We understand the Bond family moved to Thornbury after their house was bombed in Filton during the Second World War. Three generations of Bonds were to settle in the Horseshoe Lane area and to remain there for many years.
John and Louisa Bond
John Bond was born in Bristol in Clifton on 26th June 1875. He was the son of William Henry Mockford Bond, a dredgerman and his wife, Jane (nee Huntley). In 1891 the Bond family were living at Watling Street, St George, Bristol.
John married Louisa Hardy in Bristol in June quarter 1900. Louisa was born in Bristol about 1877. In 1901 they were living at 11 Haggets Cottages in Clifton. John was employed as a bricklayer. The 1911 census shows them living at 33 Bellevue Crescent Cliftonwood. John was described as a mason. The census shows that they had had two children, although one had already died by that time. The other was still alive but not living with John and Louisa at that time. We have struggled to trace the births of their children. They had at least two sons: John (usually known as Jack) and Frederick, both of them settling in Thornbury. We understand that John was a foreman at the Bristol Aeroplane Company when they lived in Filton.
On 9th August 1949 John bought 4 Horseshoe Lane from Emily Minnie Riddiford for £950. At the time John was living at 217 Gloucester Road, Filton and was working as a transport foreman. They must have moved from there to Thornbury to join their son, Jack, who had moved with his wife, Maud, during the war when their house in Filton was bombed. We understand that John was a caretaker at the Council School for many years.
Louisa died on 14th July 1962 aged 89 years. Her husband, John, died on 9th September 1963 aged 81 years.
Jack Bond
Jack and Rose Bond
John (usually referred to as ‘Jack’) was born about 1912 according to his age at death. He was the son of John and Louisa Bond. John married Rose Maud Cox in 1937 – their marriage was registered in the Chipping Sodbury registration district.
Jack worked at the Bristol Aeroplane Company and in 1942 the house where Jack and Rose were living in Filton was bombed out and they moved to Thornbury. The 1946 electoral register shows Jack and his wife, Rose Maud, living at 2 Rock Street which is one of the group of houses known locally as the ‘Ox Houses’ but this house later became known as 5 Rock Street when house numbering was officially introduced in the early 1950’s.
The 1950 electoral register shows both Jack and Rose still living at 2 Rock Street. His parents, John and Louisa, were now living at 4 Horseshoe Lane. The 1954 register shows Jack and Rose living at 5 Rock Street and we assume this is the same house as they were living previously but it had now been re-numbered.
We understand that the distinctive car being driven up Rock Street in the photo below was made for Jack Bond by Norman (Nimmy) King.
By 1961, Jack and Rose had moved from Rock Street to 8 Buckingham Parade. Rose died on 6th February 1987 aged 72 years. Jack died on 21st September 1996 aged 84 years.
Frederick and Margaret Bond
Frederick George Bond was the son of John and Louisa. He married Margaret A Smart in 1938 and the marriage was registered in the Chipping Sodbury registration district.
Fred also worked at a fitter in the Bristol Aeroplane Company. On 9th May 1950 Frederick bought the two properties (5 and 7 Horseshoe Lane) from Emily Riddiford for £600. At the time of the purchase Frederick was living at 34 Branksome Drive, Filton. Frederick and his wife, Margaret moved in to live at 5 Horseshoe Lane. They were still living there in 1967 when Frederick sold both 5 and 7 to Thornbury Rural District Council for £5250 as part of the town’s re-development.
Keith and Patricia A Bond
Keith was born in 1940, the son of Frederick and Margaret Bond. He married Patricia M Cowles in Thornbury in 1962. The 1965 electoral register shows that they took over 4 Horseshoe Lane after the death of his grandparents, John and Louisa. They bought the house from John’s executors for £1150 on 16th February 1966 and on 5th April 1967 they sold it to Thornbury Rural District Council for £3100.