11 Pullins Green

Arthur Conway & Lily Lewis

From 1932 the house and shop were taken over by Arthur Conway Lewis and his wife, Lily.  Arthur had been born in Bath in 1892, the son of Albert Lewis and Florence Hodgson (nee Laxon).  Both Albert and Florence had been married before and in the 1901 census they can be found living in Worle, Somerset where Albert is trading as a grocer.  Arthur is not living with them.  We don't know where he was at that time.

Arthur married Lily Poole in 1914.  Lily was the daughter of Thomas Poole, a road labourer and his wife, Sarah who were living at Grovesend in 1901 census.

The family had moved to Pullins Green from Sibland.  They had five children who all attended the Council School: Norah Joyce born in 1915, Howard Conway born in 1917, Arthur Ronald (known as Ron) in 1923, John Poole in 1926, and Michael David in 1932.  Ron and John are shown above in the photo on the left with their father at the rear of their house. 

Arthur was an insurance agent in Sibland before moving to Pullins Green.  He seems to have tried his hand as a draper in the early 1930's as there is an Arthur C. Lewis listed as a draper in St John Street in the 1935 directory.  Most people however remember Lewis's as a sweet shop.  One young customer recalls that Lily was ‘stone deaf’ so purchases were difficult to make!

Arthur was involved with both the cricket and football teams and was the superintendent and organist for Thornbury Baptist Church.

Of their children, we know that Howard joined the RAMC in the Second World War.  He was awarded a Certificate of Merit for his courage and good work in organising Casualty Clearing Posts through the War after D Day and especially during an attack on Lang Heide on October 14th 1944.  When he married in 1941 he was a staff sergeant.  The report which appeared in the Gazette says that Howard was 'a well known Thornbury sportsman and athlete who created several records in athletics while at the Grammar School and later played cricket and football for Town clubs.  Before joining RAMC he was a schoolmaster at Church Street Boys School, Stroud.  His bride was Eileen May Thompson daughter of A E Thompson of High Street.  Eileen (shown in the photo on the right) was employed on the staff at E and A Robinson.  Her sister, Edna, was living a few yards away and was the wife of George Ord.

John Poole Lewis also attended the Grammar School and was a keen sportsman, playing football and cricket for Thornbury clubs.  After the Grammar School he went on to study at St Pauls College, Cheltenham and at the time of his marriage in 1950 he was hoping to go to Loughborough College to obtain a diploma in physical education.  In 1950 he married Barbara Taylor, the daughter of Stanley and Dorothy Taylor.

There was a notice in the Gazette advertising the sale of the grocery business on 29th October 1948 when the Lewis's moved to Court Road, Horfield.  The sale was described as of special interest to grocers and fish fryers.  At this time the premises was said to have "shop, two reception rooms, kitchenette, four bedrooms and all mains services.  Garden at rear with 36ft frontage to good lane." The premises were said to be in the occupation of Mr A C Lewis but would be immediately vacated on exchange of contracts.  .

This page was last updated: 21/03/2012