Appleby History > In Focus > 22 - 1841 Census Part 4

Chapter 22

The Appleby Census of 1841

Part 4 - Appleby Magna, Derbyshire

by Richard Dunmore

Black Horse Hill to Church Street - via Mawbys Lane, ‘Golden Way’, the Rectory and Brick Kiln Yard

The final part of our marathon walk around the 1841 village follows Edwin Hague, the enumerator for the Derbyshire part, from the top of Black Horse Hill which was then regarded as part of Over Street (Top Street). Over Street of course led to ‘Overtown’, the alternative name for Appleby Parva.

As explained in Part 1, the locations of householders are deduced by comparison with the 1831/32 Reference and Map of the village (1). References to the Notes are in bold type eg (1).

The key to the properties given below in square brackets gives [1831 Ref. No., Type of property, Owner/s]. The squire George Moore is abbreviated to GM and ‘ag lab’ means agricultural labourer. Own indicates owner-occupier.

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Over Street (upper Black Horse Hill)

Following his call at the last property in Duck Paddle (No. 444 last article) Mr Hague visited the next house up the hill at the start of Over Street (see map). This was a cottage [445,c,Bosworth School Trustees] occupied in 1841 by Jabez Ball (35) shoemaker with Mary (35) and four children. In 1831 Thomas Ball was the householder. Just across the road were three cottages with a smith's shop [329,3c,William Cooper] one of which was occupied by James Tunnadine (65) cooper with Elizabeth (55) and Elizabeth (20). The other two occupants were probably John Glenn (30) ag lab with Ann (25) and 3 children; and Edward Skellett (25) bricklayer with Mary (20) and baby Ann (11 mths). This site is now No 5 Black Horse Hill.

Listed in with these, but living next door at [328,2c,GM] was William Mould (70) potter living alone. The adjoining cottage to Mr Mould's was probably occupied by William Winter (40) sawyer with Ann (40) and 4 boys. These cottages have not survived.

In 1831/32 the properties which are now No 1 Black Horse Hill and Nos 2 and 4

Mawbys Lane were listed together as six cottages: [327,6c,Thomas Oldacres]. In 1841, the Black Horse Hill property appears to have divided into three, probably occupied by William Wilson (50) schoolmaster with Ann (50) and Thomas (9); Mary Winter (50) grocer with Mary Heath (25) servant and John Leech[?] (13) assistant; and Eliza Mousley (35) independent with Horatio (11).

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This property remained thatched for many years and housed a shop which served as the later Victorian village post office. When the house was refurbished in the mid-1970s, a third entrance doorway was revealed suggesting how the earlier division of the building was accomplished. There are also stone footings and a timber frame which may have supported a second shop front – see pictures below.

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Back on the eastern side of the street was a house [447,H,Own] where lived Edward Grimley (75) independent with William Grimley (45) cooper and Decima (14) together with William Hodgkin (25) and William Willson [sic](25) both coopers; and Elizabeth Arnold (30) a servant. This is now the site of Nos 2, 4 & 6 Black Horse Hill. The house next door [450,H,GM] was probably occupied by Joseph Allcock (50) independent with Elizabeth (50); and Ann (20) & Martha (10) Bowley and Joseph Wilkins (15) servants. This property, possibly dating from the 17th century, is now Hill House, No 1 Top Street.

The enumerator now crossed the road to complete the properties in Over Street. At [325,c,?Own] was William Parker (50) carpenter with Mary (45), Thomas (20), William (15) carpenter, Joseph (12) servant and Mary (4). Catharine Parker, listed as the owner in 1831, had died in 1827 (2).

Next door, at the road junction, stands the timber-framed Black Horse Inn [326,inn,Bass &Co]. As in 1831, the occupant in 1841 was Samuel Parks (45) publican with Hannah (30) and two children. Like No 1 Black Horse Hill, this was thatched - until the roof was destroyed by fire. The photograph of the Bull Ring (c.1900?) shows both thatched roofs and a sign on the Black Horse: Marstons Burton Ales. The aerial view shows Hill House, the Black Horse and old shop.

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Mowbys [Mawbys] Lane

Mr Hague now returned to [327] - Nos 2 & 4 Mawbys Lane. At that time these were four cottages occupied by: Israel Stretton (60) ag lab with Hannah (55), Jane and Thomas (both aged 20); John Wright (60) ag lab with Catherine (60) and George Haywood (6); and Charles Brooks (50) ag lab with Richard (12) and Abraham (8). The fourth cottage was empty.

