1 Sawmill Lane

Occupants

Jane Hopkins - the Tithe survey probably shows Jane as living there at the time the details were collected, probably one or two years before the survey was published in 1840.  The 1841 census shows Jane was aged 60 of independent means and living in a house in Castle Street (although at the time of this census it was referred to as the High Street).  Her sister, Ann Hopkins was living with her aged 52.

Jane and Ann were daughter of Stephen and Mary Hopkins.  Jane was born on 9 March 1781 and Ann on 11 September 1787.

Ann died on 26 October 1843 aged 56 years.  She was buried in Thornbury, although the burial record gives her abode at the time as Bristol.

In 1851 Jane is still in Castle Street.  She is shown as a 'visitor' in a house near to the Vicarage - there is no head of the household to show who owned the house.  Jane is described as an annuitant.

Jane died in 1860 and was buried on 20 May 1860 aged 79 years.

Joseph Underhill - in 1841 census, the house was occupied by Joseph Underhill, a male servant aged 30 and his wife, Hester aged 25 with 3 children: Elizabeth aged 4, Joseph aged 2 and Isabella aged 1.  They were still living there in the 1851 census which shows Joseph as a coachman aged 41 from Tetbury.  Esther (as spelled in this census) was aged 40 from Wickwar.  Their children were Joseph aged 12, Isabel aged 10, William 8, Frances M. aged 6, all born in Thornbury.  Sadly their eldest daughter, Elizabeth, had died in December 1949 aged only 12 years.

By 1861 the family had moved to Soapers Lane with their children, William aged 19 an agricultural labourer, and Isabella a dressmaker aged 20, and a grandchild, Mary Elizabeth aged 2.  By 1871 Joseph and Hester were living in Soapers Lane with just their grand-daughter, Mary now aged 12.  Joseph was now described as a labourer.

Joseph died on 5th July 1877 aged 67 years.  In 1881 Hester was living alone in St Mary Street.  She died on March 23rd 1885 aged 76 years.

Their son Joseph also became a coachman as his father had been for a time.  In 1891 he and his family were living in Pullins Green - click here to read more

Charles and Jane Limbrick - in 1861 the house was occupied by Charles Limbrick a journeyman stone mason aged 28 from Thornbury.  Also living there were his wife, Jane aged 33 from Thornbury and sister in law, Ann Judge, a house servant aged 21 from Tytherington and a boarder, William Allway a married gardener aged 60 from Shiplake in Oxfordshire.

Charles was baptised on 23rd February 1834, the son of Joseph Limbrick, a mason and Jane.  In 1851 the Limbrick family were living in Castle Street. 

Charles married Jane Judge in Thornbury on 19 May 1855.  Jane was born about 1829, the daughter of George Judge, a labourer and his wife, Mary.  The later censuses gave her place of birth as Shellards Lane, Olveston.

Tragically Charles was to die on 14 December 1862 aged 28 years, leaving Jane pregnant.  Their daughter, Alice Jane, was baptised on 1st July 1863. 

The 1871 census shows Jane had moved from Saw Mill Lane and become a housekeeper for William Evans Shepherd in the High Street.  Young Alice was living with her widowed grandmother, Mary Judge, in Crossways.  Also living in this house was Jane's sister, Ann, now married to George Barton, an agricultural labourer.

The 1881 census shows Jane living in Castle Street at the Savings Bank with her daughter, Alice.  Jane is listed as a housekeeper, and Alice as a housemaid (out of employ).  Alice Jane eventually moved to London and the 1901 census shows her married to a police constable George Mair and living in Battersea with him and their two children.

We are not sure what happened to Jane after 1881.

William Liddiatt - in 1871 the house appears occupied by William Liddiatt, a sawyer aged 58 from Thornbury and his wife, Margaret aged 50 born in Henbury, and their children: John aged 13 born in Bristol, and Frederick W aged 8 and Henry aged 5, both born in Thornbury.

William had married Margaret Mitchie in Clifton in 1852.  In 1861 William had been living in Castle Street with Margaret and their children: Berenice aged 7, Edward aged 5, John aged 3 and Ann aged 1.  It was little Edward who was to return to Pullins Green to run the fishmongers business at number 11.  Click here to read more about Edward

The 1881 census shows William was still a sawyer, now living with Margaret and Ann, an unemployed domestic servant aged 21 and Frederick, now also working as a sawyer aged 18.

William died in September quarter 1886 aged 73 years.  The 1891 census shows Margaret was 'living on her own means' in Gillingstool with her son, Frederick, now working as a blacksmith.  Margaret died in September quarter 1904 aged 83 years.

In 1881, we are unable to follow the route of the census enumerator and are unwilling to speculate on who was living at the house at this time.  We would be happy to receive suggestions.

William Alfred Phillips -  in 1891 the house at 1 Sawmill Lane was occupied by William, a stationary engine driver aged 29 from Thornbury and his wife, Eliza aged 29 from Newent.  They had children: Francis George aged 6 born in Chepstow, Henry 4, John 2 and Fanny aged 1, all born in Thornbury.  Click here to read more about William and his family

Robert Long - Robert was a carter working for the saw mill living in the house in the 1901 census.  Click here to read more about Robert Long and his family

Tom White  - from about 1919 to about 1935 Tom White lived in the house with his family.  Click here to read more about Tom

John Henry and May Pearson - 'Harry' and May were listed in 1935 electoral register.  We believe John 'Harry' was the John Henry Pearson born on 7th July 1901.  He was the son of Cecil Pearson, tailor from Scotland and his wife, Margaret from Ireland who were living in Castle Street at the time of the 1901 census.  According to the trade directories, Cecil moved to Crossways by 1904, and they were still living there when Harry started at the Council Upper School in 1908. 

We are not sure when, and who, Harry married.  They seems to have at least three children:  Jeanette Beatrice born on 9th March 1925, Constance Mary born 28th February 1926 and John Maurice born on 18th September 1927.  When Jeanette and Constance started at Council Upper School in 1929 the family were living in John Street.  The school records show they left the district in 1930, yet had returned by 1934 when John Maurice started at Council Upper School.  They didn't stay long as they left the district again in 1935.

William and Winifred Stewart - William Charles and Winifred were living in the house in 1938 and 1939.  William, known locally as 'Bill' was the son of Charles John Stewart, a collier and his wife, Florence Edith (nee Loveridge).  William was born in Westbury on Severn in 1911.

Winifred was born in 1907, the daughter of William and Emily Bennett who lived at 5 Horseshoe Lane.  They married on 30th July 1932.

In 1935 William and Winifred Stewart were living in Horse Shoe Lane, presumably with her parents.  They had one son, Clive Edward born in 1936, before she died of T.B.  Bill served as a part-time fireman.  He later re-married.  His second wife was Violet (maiden name unknown) and they moved to St Mary Street where they had a son, Michael John in 1949.

Bill died on 23rd May 2000 aged 88 years. Violet died on 9th October 2002 aged 88 years.

Frank Worthy Holpin - the 1946 electoral register shows the house was occupied by Frank Worthy Holpin and his wife, Florence.  Click here to read more about Frank and his family

The Steers - Raymond and Doris Steer were occupying the house in the 1954 electoral register.  According to Ron, Raymond was a boat builder, presumably working for Francis Grace who had adapted the saw mill for this trade.  They has a son called Bernard.

This page was last updated: 18/09/2008