28 and 28A Castle Street

The Eddingtons

Click here to read about the earlier owners of 28 and 28A Castle Street.

The 1876 Rate Book shows that Thomas Eddington lived in this house but that it was owned by George Danvers Crossman.  It seems that Thomas Eddington eventually bought the properties because the 1885, 1890  and 1894 Rate Books show that he owned the two properties  and  that he occupied one while the other was occupied by James Telling (or Tilling).

The 1891 Census shows Thomas Eddington lived in the larger property.  He was a 59 year old house decorator with a wife Elizabeth and their five children.  Edward, the eldest son was 26 and a printer and stationer and solicitor’s clerk.  Charles was 23 and a printer and compositor.  Robert who was a carpenter was aged 20.  Ellen was 18 and not at work.  William aged 14 was still at school.  They had an eight year old child called Mary Baker visiting them.

The photograph on the right is of Thomas Eddington in 1896.  It appeared with the rest of the Gleemen on a testimonial to Henry Privett Thurston in appreciation of the work he had done for the Gleemen Society, a singing group that was well known in Thornbury and the surrounding area.  The family seems to have musical talent.  The testimonial includes photos of Charles (shown here below left) and even young William (shown here below right).

The Censuses show that Thomas was the son of William and Jane Eddington (nee Tanner).  In 1841 Thomas's father, William Eddington, was a plasterer, but by 1851 he described himself as a painter aged 49 who was born in Berkeley in Gloucestershire.  His son Thomas assisted him in the business.  The family lived in "Colwell Street" which is now known as "The Plain".

Thomas Eddington married Elizabeth Webb in the December quarter of 1853.  Elizabeth was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Webb of Crossways.  In 1841 she was living with them and her siblings, Henry, Ellen and Ann.

By 1861 Thomas and Elizabeth Eddington had moved to a property at 28 Castle Street.  In this Census Thomas was described as a painter employing one man and aged 29 years.  Elizabeth was 28 years old and had been born at Crossways.   They had two sons at this time; Elwin aged six and Harry aged two.  They also had a lodger, Elizabeth's father, John Webb aged 63 and a carpenter.

As was only too common at this time at this time the Eddingtons lost at least two of their children.  Their first daughter called Ellen died on November 22nd 1872 aged 6 years.  Another daughter, Amy, died on May 29th 1880 aged 18 years.

Thomas Eddington died on September 6th 1896 aged 66 years.  In his memory a wooden press was placed in the vestry of St Mary's Church in Thornbury with the inscription "In memory of Thomas Henry Eddington for 43 years a Member of this Choir.  At Rest September 6th 1896."

The 1899 Rate Book shows that the two properties were now owned by Elizabeth Eddington; one of these  was occupied by Elizabeth  herself and one  was occupied by James Tilling.

The 1901 Census shows that Elizabeth was now a widow living on her own means with her son William aged 24 a tailor and Kate Hoptroff aged 27 who was a lodger.  Kate was a schoolmistress at the National School from Croombridge in Kent.  Elizabeth Eddington died October 21st 1908 aged 74 years.

Of their children

Edward - in the 1891 Census Edward was a stationer and printer and solicitor's clerk.  In 1894 on September 15th Edward then aged 30 and a printer married a 35 year old widow called Ellen Wells.  Ellen's father was John Savery who had a  blacksmith's business which became well known in Thornbury.  The 1894 Rate Book shows that Edward lived in the High Street in Thornbury.  The 1901 Census shows that Edward and Ellen were living next to the Swan Hotel in Thornbury High Street.  Edward was a solicitor's clerk still as well as a printer and stationer.  They had two daughters; Nellie Wells aged 13 who was a child of Ellen's earlier marriage and Amy Eddington then aged 5.  We have Trade Directories which show that Edward traded here until at least 1904.  After this time his name does not appear in Trade Directories or Electoral Rolls in Thornbury.

Click here to read about Charles Eddington lived in number 7 Pullins Green in Thornbury.

Click here to read about Ellen Eddington.  On 7th September 1899 she married Leonard Pitcher the son of another well known figure in Thornbury, the builder Walter William Pitcher.  The photograph on the right shows Ellen and Leonard at a family wedding.

Robert Eddington - at this stage we know nothing about Robert who was born in the December quarter of 1870.

William Eddington - continued to live at 28 Castle Street.  He was a tailor.  We know that in 1891 he was apprenticed to Thomas Cox Smith the tailor at Porch House in Castle Street.  A newspaper cutting given to us by Mrs Cochrane shows that William earned two shillings (10 pence) a week for his first year which rose to 8/6 (42 1/2 pence) a week for the fifth year of the apprenticeship.  He worked from 7am to 7pm but was allowed one hour for dinner and 30 minutes each for a breakfast and tea break.

The Electoral Roll shows that William's wife was Mabel Eddington.  This is probably the marriage which took place in the Long Ashton district of Bristol in 1907.  It seems likely that the property was sold to share the proceeds amongst the heirs because the 1910 Rate Book shows that Edwin Salmon now owned the house.  However it seems that William continued to live here and to rent the property. 

The 1911 Census shows that William and Mabel were living in the house that is now 42 Castle Street.  They had been married for three years and had one child Thomas Clement Eddington aged 2.  They had a visitor Edward Eddington a laundry proprietor and Nellie Wells a draper's assistant.

He was definitely living in Castle Street on 11th July 1917 because we have the Sale Catalogue for that date by Crossman's solicitors and Luce Young and Alpass Auctioneers.  The catalogue has lot five "property of Mrs E J Salmon situate on the east side of Castle Street Thornbury in the occupation of Mr William Eddington for £16 0s 0d per annum.  The house contains front and back sitting rooms Kitchen back kitchen wash house and coal shed three bedrooms on first floor and two attics over and a large work shop. There is a side entrance and gas and water are laid on." 

William's name continued to appear in the Electoral Rolls for Castle Street until at least 1946.  However it seems that at some stage he moved down to 42 Castle Street.  It seems likely that he moved down to that house about 1918 because this is when  the Mills family came to live in Castle Street and appeared to live at this address.  This would fit with the date of the sale of the house in 1917.

We have an image of a receipt on the right from William Eddington the tailor.  His address is Castle Street which at the time of the receipt, 1921, would have been 42 Castle Street.  The receipt is for £8 for a black serge coat and skirt and is signed with thanks by C. Eddington.  This would appear to be William's brother Charles who was a printer.  Perhaps Charles also helped with the accounts for the tailoring business.

We also know that William's first wife Mabel died in the December quarter of 1922 aged 44.  The records of St Mary's Church in Thornbury show that at the age of 51 he remarried on 12th November 1927.  His second wife was Rose Fry aged 52, who was a spinster and the daughter of William Fry a farmer.  Sadly Rose did not live very long and died in the September quarter of 1929 aged only 54.  William's third wife was Elizabeth James whom he married in the June quarter of 1937.

Elwin Eddington - the 1881 Census shows him as a lodger in Wharf Road Newbury aged 26 and a painter.  He is living with the family of Thomas Rawlins a plumber.   At this stage we know nothing about Elwin Eddington.

Click here to read about Harry Eddington who lived in 8 St John Street in Thornbury.

The Rate Book of 1910 shows that Edwin Salmon came to own the properties at 28 Castle Street.  

Click here to read more about Edwin Salmon.

Click here to read about the Mills family who later owned the houses

Click here to read about the earliest owners of the houses

This page was last updated: 29/01/2012