The Trayhurn Family

Harry Trayhurn and his son, Don

Harry Maishment Trayhurn was baptised on 1 July 1877, the son of George Trayhurn butcher and his wife Elizabeth (the daughter of George Maishment, tailor). 

In 1881 the family had been living in Silver Street.  George Trayhurn was a butcher aged 25, Elizabeth, a shopkeeper aged 26.  They had three children then - Harry aged 3, George aged 2 and Arthur aged 2 months. 

Harry's father, George, died on 19 April 1889 aged 33.   In the 1891 census, Harry was living with his widowed mother at the premises located at the junction of St John Street and St Mary Street.   His mother was a butcher and grocer, Harry was 13, George 12, Arthur 10, Edward Albert  8, Reginald 6, Mabel Ellen 4, Austin Roy 2, Charles Victor 1. Elizabeth's sister, Ellen Maishment aged 29, was also living there helping out as a grocer's assistant. 

In 1897, Harry married Kathleen Eleanor Lawrence.  Kathleen was the daughter of George Lawrence an engineer and his wife, Elinor Susan who had been born in Utrecht, Holland.  We know that Harry was a member of the Thornbury Society of Gleemen around about this time - this group gave concerts in numerous places around the district.  The two photos below show Harry as a member of the Gleeman.  The one of the left is taken in 1897 and the one of the right in 1914.

In 1901 Harry and Kathleen Trayhurn were living in the house now known as 13 St John Street.  Harry was a butcher aged 23, Kathleen was aged 24 born in London.  They had two children Frances Blanche aged 3 born in Tenby, South Wales and Austin Jack aged 2. 

They had at least three other children: Norah born in 1914, Donald born in 1921 and Stanley Allen born in 1924.

We are not sure when Harry and Kathleen moved from number 13.  We know from the oral history tape made by Harry's son, Don, that the family Harry moved to Pilning where Don was born in 1921.  They then moved back to Thornbury, living for a short time in a flat above on the butchers shop, which is where they were living in 1924 when daughter Norah stated at the Council Upper School. 

Harry went into partnership with his brother, Albert and together they formed the Trayhurn Brothers business with included the shop, the slaughterhouse and the rearing of stock in the fields behind the Workhouse. 

They then moved to The Hollow, the first house on the left when leaving Thornbury along the Kington Road.  They were living here in 1925 and 1928 when Donald and Stanley started at the Council Infants School and 1928 and 1930 when Donald and Stanley started at the Council Upper School. 

Then they moved to the Court House in St John Street (later known as number 2 St John Street)  where they were living in 1935 when they are listed in the electoral register.  Harry's first wife must have died and he must have re-married by this time because he is shown as living with Millicent Mary.  

Then on to The Coombe in Gloucester Road where they were living for many years before Don went off to join the services.  During the War, Harry was looking after the business on his own.  When he became ill towards the end of the War, Don got special permission to come home sooner than expected to enable him to run the business. 

Harry and his wife Millicent were to live at The Coombe until at least 1962 about which time Harry seems to have died.  Millicent carried on living there a little longer until at least 1965.

Donald Trayhurn
Donald was born in Pilning in 1921. His family moved to Thornbury shortly after his birth.  By the time he started the Council Infants School in 1925 the family was living in The Hollow, Kington.  In 1932 he left to join the Thornbury Grammar School.  His family moved from the Hollow to the Court House in St John Street and then to The Coombe in Gloucester Road.

On leaving school, Donald was to join the family butchery business.  During the War, he had four years in the services.  We understand he went on leave to marry Miss Doreen M. Barker, a teacher at the Thornbury Council School in June 1943. He was with the RASC and went across to France on the third day following the D-Day landings with the 79th Armoured Division.  He was in the supply column which had specialist equipment like flame throwers, flails and tanks.  They fought their way right up to Luneberg where he actually witnessed the signing of the Armistice.

He re-joined the family business at the end of the War, taking over from his father.  Then Don and Doreen went to live in Eastbury Road for a short time and from there to Eastland Road – there was a little converted shop - opposite the Health Centre.   Around 1957, they moved back to Gloucester Road, this time opposite the Grammar School at number 19 where they lived for 20 years.  From there to Park Road for another 20 or so years before he finally moved to a new flat at Gloucester Terrace in Gloucester Road. 

Don Trayhurn was involved in many areas of Thornbury life. Just after the War he was a chairman for the T.B. Aftercare Committee. He was a local councillor for many years and a governor of Thornbury Grammar School.

Doreen died in 1979 aged 61 and Don in 1996 aged 75.

Stanley Allen Trayhurn
Stanley was born in 1924.  We understand that he moved away from Thornbury and became a County Court judge and President of the Bristol Law Society.

This page was last updated: 13/01/2008