No 12 Gloucester Road, Thornbury

The 1840 Tithe Map shows that there was a workshop and yard on the land now occupied by number 12. These were owned and used by John Hodges who was living just down the road and was building the properties which were to become Laburnum Terrace. To the rear of the workshops was a garden also owned and used by John Hodges.

We have not seen the deeds of the house and we have no precise knowledge as to when number 12 was built. The census taken in 1851 suggests that the house was not built by 1851. It was however included in the 1861 census so we have to assume that the house was built between 1851 and 1861. In an indenture dated 1897 which relates to the property, reference is made to several earlier indentures in 1858 and 1859 which suggest that number 12 was being built at that time

It is interesting to note the difference between this house and the other houses built in the terrace by John Hodges. This is the only one with a 'double front' i.e. rooms on both sides of the hallway. (Note that number 22 has a similar arrangement but this house already existed when John started building his terrace). We don't know why John varied the specification, maybe it was designed to order because the census of 1861 shows that John's son, George, was the first occupant of the house together with his family.

Name	Status	M	Age	Occupation	Birthplace
George Hodges	Head	M	41	Carpenter employing 5 men & 2 boys	Thornbury
Tracey Hodges	Wife	M	32		Yate
Mary F Hodges	Dau		10	Scholar	Thornbury
John Hodges	Son		8	Scholar	Thornbury
Sarah A Hodges	Dau		5	Scholar	Thornbury
Fanny S Hodges	Dau		3		Thornbury
Hannah Staley	Visitor	U	37		Yate
Edward Weeks	Visitor		12	Scholar	Kington
Elizabeth Kinder	Serv		15	House servant	Rangeworthy

We know that in 1858 John Hodges arranged for the transfer of his property to his children before his death, and ownership of number 12 was transferred to his daughter, Emma, and her husband, John Williams who were living at Gloucester House. Number 12 has remained in the ownership of the Williams family ever since. Click on the following link for more information on the OWNERS.

By 1871 George Hodges had moved from number 12 to number 6, often referred to as Laburnum House, the bigger house he had built at the end of the terrace. From this time onwards number 12 has been let out to tenants. Click on the following links to see information on the families who occupied the property as TENANTS

Laburnum Terrace

No. 12 Gloucester Road, Thornbury