Upper Bath Road
Number 2
We are grateful to South Gloucestershire Council for allowing us access to the deeds and documents that relate to this house and its neighbours. From these documents we have learned the details of some of the early owners and occupier of this property.
It is clear from the documents in the folder that numbers 2 to 8 Bath Road were built on what had once been a large close of ground called the Paddock. Part at least of the Paddock was planted with fruit trees and became known as the Orchard. Click here to see a plan of the original paddock and who bought the land.
The land on which these houses (later numbers 2 and 4 Upper Bath Road) were built was bought from the trustees of Matthew Mills by William Ann. They do not appear in the 1840 Tithe Survey as houses although one house may have been built by the 1841 Census. We are not certain when they were built. They were owned by Mrs Ann later to become Mrs Martin. Click here to read about the owners.
John Wilson - the 1851 Census shows that John Wilson was occupying the house. John was a nailer aged 50 living with his wife, Eliza aged 47 and their son, Joseph aged 11. A nailer was a person with skills similar to a blacksmith but who specialised in making nails.
John married Eliza Davis in Thornbury in the June quarter of 1839. In the 1840 Tithe Map a person called John Wilson was living on plot 116 owned by Robert Ann. This house later became one of three houses in Chapel Street (10a 12 and 14). John may have been living in the house in the 1841 Census when it is unclear from the census enumerator's route which house he was living in. At that time John, Eliza and Joseph (then aged 1) were living with a John Wilson, a shoemaker aged 78 who was presumably John's father. There is a record of a John Wilson born in Thornbury on 29th December 1797 which might refer to John. His parents were John and Sarah.
Their son Joseph Wilson was baptised 21st of April 1844 in Thornbury.
The 1861 and 1871 Censuses show that John continued living in the house and working as a nailer. In the 1861 Joseph was still living at home with his parents and had become a blacksmith. Eliza died in 1870 aged 66 years and in the 1871 Census John was a widower sharing the house with William Bendall (see below). John died in 1873 aged 73.
William Bendall - in the 1871 Census William appears to be sharing the house with John Wilson (see above). William was an agricultural labourer aged 36 living with his wife, Mary Ann aged 46 from Cam and children: Henry William aged 6 and Sarah Ann aged 3, both born in Bristol. We haven't found any earlier record of William or Sarah Ann.
In 1881 they were living in a house in Lower Bath Road in the house which later became known as 8 Rock Street. William was a labourer aged 45, Mary Ann aged 50 and William H. was aged 15 and Sarah Ann aged 13. It is interesting to note that this record shows that Mary Ann was born in Bristol, not Cam as suggested in the 1871 and 1891 records. The 1887 Rate Book suggests that William had recently moved into 6 Rock Street.
In 1891 the family were living in one of the two cottages on Gillingstool Hill which were demolished to make way for the school extension. William was a general labourer aged 56 and Mary Ann was a charwoman aged 64 from Cam, Henry William was a newsman aged 25 and his sister, Sarah Ann a charwoman aged 23 both from Bristol.
In 1896 Henry William married Sarah Ann Lacey in Barton Regis area of Bristol in 1896. Click here to read more about Henry and Sarah
Mark Curthoys - the 1881 Census shows that 2 Upper Bath Road was occupied by Mark Curthoys, a letter carrier aged 34 from Aust, his wife, Alice a semptress aged 28 from Thornbury, and their children: Elizabeth aged 9 and Annie aged 7, both born in Thornbury, Luke aged 6 born in Aust and Ellen aged 3 and Matilda aged 1, both born in Thornbury. The fact that they lived in this house is also confirmed by the 1880 Rate Book.
Mark was born in Aust about 1847, the son of Luke Curthoys, an agricultural labourer and his wife, Ann. The 1861 census shows Mark started work as a butcher's boy still living with his parents. In 1870 Mark married Alice Reeves. Alice may have been the daughter of Charles and Bethia Reeves.
