Seriously underused forum...

[monicamary]

A bit confused here, what happened to Paul.s last letter printed on page six? There was a question I wanted to ask him about a book I have here all about Tetbury way back before my time,. and believe me thats a long time Monica.

[paul]

monicamary said:

A bit confused here, what happened to Paul.s last letter printed on page six? There was a question I wanted to ask him about a book I have here all about Tetbury way back before my time,. and believe me thats a long time Monica.

Hello Monica,

Please don't worry a family member contacted me suggesting that I'd placed too much private information online, so I decided to remove my last post after some consideration.

I'm more than willing to answer your question via PM private message.

Here are the images.



Church Street post 1947 notice how the former Warn & Sons "Barton & Dolphin" brewery chimney still dominates the skyline. This brewery was purchased by the Stroud Brewery Co Ltd in 1931 and closed, most of the buildings were demolished in the mid 1960's clearances of West Street. A number of small cottages behind West Street along with some former brewery buildings were demolished. It's interesting to note the small early 1980's development known as Warn's Court were actually part of the former Witchells Dolphin Brewery ! T.H Witchell amalgamated with Warn & Sons in the early 1900's.

Just about visible on Trooper Witchells shop (the former Three Cups Inn) are a few enamel advertising signs proudly announcing he was an agent for / sold BP Motor Spirit and Wakefield Castrol Motor Oil. Sadly the original building was demolished and poorly reconstructed in the early 1970's, with a few additional features !!

Trooper Witchell was indeed connected with the former Witchell's brewing family, this family had intermarried with the Warn family twice during the 19th century.

Moving on,

Midway along Church Street is the sign for the Cafe



Not forgetting William's Chemist, the shop was near the bottom of the street virtually opposite the Eight Bells Inn. J.J Williams M.P.S took over the practice from John Prescott a well established business, formerly trading as Walker's in the late 19th / early 20th centuries.



One odd ad that I know nothing about ? Cliff Monica any help please would be appreciated.



Regards Paul.

[monicamary]

Hello Paul,
Thank goodness that little mystery was solved,I thought I had gone to bed and dreamt it.To answer your question about Matticks shoe shop,I am sure his shop was next to the small lane leading to Warns Court,it was a small tea-rooms last time I was In Tetbury.To answer your question Cliff the shop also on that corner was Miss Jeffcott,(Not Goodrich) she was a very old lady who sold knitting wools and cotton etc.it was always very dark and creepy in there at least I thought so when I was a girl.That was a Butchers shop the last time I was there,if you look up Pauls Tetbury Photos from years ago you can see Goodrich on the other side of the road. Back to you Paul,I have a book here my son bought for me in Tetbury the last time he was over there called Towns and Villages of England by John Hudson and am very interested in the picture on page 20 of Tetbury tailors and dressmakers the reason being my grandfather was a Tailor and moved to Tetbury around 1908 when my father was about two years old,I have a family photo of my grand-father and mother and all the children and I am almost sure its my grand-father in that picture,also on page 45 there is a picture of him as an old man sitting down fourth from the left I also recognise a lady in the front of the picture who lived in West St opposite my Grandparents,she was Mrs Best. Regards Monica.

[paul]

Hello Monica,

Please also see the PM I've sent you.

Thank you for answering my question regarding Matticks shoe shop. Yes I think I know the shop your referring too, although I have a 17 year gap in the towns recent history as we were living a few hundred miles away. I looked out my Tetbury Directory & Almanack for 1939 Mattick is listed in the Market Place, so has moved location. Jeffcutt is listed ;

Jeffcutt, Misses, art needlework depot, 31 Church Street.

When I have time I'll transcribe that almanack, I recognise the name from various early 20th century directories that I've already transcribed. Here are three more photos from the 1939 almanack.







Regards Paul.

[monicamary]

Hi Paul Cliff and everyone,
Nice to see some more pictures bringing back more memories especially International Stores.I remember standing in a big long queue for ages when I was about eight or nine years old during the war for our rations 2ozs.of butter same of cheese and sugar and then sometimes getting nearly to the counter and being told they had sold out, I was in trouble when I got home because they said I had stopped to play on the way,that was why they had sold out.I also remember seeing this small piece of cheese on a plate in the larder one day and eating it not knowing it was my Fathers weeks ration,I got a smack bottom for that,could,nt do that these days could they?
My mum used to buy my shoes in Millwards,I remember the Chemist shop but my last memory of that was Bells,they were there for years.Well I had better go and watch some cricket its on in the other room and sounds quite exiting from all the yelling I can hear(SRI-LANKA against INDIA) so regards to you all Monica.

