2 Horseshoe Lane

George Henry Exell

In 1891 number 2 Horseshoe Lane was occupied by George Henry Exell and his wife, Eliza.  George was a County Court Bailiff and House Agent aged 60.  Eliza was aged 66 born in Cheddar.

George was born about 1830.   In 1851 he was an unmarried police constable at Cheltenham.   We believe that he married Eliza Parsons in Cheltenham in the June quarter of 1853.  By 1854, he was married to Eliza and living in Thornbury.  Their son, Thomas, was born there and was baptised two years later on 5th October 1856.  George appears to have given up policing to become a shoemaker.  Their daughter, Mary Ann was baptised at the same time.  Other children followed including: Frederick born about 1860, Edwin baptised on 6th November 1864, Elizabeth on 2nd December 1866 and Henry and William on 1st December 1872.

The 1871 census shows the family living near Vilner Farm.  George is described as a 'cordwainer' (shoemaker).   The 1877 Trade Directory shows George has given up shoemaking and is now listed as a High Bailiff of the County Court.  His address is shown as The Baths.  We understand from his obituary that George was initially appointed as 'Bailiff' in the mid 1860's, and that he was appointed 'High Bailiff' on 11th March 1872.  He held that post until in the late 80's he voluntarily vacated that post and again became 'Bailiff'  and he carried on in that position until two or three years before his death.  All together he worked as an officer of the County Court for about 40 years.

We have seen a couple of newspaper articles which show two sides of George's job.  We noted that in the annual Court Leet in 1880, George and William Chambers were appointed 'constables and ale tasters'.  However in 1892 Alfred Stinchcombe of Thornbury was charged with assaulting George in the execution of his duties as bailiff.  Alfred had run into financial difficulty whilst innkeeper at the Wheafsheaf public house and had other problems following the sickness of a daughter and himself and the death of his wife.  Whilst George was levying the defendant's goods and seizing a gun and some saws, Alfred grabbed the gun and stuck George in the stomach with the muzzle and spat in his face and threatened 'to do for him'.  Alfred was fined 14 shillings including costs, but at least George had the occasional free beer to look forward to!.  

The 1881 census also shows George as a High Bailiff living at The Baths.  His son, Henry had become a carpenter and daughter Elizabeth had become a dressmaker.  Elizabeth died on 28th August 1884 aged only 17 and was buried at the Congregational Church in Thornbury.

In 1899 there is an advertisement in the Bristol Mercury which says "The Baths, Thornbury. - To LET, 25th March 1899. Good House: Walled Garden, stable, coach House, Piggeries, and Swimming Bath; suitable for Market Gardener; in all One Acre.  Pasture Land if required.  Apply George Exell, Thornbury". 

It would seem that he was successful in letting the house.  George  moved to Horseshoe Lane where he and the family were living in 1891.  Their son, William was an unmarried butler aged 29.

In 1891 there is another advertisement in the Bristol Mercury advertising "26 acres of good land and cowhouse" to let in Crossways.  We cannot be sure if this land was owned by George himself and is the land referred to as pastureland in the earlier advertisement or if he is acting in his capacity as agent. 

George's wife, Eliza, died on 29th January 1895 aged 70 years.  His son, William, died on 17th June 1896 aged 34 years.  The inscription on his grave shows that he 'suffered patiently and long'. 

In 1896, George married Jane Elizabeth Marsh in the Southampton area.  The 1901 census shows George was still living in Horseshoe Lane with Jane, who was aged 46 years and born in Redlynch in Wiltshire.

George died on 5th May 1908 aged 77 years.  The inscription on his grave shows he was 'High Bailiff of Thornbury for nearly 40 years'.  George's will dated March 1905 left his house in Horseshoe Lane and its contents to his wife Jane only for six months, after which time she was allowed to select items of furniture up to £12 in value and the house then became the property of his son Thomas.  Jane seems to have moved from Thornbury as we can not  find any more records of her in this area.  George also left  a property in Castle Street (later to become number 1 but then occupied by Thomas Latter) to his son Frederick.  He left two properties at Crossways to his son Henry.  Further properties in Crossways and Siblands and the house and shop occupied by William Clutterbuck at 13 St Mary Street were left in trust to his trustees to pay his debts and funeral expenses and to leave legacies to Mary Ann Strong, his daughter, Emma Exell, the widow of his son William, and to Francis Williams, his executor.  The residue was to be shared amongst his grandchildren.

Of his children:

Mary Ann married William Henry Strong, bootmaker from Bath and son of Charles Strong, farmer on 3rd October 1882. 

Henry was a carpenter married to Evelina Screen, the daughter of Arthur Screen, deceased farmer, on 16th February 1884.  They lived at Woodbine Cottage, Crossways.  A newspaper article in 1915 reported that Henry's son 'Edward' (baptised Charles Edwin on 10th September 1886) was killed in action by a shell bursting in the trench at St Yves whilst serving with B Company Somerset Light Infantry. He was on reserve when War was declared having served 7 years with the colours and done service in India, during which time he served with the Somerset Mounted Infantry and as an officer's servant.  It was noted that Henry had four others of his family 'doing their share for their country'.  Henry Hubert (baptised 20th May 1892) serving in the Royal Field Artillery who had just had a nasty kick from a horse whilst in training, William Thomas (baptised on 9th September 1898) serving in the 4th Dragoon Guards, Charles Edwin (baptised on 10th September 1896) and Elizabeth (baptised 16th January 1885) and Evelina (baptised 21st March 1888) serving as nurses in an English Nursing Home in France.

Thomas became a grocer and corn dealer and he married Maria Vickerstaff in London in 1883.  Thomas and Maria settled in Thornbury where he had a shop on the High Street and he acquired ownership of several other properties in the Town.  He died on 14th January 1930.  

This page was last updated: 15/12/2009