Three cottages next door [338,3c,GM] were probably occupied by William Haywood (25) ag lab with Frances (25) and Elizabeth (2); Joseph Harrison (65) ag lab with Joseph Putney (7); and Sarah Stubbs (40) ag lab [sic] and six children. No 6 occupies this ground today.

Over at the back, in the area which is now Hillside, lay another cottage [337,c,Miss Grew] occupied in 1831 and 1841 by George Parker (35) joiner with Ann (40). The house alongside the lane at [339,H,GM] was probably occupied by George Hear (35) grocer with Ann (40); and John (9) and Mary (5) Lees. This is Rock House No 8 where, until recently, the shop was a butcher's.

Across the road were two cottages [340,2c,GM] which now form No 7. One was occupied by William Godfrey (30) bricklayer with Mary (30) and two children; the other probably by John Bowley (70) malster with Ann (60) and John (10). Another malster William Saddington (30) lived at [343,H+malthouse,John Bowley]. This is now Nos 25 & 27, the latter being the current Post Office and shop. With him were Elizabeth (30), two Saddington children, Mary Dewhurst (25), and two servants John Cole (21) and Sarah Langley (14).

Moat House

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At the Moat House [309,FH, Bosworth School Trustees] lived Thomas Taverner (45), farmer, with William (20) farmer, John (12), Charles (10) & George (6); and Ann (45) with Mary (20), Kezia (8) & Frances (2) [recorded in that order]. The Taverners had been in Appleby Magna since the early 17th century, most probably as tenants of the Dixies at the manor farm (Moat House) (3). The Moat House land occupied part of the large Leicestershire 'island'. The picture shows the building as a decaying farmhouse with the moat silted up and grassed over.

Alms House(s)

The Almshouses were recently constructed (1839) opposite the Church in part of the field known as Pool Yard [347] and also in Leicestershire. During the medieval period the parsonage occupied this site (4). The residents of the five dwellings in 1841 were Hannah Litherland (75) with Mary Wheeley [?] (45) both poor widows; John Glenn (70) ag lab with Jane (70) and Elizabeth Pold[?] (45); Nathaniel Godfrey (60) ag lab with Mary (60) and Mary Meads (40); Catherine Brown (45) cook living alone; and Thomas Page (85) tailor with Hannah (80), Joseph (15), Hannah Stevenson (30) and baby Louisa (1).

Golden Way (Rectory Lane)

On the corner at the bottom of Golden Way (now Nos 1& 3 Measham Road) the two cottages [359,2c,GM] were occupied by John Pointon (50) servant with Ann (50), George (20) and 3 younger children; and John Jones (25) bricklayer with Sarah (25) and two children. Further up the lane was [362,c,Own] occupied by William Skellett (65) farrier with William (25) blacksmith, John (20) farrier and Elizabeth and Barbara (both 15). This is the site of Nos 4 & 6 Rectory Lane. Note on the map the back lane, long since enclosed, running behind these properties.

The next properties in Golden Way, now No 8 Rectory Lane, were [365,2c,Nathaniel Tunnadine]. These were occupied by John Watwood (80) independent with Sarah Taverner (25) and Catherine Taverner (50); and John Plant (45) ag lab with Esther (60) and Nathaniel Godfrey (30) ag lab with Elizabeth (20). A third unoccupied dwelling, perhaps a further subdivision of the whole property, is listed with these.

The Rectory

The Rectory [96], now the Old Rectory, was situated further up Golden Way (and just off the map). This is a substantial Georgian House with a small range of farm buildings all built c.1799 to replace the parsonage mentioned above. The Rector of Appleby in 1841 was John Echalaz (40) living with Charlotte (35), five children, Elizabeth Alsager (40) independent and five female servants.

Butt Yard Cottage

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Mr Hague next turned back across the fields to the group of cottages lying between Golden Way and Bowleys Lane. First he visited Butt Yard Cottage, non-existant in 1831, but later known as Glebe Cottage [103]. It stood on the edge of the area of Dormers Hall Close, which had been excavated for brick clay, also known as Butt Yard(see map). The occupant in 1841 was probably John Walton (40) with Jane (40) and three children.