[paul]

Hello Monica,

I'm pleased you found those images of some interest, many more to follow although most will be from long before your time I'm afraid.

Does anyone know what happened to the photograph of the Tetbury blokes members of the R.G.H taken just before they set off to War in 1939 ? one of the original copies was displayed in the former Prince Of Wales public house in West Street. I would like to buy a copy as my late Dad is depicted.

I vaguely remember Millwards (I ended up with the green enamel street signs advertising "K" Boot's & Shoe's) I have clear recollections of William's shoe shop on Church Street from the early 1970's.

I can recall Norman Bell's Chemist shop (now Georges Vets) the site / shop was a Chemist's for many years, T/A Bell's, William's & Bell, J.J. Williams, J. Prescott, Benjamin Walker and Foster's. Walker claimed to be a "Chymist By Exam" I wonder if he was actually a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society or just late Victorian flamboyant advertising ?







It's late so I must go.

Regards Paul.

[HI MONICA]

Hi MONICA,
Ladies first.
Paul, and any one else taking interest. I also am pleased that the mystery of the missing message has been solved. M & P, thanks for giving my geriatric brain a jolt. The Missess JEFFCOT ! I can still see the shop now in my minds eye. Yes Monica it was a bit scary, although it was a shop boys had no reason to visit, unless it was doing an errand, ( for a half-penny ) At one stage in my boy-hood I was a shop/delivery boy after school and on a Saturday. I still re-call my first task on a Saturday mornings , during the time of rationing, standing on a box turning the handle of an ancient coffeel grinder. Seven pounds of coffee in a large brown bag, and later in the day delivering it to Estcourt Grange. At that time Lady Eleanor GIBBS lived there together with a relative the Marchioness of CAMBRIDGE. Monica, do you remember Lady CAMBRIDGE? In the summer holidays when 10 years of age I also helped in the gardens there, cleaning out chickens, collecting eggs. I remember well her Daughter Lady Mary who was one of the Bridesmaids or attendants at the Wedding of the Queen and Prince Phillip. In 1946 she was in the British Red Cross and went to Greece to help refugees etc. Great memories.
I am afraid I have wittered on at great length, the pictures supplied by Paul were most interesting and will be the subject of further postings. I too have a book with Gloucestershire photos dating back to the late 1800's . There is one of Tetbury Carnival ? possibly 1902/3 taken from the Town hall upstairs looking down Long Street.
When PRESCOTTS changed hands did the large glass bottles/flasks in the window, and the magnificent set of drawers and display behind the counter remain. Are they there now?
Tempus Fugit, must go. Keep in touch everyone. I agree about using PM (Personal Messages) for some letters.
Cliff B.

[monicamary]

Hello Paul and Cliff.
Thanks for giving me more things to think about,yes I do remember Lady Cambridge Cliff she had something to do with the Girl Guides and I seem to remember her coming to the Malt House dressed in Guide Uniform.Another memory was a school friend and I decided to do something for the war effort we used to hear so much about so we made a lot of little paper flags and stuck a pin in them,I cant remember what we drew on them something to do with the Red CROSS I think,we sold them door to door and collected Ten Shillings (I believe thats 50p),we sent it to Mrs Churchills war effort fund. We had a nice letter back from Mrs Churchill secretary thanking us for the money but also got told off by some powers that be who said we must,nt do it again because we were breaking the law.
Paul,. I had a couple of relatives in the Gloucestershire regiment and I know that they were in the T.A. before the war I vaguely remember them leaving the first day of the war and being picked up by an Army truck and all of us relations saying goodbye.
Changing the subject I do remember Prescotts I used to go there when I was young.
Must go now regards Monica

[paul]

Hello Monica and Cliff,

Yes Ten Shillings is 50p now isn't that just typical being told off for doing such a wonderful thing in raising money for the war effort, after all you were using your own incentive for a worthy cause ! Monica my Father was in the T.A. I'm certain that most of the Tetbury R.G.H men were T.A. there is a R.G.H museum in Gloucester I'm sure they have a website ?
I have a few modern books covering Tetbury although I prefer to source period material, trade directories, almanacks, photo's, postcards etc I've transcribed a few Victorian Tetbury directory listings (see genuki > Gloucestershire > Tetbury) I will post them on the forum when/if the Gens section really takes off. Monica mentioned that she has the book Towns and Villages of England would this be the same publication that you have Cliff ? there are a few Edwardian photos of Tetbury Carnival taken from the Town Hall. Notice how the Fawkes Stores building is devoid of it's timber frame exterior the false woodwork was added at a latter date it's interesting to note the modern building we see today also has the false exterior woodwork.
I'm afraid nothing remains of the original Prescott shop interior the George Vet Group refurbished the property just after they acquired it. The original fittings and some of the bottle's were still on display right up to closure, the cellar was a time capsule first explored by a local collector in the early 1980's at the time it contained hundreds of bottles, paper labels, boxed products and general packages dating back to the days of Benjamin Walker, needless to say he purchased most of the choice items. The remainder were then sold in public auction after Bells closed down. Norman Bell is buried in St Saviours I noticed his headstone yesterday, I'll mention my cut off point for photographing headstones is about 1950 (I dont want to upset anyone) of course people are welcome to request a photo of a more recent stone provided they are a forum member. If this is the case I will forward the image in a P.M (Private Message)

