6 Crispin Lane

The Ellis family

When the Hughes family moved in 1936, the house was then occupied by the family of 'Pat' Ellis.  Pat was properly named Harold.  It is believed that his family may have originally come from Stroud, but the family have never been able to confirm this.  He was a quarryman working at Alveston quarry and then later he moved to Sodbury Quarry. 

Whilst working at Alveston, he was taken home to lunch by the quarry foreman, Tom Collins, who lived at Greenhill Villa on The Square, Alveston.  Here Pat met Tom's daughter, Elsie Louisa.  The photo on the right shows Tom and Alice Collins with their family - Elsie is the young girl at the back on the right.

Pat and Elsie married on 11 July 1936.  It was a special occasion as the photo below shows.  Pat was a part-time volunteer in the Thornbury Fire Service and one of their engines was used on the day.

The couple moved into live at 6 Crispin Lane.  They had two children: Thomas Hugh born in 1940 and Ann Hilary in 1943.  One of Elsie's nieces, Jean Duncan, was also adopted by the family.  She was a bridesmaid at Pat and Elsie's wedding and is seen in the photo riding on the engine in front of Elsie.

 Pat died in 1952 aged 49 years.  Elsie went on living in the house until she moved to Eastbury Close in June 1973.

This page was last updated: 21/03/2012