Brick Kiln Yard

The Brick Kiln Piecewas a further excavated area (and part of Leicestershire – see map) stretching down to Bowleys Lane (5). There were three cottages in the Yard. In the cottage furthest from the lane [107,c,Miss Sarah Wathew], which appears in 1841 as two households, lived Elizabeth Clark (40) independent with Robert (17); and probably George Bates (40) bricklayers lab. with Amy (40) and Ann (7). Nearer the lane were a pair of cottages [108,2c,Miss Sarah Wathew] (now 30 Bowleys Lane) where lived Thomas Morley (40) ag lab with Mary (60); and probably Henry Baker (55) clockmaker with Elizabeth (50) and two young children Harriet (4) and Richard (3). As we saw in the last article Henry's mother Amy, widow of Henry Baker (1761-1826) the previous clockmaker, was living in the Duck Lake property associated with the later clockmakers Baker and Reeves. It appears that Henry Baker was not yet occupying the cottage near his workshop because his mother was living there, perhaps deriving income from boarders and sub-tenants.

Church Street

Nearby Church Street Farm [105,FH,GM] was occupied by James Parker (50) farmer with Mary (50), William (25) farmer, Sarah (25), Thomas (20) farmer and John Anscombe (30) schoolmaster. The Parkers can be traced back in Appleby parish registers to before 1600. By contrast, John Anscombe was a new arrival, being appointed School Writing Master in 1838 on Mr Hague's promotion to English Master (6).

Mr Hague continued his route down the east side of the street. Next to the church was a house with garden and orchard [307,H,Miss Frances Smith] probably occupied by Sarah Tylecote (70) independent with Elizabeth Brown (15) as servant. Now No 17 Church Street, this later housed two shops. Here is the last surviving Victorian shop front in the village. Next door the cottage [306,c,GM], now No 21, was probably occupied by James Hatton (55) shoemaker with Sarah (55), George (20), Merick[?] (15) and Elizabeth (13). The village Post Office was run from this cottage before it was transferred to Munday's shop on Black Horse Hill illustrated above (7).

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In 1831, the buildings comprising the Crown Inn (No 23) were described as 3 cottages, buildings & gardens [305,3c, Jno Moore] and there were three households in 1841. As in 1831, James Yardley (45) publican was one householder, with Alice (35), six Yardley children; John (14) and Elizabeth (12) Mellon; and John Stretton (15) servant. The other two households were probably those of Joseph Kirk (30) ag lab with Mary (25) and three children; and Thomas Squelch (80) blacksmith with Sarah (70). Church Street Farmhouse, the Crown Inn and adjacent houses (Nos 17 & 21) may be seen in the picture.

The next two cottages (now Nos 25 & 27) [303,2c, Thos Boss senr] were occupied by Elizabeth Neal (55) poor widow with Ann (30) and 3 younger children; and probably Samuel Davis (30) shoemaker with Ann (30), Thomas (?2), and Elizabeth (55). Listed with these were John Davis (30) shoemaker with Hannah (25).

Next door in 1831/32 was a cottage and blacksmith's shop [302,c + blacksmith's shop, GM] located on the Leicestershire 'island'. By 1841 this may have been replaced by two cottages, now Nos 29 & 31. One was not yet occupied, but in the other lived Samuel Litherland (65) blacksmith with Mary (65) and Mary Wilson (30). Much later the smithy itself was converted into a house (No 33). There is some uncertainty about the ocupancy and even existence of some of the houses in this part of Church Street, because demolition and replacement of properties make it difficult to find a correspondence between the 1831 Map & Reference and the 1841 Census return. Another example, the 1831 cottage [159,c,GM] on the corner of Bowleys Lane was probably demolished by 1841. However the occupants of two of the three cottages next door [160,3c,GM] are recognisable: John Gent (50) ag lab with Ann (50), George (25) ag lab, Amy (14)and Mary (10); and Thomas Plant (30) ag lab with Rhoda (30) and 4 children. The third cottage was probably occupied by Thomas Wilkins (45) ag lab with Elizabeth (45), William (20) tailor and four other Wilkins children.

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Across the street the house [301,H,Mrs Mary Hill] was probably occupied by Kezia Taverner (75) independent with Jane (?55) and Jane (15). This substantial property (now Nos 33-37 ) later became a shop. Nos 25-31, the smithy and shop are shown in the picture.

It also seems likely that Mary Orvill[?] (30) school mistress and Martha (25), who boarded four apparently unrelated children aged 6 to 10 years, were in the next house lower down the street [298,H,GM]. This property which later became an ironmonger's shop was in Leicestershire, as were all the cottages opposite (see map). Nos 59 – 63 occupy this area now. The C19th terrace, Nos 39 to 51 Church Street, had not yet been built.

