took place on 22nd June 1911.  In both photos number 63 is the house with the porch over the front door.

Unfortunately we haven't seen the deeds of this property and we're not able to write about its early history. 

Mary Wetmore - the earliest owner whom we know about was Mary Wetmore whose husband, Thomas Wetmore, had owned the adjoining the property (later known as The Exchange or 59 High Street).  At some time in the 1820's we believe Mary sold the two properties to Thomas Morgan who was acquiring adjoining properties around that period.  Certainly in Thomas Morgan's will dated 17th September 1869 he bequeathed to his daughter Charlotte, two freehold messuages occupied by Frederick Jones Taylor and John Hawkins which he many year ago purchased from Mary Wetmore'.  Click here to read about Thomas and Mary Wetmore

Thomas Morgan - in the 1840 Tithe Survey the property was part of Plot 152, two houses and courts both owned by Thomas Morgan and occupied by George Bindon (we suspect this should be Binden) and Thomas Harris.  Thomas owned a lot of property in this area of town.  For the reasons explained above we know that Thomas acquired the two properties from Mary Wetmore, probably in the 1820's.  In his will dated 17th September 1869 Thomas left the properties to his daughter Charlotte. 

We have no documents relating to Charlotte's sale of these properties but we note that they were not mentioned in other documents relating to her property in 1871.  We are guessing that she may have sold the two houses to Frederick Jones Taylor (see below) in 1871 to enable her to repay some of the money owed from her father's debts.  On 30th October 1871 Charlotte Morgan paid the executors of John Carwardine’s will the sum of £200 in part satisfaction of the £400 borrowed.  Click here to read more about the Morgans

George Binden - based on the sequence of names in the survey, we assume that George Binden was living in 63 High Street.  The 1839 Robsons Directory shows George was a boot and shoemaker living in the High Street.  George was born in Thornbury on 28th March 1801 and baptised on 13th May 1801.  His parents were Henry Binden and his wife, Mary (nee Hungerford) who were buried in St Marys churchyard in Thornbury.  George's father Henry was a "bacon - factor, dealer and chapman" in Thornbury.  A newspaper article of February 28th 1807 declared Henry was bankrupt.  George would have been about six years old at that time.

 George married Ann Morgan on 17th April 1827.  We can't be sure but Ann may be the Ann Morgan born on 4th October 1801 and baptised on 25th October 1801.  She was the daughter of William and Mary Morgan.

George and Ann had at least two children: Martha baptised on 18th April 1828 when the Bindens were living in Kington and Alfred Henry baptised on 29th October 1837 when they were living in Thornbury.  We were puzzled that we could find any sign of the Bindons in any of the census records, nor any death record which might relate to them anywhere in England.  Then we noted a family tree posted on the Ancestry website which mentions that George emigrated to the USA which would explain the absence of any further information.  Unfortunately the family tree didn't give any details of when or where they moved to.  On the Ancestry website we did discover one possible reference to George in the USA - in the 1849 Boston Trade Directory there is a George Binden listed as a shoemaker living at 3 Madison Place, Boston.

James Schollar - the 1841 census suggests that the house was occupied by James Schollar, a hostler aged 40, and his wife, Frances aged 40 and children: Emila aged 20 and George aged 7.  According to the IGI, James was born in Tetbury and baptised on 2nd September 1792, the son of Edward Schollar and his wife, Mary.  He married Frances Webbe on 29th June 1814 in St James Church in Bristol. 

James and Frances had a daughter, Martha, who was baptised in Winterborne on 23rd February 1817.  They must had moved to Thornbury by 1822 when their daughter, Caroline, was baptised there on 27th February 1822.  Caroline's baptism record shows James was an ostler and that they lived in the Borough.  Caroline died as an infant and was buried on 3rd March 1822.  Another daughter, Elizabeth, was baptised on 13th April 1823.   Martha died aged 8 and was buried in Thornbury on 8th June 1825.  We assume that there was a son, James born in Thornbury about 1825.  The 1851 census shows this James was a gaol warden in Bedminster. 

