7 Rock Street

Occupants

We have had great difficulty in identifying the occupants of each house in the 19th century census records and even with the Rate Books we found the sequence of occupants is inconsistent.  We have therefore provided our best guess as to who was living in each of the Oxhouses.

Hannah Hopton - the 1876 Rate Book and the 1881 census show that the house was occupied by Hannah Hopton.  In the census Hannah was a widowed charwoman aged 85 and noted as being deaf.  Hannah carried on living here until her death in 1883.  Click here to read more about Hannah

Henry Smart - the 1885, 1887 and 1890 Rate Books show the house was occupied by Henry Smart.  There is nothing more to identify Henry, but we suspect he was the Henry, baptised on 3rd September 1865, the son of William Smart, a labourer and his wife, Hannah.  In 1881 Henry was a labourer living in St Mary Street with his widowed mother. 

In 1885 he married Mary Ann Gardiner who was born in Berkeley.  The 1891 census shows the family living in Crossways with their children: Charles aged 6, Jane aged 5 and Albert aged 2.  The 1901 census shows them still in Crossways with two extra sons: William aged 10 and Thomas G aged 2.

Mark and Florence Dixon - the 1899 Rate Book shows the house was occupied by Mark Dixon.  Mark had actually died in August 1898 and the 1901 census shows that his widow, Florence was living in the house.  The Rate Books show that Florence continued to live in the house until at least 1910.  Click here to read more

In this case, we know of four families who occupied the house in the 1900's:

Giles Reed - on 11th August 1913 when the cottages were bought by James Bevan this cottages was occupied by Giles Reed.  Giles was born in Tetbury about 1836, the son of Charles Reed, a baker and his wife, Mary.  Charles died in 1849.  Giles became an agricultural labourer and he moved to the area around Almonsdbury and Patchway.  In 1857 Giles married Anna Maria Hunt  who was born at Durdham Down, Clifton.  The 1871 census shows them living near Hempton, Patchway where Giles was working as a mason's labourer.  They had three children: James aged 12, Stanley aged 5 and Charles aged 3 months.   The 1881 census shows Giles as a cowman and they were now living at Highwood, Patchway.  Living with them were Stanley aged 15, William aged 10, Josiah aged 6 and Ada M aged 9.  The 1891 and 1901 censuses show Giles as a brickyard labourer living on Patchway Common at a house called 'Mapling'.

Giles died in Thornbury in 1915 aged 79.  Anna also died that year aged 77.

Thomas Lanfear - an indenture dated 1931 at the time the cottages were sold to Frederick Bishop shows that the cottage was then occupied by Thomas Lanfear.  In 1925 and 1926 Thomas had been listed in the Valuation List and Rate Book.  We don't know any more about Thomas to enable us to identify him.

Charlie Stewart
Charlie was Charles John Stewart.  He married Florence E Loveridge in Westbury on Severn in 1910.  Florence might be the Florence Edith Loveridge who was born in Westbury on Severn in 1882.  Charles and Florence had a son, William Charles born in Westbury on Severn in 1911.

We know that their son, William (or Bill as he became known) moved to Thornbury where he married Winifred Eliza Bennett in 1932.  Charles was described as a collier at the time of his son's marriage.  There was no sign that  Charles or Florence Stewart moved to  Thornbury to join their son until 1938.  At that time Charles is shown in the electoral register as living in Outer Back Street.  As only Charles is listed it is presumed that Florence must have died and Charles moved to Thornbury to live close to his son and his wife who at that time were living in 1 Sawmill Lane.  Click here to read more about Bill and Winifred

We have been told that Charlie 'took in bets'.  We don't fully understand what this meant but it was well before the time when betting shops became became legal.

Charlie died in November 1945 aged 60 when his obituary shows he was living in St Mary Street, presumably with his son.

The Smiths
The 1946 electoral register shows the house was occupied by John E Smith and Irene F Smith.  John (known locally as 'Jack') was born in 1902 and baptised 'John Elias Smith' on 2nd November 1902 at Thornbury St Mary's Church.  He was the son of Elias Smith, a groom and his wife, Alice Maud Haines who had married in Devonport in 1901 when Elias was stationed there as a soldier.

The electoral registers show Jack lived at home with his parents until at least 1938.  By 1946 he had married Irene Frances (maiden name unknown) and they were living at 7 Rock Street.  They lived there until the house was earmarked for demolition in the early 60's when the Council re-housed them in 5 Buckingham Parade.  They were living there in the 1961 electoral register.

We know very little about the family.  We have been told that Jack worked for the Council and that following his 'official' retirement he used to clean the bus shelters in the town. 

Irene died on the 26th December 1993 aged 90 and Jack died on 24th December 1995 aged 93.   

 This page was last updated: 30/11/2011