Mr Pomeroy in the 1870s

The title for this piece may seem odd when we see the post card that introduces him.

High Street and Market Place – 20th century

This rather careworn card is very much mid-20^th century. It clearly shows the Co-op on the left where we still find a Coop today. It also shows the Midland Bank across the other side of the Market Place.

A bank in 1938 but 65 years earlier it had been Mr Pomeroy’s shop

We know it was posted in 1938.

It was posted in Devizes and the date and time are clearly visible.

It is the message that introduces Mr Pomeroy into the story.

The section in question concerns that corner building.

This corner shop is a bank now but it was where father started with Mr Pomeroy about 65 years ago.

That takes us back to 1873. The 1871 census shows various Pomroys around the corner of High Street and Market Place,

Actually on Market Place was the widow Lydia Pomroy who was a retired linen draper’s wife. Around the corner on High Street there was Charles Draper and family. Charles was a linen draper. Also present is Edward Pomroy who was a partner in the drapery business.

Daniel Pomeroy, who was Edward and Charles’ father, had been running the drapery business since 1851 and maybe earlier.

By the way, the presence or not of a letter ‘e’ in Pomeroy seems to be down to chance!

 

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A work box from 1938

This small piece of furniture was made by Tom Gye for his sister, Bessie. Tom was 17 when he made it which means it was made in 1937 or 38. Bessie was one of Tom’s big sisters, born in 1917 so perhaps Tom made it as a 21^st present. Bessie may be better remembered by her married name of Bessie Francis. Her husband, Peter, was the village photographer for many years. This item has just been given to Market Lavington Museum.

A work box made in 1938 for his sister, Bessie

This item is craftsman made in oak. Some of the joints are accurate dovetails.

Neat dovetail joints

Here we see an example of Tom’s teenage work on the drawer. The lid opens to make it suitable as a needlework box. The drawer and lower shelf offer additional storage.

The box has plenty of storage space

We feel very privileged to have this locally made item, with all the provenance of family knowledge. We hope to be able to display this item and make use of the storage it offers to display other items. You’ll see it in the entrance room at the museum.

A Bill from Mr James

Once again, today, we look at one of those marvellous bills from the past – bills that tell us so much.

This one was sent out by W James and Sons, bakers and grocers of High Street, Market Lavington. We know they were at number 1, now the Post Office in the village.

Mr James had a bill head with an advert for a product. No doubt this allowed him to save money on printing and it gave his bills a striking appearance.

The bill, dated September 1938 was issued to Mr Neate. This would have been Norman Neate who was, by then, quite an elderly man for he was born in 1869. Because of that different way of life in pre-war days we can gauge something of Norman Neate’s life.  These days we expect to pay for most goods as we buy them. It looks as though Mr Neate was sent quarterly bills with records kept by Mr James the shop keeper for this bill contains items bought from September 1938 through to January 1939.

A 1938 bill from James the bakers of Market Lavington

We imagine Mr Neate was a poultry keeper for his purchases are of meal and sharps of different qualities. Just what is meant by ‘sharps’ is open to some doubt, but we believe it is a lower grade flour with quite a high proportion of bran.

Interestingly, one of the James family became a poultry farmer himself – in Market Lavington.

Once again, we have the trust situation. Norman ran up a bill for £3-2-3 in the period covered – worth at least £160 in current terms – quite a sum to be waiting for.

Mr Norman Neate died in 1954.

Clyffe Hall for sale – 1938

 

 

After the death of Lord Warrington of Clyffe in 1937, his former home was offered for auction. At Market Lavington Museum we have the sale catalogue which gives an insight into the features of Clyffe Hall. There are not many words with this post so we can remind readers that you can see a larger version of the images by clicking on them.

The outer cover

The outline of the property up for auction.

The view from the lake.

 

Lot 1

 

Lot 1 continued

Lot 1 continued

 

Lot 1 continued

 

In the grounds

 Lot 1 concluded

 That’s a good description of the basic features of Clyffe Hall

 

The Vicar approves Mr Doubleday’s memorial

Edward Doubleday was a Market Lavington butcher during the 1920s (probably earlier) until his death in 1936. He was buried in Market Lavington church yard and, as we see on the photo above he was joined by his wife, Ellen, some 13 years later.

The Doubleday Headstone in Market Lavington church yard

But it was 1938 when plans were in hand for the memorial on the grave. Clearly, the opinion of the Reverend Sturton, Vicar of St Mary’s, Market Lavington was asked to approve the design. We have his reply to White and Co of Wellingborough.

Letter from Reverend Sturton, Vicar of Market Lavington regarding the Doubleday memorial

We do not know who White and Co are (or were) but guess they might be monumental masons. But why choose a mason in Wellingborough for a grave in Market Lavington? It is possible that White and Co of Wellingborough were family. Mrs Ellen Doubleday had been born Miss White in 1868. In 1871 she lived with the rest of her family in Wellingborough. Interestingly, her father, James, was a stone mason. Ellen’s brother, Harry, followed his father and became a stone mason.

It is interesting to see that the vicar and a clerk were entitled to some money. Their fees (for something) came to £2-17-0.