4 Sawmill Lane

Occupants

The Newman family: In 1840 Tithe map indicates what appears to be two houses on the Plot 311 and these are owned by George Taylor and occupied by two households: Thomas Barge and Aaron Newman.  The detail accompanying the map however describes the plot as being 'house and garden'.  These two families are shown as living in these houses in 1841 census, and although we cannot be sure which family lived in each house, we are guessing that it was Aaron Newman who was occupying number 4.

The census shows the house occupied by Aaron, a veterinary surgeon aged 60 and Mary Ann Newman aged 20.  This seems to be a change in occupation as when his children, Mary Ann and Samuel, were baptised, Aaron was described as a labourer.  His age too seems to have undergone a change.  The inscription on his grave, four years later in August 1845 shows he was 75 when he died.  He was an illegitimate child, the son of Hannah born in 1770.  He married Maria Addis in Thornbury on 7th July 1800.  Maria wasn't living with Aaron at the time of the census and we can't find her for sure. 

Following Aaron's death in 1845, the house in Saw Mill seems to have been occupied by Aaron's son, Samuel Newman.  In 1851 Samuel is living there with his family.  He is described as a master farrier aged 32 born in Thornbury.  His wife, Ann, was aged 25 born in Alveston. Their children were: Aaron aged 5, Elizabeth A aged 3, and Charles aged 1.  In this  census, Maria, Samuel's mother, is shown as being aged 72, a visitor to Ann Collins, a farmer in Sibland. 

By 1861 Samuel was still living in the house with Ann.  They now had 7 children: their son, Aaron now 15 had become an apprentice farrier, Elizabeth A aged 13, Hannah Maria aged 9, James aged 7, Daniel aged 6, Stephen aged 4, and Sarah aged 1.  Samuel's mother, Maria was now living with him.  She was described as being aged 83 and  'formerly a quill maker'. 

Maria died on March 29th 1862 aged 85 years and was buried with Aaron in Thornbury St Mary's graveyard.

The 1871 census shows that Samuel and his family continued living in the house.  Their son James had become a tailor aged 17, Daniel had become an apprentice blacksmith aged 16, and Stephen was an errand boy aged 14. Samuel died on August 30th 1876 aged 57 and Ann died April 11th 1878 aged 52 years. They were buried in the same grave as Samuel's parents in St Mary's Churchyard.

There is evidence to suggest that Samuel, like his father, may have changed the emphasis of his occupation in his later years.  All the census records up to 1871 show him as a farrier.  However he is described as a veterinary surgeon in the 1875 Trade directory (which was printed after his death) and when his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Newman, a servant, married George William Spencer, a coachmaker in 1875 Samuel was also described as a veterinary surgeon.

We do not know what happened to the house in the years following Samuel's death as in 1881 the census appears to show that the house was uninhabited.  In 1886 Edmund Cullimore bought the land, including this house, for his sawmill and the only detailed plan of the property we have so far is dated February 1895 by which time the properties appear to have undergone a change and the sawmill buildings have also appeared as well as a stable for the the horses that pulled the big wagons.

John White - in 1891 the house appears occupied by John White, a foreman sawyer aged 34 from Slimbridge and his wife, Sarah aged 31 from Cam.  They had two children: Alexander aged 11 born in Cam and Francis aged 9 born in Wickwar.  They had moved from Cam, where they appeared in the 1881 census.  In this John's wife is shown as Elizabeth, although her age and birthplace are consistent with the 1891 census.  John was a sawyer in Cam and their baby son Alexander was only five months.

Levi Screen - in 1901 the house was occupied by Levi Robert Screen, an  engine driver aged 26 from Normington, near Wakefield in Yorkshire, his wife, Jane s. aged 24 from Deddington in Somerset and unmarried sister-in-law, Mary Haines aged 21 also from Deddington. 

It is interesting to see that although Levi and Jane were not local, Levi was born in September quarter, the son of Robert Screen, an agricultural labourer of Duckhole and his wife, Sarah from the Forest of Dean.  In 1891 the family had moved to Palmers flat in the Forest of Dean where Robert and Levi were working as coal miners. An Ernest Long, a grandson aged 3 and born in Milbury Heath was staying with them.

Levi had married Jane Haines in Thornbury in December quarter 1900.  The family were living in Duckhole in 1881.

Jane died on 30th August 1945 aged 68 years.  Levi died on April 12th 1956 aged 86 years.

George and Mary Hurkett - lived in the house in 1925 electoral register.  The  Council School record shows that in 1921 Thomas Hurkett started the school and that his father was William Hurkett who was living at Sawmill Lane.  We do not know the connection between George and William.  Thomas left the school in 1922 to go to Bristol, which is probably why William does not appear in the 1925 electoral register. 

George and Mary left the house by 1927.

The Holpin family - the house was occupied by  Bill and Doris Holpin and their children from around 1927 to the early 1960's.  Bill's brother, Frank, lived with his family in number 1 Saw Mill Lane, a house on the opposite side of the lane.

Bill, properly known as William Edwin Robert Holpin, was born in Tytherington on 15th May 1900.  He was the son of William Holpin, a quarryman, and Celia Alice Smith who were married in 1899.  In 1901, Bill was aged 10 months living with his mother, Alice aged 23 born in Thornbury, and his brother, Arthur aged 2.  His father was 'serving at the Front' in South Africa fighting in the Boer War - the family has an interesting diary in which William described in detail his experiences.  He later also fought in the First World War.

Bill had seven siblings: Arthur (born 1898), George (born 1903), Hilda, Jack (born 1908), Percy (born 1910), Frank (born 1912) and Grace (born 1913).   We know a little more about these Holpins and have a copy of a lovely photo of the whole family - click here to see this information

Bill married Doris Constance Ruthers before 1925.  Doris was born 30th June 1902.  She was living at Ham at the time of their wedding but she had formerly lived in Plymouth.

Bill and Doris lived in Rockhampton and then Eastland Avenue before moving to 4 Saw Mill Lane around 1927.   They had four children: Irene Grace born on 20 March 1925, Peggy born on 16 December 1926, Desmond born on 22nd August 1928 and Jean born on 27 November 1929.   The photos below both show the whole family:

Bill worked in both of Edmund Cullimore's local businesses, the Saw Mills and the Brickyard, although we understand that he finished up as foreman in the brickyard.

We understand that William and Doris took in lodgers, usually men employed by the Saw Mill or Brick works. Two of these were Cyril 'Sid' Prickett who worked at the brickworks (shown as living with the Holpins in 1957) and George Fergusson.

William and Doris were still living in Saw Mill Lane when Doris died on 24th December 1960.  William died on 1st January 1964.

Of William and Doris's children:

Irene married in 1943 - her husband was Cecil Samuel Cousins who was from Lurgan in Northern Ireland and was known locally as 'Paddy Cousins'.  He was serving with the Maritime Regiment when he met Irene.  The photo on the right shows them with their 3 children:  Michael Robert born in 1944 and Valerie Jean born in 1945 and Denise born in 1950.  They continued living at 4 Saw Mill Lane for several years before moving to Eastbury Road and then Eastland Avenue. 

Peggy - married twice, firstly to William Barnecott with whom she lived in County Durham, then to William Corben with whom she lived in Colesbourne, near Cheltenham.  They had no children.

Desmond - married Sheila Bibby who came from Oxford, but was of Romany origin.  They lived in Northampton.  they had no children and are now both dead.

Jean - married Jack Beaumont in 1948. They settled in Sandy in Bedfordshire and had two children: David and Janet.

This page was last updated: 26/07/2008