William Beane : Chimney Sweep

William Beane was born in Beccles in 1831, the son of John Beane and Lydia Lester. In 1841 John and Lydia and their seven children resided at Jones's Score in Beccles. Their neighbours were my four times great-grandmother Mary Ann Waters, and my three times great-grandfather George Waters. The Beane family lived at Jones's Score even after John Beane died in 1847, aged 51 but some time before 1861, Lydia and her son William and daughter Lydia moved to Swine's Green (William's brother Thomas Beane remained at Jones's Score until his death in 1889. He was also a Chimney Sweep). The following census sees William and his mother Lydia living in London Road. His sister Lydia married in 1874 and his mother died in 1879 at the age of 86. By 1891, William was living in Newgate Street in a shed belonging to William Thorpe. William was never married.

William 'Billy' Beane was a Chimney Sweep, employed to clear soot and ash from chimneys, the trade learned from his father John Beane who was also a Sweep. It is more than likely that William started out by going with his father on jobs around Beccles, as his "climbing boy". These were apprentices of the master sweep, who were small enough to be able to climb inside the chimney flue. Sometimes master sweeps employed paupers or orphans from the workhouse. Once a boy's seven-year apprenticeship was completed, he could work as a journeyman sweep, continuing to work for a master sweep of his choice.

A master sweep could have more than one apprentice. They would start the morning by walking through the streets of the town, calling out such cries as, "Soot - Oh Sweep" to let house-owners know that they were around. Once engaged in a job the climbing boys would crawl caterpillar-like up through the flue of the chimney and use a brush to dislodge the loose soot and scrape away any solid bits. The soot would then be collected and bagged up to be carried back to the master sweep's cart or nearby yard. Soot was a valuable commodity in Victorian times, sometimes fetching as much as 9 pence for a bushel. Sweep's cleared around four to five chimneys per day.

At least once a week the boys were bathed in a tub by the mistress of the sweep's yard, so this would have been done by Lydia Beane.

Victorian Sweep Boy
www.victorianchildren.org

A sweep's life was brutally hard. The constant exposure to thick black dust and soot and the hot flues, caused burns, bruises and calloused skin, eye inflammation and the very real possibility of falling, contracting cancer or respiratory disease. They usually slept rough, ate little and could easily develop spinal problems resulting in deformity or stunted growth.

In 1875 a new Chimney Sweepers Act superseded the Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act of 1840. The 1875 Act ensured that all chimney sweeps had to be registered with the police therefore the boys work was officially supervised.

 *       *       *

In May 1864 William Beane was sentenced to two months imprisonment with hard labour for assaulting a Police Constable. Two years later, William was charged with wilfully damaging property of the Victoria Arms. He was turned out by the landlord after becomning verbally abusive and he then struck a window with his fist and kicked it. Beane was fined 9 shillings and 6 pence, and 4 shillings and 6 pence damages.

An interesting marriage union came about in 1874 after an appearance in court by William Flowers who was assaulted by Lydia Beane's (William's sister) former "love interest", Jim Crowe. Flowers, aged 84, had usurped Crowe by winning Lydia's affections after Crowe had left Beccles for some time and was not happy to hear the news upon returning to the town. Jim Crowe was fined 18 shillings and 6 pence or 14 days imprisonment. To put the younger generation in the shade, William Flowers won Lydia Beane's heart, a woman half his age, and they were married that same year. A celebration which was well renowned in Beccles at that time. However, the romance quickly turned sour when in January 1875 William Flowers attempted suicide by hanging. His brother-in-law, Billy Beane, found him in the shed (at Flowers' home in Ravensmere) and cut him down. Subsequently William Flowers cut his own throat and was sent to Shipmeadow Workhouse where he later died.

In September 1874, William Beane was imprisoned for six weeks with hard labour after unlawfully assaulting Robert Goldsmith. Beane was living in a house belonging to Goldsmith but he had refused to pay the rent on several occasions. There were several minor "barneys" between Goldsmith and Beane until the situation escalated where a court appearance and charges were made.

