THE PITCHERS

Walter William and Anna Maria Pitcher - 12 Gloucester Road

Walter William Pitcher had been born in Alveston in 1841, the son of Henry, a carpenter from Charfield, and Susannah, a local girl from Alveston.  The family were living at Alveston Down in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses.  In 1861 Walter was 18 years old and working as a sawyer.  By this time his father, Henry, was described as a carpenter and wheelwright (both trades for which later generations of Pitchers were well known locally) and another son, Arthur had also become a carpenter.

Walter William married Anna Maria Williams in Bristol on 7 July 1862.  The above photograph was taken much later in their lives at the wedding of their son, Charles,  to Annie Symes.  The Pitchers were members of the Non-Conformist Congregational Church which is probably why they married in Bristol.   It is possible that Walter and Anna Maria began their married life at number 12 Gloucester Road.  The previous occupier, George Hodges, left the house to move into his new home at Laburnum House, number 6 Gloucester Road, about this time.

Although Anna Maria was born in Newbury, Berkshire on 23rd December 1839, she was the daughter of James Williams, the Thornbury brushmaker.  James's wife, Sarah (nee Stacey) was from Lambourne, Berkshire and in 1841 census the family were living in Newbury although htey appeared to move to Thornbury around 1845.  Anna Maria was the niece of John and Emma Williams who owned number 12 and they probably provided the newly married couple with a place to live.

The 1871 census for number 12 Gloucester Road shows:

Walter and Anna Maria were still living at number 12 in the 1881 census. 
 

This shows the family had grown considerably and there were now seven children to cram into the small terraced house.  This was the largest family that lived in the terrace.  Such a large young family required all the income the parents could generate and from the census it is clear that Anna Maria has somehow found the time to continue her occupation as a dressmaker.  According to the story told locally, this lead to the "spite wall" being built between numbers 22 and 24 Gloucester Road.  Click here to read more about this story

The special drainage rate books of 1880 and 1885 confirm that Walter William Pitcher remained a tenant of John Williams at number 12 Gloucester Road for some time.  The 1887 Rate Book shows that Walter had moved to another house owned by John Williams at 22 Gloucester Road.

Edmund Cullimore's abstract of title to the land which now includes Shen and West Shen shows that on July 5th 1888 he sold a small piece of the property to Walter Pitcher and a new house was built for the family. 

Click here to see more about Walter William Pitcher and his family at number 24 Gloucester Road

Click here to see details of Walter's children

This page was last updated: 04/06/2011