25 & 25A St Mary Street

Licensees of The Horse Shoe Inn

The beerhouse on the junction of St Mary Street and Horseshoe Lane operated from about 1856 to 1907.  It was called 'The Horse Shoe Inn' from the 1871 census onwards, although it may have been called that earlier.  It is interesting to see a sheet of etched glass in Thornbury Museum which was taken from the pub window - as the photo on the right shows it calls the pub "Horse Shoes Inn".

Click here to read about the OWNERS of the Horseshoe

On this webpage we have listed what we know about the licensees and their families:

Ephraim Wilson - a newspaper article dated 17th September 1859 mentions that Ephraim was 'of the Horseshoe beerhouse' when he was driving his potato cart back from Bristol when Daniel Iles fell off and was killed.  The 1859 Rate Book shows Ephraim was occupying the property.  The 1861 census shows that the Horseshoe was occupied by Ephraim Wilson, a beerhouse keeper and potato dealer.  A trade directory shows Ephraim as a beer retailer in St Mary street as early as 1856 so it is likely he moved there shortly after Emma Wilkes moved out following her marriage to Henry Knapp in 1853.

Ephraim was baptised on 25th February 1826, the son of James Wilson, a farmer from Crossways and his wife, Elizabeth.   Ephraim was not living with his parents at their home in Crossways in the 1841 census.  On 2nd March 1845, Ephraim married Charlotte Parsons, the daughter of Henry Parsons, a labourer.  The 1841 census shows that Charlotte had already left home and she was living with John Thatcher a journeyman shoemaker aged 25 in Back Street (later known as 8 St Mary's Street) and that Charlotte had a son, Henry Enoch Parsons aged 5 months.  He was baptised on 31st October 1841.

In 1851 Ephraim was living at the house later known as 1 Bath Road.  He was described as a "potato hallier" aged 25 living with his wife, Charlotte, aged 28 from Cheddar and Henry Parsons aged 11, a son of Charlotte's from before her marriage.  Also in the household were; Ephraim's sister, Hannah Wilson aged 13, a visitor Lucy Ashwell aged 23 from Bristol and her son, Edwin aged 2 and lodgers, Martha Cullimore unmarried laundress aged 60, Thomas Savery a journeyman clock and watchmaker aged 57, his wife, Elizabeth aged 60, and their son, Robert an agricultural labourer aged 19.

By the 1861 census Ephraim had moved the family to St Mary Street where he was operating a beerhouse which was later to be given the name of the Horse Shoe.  He was also still working as a potato dealer so presumably Charlotte was running the beerhouse whilst Ephraim was away.  They now had a daughter, Annie aged 3, a servant, Hannah Hollister aged 16 who was described as 'maid of all work' and a lodger, Samuel Gough, a cordwainer aged 55.

Charlotte died aged 40 and was buried on 28th September 1862 and Ephraim died aged 37 and buried on 5th July 1863.  The beerhouse was then taken over by Ephraim's brother, Thomas Wilson.

Thomas Wilson - took over the running of the Horse Shoe following the death of his brother, Ephraim in 1863. 

Thomas was the son of James Wilson, a "hallier" and labourer and his wife, Elizabeth who lived in Grovesend Slade and Crossways.  Thomas was baptised on 11 July 1830.  On 26th October 1848, Thomas joined the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Artillery in Bristol, claiming his age was 20 years.  Prior to joining the Army he was a labourer.  He was to serve for almost 11 years, being discharged on medical grounds in September 1859.  He had been fighting in the Crimean War when he was kicked by a horse on his right ankle, making him lame in 1857.  After this accident, he was transferred back to England.  On 17 January 1859, Thomas married Anna Maria Camm in Thornbury.  Anna was baptised on 4 May 1831, the daughter of Joseph Camm, a carpenter and his wife, Maria who lived in St Mary Street.  Thomas's discharge papers reported that his conduct had been 'exemplary'.  He had been promoted to "Serjeant" and had received one Good Conduct Badge, and was entitled to another when discharged.  He was awarded a Silver Medal for Services in the Crimea and a clasp for the siege of Sebastopol in 1854.   The papers also give a full description of Thomas on his discharge - aged 30.5 years, 5ft 10 inches, dark brown hair, grey eyes and fresh complexion.  He was awarded a pension of 10d per day, initially on a yearly basis, but in 1865 this became permanent. 

In 1859 Thomas placed an advert in the newspapers showing he had started a carrier business operating between Thornbury and Bristol on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.  The 1861 census shows Thomas and Anna were living at the house which later became known as 21 St Mary Street.  Thomas was described as a 'Chelsea Pensioner and Carrier' and Anna described as a grocer.  A daughter, Mary Ann aged 1 month and Thomas's brother, James, a cordwainer aged 17 were living with them.  In 1865, Thomas purchased number 21 St John Street from George Wiltshire at a cost of £130.  He never lived the house, continuing to live in  St Mary Street, and allowing the house in St John Street to be let to tenants.

In the 1871 census, Thomas is shown as a beerhouse keeper (employing one man) at the Horse Shoe Inn in St Mary Street.  In addition to Mary Ann, they now had Henry Charles aged 6, Maria aged 5 and Laura aged 1.  A niece, Annie aged 13 was also living with them and assisting in the business.  The 1881 census shows Thomas and Anna Maria still in the Horse Shoe.  Thomas is described a a grocer and pensioner.  They had had two more children since the last census - Joseph Thomas aged 9 and John aged 6.

Thomas died on 4th January 1882 aged 51 years.  By his will dated 2 January 1880, Thomas Wilson, described as a grocer and beerhouse keeper, bequeathed his estate to his wife, Anna Maria. 

