19 Horseshoe Lane

The Purnell family

The Purnell family were associated with Horseshoe Lane for many years. 

Maria had been baptised at Stone on 21st November 1858, the daughter of Thomas Sherman, a labourer and his wife, Ann, who both lived at Woodford.   

On 8th August 1875 Maria married Mark Church aged 28, a labourer and son of William Church, a labourer from Rockhampton.  They had a daughter, Ada Mary born in Thornbury in 1881.  Mark died and was buried on 22nd March 1882 aged 37 years.  His address at the time was the Thornbury Workhouse.  Maria re-married at Thornbury Church on 9th October 1882.  Her second husband was Thomas Purnell, aged 23, the son of Alfred Purnell, a carpenter.  

Thomas and Maria had seven children: Thomas Osborne baptised on 1st July 1883, Edward Henry baptised on 6th December 1885, Maria baptised 7th August 1887, Levi baptised 4th May 1890, Austin baptised 6th November 1892, Mabel baptised 5th May 1895, Ethel baptised 3rd October 1897

Thomas died in 1897 aged 39.  Maria is listed as the tenant of 19 Horseshoe Lane in both the 1899 and 1905 Rate Books.  The 1901 census shows the house was occupied by Maria Purnell, a widowed seamstress aged 42 born in Berkeley, and her children: Edward Henry, a builder's labourer aged 15, Levi aged 11, Austin aged 8, Mabel aged 6 and Ethel aged 3. She died in 1905 aged 46.  The Council school records show that the two youngest children, Ethel and Mabel, moved to live in an orphanage.  It seems as if Edward Henry took over the house. 

Edward was born on 21st October 1885 and baptised on 6th December.  On 5th November 1910 he married Minnie Maria Rugman.  Minnie was born in 1885, the daughter of Samuel Rugman, an agricultural labourer and his wife, Sarah Ann (nee Moss).  The 1891 census shows that the family were living in the Alveston area and that Samuel Rugman was born in Thornbury, Sarah Ann was born in Alveston and Minnie, her elder sister, Sarah Jane, and younger brother, Edward Samuel, were all born in Rudgeway.  We understand the Rugman family lived near The Fox at Old Down.

When Edward Purnell applied for exemption from military service on 5th July 1918, he described himself as being  a plasterer and tiler since 1900.  He was working for Tuckers Brothers in St John Street.  Edward and Minnie one had one child, a daughter, Violet May, born 9th July 1912.  Her birth certificate shows that Edward was now a journeyman painter and plasterer and that the family were living in Horseshoe Lane.

The family must have left Horseshoe Lane at some stage.  The 1918 electoral registers shows the family living in Pullins Green and we understand that they lived in one of the six cottages which later became 2-12 Pullins Green.   By the time Violet started at Council Upper School in 1919, Edward was living in a flat in the High Street, above the Social Club.  We understand that Edward used to run the club and that Minnie used to iron the green baize on the billiard tables.

From 1927, the electoral registers show just Minnie Purnell in Horseshoe Lane and Win Jenkins who lived a few doors away as a child remembers her living in 19 Horseshoe Lane with her daughter, Violet.  We understand that Edward developed a mental illness and was admitted to Coney Hill Hospital where he later died.

By 1935, Violet had married Samuel Longden and they were living with Minnie for a few years in 19 Horseshoe Lane.  By 1938 they had all moved to a house which later became known as 14 Rock Street.  Minnie died in December quarter 1955 aged 71 years.  By 1965 Samuel and Violet had moved to 20 Streamleaze, one of the new flats built by the council opposite the Market.  Click here to read more about the Longden family

The photo above shows Sarah Ann Rugman on the left, her daughter, Minnie Purnell on the right, her daughter, Violet Longden at the back with her daughter, Beryl and her toy dog.

This page was last updated: 25/10/2008