The 1871 Census shows Mark had become a cordwainer (shoemaker) that he and Alice were sharing the house of Bethia Ball, a married seamstress living in Silver Street. Mark and Alice had one daughter, Elizabeth aged 2 months. They seemed to move a lot. In 1879 they appeared to be living at 2 Horseshoe Lane. In 1881 they were living at 2 Upper Bath Road, and by the 1885 Rate Book they had moved to Chapel Street and then in the 1890 Rate Book the family were living in 35 St Mary Street. The 1891 census shows that Luke, Ellen and Matilda were still at home and other children had been born: William aged 8, Ella aged 6, Arthur aged 4 and Mabel aged 2 months.
The 1894, 1899 and 1905 Rate Books show Mark in the house which later became known as 13 Rock Street. The 1901 census shows that they had just Mabel at home, plus some new children: Evelyn aged 8 and Frederick H aged 7. That makes at least 11 children that Mark and Alice had. Mark was still listed as living in 13 Rock Street in the 1905 Rate Book but by 1910 he had moved to 8 Upper Bath Road.
We know that things got pretty tough for Mark and Alice in making ends meet. The log book of the Council School has one record which shows that the family had difficulty paying the 2 pence per week fee for each child which was the charge in those days. 'Curthoys brought in 2/10 instead of 7/6 (2d x 13 weeks x 3 children = 7/4d)".
Alice died in 1910 aged 58. The 1911 Census shows Mark living in 8 Upper Bath Road. He was described as a widowed boot repairer aged 64 living with his daughter, Mabel, a housekeeper aged 20.and Mark died in 1913 aged 66.
Of their children, we know that:
Luke enlisted in 4th Gloucestershire Regiment on 19th July 1909. He was a plasterer aged 34 years 6 months living at 36 Marlborough Street, St James, Bristol. He was described as height 5ft 4.5 inches, chest 37 inches when expanded with 3 inch range with good vision and good physical development. His next of kin was Mrs Florence Curthoys, 36 Marlborough Street, St James. Luke had married Florence Dando in Bristol in 1904.
It appears from the records that Luke was posted to Army Reserve and not re-engaged until 26th June 1913. He was discharged from the Army on the 15th July 1916 as being over the age of 41 years and specially enlisted as a bandsman bugler'. His military records refer to a previous engagement with the Gloucestershire Regiment from 21st January 1897 to 1st November 1902 as bugler.
Frederick Harold - moved to live in Herbert Street in Whitehall in Bristol. He was working as a stableman for the United Yeast Company in Temple Street, Bristol when he enlisted in the Royal Field Artillery on 6th July 1911. The Army records show that he was aged 17 years 6 months, 5ft 4 inches, with 34 inch chest and good vision and physical development. He discharged himself on 18th November 1913, the records give the reason that he was 'leaving Bristol'. We don't know If Frederick was called up to serve during the War.
Arthur enlisted in 4th Gloucestershire Regiment on 9th February 1913. He was aged 24 years 3 months and working as a Corporation sweeper employed by Bristol Corporation (District 1). He was living at 214 Mina Road, St Werburghs, Bristol. His next of kin was given as M. Curthoys, Thornbury. Arthur was discharged as being temporarily unfit. The records do not show if he was re-engaged.
Rowland Morgan - the 1885 Rate Book shows that the house was occupied by Rowland Morgan. He was born in Swansea about 1851, the son of Thomas Morgan a mason. He came to Thornbury and married Hester Emma Wilson on 9th June 1873. Emma was baptised on 7th May 1854, the daughter of William Wilson, a labourer and his wife, Elizabeth from Thornbury. Rowland and Emma had three children: Henry William baptised on 14th June 1874, Mary Elizabeth baptised on 11th June 1876, both born in Thornbury and George who was baptised in Thornbury on 9th June 1878 but born in Shirehampton. The 1881 census shows them living in Avonmouth Road, Shirehampton. Rowland was a dock labourer. The 1887 Rate Book shows Rowland had recently vacated the house.
Thomas Millard - the 1887 and 1890 Rate Books and the 1891 Census show the house was occupied by Thomas Millard a general labourer aged 59 from Tockington, his wife Elizabeth aged 59 from Wotton Under Edge and their children: Henry aged 21 and Frank aged 14 both general labourers from Olveston and Sarah Ann aged 7 from Tockington. Elizabeth's sister, Louisa Jane Tilley aged 34 from Rudgeway was also living with them.