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Back on the west side, at [161,3c,Thomas Garner], changes were afoot. In 1832 one cottage was empty and the others occupied by Thos Garner and Jno Plant. In 1841 one cottage is identified as occupied by Thomas Garner (50) farmer with Mary (50), John (30) farmer, William (25) bricklayer, Sarah (25), four other children and Richard Linchark[?] (25) joiner. A second cottage was empty and a third, listed next, was building ie under construction. By 1846 Thomas Garner had a beerhouse here (8) and about this time the property became the Queen Adelaide Inn. Queen Adelaide was a frequent visitor to these parts in the 1840s, staying with the Earl Howe at Gopsall Hall (9).

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Set back from the street (and later Nos 36 & 38) the next cottages [162,2c,Jno Moore] were probably occupied by Ann Newman (70) independent with Mary Ison (25) mantua maker; and William Hatton (25) shoemaker with Sarah (25), Charles (1) and Charles Hatton (15) joiner's apprentice. In 1831, our enumerator schoolmaster Edwin Hague was living here. The following pictures show the Adelaide Inn not long before demolition, one of the old cottages (No 36) before alteration and the street near the (later) ironmonger's shop.

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The last cottages on the west side of Church Street [163,3c, General Baptist Society] were associated with the General Baptist Chapel which stood next to them and had been built in 1820. Although listed as 3 cottages in 1831, by 1841 there were 4 one of which was unoccupied – maybe newly built. The occupants of the others were Samuel Wileman (75) tailor with Henry (20) painter; Catherine Bakewell (80) and Elizabeth Wyatt (75) both poor widows; and probably Thomas Pointon (40) servant with Sarah (35) and 3 children including a 2 week old baby boy, as yet unnamed. This terrace was decorated with curious figures built into the brickwork and was known to the village as Monkey Row. The houses and chapel were demolished in the 1970s and later replaced by Nos 40 & 44 Church Street.

The very last property visited by Mr Hague was known as The Cottage in the1840s (7). This house [172,H,GM] was later known as The Beeches. Today it is called The Charter House. In 1841 as in 1831 the occupant was Joseph Taylor (50) surgeon. With him were Ann (40), Louisa (20), five younger children, and their servants Maria Smith (20), Ann Payne (15) and William Thompson (15).

Notes and References

1. Map of the Parish of Great and Little Appleby in the counties of Leicester and Derby, 1832 and Reference to the Map of the Parish of Great and Little Appleby in the Counties of Derby and Leicester, 1831, Trustees of the Sir John Moore Foundation.

2. Appleby Parish Registers, burial:Catharine Parker, widow, Oct 24 1827, aged 76.

3. Appleby Parish Registers: (1) Mr Richard Dixie buried Dec 23 1627; (2) Woollston son of Thomas & Joyce Tabernor bap Aug 17 1628. Richard Dixie, whose brother Sir Wolstan Dixie of Market Bosworth had bought Appleby Magna manor, farmed the Appleby estate until his death. It appears that Thomas Taverner took over the tenancy immediately afterwards. The choice of the name Woollston for the Taverners' son hints at a close connection with the Dixies. For more about the history of the Moat House see In Focus 7.

4. In Focus 6 (Site of early parsonage)

5. In Focus 11 (Dormer's Hall) gives more details about brick working at Butt Yard and Brick Kiln Yard.

6. The first Parker in the Appleby Parish Registers, is found in the year 1593. For school masters, see R Dunmore, This Noble Foundation, 1992.

7. Aubrey Moore, A Son of the Rectory, Alan Sutton, 1982, p84. This book includes an account of Appleby village and villagers of the author's youth, pre-1914.

8. White's Directory of Leicestershire 1846 &c.

9. I know of no direct evidence that Queen Adelaide visited Appleby but the balcony of Appleby Church, which was extensively renovated in the 1830s, carries her arms carved in wood.

Postscript to In Focus 19 to 22, The Appleby Census of 1841

ENUMERATORS FOR THE 1841 CENSUS

At the time of writing these articles, I commented that I had no note of the enumerator of the Leicestershire part of Appleby in 1841 (see In Focus 19, Note 4). I have now had another look at the original returns and the Leicestershire enumerator was another schoolmaster at Appleby Grammar School, the young Writing Master Mr John Anscombe.

So the three masters of Appleby Grammar School each covered a part of the village:

the Leicestershire part : Mr John Anscombe, Writing Master,

the Derbyshire part: Mr Edwin Hague, English Master and

Appleby Grammar School itself, Mr Charles Mackie, Headmaster.

The Headmaster was clearly in charge. He reserved the least onerous task for himself, recording all eleven people who were resident at the school!

Mr Anscombe's writing, incidentally, was immaculate, as befits a Writing Master.

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