Bath Road

Numbers 7 & 9

Unfortunately we don't have a photograph of the houses, but we've collected quite a lot of information about the houses, their owners and occupants.  

We know there was a building there in the 1840 Tithe Survey, and it shows that this property was part of Plot 332 which was described as a school house and yard owned and occupied by the Trustees of the British School.  British Schools were set up throughout the country by supporters of the Non-Conformist religions to provide education conducted on Christian and non-sectarian principles as opposed to that provided at the National Schools set up by the Church of England.

We don't know much about the British School in Bath Road, or Bulls Lane as it was then called.  We believe that it probably consisted of a single classroom in a small house.  In 1862 the school was transferred to new purpose-built premises in Gillingstool where it has remained under several different names, been expanded and is currently facing a major re-development.  The property in Bath Road the became used as two cottages.

It is interesting to note that other than the British School Trustees, the earliest owner of the cottages that we know of was Jesse Cossham, who is shown as the owner in the 1859 Rate Books.  Jesse's son, Handel, was the main benefactor involved with the creation of the new British School in Gillingstool and Jesse became one of the School's Trustees.  We believe that it is likely that Jesse played some role in providing the earlier British School in Bath Road.

In his will dated 10th March 1886, Jesse Cossham, described as a gentleman of Thornbury, devised the two cottages to Esther Saise.   Jesse died on 20th May 1887.  Esther was Jesse's niece, the daughter of his sister Ursula and her husband, Thomas Saise.  She was born on 19th May 1838 and she died on 22nd December 1914.  In her Will dated 11th July 1906, Esther devised her real estate to her trustees, William Davis Canning and William John Allen, to sell.  William Davis Canning died before Esther Saise so it was left for William John Allen to sell the property. 

The cottages were put up for sale at auction in 1916.  They were described as 'Two freehold cottages, each containing Front Room and Back Kitchen and two Bedrooms situate in Bulls Eye Lane and in the respective occupations of Mrs Jefferies and Mr Charles Mundy at rentals of £6 10s 0d each per annum.  Landlord paying rates'.  The properties were bought by Thomas Exell for £125 plus £16 10s in fees.

We don't know much about the ownership of these two properties.  The 1926 Rate Book shows they were owned by George O'Reilley.  We understand that they were later acquired and owned by the Tucker Brothers, and that in the 1950's they were both purchased by Ronnie (Lordie) Taylor who converted them into one larger property.

The property was demolished in the early 60's as part of the Town's re-development and incorporated into the new Rock Street car park.

Click here to read about the occupants of 7 Bath Road

Click here to read about the occupants of 9 Bath Road

This page was last updated: 23/08/2010