Anna Maria died on 16 November 1885 aged 54 years.  In her will  Anna Maria Wilson, described as being 'of the Horse Shoe Inn in Thornbury', appointed  for her Trustees her brother in law, George Wilson, a wheelwright of 15 Thomas Street, St Phillips in Bristol and Thomas Honeyborne, a butcher from Morton.  These Trustees were directed to continue to carry on the business of a public house until her youngest child reached the age of 21 years, if it was a boy, or attain that age or should marry, if it was a girl.  They were directed to sell and convert into money her real estate and residuary personal estate, although they could delay the sale unto they saw fit.    Her will was proved by George Wilson, her brother-in-law and Thomas Honeyborne on 9th February 1886.   George Wilson died on 5th September 1892 by which time they had not yet sold number 21 St John Street.  It was however sold on 25 March 1896.  He sold it for £212 10s to Albert Edward Bevan, a boot and shoe maker from Thornbury. 

The Horse Shoe was taken over by Thomas and Anna Maria's son, Henry Charles.

Henry Charles Wilson - Charles took over the running of the Horse Shoe Inn following the death of his mother in 1885.  He is listed as a beer retailer and shopkeeper in a 1889 trade directory.  The 1891 census shows Henry Charles as a publican aged 26 living with his sister, Laura aged 22 and brothers, Joseph Thomas a saddler aged 19 and John a butcher aged 16 and a cousin, Annie, aged 33.

A newspaper report dated September 1892 shows that Henry Charles had got into trouble.  At the annual licensing meeting there was objection to the renewal of his licence on account of an unspecified conviction under the Licensing Act.  It was however noted that since the conviction the house had been thoroughly well conducted and it was decided not to proceed with any action. 

The 1894 Rate Book shows Henry Charles had left the Horse Shoe and it had been taken over by his brother-in-law, William Charles Underhill, the husband of his sister, Laura. 

In 1895 Henry Charles married Kate Coggins in the Bristol area.  The 1901 census shows Henry Charles and Kate living in Park Lane, Chippenham.  Henry was a carpenter and joiner aged 36, Kate seems to have been a widow.  As Kate Elson she married Daniel Isaac Coggins in Bedminster in 1887.  They had a daughter, Frances Kate born in 1888 and a son, Ernest Daniel born in 1890 before Daniel died in 1890 aged 27.  In 1901 Henry Charles and Kate were living with Frances and Ernest and two children of their own: Gladys aged 3 and Thomas aged 1.

Charles Underhill - the 1894 Rate book shows William Charles had taken over the Horse Shoe Inn from his brother-in-law, Henry Charles Wilson. 

Charles was baptised William Charles at St Mary’s in Thornbury on 5 July 1868.  He was the son of William and Annie Underhill.  William was a labourer at that time but in 1889 he took over as beer-house keeper at the 'Queens Head', situated on the corner of the High Street and Chapel Street.  Various directories and Charles’s marriage record show that his father was also a carrier running a daily service to Bristol.

Charles also acquired an interest in running pubs.  On 28 December 1893 he married Laura Wilson, the daughter of Thomas Wilson who had been the licensee of 'The Horse Shoe' from 1871 until his death in 1882.  The licence was then taken over first by his widow, Ann Maria, and then following her death in 1885 by her son, Henry Charles Wilson.  However in 1894 shortly after Charles and Laura’s marriage, Charles Underhill took over as beer-house keeper.  Charles left The Horse Shoe in 1898 and moved to 'The Porter Stores', which is now known as 'The Barrel'.  He didn't stay there long.  By 1899 Charles had given up The Porters Stores to his brother, Frederick.  The 1899 Rate book shows William Charles Underhill as occupying the house at 20 Gloucester Road. 

The 1901 census shows us Charles was working as a 'Carrier - at home'.  He and Laura had a daughter, Irene , aged 7 months.  We assume that he was working as a carrier for his father on the daily service to Bristol.

We note by 1904 Charles and Laura had moved to Pullins Green and in the 1905 Rate Book he is living at 1 Horseshoe Lane, the cottage which faced on to Pullins Green.  Charles died in 1909 aged only 41. 

The 1899 Rate Book shows the Horse Shoe was vacant. 

Mills - we understand from local pub historian, George Ford, that John Mills was a licensee for a short time in 1900.  The Bristol Mercury of 22nd June 1899 reports that the licence of the Horseshoe beerhouse was transferred from William Charles Underhill to James Mills.

Amy Emblin - a news paper cutting of 1900 shows that Miss Amy Emblin from Nailsea had taken over the licence at the Horse Shoe Inn.  The 1901 census shows that Amy Emblin was the innkeeper, a single lady aged 30 born in Marshfield.  Her uncle, John Roberts, a widower aged 50 from Saltash in Cornwall was also living there.  She seems to have given up the licence in 1902 and in 1903 she married Frank Propert Peters.

Everett Delatour Cotterell - took over the licence in 1902 and was the publican at the Horse Shoe until 1904. We don't know anything about  Everett except he and his wife, Gertrude Irene, had a daughter, Elsie Evelyn.  She was baptised on 1st February 1903 and the baptism record shows Everett as publican in St Mary Street.

Henry Thomas Holmes  - took over the lease for the property on 5th September 1904.  His address previously was Chesham House, Lower Station Road, Staple Hill, Bristol and he is noted in the lease documents as having been a builder and contractor.     The Council School records show that the Holmes family moved from Fishponds to Thornbury in 1904.  They had two children at the school: Violet Maud born on 4th April 1896 and Edgar born on 24th March 1898.  One other child, Graham Archibald William was baptised on 21st November 1907.  The baptism record shows Thomas's wife was Lavinia.  Henry had married Lavinia Perry in the Barton Regis area of Bristol in 1895.  Henry ran the Horse Shoe until  it closed in 1907 and the school records show the family left Thornbury that year.

This page was last updated: 17/04/2012