In September 1880 William was given twenty-eight days hard labour for being drunk and abusive towards Margaret Girling, the landlady of the Butchers' Arms. She would not serve him out of hours and when Girling's husband pushed him out of the door, he broke several windows.

William 'Billy' Beane died in 1897. His death record claims he was 70 years old but he was more likely to have been 66.

A romantic footnote to this story is that in Great Britain it is considered lucky for a bride to see a chimney sweep on her wedding day. A family friend from the UK sent me a sweep keepsake on a wrist band (like the one seen below) when I got married. Some modern-day brides even hire a chimney sweep to attend their wedding!

Chimney Sweep bride's keepsake

Knights of Beccles

The June 1992 edition of "The Waveney Life Magazine" includes a quaint little story written by local Beccles man Bob Aldous about the first car he bought in 1929. "It cost just £25," Aldous writes. "We called it 'the covered wagon' although in fact it was a 1925 Jowett 7 h.p. [horse power] car. The purchase was made from the late Mark Knights of Beccles in 1929."

1925 Jowett, owned by John Denton of Yorkshire

"I handed him [Knights] the money and asked him how to drive it! That was no problem, he said, pointing out the gears, the clutch and the brake. He bade me jump in and drive off! Well, after all, there were no such things as driving tests in those days..."

"After the first week I reckoned I was a pretty good driver. So, on the Saturday morning I drove along London Road in Beccles at a smart lick. It hadn't at that stage occurred to me that you should slow down before taking a forty-five degree turn.

My visit to the garage that morning was, to say the least, a little unorthodox. 'The covered wagon' entered through the showroom window! Neither I nor the Jowett sustained any damage, but it didn't do the window much good nor some bicycles which were on display..."

Mark Benedict Knights was born in 1895 in Beccles and was the son of Alfred James Knights and Henrietta (nee Spendlove). The Knights family lived at 16 Alexandra Road in Beccles and Alfred was a Tailor by trade. During the First World War, three of Alfred and Henrietta's sons served:

Alfred John Spencer Knights - R.F.A 2nd Air Mechanic

Ernest Knights - R.F.A Signaller

Mark Benedict Knights - R.F.C Corporal

On the 1911 census returns Mark Benedict Knights was listed as an Engineer's Apprentice. Some time after the First World War I believe he took up a business partnership with Laurence Durrant. Mark married late in life to Olive Gertrude Rayner, in 1932. They had at least four known children, three daughters and one son.

I found the following in the London Gazette, dated 2 January 1951:

NOTICE is hereby given- that the Partnership
(heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned
Laurence Arthur Durrant and Mark Benedict Knights
carrying on business as Motor and Agricultural
Engineers at Beccles under the style or firm of
DURRANT-AND KNIGHTS has been dissolved by
mutual consent as from the 1st day of January, 1951,
so far as concerns the said Laurence Arthur Durrant
who retires from the firm. All debts due to and
owing by the said late firm will be received and
paid by the said Mark Benedict Knights who will
continue to carry on the said business under the same
style or firm.—Dated this 28th day of December 1950.
L. A. DURRANT.

M. B. KNIGHTS.

It was after the dissolution of the business in 1950 that Mark Benedict Knights applied to the Beccles Town Council for development of the existing business:

(20 March 1953) Beccles & Bungay Times newspaper: SALTGATE FILLING STATION: An application by Mr M Knights of Old Market Garage for development of the Saltgate frontage with petrol pumps came before the Town Council. He agreed: 1.) To stop using the two pumps in Old Market. 2.) No adverts on Saltgate. 3.) The wings should be planted with suitable trees instead of flowers. 4.) The main wall on the west side of the building be constructed of good quality red facing bricks and carried 3 feet above the eaves of the building.

Mark Benedict Knights died at Northgate Hospital in Great Yarmouth in 1964, aged 68.

