​Bemerton HISTORY
preserving the past for the future
YOUR HOUSE
Who lived here?
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1 Cecil Terrace
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The cottage was occupied in 1901 by Jane Crockett, a dressmaker working from home, living with her five sons, a daughter, a niece and a boarder. One of her sons, Frank, was working as a baker’s boy at the age of 12. Despite the size of the family, boarders were often a means of supplementing the family income. Jane’s boarder, John Flowers, worked locally as a brickmaker. By 1911 the house was occupied by George Edwards and his wife Eveline and young son. George was the Club Steward of the Bemerton Social Club in Lower Road.
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2 Cecil Terrace
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In 1897 Tom Boardman and his wife had five children. Tom was a railway carriage examiner. By 1911, Wilf Read, his wife Mary of eight years and their two daughters lived in the cottage. Wilf was a blacksmith and their boarder, 22-year-old George Speck, was a wheelwright.
3 Cecil Terrace
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The first known resident of this house in 1897 was William Shumer, a carpenter. In 1901 his widow, Mary, lived here with her 25-year-old son, Joseph Pickett. He was employed as a railway engine stoker operating out of the Salisbury depot. His job involved tending the fire of a steam engine’s boiler, a role similar to that of a railway fireman. Mary Shumer later moved to 15 Cecil Terrace.
During the 1940s Mrs Cutler and her son Arthur lived in the property, while Mr Cutler was away serving in the Army. The Cutlers accommodated evacuated children from Portsmouth and Mrs Cutler played her part in the war effort by ironing clothes for the American soldiers stationed nearby.
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4 Cecil Terrace
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Mr T Grace, a foreman in the nearby railway yards, was the first occupant in 1897. Walter and Jane Phillips were here in 1901 with their four young children. Walter was a house painter by trade. The family also had a boarder, Henry Stokes, who was a 68-year-old shepherd. In 1911 the Mussells lived in the property. Ernie Mussell was a bricklayer’s labourer and lived here with his wife May and their three young children.
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5 Cecil Terrace
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In 1901 Martha Noyce and her two young children were living here alone. There was no indication as to where Martha’s husband was. Martha had moved on by 1909 when the cottage was occupied by the Stone family, along with Mrs Shute who had moved from The Cote in Lower Road.
Charles Gale, his wife Fanny, their son (also called Charles) and three young daughters lived in this house in 1911. Charles senior was a railway coalman and his son was employed in the Scout motor works planing wood for use in the bodywork of cars.
6 Cecil Terrace
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Mrs Stokes, a laundress, lived here in 1897. Edward Chamberlain was a coachman in 1901 and lived with his wife, Louisa, four children and his widowed mother-in-law, Amelia Gale. By 1911 the cottage was occupied by Fred Harding who was a railway engine stoker. He lived with his wife Annie and their two children. Annie’s sister, 23-year-old Lettie Taylor, a tailoress, also lived with the Hardings.
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7 Cecil Terrace
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Edward Martin, a painter and decorator, and his family were resident in 1897. Sidney Burridge was an engineer’s labourer and lived here in 1901 with his wife Kate and their four children. Arthur Bettridge, a young bricklayer, boarded with them. The house was empty at the time of the 1911 census.
8 Cecil Terrace
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Mrs Porter was the first to occupy the house in 1897. John Newton, a brewer’s clerk, and his wife Dora were here in 1901 with their young daughters Lily, Dolly and Daisy. In 1911 Fred Elliott was working as a turntable-man in the locomotive department of the nearby railway yards. He lived with his wife Alice and their two young sons. Eliza Harding, a 34-year-old single lady, employed as a laundress, was staying with them as a visitor.
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9 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 1 Railway Terrace, Harry Bessant and his family were here in 1911. Harry was a railway fireman and he lived with his wife Alice and their two children. Ethel Stone, a 15-year-old girl, was staying as a visitor.
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10 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 2 Railway Terrace, George Wood occupied the cottage in 1911. He and his wife Ellen were 23 years old and lived with their two young sons. George was employed as a railway engine stoker. Lilly Phillips, whose husband was in Canada, also lived in the cottage along with her two young daughters.
11 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 3 Railway Terrace, the property was occupied by Alfred Prewett, a 29-year-old single man who was employed in 1911 as a bricklayer’s labourer.
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12 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 4 Railway Terrace, Alfred Dredge, a domestic gardener for one of the big houses, was living in the cottage in 1911 with his wife Emily and their three children.
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13 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 5 Railway Terrace, the head of this household in 1911 was Fred Warne, a 24-year-old single man. His widowed mother Jane was living with him. Both Fred and their boarder, Hugh Moore, were employed as railway engine stokers.
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14 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 6 Railway Terrace, the cottage was occupied in 1911 by John Coombs. Rhoda, his wife of 15 years, and Rhoda’s elder sister Elizabeth Leech, joined him. John was a brickmaker’s labourer and Elizabeth was a dressmaker.
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15 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 7 Railway Terrace, Mary Shumer - who previously lived at 3 Cecil Terrace with her son Joseph – lived here in 1911 with another son Henry who was employed as a tailor.
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This house and No 16, next door, were owned by (Aunty) Minnie Lucas, who worked as a parlour maid in Bemerton House before retiring to Elm Cottage, both on Lower Road.
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16 Cecil Terrace
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Previously known as 8 Railway Terrace, this cottage was occupied by Edward Brazier and his family from 1925 until 1960. Edward’s wife was known as Edith and their children were called Alice and William.
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This house and No 14, next door, were owned by (Aunty) Minnie Lucas, who worked as a parlour maid in Bemerton House before retiring to Elm Cottage, both on Lower Road.