Having just looked at the clock I had better run.

Regards Paul.

[monicamary]

Hello Paul, how nice to see all the pictures of St Marys Church and all the old Tombstones.I can understand you not taking the more recent ones.I have photos of my parents grave taken by my son on one of his many trips to the UK.My dad always told me he wanted to be buried there because he lived near the sound of the bells all his life.I must admit it took me a while to get over not hearing them(if that makes sense) when I first came to Australia but like everything else you get used to it and after all I have lived over here far longer than I was in England,even though Iam so glad to be able to keep in touch with my computer and still have lots of memories of my childhood and teenage years and both my children were born in Tetbury,and they are interested in what I am doing now.Better go now and do some boring old housework before my husband gets home from golf. Regards to you Paul and Cliff Monica

[monicamary]

Hello Everyone,just a small query,have you altered your clocks yet,for some reason we are having an extra month of daylight saving. As we usually do it at the same time as the UK.Idont know wether we are nine,eleven or ten hours in front and I like to know for many reasons such as phone calls etc. hope your weather has improved,we are still getting warm weather and still no rain in our part of Australia,sick of seeing yellow grass.Best vwishes to you all,Monica.

[cliff]

Hi Monica Mary,
Beginning of the week, usual scroll around to see who wants me. After replying to Czech Republic and Belgium, and not having to contact Moscow for the time being, as my norm , I came to seriously underused forum. I feel we should re-name the forum, have you noticed how many hits there have been since we both got in touch ?
In reply to you enquiry, in respect of Daylight saving, NO we have not changed yet, I am led to understand it takes place on the the last Saturday in March when we go forward one hour. Can you remember when we had Double British Summer time when it was light until well after 10 at night. Harvest time Pub extensions until 10.30 so that Farm Workers could work until nearly dark and still get a drink before going to bed. I guess you ran across the six o'clock swill when you first arrived out there.
Sorry must close quickly have just received my 3 minute shuit down warning.
Bye for now,
Cliff. Also directed to any of our readers, there appear to be a few but they never put anything on line.

[paul]

Hi Monica,

Maybe Chris the webmaster would like to record St Mary's bells for you ? if not I'll get my "vcr" out next week and post.

Take care Paul.

[monicamary]

Hello Paul, Thankyou very much for your kind offer,but a few years ago I had a VCR.given me with a lot of Tetbury streets etc.also the Bells ringing in the back ground,so now and again when I have a nostalgic five minutes I can get it out and play it.Thankyou once again it was most thoughtful of you.Hope your rain has gone away,you could always send me a couple of buckets full of that.Best wishes Monica.

[Hills]

First time I've looked for Tetbury on the internet and found myself reminded of all sorts of things long forgotton. I was born and brought up in Tetbury a long time ago!!! I can remember Sir William Romney school being in the High St but we used to use the entrance off London Rd where Mrs Peglar had her original sweet shop and garage. Often called in on the way to school for blackjacks or a cone of rainbow sherbet with a stick of licquorice. I lived on London Rd and where there is now a school and housing estate used to be open fields that were our playground. When the new Sir William Romney was built we used to cut across the fields rather than walk round the roads. This was stopped because of a Foot and Mouth epidemic. Memorable teachers for the time were Jack Barker and Miss Wildsmith. Percivals was a pet shop and my brother and I went there regularly. We bred tropical fish and budgies and quite often we would swap baby guppies for a brown bag filled with bird seed. He was always good for barter. Remember Tetbury before it became an antique haven with record shops (think it was Lux's) a butchers on London Rd (don't remember the name) where we went in and could get bones to boil up to make a stew, adding veg from the allotment. There were no houses off Love Lane and my older brother took delight hiding behind the high wall and throwing bags of flour over the top at passersby whilst making ghost noises. Our highlights for the year were the woolsack races and the carnival. Could go on for hours but don't want to bore you all.