Mark Knights business advertisement in
Beccles Official Guide, late 1950s

Suspected Murder at the Ship of Sarah Ann Flowers : Part Two

On 12 October 1880 Sarah Ann Flowers, wife of James Nelson Flowers, publican of the Ship Inn in Bridge Street was found dead. This blog post - part two - covers the surgeon and coroners findings, from the inquest at Beccles and the following trial at the Suffolk and Norfolk Assizes in Norwich. The London Daily News of Saturday 16 October 1880 reported:

The coroner's jury at Beccles last night returned a verdict of 'Wilful murder' against James Flowers, publican, of Beccles, whose wife was found dead in the tap-room. The medical evidence showed that many of the woman's ribs were broken, probably by some person kneeling on her chest. The deceased was addicted to drink.

Ship Inn, 1912

Mr Edward Bowles Crowfoot, surgeon, said he made an external examination of the body of the deceased (Sarah Ann Flowers) and also performed a post mortem examination. He found bruises on the arm, thigh, and face. On post mortem examination he found ten ribs had been broken on her left side, the fracture being continued in four of the lower ones. On the right side eight of the lower ribs were fractured, and he attributed these injuries to compression in the chest, perhaps by kneeling. Crowfoot attributed the cause of death to shock, consequent of the serious injury to the ribs, which could not have been merely from a fall. The anemic condition of the brain, the pale and healthy appearance of the lungs, and the emptiness of the right side of the heart, all pointed to sudden death. Death probably ensued very quickly after such injuries, especially considering the condition of the brain, and the commencing fatty change of the heart. Mr William Taylor McComb, assistant to Messrs Crowfoot, corroborated.

At the magesterial inquiry Mr EB Crowfoot repeated the evidence he had given before the Coroner at Bccles, detailing the results of the external and post mortem examination he had made. He found the heart presented signs of fatty degeneration; the lungs were healthy; the liver was softer and more friable than it is in a state of health; the stomach, spleen and right kidney were healthy, but the left kidney was undergoing fatty degeneration. He found about 3ozs. of serous fluid in the arachnoid cavity of the brain, and the cortical surface of both hemispheres were covered with a layer of coagulated lymph. He was of the opinion that death was caused from shock consequent to the injuries to the ribs.

In cross examination Crowfoot said he noticed no disarrangement of the clothes nor any appearance of a struggle. The fatty degeneration of the heart might have caused death, and it was very likely that the serous fluid on the brain might cause death, coupled with a fall. Deceased was a person perculiarly liable, from the condition of the brain, to a fit of serous apoplexy. All the injuries might have been caused by a fall, except the fractured ribs and the position in which the deceased lay when he saw her was quite consistent with the theory that she fell from a chair in a fit.

It was proved that Sarah Ann Flowers was drunk shortly before she was found by Hannah Willingham (housekeeper to Alfred Francis, a neighbour) and that she (Flowers) was in the habit of getting drunk, and it was sought to be shown in defence that she fell down the step from the bar to the cellar, and so received the injuries to her ribs. While the medical man (Crowfoot) could not say this might not have been so, he was of the opinion that the injuries were the result of greater violence than a mere fall. Willingham believed that Sarah Ann Flowers died shortly after she put her on the chair, she having seen her head thrown back and her eyes and mouth wide open. There was no proof that the prisoner (James Nelson Flowers) had ever struck his wife, while his closing the house so early was explained as the result of his desire to prevent his wife being seen in a state of drunkeness. For a more detailed account of this trial I would strongly recommend to anybody interested, that you read the lengthy article (which spreads across two pages) in the Ipswich Journal of 13 November 1880, found at The British Newspaper Archive online. It makes for very compelling reading.

The jury, after an absence from Court for five minutes, returned a verdict of NOT GUILTY, and the prisoner was discharged.

On 25 January 1881 the East Suffolk Gazette reported that the licence of the Ship Inn was transferred from James Flowers to William Bell. The census return of that same year shows James Flowers was a boarder (at his brother George's) in Swines Green, Beccles and he was a hay dealer by trade. James Flowers died in 1888, aged 60.

Ship Inn, 2012
Today its a Holiday Cottage

Suspected Murder at the Ship of Sarah Ann Flowers : Part One

On Tuesday 12 October 1880, Sarah Ann Flowers was found dead on the floor of the tap-room at the Ship Inn, in Bridge Street. Her husband, James Nelson Flowers, was charged with her murder and sent to trial in Norwich the following month, where he was found not guilty.