They also appear to have had two other sons, Edward, baptised on 22 March 1829 in St James Church in Bristol and George Knapp Schollar  baptised in St James Church, Bristol 19th October 1834.

The 1851 census shows the Schollars had moved to live at Redcliff Crescent in Bedminster  Bristol.  James was a lodging house keeper aged 60 born in Tetbury.  Frances was aged 55 born in Hambrook.  Emily had no occupation and she was aged 35 born in Frenchay and George was aged 16 born in Bristol.  There was now one extra child, Frederick, who was a scholar at home aged 8 and born in Bristol.  Frederick was William Frederick baptised at St Marks Church in Easton in Bristol on 11th March 1857.  We had suspected that Frederick may have been Emily's son, but the IGI notes that James and Frances were his parents. 

We think James died in Bristol early in 1861 and Frances died there in 1868 aged 74.  We cannot find Francis in the 1861 census.

 
Charles Gibbs - the 1851 census shows that house was then occupied by Charles Gibbs, a cordwainer aged 35 from Thornbury and his wife, Elizabeth aged 37 from Hill.  They had three children: Mary aged 5 who was at home, Charles aged 2 and Elizabeth aged 3 months.

Charles was baptised in Thornbury on 21st September 1817.  He was the son of William Gibbs, a labourer and his wife, Sarah who lived at Grovesend.  In 1841 Charles was a journeyman shoemaker boarding in the lodging house run by Martha Cullimore at 43/45 St Mary Street.  In 1843 Charles married Elizabeth Leonard, the daughter of John Leonard and his wife Miriam (nee Hopkins).  Their daughter, Mary, was baptised on 24th December 1845.

By 1861 census, the Gibbs had moved to Rotten Row (now called Chapel Street).  They have one addition to the family, Emily who was aged 6.  Their daughter, Mary appears to be living with her great aunt, Grace Reeves, at 34 Castle Street at the time of the census.  Another son, William Leonard was born in 1861 after the census.  In 1866 the death was announced of Charles Leonard ( son of Charles Gibbs) on March 26th at Thornbury.  He was aged 16 and died after a long illness.

Elizabeth died in 1868 aged 49.  The 1871 census shows Charles is living at 13 St Mary Street which he sharing with other families.  Charles has his children, Mary, Emily and William living him.  In the 1881 census Charles is listed as a widowed bootmaker living in Silver Street with his son, William who had also become a bootmaker aged 19.

We are not sure when Charles died.  William went on to become a Baptist minister and moved to London.

The Jones - the 1859 Rate Book shows that Frederick Jones was then renting out the house from Thomas Morgan.  By 1876 he had bought the house and the adjoining house (61 High Street).  In 1884 he bought the property on the other side, which was the Queens Head pub.

The history of the Jones family is quite complex and we are grateful to a family member, Susan Jones, who has helped us sort out the problems arising from the family's tendency to use different surnames.

Frederick was baptised in Broadway, Worcestershire on 8th August 1813.  His mother was Ann Taylor.  By the 1841 census Frederick had become a tailor and moved to live in Thornbury.  He was living at The Wheatsheaf in Chapel Street together with two other tailors and a tailor's apprentice.  It is interesting to note that at this time he was using the name of 'Frederick Jones'.

On 18th December 1841 Frederick under the name of 'Frederick Jones Taylor' married Sarah Luce at St James Church, Bristol.  Their address at the time of the marriage was Charles Street.  Sarah was baptised in Thornbury on 15th February 1818, the daughter of Thomas Luce, a barber and his wife, Mary.  In the 1841 census Sarah had been a milliner living with her mother and brother, both hairdressers, in Silver Street, Thornbury.  Their son, Frederick Taylor was born in Thornbury in 1843.  When their daughter, Mary Ann was born in 1846 she was registered under the name of 'Mary Ann Jones Taylor'.

