7 Pullins Green

Occupants

By 1851, the house was a lodging house run by a widow, Dinah Barnett.  Dinah was aged 43 and born in Compton in Gloucestershire.  She had two children living with her: Clara and Matilda aged 14 and 13 respectively.  Both girls were born in Dursley.  In 1841 Dinah had been living in Dursley with her husband, Thomas. 

Thomas and Dinah had moved to Thornbury between 1841 and 1843 when he died on 3 March aged 37 years.  He is shown in the trade directories as providing a van "for passengers and luggage from Thornbury to Berkeley and Dursley every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday".  He also operated a van to Bristol each day.  He was buried in St Mary's Church.  Matilda is also buried there, buried in 1865 when she was aged 26 years.  She was living in Bristol at the time of her death.

In 1861 the house was occupied by James Bevan, a journeyman carpenter and his wife, Elizabeth.  James was born in Thornbury on 26 October 1810, the son of James Bevan (Junior) and his wife, Ann.  Elizabeth was a fundholder, aged 59 and born in London.  Their niece, Louisa Stinchcombe, a scholar, aged 11 from Berkeley was also living there.  Elizabeth died in 1869 aged 62 years.

In 1871 James is sharing the house with another family.  He has his 10 year old niece, Emma Prewett living with him.  The other family is that of Henry and Charlotte Clutterbuck, although Henry is not at home on the night of the census.  He is a coachmen so he could presumably be 'on the road'.  Charlotte was born in Thornbury in 1843, the daughter of Thomas Morgan, chimney sweep and his wife, Charlotte.  She married  Henry in Bristol in 1863 and they now had Henry aged 6 born in Bristol, and Ernest aged 3 and Percy aged 11 months, both born in Thornbury.

James Bevan died in 1874 aged 64 years.

The 1876 Rate Book and the 1881 census show the house was occupied by Richard and Caroline Salmon and their very large family.  Richard was a painter born in Bruton, Somerset about 1842.  In 1851 he was living in Shapway Lane, Evercreech with his mother, Frances a widowed silkwinder aged 37 and his sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann.  By 1861 Richard had moved to Thornbury and he was living in Castle Street with his elder sister, Mary Ann who was a grocer.  In 1864, he married Caroline Howes who was born in Thornbury about 1841.  Caroline was the daughter of John Howse an agricultural labourer from Kington and Emma his wife. 

A report sale of property in Castle Street which appeared in a newspaper of 17th September 1870 refers to "lot 2 All that Freehold Messuage or Dwelling -house with walled gardens and premises situate in Castle Street Thornbury in the occupation of Mr Richard Salmon demonstrates that Richard and Caroline must have moved to Castle Street  soon after their marriage and this is confirmed by the fact that Richard Salmon's name appears as tenant of a house in Castle Street as early as the Rate Book of 1867.

The 1871 Census shows that Richard and Caroline were living in Castle Street with Emily aged 5, Edwin John aged 4, Ellen aged 2 and Selina aged 1.   The 1881 census shows Caroline was a dressmaker.  They had Emily aged 15, Edwin, a painter aged 14, Ellen aged 12, Selina Caroline aged 11, William Henry aged 8, Catherine aged 6, Elizabeth aged 4, Frank aged 3 and Hector aged 6 months.  Another child, Herbert George was born in 1885.

In 1891 the house was still occupied by Richard and Caroline.  Of their children, only Elizabeth and Frank were living with them.  Frank had become a tailor's apprentice.  By the 1899 Rate Book shows Richard and Caroline had moved to number 12 Pullins Green and the 1901 census that their children had moved away. On the 4 April 1904 their daughter, Elizabeth, married Frederick Shaw a draper's assistant from Witton in Wiltshire.  The 1910 Rate Book shows that Richard had moved again, this time back to Castle Street.

Richard died on 31 October 1920 aged 73 years.  Caroline died on 19 January 1922 aged 80 years.  They are buried in the non-conformist section of Thornbury Cemetery.

In 1901 the house was occupied by Charles Eddington, a composite printer aged 32 and his wife, Flora aged 32.  Charles was born in Thornbury on 8th April 1868, the son of Thomas Eddington, a painter and his wife, Elizabeth.  In 1880 Charles failed in gaining a scholarship to attend Thornbury Grammar School, but in 1882 he obtained an 'Edwards Scholarship' which enabled him to join the School. 

