Laburnum Terrace

No. 16 Gloucester Road, Thornbury

We haven't yet seen the deeds of number 16. 

The tithe survey published in 1840 shows that houses had already built in the terrace by that time, covering what we now know as numbers 16 - 22 Gloucester Road.  Plot 248 of this survey includes the two houses with gardens, now known as numbers 16 and 18 Gloucester Road.  These properties were owned by John Hodges, the builder who built the terrace.  John was recorded as living in one of the two houses,  a Thomas Longstreet was living in the other house, but unfortunately we don’t know which house each person was living in.

We discovered that the deeds of numbers 8 & 10 Gloucester Road both contain copies of an indenture dated 14 August 1865 which relates to numbers 16 and 18.   This document refers to earlier indenture of lease and release of 23rd and 24th August 1832 which shows the land was conveyed by James Ford to John Hodges.  We assume therefore that number 16 was built by John Hodges at some time between 1832 and 1840.

In the 1841 census the house was occupied by John Hodges's son, James Hodges and his family.

It is interesting to see that in the 1842 Pigots Directory James was described as 'carpenter and beer retailer'.  There were several beerhouses in Thornbury at this time.  Under the Beer House Act any person with room in their front parlour could open up for the sale of beer or ale.  No spirits were allowed to be sold. 

In the 1851 census, it is not entirely clear who is living in number 16 or whether it is occupied at all.  James Hodges has moved to St John Street with Charlotte and their daughter, Martha aged 8.  James is still shown as a wheelwright.

In the 1861 census, James Hodges is shown as having moved back to number 16.  He is now a widower and working as a carpenter.

James had died in 1866 aged 55.

A map in the deeds of 8 Gloucester Road shows the ownership of property in the terrace in 1865 and shows that number 16 is owned by John Hodges and is occupied by him.  An indenture dated 14 August 1865 shows that John Hodges sold three properties, including number 16, to his son, George Hodges, for the sum of £50 for the lot. 

It is interesting to see an entry in a 1867 Trade Directory which shows a Miss Hester Milner running a ladies boarding school at Laburnum Cottage, Gloucester Road.  We do not know for certain that this is number 16, but the house has been known by that name since the mid 1990's, and it is possible that the name was taken from the deeds of the house, which we have been able to see, yet. 

In the 1871 census, John was living at number 16, although now he was a widower.

Following John's death in 1872, the house was let to tenants.

Click on the following links to see information on the OWNERS of No. 16 and the families who occupied the property as TENANTS

This page was last updated: 23/03/2007