I have extensive notes on the inquest at Beccles in October 1880, held before C.W. Chaston, Esq., County Coroner, the Chief Constable and the Deputy Chief-Constable and Mr E.B Crowfoot, surgeon and the Magisterial Inquiry before R Dashwood, Esq. (Chairman), WE Crowfoot, Esq., and the Mayor. Mr F.J Dowsett appeared for the prisoner. I will dedicate the next blog post to the Coroner's findings.

Alfred Francis, engine driver, in Samuel Darby's employ, who lived next door to the Ship Inn told the court that he called on James Flowers every morning at six o'clock. On Wednesday 13 October Flowers was up when Francis went by, and called him in, and said, "There's a rather bad job happened here; the poor old girl lay here dead". Francis then went into the tap-room and saw the deceased (Sarah Ann) lying on the floor with her head nearly on the threshold of the cellar door, and her feet towards the window of the tap-room. Francis could not stop to make a close examination but sent his children for a doctor and a policeman. Francis was unable to say whether Flowers and his wife lived comfortably together, but he had seen the deceased the worse for drink many times. Later Francis told the magistrates court that he had occasionally heard deceased and the prisoner (James Flowers) quarelling but he never saw any blows struck.

Alice Francis, aged 11, (daughter of Alfred Francis) said she went to the prisoner's house on Tuesday evening, about five minutes past five, when she saw the deceased lying in the cellar. She was frightened and went and told Hannah Willingham (boarder of the Francis family). Willingham told the court that she found deceased lying on her face in the cellar, she picked her up and sat her in the chair in the bar. When she was sat up in the chair her head fell back and her mouth and eyes were wide open. At the magisterial inquiry, Willingham said the deceased was helplessly drunk, but she managed to walk with her support and totter over the threshold separating the cellar from the bar and set her on a chair. Afterwards they (Hannah Willingham and Alice Francis) went for Mrs Beane (Harriet Beane, charwoman to the deceased for eleven years) because they thought Mrs Flowers was dying but when they got back to the Ship Inn they found the house closed. On tapping at the window, James Flowers opened his bedroom window and said that Mrs Flowers was in bed.

More on the inquiry and surgeon's evidence will be in part two. I did some background research on Sarah Ann and James Flowers to get a feel for who they were before this shocking incident occured that fateful October night.

It took me longer to find out about Sarah Ann because, as it turned out when she married James Flowers she was a widow. I discovered this when I found their marriage entry in the Beccles St Michael's Church parish registers.

Sarah Ann Barrett was christened at St Nicholas Church in Great Yarmouth on 14 May 1814, the daughter of Samuel Barrett and Sarah, late Archer [source: familysearch.org]. Sarah Ann married Benjamin Youell from Beccles on 29 March 1832 at St Nicholas Church. Benjamin was a waterman by trade, residing in Ravensmere. He and Sarah Ann lived in Ravensmere up until his death in 1855. On 18 July 1858 Sarah Ann Youell (widow) married James Nelson Flowers (batchelor) at St Michael's Church.

James Nelson Flowers was baptised on 12 November 1827 at St Michael's Church, Beccles, the son of Richard Flowers and Sarah Susannah, late Algar. This last piece of information piqued my curiousity as I have Algar - from Barnby and Beccles - in my family tree. My 5xg/grandmother was Sarah Algar (not the same Sarah but possibly related, I would need to research the Algar family tree much further). Richard Flowers was from Worlingham, and he was married previously to Eleanor Warnes.

More next time...

Photographers of Beccles : Part Two

Alfred Darby was born in Clerkenwell, London, around 1856, the son of Alfred Darby (who was a Seaman by trade) and Emma Salmon. By 1861 the Darby family were living in Beccles, and lived at Rosemary Lane for over twenty years. Rosemary Lane is situated between Northgate Street and Ravensmere.