Thomas married Elizabeth Tilley in 1863. In 1871 they were living in Old Down, next door to Elizabeth's widowed father. In this census they had other children living with them: George aged 7, Eliza aged 5, Thomas aged 4, William aged 3 and Henry aged 1, all born in Olveston. In 1881 census they were still living in Old Down and they now had 4 extra children: Elizabeth aged 9, Minnie aged 7, Emma aged 4 and Francis aged 3. The 1885 and 1887 Rate Books shows Thomas living in 11 Rock Street, but the 1887 book shows he had recently left that house and moved to 2 Upper Bath Road.
We don't know what happened to the Millards after 1891, except for their daughter, Emily, who on 15th May 1893 married William Bendall. Click here to read more about William and Emily
William Cook - William was listed as living in the house in the 1901 Census where he was shown as a caretaker of infirmary aged 35 living with his wife, Rose J aged 31 from Berkeley and daughter, Minnie L aged 5. The 1911 Census shows that William was still living there with Rosa aged 42 and their son, Albert aged 7 and a sister-in-law, Minnie Woodward, a domestic aged 32 from Rockhampton. A sale notice dated 1916 shows that the house was occupied by William Cook at a rent of 2s 4d per week. It also mentions that this house has a large outhouse.
We have not yet been able to confirm his parentage. There was a William James Cook was born at the Thornbury Union and baptised on 23rd December 1863, the son of Hannah Cook. The 1881 census shows William was aged 17 living in the Thornbury Union Workhouse with his mother, Hannah aged 54 and his brother, Solomon aged 22. Both Hannah and Solomon were labelled 'imbecile'. This might be the William Cook who married Rose and lived in Upper Bath Road. However the Rate Books show William as William Cook Junior which implies there was a father called William Cook which we have not found in this case.
In 1891 William may have been the labourer lodging with George James in Silver Street. Also lodging there was George Woodward. We are not sure if George was related to William's future wife. The 1899 Rate Book shows William in 2 Upper Bath Road.
William was a labourer aged 29 on 9th December 1893 when he married Rosa Jane Woodward a servant aged 25 and the daughter of Thomas Woodward, labourer. The marriage took place at Hill which is where Rosa lived. They had a daughter, Minnie Louisa Cook who was born on 25th December 1896 and baptised at Thornbury on 4th April 1897. William was a sawyer at this time. Another child, Albert Edward, was baptised on 29th September 1904. The electoral registers of 1910 and 1913 show that William continued to live in the house (as he is listed under Raglan Castle Road). By 1918 he and Rosa were listed under Gillingstool. Rosa died aged 52 in 1921.
William George Cornock - we know from older locals that the Cornocks lived in this house. The electoral registers of 1918 and 1921 show William George and Louisa Cornock living in Upper Bath Road and the 1925 Valuation List and 1926 Rate Book show clearly that he was living in the house which later became known as 2 Upper Bath Road.
William George was born about 1867, the son of George Cornock, an agricultural labourer from Alveston and his wife, Jane from Olveston. In 1881 census, the family were living in Chapel Street. Apart from this we know little about William's earlier life. We know he married on 2nd October 1909 at the age of 42 when he was a labourer living in Horseshoe Lane. His wife was Louise Esther Ellis aged 38 of Horseshoe Lane. She was the daughter of Joseph Ellis, a deceased labourer.
The Voters List of 1913 shows that Williams George moved from his house in Horseshoe Lane to one in St Mary Street in that year.
We know that Louisa died in 1923 aged 51. On 30th October 1923 William George married again. This time his wife was Lily Elizabeth Till, aged 50, a widow of Chapel Street and daughter of Henry Wilks, a carter. The marriage record shows that William George was working as a chimney sweep at this time living in Upper Bath Road.
The electoral registers of 1927 & 1931 show William George and Elizabeth Cornock living there.
This page was last updated: 06/12/2011