9 St John Street

Frank and Augusta 'Granny' Smith

Frank and Augusta moved into 9 St John Street around 1929 and the family were to live here for almost 70 years.   They were a well known couple in Thornbury and many older Thornburians have stories about "Granny" Smith.   

Frank was born on 23 November 1901 when his name was registered as 'Leonard Frank'.   We are confused about two aspects of his birth.  His death certificate shows his birthday as 23 November 1901, but the Council School records show Frank Smith with the date of birth of 19 November 1901.  Secondly we have been told by Miss Higgins that Frank was the son of the Leonard Smith who ran the Seven Stars in Thornbury.  However the school records show that Frank was the son of George Smith.  The obvious explanation to both these  discrepancies is that there were two Frank Smiths, but we can only find one born in that period. 

Frank married Augusta Annie Livall in March quarter 1925. Annie Augusta Livall's birth was registered in the December quarter of 1901.

The Electoral roles indicate that Frank Leonard and Augusta Annie Smith were living in the house by 1930.  Certainly the school records show that when their daughter, Doreen Elizabeth Elsie Smith, was enrolled in 1929, the family address was already St John Street. 

Frank Smith's occupation was described in various documents as a builder or bricklayer.  We believe he worked for Tucker Brothers.  We have been told by Jeff Watkins (a cousin of Augusta) that Frank was an excellent footballer.  Apparently Frank was known as "Yacky" Smith.

Their daughter Doreen was born on 21 July 1925.  She became a Post office worker when she left the Council School and in 1950 she married Albert William Jenkins of Rudgeway.  They had a younger daughter, Frances Jean born in 1942 who married Christopher Davis a carpenter from Berkeley in June 1962.  Frank and Augusta also had two sons; George Leonard born 19th April 1927 and Edward Ben born 28 August 1935.  We have been told that both sons became policemen.  George seems to have emigrated to Australia but Edward worked for the police dog unit in Stroud.

Frank died on 8th March 1977 at Frenchay Hospital.  His widow continued to live in the house and when there was a fire in the tyre warehouse in Sawmill Lane in 1992 her evacuation featured in the Gazette.

"Widow Augusta Smith aged 90 whose garden in St John Street backs on to the tyre yard said 'It was a terrific sound, just like thunder but it didn’t stop. I looked out of the bedroom window and could see flames leaping up over my house. Then I heard some one shouting 'Get out, get out' and I was taken to safety over the road.”

Augusta Smith later went to live with her daughter in Alveston, where she died aged 101.

 

This page was last updated: 13/01/2008