In the 1851 census Frederick (under the name of Frederick Jones) and Sarah were living in Silver Street with their two children: Frederick aged 8 and Mary Ann aged 4.  Another daughter, Ellen was born in Thornbury in 1856 and registered under the name of Ellen Taylor.  When she was baptised on 18th October 1873 she was given the name of 'Ellen Jones Taylor'.  The baptism record shows her parents were Frederick Taylor, a tailor and his wife, Sarah. 

The 1861 census shows the family under the name of Jones Taylor living at 63 High Street.  We know from the 1859 and 1867 Rate Books that Frederick was renting the house at the time from Thomas Morgan.  Only daughters, Mary Ann and Ellen are at home, both of them at school.  Their son, Frederick is living in Bristol at 50 Wine Street and working as an assistant in Baker and Burt's draper's shop.

In the 1871 census Frederick, Sarah and the two daughters were living at 63 High Street.  Frederick is a tailor and none of the others had occupations.  Frederick junior was lodging in Broadway, Bristol and working as a draper.  In 1875 Frederick junior married Elizabeth Emma Bassey in Bristol.  Elizabeth was born in Norwich in 1852 and she was later working as professor in music.  Frederick junior and Elizabeth had a daughter, Beatrice Emma born on 26th July 1876, and a son, Frederick James Jones born on 16th November 1877 at 94 City Road, Bristol.  However, unfortunately the marriage failed and Frederick and Elizabeth separated.

By 1876 Frederick (Senior) had acquired two houses in the High Street, later known as 61 and 63 High Street.  In 1881 census the family were living at 63 High Street.  Frederick Jones was a tailor aged 68 living with Sarah aged 66 and their three children: Frederick junior an unemployed draper's traveller aged 38, Mary Ann an assistant in a seed warehouse aged 34 and Ellen aged 25 for whom no occupation is given.  On 5th November 1884 Frederick paid £400 at auction for the Queens Head, the pub which adjoined his two other properties and which later became known as 65 High Street.  He doesn't appear to have ever lived in the pub and he allowed Hugh Smart to continue to manage it until his death in 1888 and then William Underhill to carry on after that.  He finally sold it to R. W. Miller & Co. Ltd, brewers of Stokes Croft, Bristol in 1890.

By 1891 census Frederick Jones had become a retired tailor and he was living at 63 High Street with Sarah, Ellen and a grandson, Frederick James Jones aged 13 born in Bristol.  Ellen again had no occupation.  We understand from a newspaper article printed in 1888 that little Frederick James Jones had had a difficult upbringing.  After his parents separated, his mother re-married, but died shortly after.  He came to live with his paternal grandparents, but missed his sister who was living with an aunt in Bristol.  Little Frederick a habit of walking into Bristol to see his sister, but was not allowed inside his aunt's house.  The police found Frederick wandering in Bristol and he was taken to court.  We do not know the outcome of the case.

Frederick Jones (snr) died on 16th January 1894 aged 82.  The 1894 Rate Book shows that the Queens Head had now been sold, but the other two houses were now owned by 'F. Jones', presumably Frederick's son.  The 1899 Rate Book shows Frederick junior also owned a property in St Mary Street occupied by Charles Hurn.  We believe this was the house which became known as 33 St Mary Street.  It had been sold to Robert Withers by 1905.

The 1901 census shows Sarah continuing to live at 63 High Street with her son, Frederick, a commercial traveller aged 58, her daughters, Mary Ann Maffia and Ellen Jones and a grand-daughter, Gertrude Maffia aged 15 born in Monmouth.  Sarah died on 2nd April 1901 aged 85.  The 1905 and 1910 Rate Books show that both 61 and 63 High Street continued to be owned by 'F. Jones' with Frederick living at number 63, presumably with his sister, Ellen, living with him.  They were both there in the 1911 census which describes Frederick as a commercial traveller in the drapery trade and Ellen as 'housekeeping for brother'.  Interestingly the Rate Book shows that 'F. Jones' also owned 46 High Street, although the abstract of title of this house shows it had been conveyed to Ellen Jones for £130.  Frederick is listed in the Thornbury trade directories as a commercial traveller living in the High Street.  He died on 10th February 1914 aged 71. 