In 1871 Alfred Darby (jnr) was working as an Apprentice Photographer with William Edward Mills (see part one of this blog for more information about William Mills). In 1882 he married Laura Matilda Smith and they had six children, two daughters and four sons. The 1891 census return shows Alfred was living at Smallgate Street. The 1891-2 White's Directory and the 1892 Kelly's Directory both list Alfred as Photographer of Smallgate Street, Beccles.

The 1911 census return shows Alfred Darby at 15 Smallgate Street, with his wife Laura and their three of their six children, including their son Claud, aged 19, who is: Photographer, Assisting Father's Business. Alfred Darby is listed in the 1912, the 1925 and the 1936 Kelly's Directory as Photographer.

The 1940 Beccles & Bungay Newspaper reported:

DEATH of Mr Alfred DARBY aged 83, of 15 Smallgate. Born in London, Mr Darby came to Beccles as a child and spent practically all his life in the town. After serving his apprenticeship with Mr Mills, a photographer, he went to Bradford for a short time. He returned to carry on Mr Mills’ business and carried it on for about 60 years.

Mr Darby was for some years a member of the old Volunteers at Beccles. He had belonged to the Beccles Adult School since it was founded in 1900. A lifelong teetotaller, he was a member of the local Tent of Rechabites (for more information read here).

A widower for the last five years, Mr Darby leaves four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Mr Claud S Darby, for some years has been the Beccles & Bungay advertising representative of our series of newspapers.

Alfred Darby, 15 Smallgate Beccles
Found on ebay: Seller devonian35

Hern Andrey Leyneek was born in Prussia in 1885. He came to Beccles in 1900 and established himself in a studio in New Market before taking over the business from Arthur Edgar Mount (for more information about Arthur Mount see part one of my blog). Sometime during the first decade of his life in England, he anglicized his name to Andrew.

The 1911 census return shows Andrew Leyneek (written as H A Leyneek), Photographer, a boarder at the home of George Watson. George was a Grocer's Porter by trade. There are two very interesting things about the 1911 census. One is that Rosalie Mary Watson, his niece, was also at the Beccles address and the following year she married Andrew Leyneek at Beccles Church. The other interesting thing is that the address is given as 31 Station Road, Beccles. This would be Leyneek's address (and place of business) for the next forty years.

The 1912 Kelly's Directory lists Andrew Leyneek as Photographer of 31 Station Road, Beccles. The floods of Beccles and surrounding districts of August 1912 turned Andrew into a local hero, the East Suffolk gazette labelling his deeds "a kindly act". Below is taken from The Beccles Charter September 2012:

"Being Summertime, there were plenty of cattle on the marshes bordering the Waveney on the Gillingham side of the town. When, on Monday evening water was creeping up, an effort was made by marsh-men to remove a batch of five store beasts to safety. Despite their persistent efforts, the cattle refused to budge, and finally had to be left to their fate. The next morning, a photographer, Mr A Leyneek of Station Road, happened to see the animals floundering about while looking at the flooded marshes from the Churchyard wall. Braving the danger, he borrowed a rowing boat and set out to get them to safety. It took some time, but he got them to swim towards the town side where they were eventually hauled ashore by willing helpers at the Puddingmoor boatyard of Mr Herbert Hipperson..."

When the Great War breaks out in 1914, Andrew Leyneek is forced to defend his nationality and the East Suffolk Gazette of 11 August reports the following statement:

ANDREW  LEYNEEK’S  NATIONALITY: "It seems to be quite an understood thing in Beccles, where I have resided for the last 14 years, that I am a German subject, but this is quite a mistake. I was born near Memel in Kurland, which is one of the three counties known as Baltic Provinces. The people are called Lettish. They speak their own language and have their own books and newspapers. In  religion  they are  Protestants  (like  the  Germans), but  they  are  overruled  by  Russia, though the Baltic Provinces originally belonged to Sweden. My father and sister are still living near Riga."

It is believed that Andrew and Rosalie Leyneek did not have any children and so it may seem fitting that photographing children became Andrew's speciality (examples shown below). Andrew Leyneek died on 9 April 1949 and in his will he left £1604 to his wife Rosalie and William Bryan Forward, a Solicitor in Beccles (who was the Town Clerk of Beccles, 1914-1947).

