2 St John Street

Occupiers

George Hughes
The earliest reference we have found so far which confirms that someone is living in the building is the 1899 Kelly's Trade Directory which gave the address of George Hughes as 'Court House, St John Street'.   Click here to read more about George.

The Trayhurns
The next family we know to have had links with the building was the Trayhurns.  Click here to read  more about the Trayhurns.

We understand as the family butchering business expanded, the Trayhurns acquired the Court House and the land adjoining on which they built their slaughterhouse and associated buildings. They also acquired several fields in the region where St Mary's Hall now stands which they used for rearing pigs, sheep and cattle.

From time to time, they used the Court House to house members of the family or the business's employees.  Thus in 1921 two families are listed in the electoral register, family members, Albert Edward Trayhurn and his wife Ellen Elizabeth (nee Horrell), and Thomas George and his wife, Ellen who must have been employees.  

Albert Edward Trayhurn was the son of George and Elizabeth and he became a butcher, at first helping his mother and then in partnership with Harry.  Harry and Albert  formed the business which became known as Trayhurn Brothers which operated from the shop on the junction of The Plain, St John Street and St Mary Street for many years.  Albert continued living in the Court House.  After his first wife, Ellen, died in 1926 aged 42 years, Albert married Gertrude May.  They had a daughter, Esme Jean, born in 1929 and the family were still in the Court House in 1930. 

The 1935 electoral register shows Albert had moved away from the Court House and that his brother, Harry Trayhurn and his second wife, Millicent Mary were now living there. 

The Kings
In 1936 Walter King moved with his family from Fishponds in Bristol.  In this year he enrolled his four children in the Council School and gave the Court House as his address.  He later moved to Laburnum House, 6 Gloucester Road.  Click  here to read more about the King family

The Haskins
In 1937 the family of Henry Haskin is living in Court House.  Harry enrolled his three children in the Council School at this time.

The Notts
The next occupants shown in the 1939 electoral register are Alan Arthur Nott and his wife, Eleanor Mary.  In 1935 they had been living in Empire House, Silver Street.  

Alan worked as a foreman with the Trayhurns.  They had one son, Peter who attended the Grammar School.   Peter was a keen air cadet and after leaving school in the early 1950's, he joined the RAF as a pilot officer.  We understand he was involved in a flying accident and was killed.  He died on May 12th 1952 when he was aged 19 years.   We have been told that Alan and Eleanor spilt up following this tragedy and Alan moved away.  Eleanor continued to live in the Court House.  She died in 1964 aged 61 years and is buried in the same grave as Peter in Thornbury Cemetery.

The Organs
We understand that Robert Victor Organ and his wife, Amy (nee Green), lived in the Court House immediately after their wedding in 1941.   The photo on the left shows Robert and Amy at their wedding. 

The Gazette of 1943 has an announcement in the 'Births' column which reads "On Tuesday January 19th, to Amy wife of Robert Organ of St John Street - the gift of twin daughters."  They moved on to settle in Wotton Under Edge. 

The Austins
In 1965, the house is occupied by Stanley G and Winifred M Austin.   We assume Stanley was employed by the Trayhurns, but know nothing about the family.

The Daggers
In 1970 the house is occupied by Phillip Dagger and his wife, Hilda Mary and his son, Alan John.  Philip told Tom Crowe from Thornbury Museum that at that time he had been 'custodian' of the slaughterhouse when it was purchased from the Trayhurns by Northavon District Council. He also told Tom that whilst working as a young man at Parnell’s factory in Yate one evening a week he left work one hour early to cycle to Milk Street in the centre of Bristol to go to night School at the Merchant Venturers’ Technical College until 9pm and then cycled home.

Philip was born in 1924, the son of Richard Henry and Edith Ellen Dagger who lived at number 19 St John Street from 1927 through to the 70's.  On 21 September 1940 Philip was driving a motor cycle in St John Street during the blackout and tragically he knocked down and killed Robert Wilcox, who was walking from his home at 4 Crispin Lane.  In the 1950's Philip and his family were living at 50 Gloucester Road.

 This page was last updated: 13/01/2008