Ellen sold the two houses (61 and 63 High Street) at some time between 1918 and 1920.  We know this from plans attached to the sale notices of the Exchange Hotel.  The one in 1918 shows 'miss Jones' as the owner of the adjoining property, but in 1920 her name is crossed through and replaced by 'W.H. Phillips'.  The 1925 Valuation list shows the two houses were owned by W. H. Phillips and Ellen Jones was living in 46 High Street - click here to read more

Returning to the story of little Frederick James Jones, the son of Frederick Jones junior: in 1890 he managed to obtain a scholarship to Thornbury Grammar School.  In 1896 he was employed by the Midland Railway Company as a clerk.  On 8th June 1906 he married Charlotte Webley and they had four children. In 1908 he became the secretary for the Winsley Sanatorium at Limpley Stoke and he continued in this position until 1922 when he was dismissed for serious financial irregularities uncovered by auditors.  He was tried, convicted and sentenced to three months hard labour at Shepton Mallett Gaol.

The Phillips - we are not sure when the Phillips moved into the house.  The 1925 Valuation List shows that W. H. Phillips owned both 61 and 63 High Street and we know that he made 63 High Street his home.

William Henry Phillips was born in Thornbury in 1883, the son of William Alfred Phillips and his wife, Eliza (nee Cole) who for many years lived at their home at 3 Upper Bath Road.   William became known as 'Harry'.  He enjoyed playing the cornet and whilst at the Grammar School he regularly played the Last Post at the annual Remembrance Day service.  Harry was a painter and decorator and in 1920 he married Bertha Stone, the daughter of George and Eliza Stone.  Harry went into partnership with Robert Mills.  The Phillips used the front of their house in the High Street as a shop and it became the place to go to buy wallpaper.  We understand that their equipment was stored in Robert Mills place at 28 Castle Street.  Harry is remembered smoking a pipe whilst applying the lead paint and he said that drinking milk was necessary to keep painters healthy!

George was a deacon and elder of Thornbury Baptist Church and Bertha was the organist and Harry, the choirmaster there and played the cornet in the Baptist Church Brass Band. 

Harry and Bertha had one daughter, Rachel born in 1921.  Rachel married Harry E Aplin, the electrical contractor in 1942.  The photo on the right shows the two of them outside number 3 Upper Bath Road, although they lived at 63 High Street.  This house had the unusual name 'Gilgandra'  - we were curious as to how the house got this name and suspected that there might be a connection to the place by that name in New South Wales, Australia.  Then, it was discovered that William Henry was mentioned on a website listing the Australian Anzacs in the First World War.  It shows that William Henry was out in New South Wales in 1915.  He enlisted in the 36th Battalion of the Australian Army in Dubbo, new South Wales on 24th August 1915.  Dubbo is only 23 miles from Gilgandra so presumably that is where William was living at the time.  The army record shows he was a painter, single and Baptist by religion.  His next of kin was shown as William Phillips of Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England.  He embarked for the War on the Australian transport ship, Beltana sailing from Sydney on 13th May 1916.  He was demobbed on 11th August 1919.

Harry and Bertha were shown as still living here in 1958. The business appears in trade directories until 1956.  Harry died on 5th June 1963 aged 77 years.  Bertha continued to live at Gilgandra.  She was listed as living there in the 1965 and 1970 electoral registers.  Bertha died on 6th July 1986 aged 95.

In more recent times, the property became the local agency of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society and then the Castle Estate Agents.  We understand that the current owner is Mrs Yeend.

This page was last updated: 18/04/2012