Andrew Leyneek, 31 Station Road, Beccles
Found on ebay: Auction ended
Leyneek's stamp bottom right corner

Advertisement in the "Official Guide to the Borough
of Beccles" circa 1948

31 Station Road, Beccles remained a photographic studio until at least 1974.
ADDENDUM: Thanks to an enquiry by a 'Relics of Beccles' Twitter follower, I was prompted to find out who took over the business after Andrew Leyneek died. It was Ludwik Karl Olanczuk (originally from Felixstowe) who, together with his wife, bought the business and premises from Leyneek's widow Rosalie for £1,950.

 

Photographers of Beccles : Part One

I have a personal interest in Victorian photographers, not least because my ancestors were photographers in the Norfolk market town of Holt, in county Norfolk (see my other blog here), but because my grandmothers were avid family photograph collectors. My maternal grandmother Freda gave me a small collection of photographs several years ago, some of which were taken by Beccles photographers and these have held a special intrigue for me. Therefore, combining my love of local history and old photographs, I have uncovered some interesting information about these Beccles photographers which I thought worthy of writing a blog (or two) about.

The first known studio photographer in Beccles was Arthur Edgar Mount. He advertised in the Beccles Weekly Newspaper in May 1857 thus:

A E Mount, Smallgate, Photographer: Framed portrait, 2s 6d, Collodion process, colouring.

Arthur Mount is the only photographer for Beccles listed in the 1869 Post Office Directory. In fact, the Directory lists Arthur as being an "Artist & Photographer". This doesn't necessarily mean that he was the first and only photographer in Beccles, he was however the only one who advertised his services.

By 1874 there was a "rival" photographer on the scene: William Edward Mills (More about him below).

Arthur Edgar Mount was born in 1834 in Needham Market, county Suffolk. He was the son of William Mount and Susan, nee Hearn [source: Ancestry.com]. The 1851 census shows Arthur at home, aged 14, with his widowed father. By 1861 he was living in Blyburgate Street, Beccles working as a Photographic Artist and was married to Ellen ( - ). Arthur would go on to marry three times in his life but I do not believe there was ever any children.

By 1871 Arthur and Ellen had moved from Blyburgate Street to Station Road, at Sunnyside Villa (also known as Sunnyside House). This would be Arthur's home and photographic studio for many years until his retirement during the 1880s. His wife Ellen died in the June Quarter of 1885 and later that same year, he married Maria/Marian King. According to the 1891 & 1901 census returns, Arthur and his wife were living next door to the Lawrence's of the Beccles Mineral Water Manufacturers.

In 1891, Arthur is shown on the census return as a Retired Photographer. By this time there is another photographer in Beccles: Alfred Darby. The 1891-2 White's Directory also lists John Miller, Photographer, of Station Road and Yarmouth. This would indicate that he ran his own studio in Yarmouth and perhaps "freelanced" at Beccles during the period of Arthur Mount's retirement/selling up and the taking on of a new, permanent photographer, which eventually, was Andrew Leyneek (More about Alfred Darby and Andrew Leyneek in part two of this blog).

In July 1899 the East Suffolk Gazette advertises:

TO BE LET or SOLD: Sunnyside House, Station Road. Apply A E Mount, No 6 Station Road.

The 1900 Kelly's Directory lists Arthur E Mount as a Private Resident at Sunnyside House, Station Road. What is interesting about the 1901 census is that it lists Albert C Jervis as living at the same address - Sunnyside Villa, Station Road, working as a Photographer. Arthur had by this time resigned so perhaps Albert Jervis had been his apprentice with a view to taking over the business. It would appear, however, that Albert did not remain in Beccles for very long, moving with his wife and family back to Ipswich.

Some time after 1901 Arthur and Marian Mount moved away from Beccles and went to live in Norwich. Arthur's second wife Marian died in the June Quarter of 1905 and later that same year he married Annie Ransome. (As a genealogist I find it rather odd that both of Arthur's first two wives died in the June Quarter of a year and then he married in the December Quarter of that same year. Twice!).

Arthur Edgar Mount died on 4 June 1923. He left effects of £60 to Walter Samuel Mollison, a retired photographer.

