THE PITCHERS

Leonard & Ellen Pitcher

When Walter died in 1912 the business was taken over by Leonard.  Leonard was not the eldest son, that was Edgar Walter, but Edgar had become a solicitor's clerk.  Although Leonard was the third eldest son, he had followed his father's footsteps and taken an apprenticeship with him in coach building.  By the time of the 1901 census Leonard had become a carpenter and joiner.

Leonard had been born in Thornbury on 14th March 1873.  In 1899, he married Ellen Eddington, daughter of Thomas Henry Eddington, a decorator, who was deceased at the time of their marriage.  They had two children, Helen born on 18th July 1904 and Elwyn on 22nd July 1911.  Although Leonard took over the business which continued to operate from Gloucester Road, Leonard and Ellen lived at 69 High Street, at least until 1922.  From 1924 onwards they are shown in the Electoral Register as living in 24 Gloucester Road. We understand that this image on the left is a photograph of Ellen and Leonard Pitcher taken when they attended a family wedding.

The image on the right shows Leonard on the roof of Thornbury Castle in 1904.  He  had skilfully restored the Tudor chimneys. 

The Rate Book for 1925 and 1926 appears to indicate that Leonard Pitcher acquired 48 Castle Street and that it was occupied by William Eddington.

As the business expanded, Leonard need more space.  He leased some buildings and land in Gloucester Road opposite number 24 from the estate of John Hodges Williams.  Some people can still remember gravestones being stored here.  We know from his accounts that the annual rent in 1934 was £33.  However Dick Shipp told us that Leonard got into trouble when he sublet the property (or part of it) without the agreement of the property agents and he was forced to give up the lease. 

The electoral registers show that from about 1932 Gladys Mabel Walker lived in the house with Leonard and Ellen.  Gladys was employed as the housekeeper and became a family friend.  She stayed there until the late 1970's.

Leonard died in June 1961 aged 88.  Ellen had died in 1946 aged 74 years.  The Gloucestershire Gazette of 16th February 1946 has an account of the funeral of Ellen Pitcher which took place at what was then the Congregational Church,  The funeral was well attended by many members of the large Pitcher family and Ellen's brothers Rob and William Eddington as well as many of the business people in Thornbury.

Click here to see brief details of Elwyn Pitcher who took over the house and business from Leonard.

Click here to see brief details of the other children of Walter and Anna Maria.

This page was last updated: 03/01/2012