The Plain

Number 8

We have not seen any deeds for this property and our earliest source of information is the 1840 Tithe Survey, which shows that the property was then Plot 255 - a house and garden owned by Isaac Roberts and occupied by William Cross.

Isaac Roberts - we don't know anything about Isaac except that the 1840 Tithe Survey shows he also owned the property next at 9 The Plain and a row of six old cottages in the Gloucester Road.  It says that Isaac was occupying one of the cottages, although it seems unlikely that he was actually living there.  There is an earlier reference to an Isaac Roberts having occupied the must mill which was located in St John Street but we don't know if this is same person.

George Watts - the 1859 Rate Book shows that George was the owner of the property.  He also owned the adjoining property at 8 The Plain, and the six old cottages in Gloucester Road.  George didn't live in any of these properties and we don't know any more about him.  The most likely George Watts was the grocer or butcher born in Wickwar in 1795 and he was living in Cromhall in the 1841 and 1851 censuses. 

In 1861 the property was being used as a smithy by Henry Knapp who had moved from his property in the High Street (on the site of the Methodist Church).  It continued to be used as an ironmonger's shop and blacksmith's for the next 100 years.  The above photo shows the property when it was occupied by Gilbert Symes.  Gilbert and his son, Maurice, are the two blacksmiths shown outside their ironmonger's shop.  After the Knapps moved to Castle Street the property was associated with two other families of blacksmiths and ironmongers which were well known in the Town - the Saverys and the Symes families.  Click on the link to the occupants below to read more about these families and the other occupants of the property.

The Rate Books provide the only other source of information about the ownership of the property.  We know that it was owned by Thomas Ann in 1862, the trustees of Thomas Ann in 1867 and Thomas's daughter, Mary Ann Ann in 1876.  Mary Ann Ann was niece of Henry Knapp who was occupying the property from about 1860 so there must be a reason why Mary Ann became the owner.  The Rate Books for 1880 and 1885 show Mary Ann continued to own it under her married name, Mary Ann Wilmot.  From 1887 to 1910, the Rate Books say that Mary Ann's husband, Samuel Mullett Wilmot was the owner.  Click here to read more about the Ann and Wilmot families

We don't know anything about the later owners of the property.  Click here to read about the OCCUPANTS

This page was last updated: 17/11/2011