Flora was born in Cannington, Somerset.  They had one son, Raymond Thomas born in 1900.  A daughter, Ivy Gwendoline, was baptised on 10th June 1903 when Charles was still living in Pullins Green.  The baptism record shows his wife as Florence.

In 1891 Charles had been living with his parents in Castle Street.  His father, Thomas was a house decorator, his elder brother Edward was a printer and stationer and solicitors clerk.  Charles was a printer-compositor and his younger brother, Robert was a carpenter. 

In the Thornbury Trade Directories Charles was listed as a photographer.  He is known to have taken several photographs of the Thornbury Gleemen Society, of which he was a member.  He played the cornet and there are several photographs of young Charles together with the Gleemen or as a member of the Thornbury Brotherhood (see image on the right taken in 1912).

By the 1905 Rate Books Charles had moved to live in 15 The Plain which he was renting from Francis Gayner.  By the 1910 Rate Book he had moved again, this time to a property on the High Street, two doors up from the junction with Soapers Lane, a property he was renting from Thomas Anstey.

Arthur Charles Pitcher - the 1905 Rate Book shows that the house was occupied by Charlie Pitcher - click here to read more about Charlie

The next occupants which we know of were Eunice Davis and her daughter, Mary Ann.  Miss Higgins remembers that they lived there.  The Rate Book of 1910 shows that Eunice Davis was the tenant and Eunice and Mary were listed in the 1918 electoral register. 

Eunice was born in Alveston about 1847.  In 1851 she was living with her parents on Alveston Down - they were Samuel a shoemaker from Cam, and Caroline - interestingly her name was  spelt clearly as 'Unis'.  The 1871 census shows her mother, Caroline, had re-married to George Smart, an agricultural labourer.

Eunice and Mary Ann had moved from 1 St John Street where they were living in the 1905 Rate book.   Click here to read more about the Davis family.

By 1921 only Mary Ann is listed and she is still there in 1925.

In 1927 the house is occupied by William James and Hilda Victoria Short.  William was born on 8th April 1902, the son of William Short and his wife, Florence Matilda (nee Burchell).  'Bill Senior' joined the Midland Railway Company in 1889 and worked for two years as a porter at Iron Acton.  He moved to Fishponds where he worked as a porter until 1897 when he started work in the Bristol Locomotive Sheds.  The 1901 census shows Bill was a stoker on the railways living in 20 Winstanley Street, Barton Hill with Florence and their 2 children: Edith Maud aged 4 and Alice Elizabeth aged 4 months.  In 1905 he moved to Thornbury as a fireman and in 1920 he was promoted to engine driver.  He used to drive a steam train from Thornbury Station.  The photo on the right shows Bill alongside his steam engine at Thornbury Station. Following the retirement of Alfred Gill, Bill took charge of the Thornbury locomotive department and he continued in this capacity until his own retirement in 1937.

Bill Senior and Hilda moved around a bit in their early years in Thornbury.  The 1907 electoral registers shows they were living in St Mary Street and in 1910 to 1913 they were in Bulls Eye Lane (now called Bath Road).  By 1918 they had moved to Siblands, presumably to Hillside, Siblands, where they were to remain all their lives.  Bill died in 1946 aged 74.  He was a member of the Parish Council for many years, a keen gardener and ambulance man and a member of the Congregational Church and the Town Trust.  Florence died in 1951 aged 76.

We understand that Bill (Junior) also worked on the railway.  He married Hilda Victoria Vaisey in December quarter 1926.  Bill and Hilda had at least two children.  Barbara Florence Short was born on 25th November 1927.  She was admitted to the Council Infants School in 1932, but she died on 7th March 1936.  A son, John was born on 2nd August 1929 and was admitted to the Council School in 1933.  The family is shown as living here in the school records and the 1927, 1930 and 1935 electoral registers.  In 1939 young John was removed from school as the family moved to Dursley.

The Hughes and Lewis families - from 1939, the house was occupied by the same family for 60 years. Click here to read more

This page was last updated: 13/07/2010