We are ready (are we ?) to leave behind Part 4.
Letter 18 was a short one from Enquirer pursuing the possibility of ‘an old fellows” reunion, and simultaneously Bath Street returned with Letter 19.
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Letter 19
I like to think of (Ilkeston) when, from Rice’s-lane to the Slack-road, ….. instead of piles of bricks and mortar of varying styles of architecture, ancient and modern, there were green fields, Mason’s and Twells’s closes, and a murmuring stream, the old runlet. Rice’s-lane was so called from Mr. Samuel Rice, who kept a few cows and lived about half-way down the lane.
At the bottom of the lane was the humble edifice where the Primitive Methodists of that day worshipped God …
James Smith, shoemaker, who came to an untimely end in the Queen’s Head Inn, also lived in the lane.
Question 81 and 82. What were Rice’s-lane and Slack-road later called, names which they keep today ? (2 marks !!)
Question 83. In Ilkeston ’50 years ago’ where was ‘the bottom‘ of Rice’s-lane (i.e. where did it end) ?
Question 84. James Smith, shoemaker, also lived in Rice’s-lane, being married to Samuel Rice’s sister, Elizabeth. Who was the landlord of the Queen’s Head Inn when James met his untimely end ?
Mr. Moses Mason, senr., was a well-known tradesman of those days, and his blue candles had more than a local reputation. Mr. Critchley was a noted butcher in the Thirties. Mr. W. Riley was his apprentice, also, I believe, Mr. John Mellor. The latter still lives a worthy and honoured citizen of the borough. The former was a capital man of business, and admirable judge of beasts, and excellent company, but somewhat unfortunate, and spent his last days in Canada. ….
Opposite to Riley’s was the Poplar Tavern. The landlord in the early Forties was Elijah Ellis.
Just below Riley’s lived Mr. and Mrs. Twells, grandparents of the present butcher of that name. They were very quiet, worthy people, and had the respect of all who knew them. Their only son, William, was apprenticed with Mr. J. Mellor, and at the close of it opened a butcher’s shop in part of his father’s house. George Riley and Samuel Lacey, old and faithful servants of Mr. S. Potter, of The Park, grandfather of the present doctor, lived near the ‘Poplar’.
Question 85. Why was butcher W. Riley ‘somewhat unfortunate’ ?
Question 86. Who was the ‘present butcher‘, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Twells ?
Question 87. In 1892 this butcher was living in Malin House. Where was/is this ?
Question 88. …. and why was it so-called ?
Question 89. Who was ‘the present doctor‘, grandson of Samuel Potter, working in Bath Street in 1892 ? (You’ll have to look closely for this answer !!)
Adjoining ‘Billy’ Pitt’s lived the Smiths, Joseph and John, otherwise Joeilow and Jackilow, the latter a most irascible man.
Lower down Bath-street lived Joseph Straw, who kept a small druggist’s shop and had some warp machines. Close by lived Samuel Bostock, called ‘Red’, like Rufus of old, from his hair and complexion.
… up (Workhouse) Hill lived John Calladine, who kept a ‘tuffy’ shop. His wife was a remarkably nice woman, and very popular with small boys. John was and old soldier, fought at Corunna in 1809, and was taken prisoner. He and a comrade contrived to escape and made for the British lines …… Fortunately the first person they saw was —- ??
In Glover’s ‘History of Ilkeston Baths’ (it is set forth) that during the outbreak of cholera in 1831 handbills were issued by Mr. Potter, advising all who chose to apply to Mr. (Samuel) Whitehead for a supply of the concentrated water, as it was considered very useful in the preliminary stage of the disease. The concentrated water resembled Harrogate, and many persons were either cured or relieved of gout, rheumatism, &c., by using it.
Question 90. Who was ‘the first person‘ to see John and his comrade after their ‘escape’ ?
Question 91. What position at Ilkeston’s Baths did Samuel Whitehead fill ?
Question 92. How was he ‘qualified‘ to dispense medical advice ?
Question 93. Which Ilkeston schoolmaster, a long-term sufferer with ‘paralysis’, was cured by bathing in the spa waters ?
Miss Padman’s school was first held in a house near the British School, formerly occupied by Mr. (John) Glossop, carrier (sic), whose son John came to such an unfortunate end a short time ago. Then it was removed to a room belonging to Mr. Thomas Riley, grocer, father of William Riley. After some years Miss P. went to live in Eastwood, and married Mr. Brett, still keeping her school. Mr. Brett died two years ago, and his widow has returned to Ilkeston to spend the remainder of her days.
Question 94. For many years John Glossop senior traded in Ilkeston not as a ‘carrier’ but as a …. what ?
Question 95. Where did his son, John Thomas, come to an unfortunate end in September 1891 ?
Question 96 … and what caused his ‘unfortunate end‘ ?
Question 97. Eleanor/Ellen Padman was a widow when she married Mr. Joseph Brett in March 1866; who was her first husband ?
Mr. J(ohn) Poole, formerly with Mr. Wombell, and afterwards in a shop of his own, now occupied by Mr. W. Twells. The room over the butcher’s shop was used as a reading-room, and Mr. A. Sudbury, Mr. T. Barker (grandfather of Mr. George Barker, draper), the present writer, and others were members.
Question 98. What publication was Mr. Wombell responsible for ?
Question 99. What publication was Mr. J. Poole responsible for ?
Question 100. Where was the butcher’s shop ?
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Who do you think they are ??
From his letter Bath Street seems to confirm that he is older than the other correspondents. And his knowledge of the residents of Bath Street together with his nom-de-plume seem to reveal his domestic location.
And so on … to Part 6
