The Screen family

Albert and Caroline Screen

Albert Screen was baptised in Thornbury on 7th June 1868, the son of Oliver and Lucy Screen (nee Gale).  Click here to read about Oliver and Lucy

On 24th December 1890 Albert married Caroline Wood who was born in Berkeley in 1868, the daughter of Sidney Wood, a sweep, and his wife, Elizabeth.  In 1891 Albert and Caroline were living in Canonbury Street in Berkeley (two doors away from the George Inn).

Albert and Caroline appeared to have a stormy relationship which at times was reported in the press.  If anyone has an interest in knowing more, we would be willing to share the information if they email us at  thornbury.roots@virginmedia.com

In spite of their troubles, they did have two children and continued to live together for many years.  Their son, Albert, was born in 1891 and Gertrude was born in 1894.  Both children were born in Berkeley.

The 1901 census shows that Caroline and the children had moved to live in 8 Rock Street.  Albert was shown to be in Horfield Prison.  The 1911 census shows that Albert and Caroline were in 5 Upper Bath Road.  Albert was working as a labourer.  Living with them were their son, Albert, a coach smith aged 19 and Gertrude, a dressmaker aged 17.

The electoral registers up to 1918 generally do not include women.  We only know that Albert is listed as living in Gillingstool in 1904 and Morton in 1907.  It would appear however that from about 1910 Albert settled in what we now know as Upper Bath Road.  The 1910 electoral register lists him under the address of 'Raglan Castle Road' and from 1918 to 1927 both he and Caroline are listed under Upper Bath Road. 

It would appear that Albert died between 1927 and 1931 as the 1931 electoral register only shows Caroline in Upper Bath Road.  We know from local residents that 'Granny Screen' as she was called lived in the house which later became known as 5 Upper Bath Road.  Her son, Albert and his wife, Ruby Olive (nee Mills) lived next door in number 7 Upper Bath Road.  Caroline died on 15th September 1934 aged 66.

Of Albert & Caroline's children:

Albert married Ruby Olive Mills in Thornbury in 1916.  Ruby appears to have been born in 1892, the daughter of John Mills, an agricultural labourer and his wife, Ellen who were living at Clapton, near Berkeley in 1901 census.  Albert and Ruby had 2 children: Phyllis Ruby born on 6th November 1916 and Jeffrey Herbert born on 17th September 1928.  Phyllis's birth was registered in Thornbury, and it seems from another record that the family were living in Castle Street for a time during the War.  There is a record of an Albert Screen, a farrier aged 25 applying for exemption from military service.  His address at the time was Castle Street and he was working for Savery and Son, Sheffield House Works, Gloucester Road.

It appears that Albert and Ruby left Thornbury for a few years.  They do not appear in the Thornbury 1918 electoral register.  We know from the Council School records that  they had moved from Chepstow in 1922 to live in what was then called 'Raglan Castle Road' when Phyllis started school.  In 1924 when she started at the Council Upper School their address was 'Streamleaze'.  We believe that both these addresses probably refer to the same house at 7 Upper Bath Road which is where the family were living when Gwen Billett (nee Collins) who lived next door remembers them.

The photo on the left below shows Albert with a grand-daughter in the garden of 2 St Mary Street.  The photo on the right shows Ruby and Jeff.

When Jeffrey started at the Council Infants School in 1933 they were still living in the same house, although we understand that the family needed more space and they moved shortly after to their house at the bottom of St Mary Street.  This house (now demolished) became known as number 2 St Mary Street and the family continued living there.  It would appear from the electoral registers that Albert died in the early 50's.  We understand that Jeff suffered from a hearing defect and he met his wife, Elizabeth, whilst in Southmead Hospital.  When he left home, Ruby carried on living in the St Mary Street house.  By the 1965 electoral register she had moved to 78 Streamleaze.  Ruby died in November 1974 aged 82.

Gertrude married Jabez J White in 1918.  They had one son, John W. White who was born on 10th May 1919.  We don't know what happened to Jabez and Gertrude.  When their son, John (or Jack as he was called locally) started at the Council Infants School in 1922, his parent/guardian was recorded as Jack White of Raglan Castle Road, presumably this was Jabez.  By the time he was admitted to the Council Upper School in 1926  his guardian was noted as being c/o Mrs Screen, Raglan Castle, Streamleaze. 

Gwen Billett (nee Collins) who lived next door tells us that Jack was brought up by his uncle and aunt, Albert and Ruby.  The photo on the right shows Jeff Screen and Jack White in their garden

The FreeBMD website lists the birth of another son for Jabez and Gertrude.  Jabez G.O. White was born in September quarter 1920.  We don't know what happened to young Jabez.

 This page was last updated: 25/11/2011