Upper Bath Road

Number 14

We have no photograph of the house and don't know when it was built and we would love to hear from anyone with any knowledge of the house.

At the time of the 1840 Tithe Survey the house was part of Plot 112 which consisted of two houses and gardens owned by David Greenman and occupied by himself and Job Greenhill.  David Greenman was living next door in number 12, but we can't find any reference to a Job Greenhill in Thornbury.  We suspect that this may be another transcription error and that the actual occupant of the the house was Job Greenman.  This Job is listed as living in the area in the 1851 and 1861 censuses.  Job was baptised in 1812, the son of Richard and Sarah Greenman.

We have a copy of an indenture which shows that David Greenman acquired number 12 on 30th September 1837.  We suspect that the information on ownership also applies to number 14.  The schedule of deeds seems to suggest that David bought the property from Luke Trayhurn who had bought it on 2nd June 1814 from Matthews Mills.

Following David Greenman's death in 1853, the property was transferred to his wife, Mary.  She sold it on 28th March 1857 to John Hodges a builder who lived in Gloucester Road.  On 14th August 1865 John sold it to his son, George Hodges, although the Rate Book still showed John as the owner.  John Hodges died in 1877 aged 91.  Georg Hodges is shown as the owner in the 1880 and 1885 Rate Books.  George died in 1905.  We don't what happened to the property then but by 1916 it was owned by Mrs Shepherd.  This was confirmed by an indenture  relating to the sale of number 10 Upper Bath Road in 1916 indicates that that property was bounded to the south and west by property of Mrs Shepherd.

The Rate Book of 1876 shows that the owner of the property was then John Hodges, a builder who lived in Gloucester Road.  John died in 1877 aged 91 and the property was inherited by his son, George Hodges.  He is shown as the owner in the 1880 and 1885 Rate Book.  George died in 1905.  We don't what happened to the property then but  by 1916 it was owned by Mrs Shepherd.  This was confirmed by an indenture  relating to the sale of number 10 Upper Bath Road in 1916 indicates that that property was bounded to the south and west by property of Mrs Shepherd.

In 1851 census we are not sure who was living there.  It may have been some of the Smith family, who are shown in the census listing as living in two households.  We have outlined their history in the page relating to 'Raglan Castle' which became number 11 Upper Bath Road.  Click here to read about the Smiths

Charles Hopton - the 1861 census shows the house occupied by Charles Hopton, an agricultural labourer aged 64 from Slimbridge and Hannah Hopton aged 65 from Thornbury and a widowed lodger, Anselm Thurston, an agricultural labourer aged 70.  In 1871 census, they were both still there now aged 73 with a lodger Henry Clark, a mason aged 23 from Burford in Oxfordshire.  Click here to read more about Charles Hopton and his family

Francis Stinchcombe - the 1876 Rate Book and the 1881 census shows the house occupied by a widower Francis Stinchcombe a hurdlemaker aged 66 from Hillesley.  In the 1891 census he was still living there, with his grand-daughter, Laura Stinchcombe a general servant aged 18.  Laura was the daughter of Francis's son, Alfred, and his wife, Sarah.

According to the IGI, Francis Stinchcombe married Hannah Pope in Hawkesbury on 29th November 1838.  The 1861 census shows that they had moved to Thornbury and were living in Upper Bath Road, in one of the houses below the Seven Stars.  Francis was a hurdle maker aged 45 living with Hannah aged 45 from Hinton and their children: Alfred, an agricultural labourer aged 17 born in Alveston and Mary Ann aged 14, Laura aged 10 and Ann aged 8, all born in Thornbury.

The 1871 census shows Francis and Hannah were living in that part of Upper Bath Road, now with just their daughter, Anne aged 17 at home.  Hannah died aged 67 years and was buried on 11th May 1880.  The 1894 Rate Book shows that Francis was still living in 14 Upper Bath Road.  He died aged 79 and was buried on 16th March 1897.

Charles Reeves - the 1901 census shows the house occupied by Charles Reeves, a stone quarryman aged 33 and his wife, Frances A aged 28 from Alveston, and their children: John aged 11, Elizabeth Ella aged 7, Alfred Henry aged 6 and Winifred Kate aged 3.

Charles had married Frances Ann Walker in June quarter 1890.  The 1891 census shows that Charles, an agricultural labourer aged 24 and Frances aged 19 were living in Buckover with their son John aged 1.

The records of the National School show that two of their children transferred there from Buckover when the family moved to Crossways in June 1896.  The baptism records of their children show that they were living in Hackett Lane in 1896 and Easton Hill in 1897, and then in Upper Bath Road from 1898.

It appears that Charles and Frances had at least one more child, Reginald Charles born in 1905.

The Council School records show that the family carried on living in the Raglan Castle' area, presumably in number 14 Upper Bath Road until 1910.  Their youngest daughter, Kate, transferred to the National School in April 1910 because the family had moved to Morton.  Their new address was described in the school records as 'Mill Pond', but later records describe it as Morton Millpond.  The school records show Charles and Frances as temporary guardians of a number of other children (described as waifs and strays) throughout the period from 1916 to 1929.  They even managed one more child of their own;  Frances M Reeves was born on 10th August 1918.

The electoral registers show that Charles and Frances carried on living in Morton.  The 1950 register shows just Charles living with his son, Reginald C in Anchor Cottage, Morton.  By 1954, only Reginald is listed as living in the Anchor Inn.

Albert Screen - we know from the 1910 Rate Book that Albert was living in this house.  Click here to read more about Albert and his family

The Davis's - from the 1930's onwards, we have been told that the house was occupied by a family of Davis's.  We were told that there were 3 sisters and a brother living there at various times.  We have found the names of Ellen Davis listed in the electoral registers from 1931 through to 1958.  In the registers from 1946 onwards she is joined by her brother, Reginald John Davis who had previously been listed as living in St Mary Street.  Another sister, Dolly, has also been mentioned as living there.