19 Horseshoe Lane

The Purnell family

The Purnell family were associated with Horseshoe Lane for many years.  The 1899 Rate Book and 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.

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.  

The 1887 and 1890 Rate Books show Thomas as living in 8 Rock Street.  The 1891 census shows the family living in Gillingstool. 

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 in 1906.  We know from the 1911 Census that they were living in an institution in Bristol and this has now been confirmed to New Orphanage Houses, Ashley Down (otherwise known as the Muller Homes) which they were admitted to on 23rd October 1906.  The Muller Trust has detailed records of the girls admission and dismissal and correspondence files which may contain detailed records of the girl's life in the Home and possibly some certificates.  We also note from FreeBMDs that there are records of Mabel and Ethel marrying in Thornbury but we don't know at this stage whether they are the same people.

It seems as if Edward Henry took over the house and the responsibility of looking after his younger brothers.  In the First World War we know that both Austin and Levi were listed as serving in the Army.  When the Gazette reported on the list of local men and women to whom presents were sent at Christmas (because they were serving in the Forces) Levi was shown to be a gunner based in Gosport in 1916 and Austin was based at Salonica in Greece in both 1916 and 1917.  We know that Levi married Ruby G. P. Laurence in the Fareham area in 1916.  The 1916 Prewetts Street Directory lists Edward as living in Horseshoe Lane.  It also mentions he is a member of the local fire brigade.

Edward (shown in the photo on the left above) was born on 21st October 1885 and baptised on 6th December.  On 5th November 1910 he married Minnie Maria Rugman.  Minnie was born in Olveston 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.

The 1911 census shows Edward and Minnie living in 11 Horseshoe Lane.  Edward was described as a painter.  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 and he carried on working for them for 20 years.  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.

During his youth Edward was a keen member of Thornbury Football Club.  During the War, he served with the Marine Engineers and was at one time a member of the Thornbury Fire Brigade.

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 remained for about 10 years.  He died there on 8th August 1946 and was buried in Thornbury Cemetery.

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 and she was buried in the same grave as Edward in Thornbury Cemetery.  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 on the right 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: 21/03/2012