A E Mount, Photographer, Beccles
Author's private collection

William Edward Mills was born in 1834 in Wrentham, county Suffolk. He was possibly the son of Thomas Mills and Susan. It is not known for certain as the 1841 census is not clear and William was found on the 1851 census return residing as apprentice lodger in Mutford.

William did not start out his working life as a Photographer. He was apprenticed to John Pleasants in 1851 and by 1861 was living in North Cove, and was working as a Blacksmith. By 1871 however, William was living in Smallgate Street, in Beccles and was trading as a Photographer. He had married Jemima Julians in 1870 but it would appear that, like Arthur Edgar Mount, they did not have children.
The 1874 White's Directory lists William Mills, Photographer, of Smallgate Street. Then William's life takes another interesting turn of events when his wife Jemima dies in 1875, aged just 36.

In July 1876 the Ipswich Journal reported thus:

The Wesleyan Chapel held a Public Tea in the grounds of Mr Mills' Photographic Studio.

And in June 1877 the East Suffolk Gazette:

Band of Hope: Held in Mr Mills' rooms in Smallgate. Mr T A Laws presided.

Then, on the 1881 census return, we find William Mills, still in Smallgate Street, but this time he is listed as a Furniture Dealer. He remained thus until his death on 15 February 1886. He left just over £72 to his widowed sister Emma Mitchell, his only next-of-kin.

W E Mills, Photographer, Beccles
Found on ebay: seller devonian35

W E Mills, Smallgate Street, Beccles
Author's private collection

Today the site and grounds of William Mills and, later, Alfred Darby's, photography studio is the site of the Potters/Friends Meeting House in Beccles. The house/business on the street front is known today as the Quaker Cottage. This is almost certainly where Mills' and Darby's photography studio would have once been.

The Kings Head Hotel Re-Opens

To commemorate the re-opening of the Beccles Kings Head on Tuesday 26 February 2013, I'm going to share a little bit about what I know of its history and my own personal childhood memories of the Hotel. Over the next few days I will also tweet some 140 character facts on my Twitter account: @RelicsofBeccles.

Nobody knows for certain when the Kings Head Hotel opened its doors for the very first time but there are records of people who owned the tenement wasteland it is situated on as early as 1576. John Denny was the first to be a recorded tenant ("late Townsend"), followed by William Denny and George Cock. What is interesting to note here is that George Cock was the first to be recorded as using the land for Kings Head in 1668.

The Kings Head Hotel is described thus:

"17th and 18th century with alterations. This was a coaching inn, and until comparatively recently the central archway, now the main entrance to the lounge, was open and led through a cobbled yard with gallery round to the yard at the back. The 17th century portion is two storeys and an attic. Three gabled dormers with barge boards. Thin brick..."

"The 18th century parts flank the earlier, one window west and two windows east, three storeys red brick, the attic floor enclosed by a screen wall on main cornice above pilasters. This treatment continued, on return front facing New Market, five windows with central entrance..."

New Market & Kings Head, circa 1910

Thousands of General Meetings, Inquests, Auctions, Lectures, Balls, Celebrations and Ceremonies have been held at the Kings Head since the 18th century. Its walls have seen many people come and go: proprietors, staff and patrons. Many colourful personalities have walked its corridors. For instance:

1760. To be sold at Kings Head, Beccles c176 hogsheads of good French white wines & c180 ditto of Claret. Duty Free, being wreck wines to be seen and tasted at Walberswick, Benacre Hall and Lowestoft.

1802. Peace Thanksgiving Day: 1,600 tickets enabling bearer to 1 lb of beef, 3d loaf and a Quart of Ale. T Rede gave every family peck of coals to cook dinners. Public celebrations dinners at Kings Head & White Lion.

1821. Celebration of Coronation. A bullock roasted; the Cavalry met & fired; Ten barrels of beer distributed; a Dinner of the Corporation & Inhabitants at the Kings Head.

1851. Inquest on William Allen of Kings Head, Died from Apoplexy.

1859. Mayor's Dinner. William Cowles entertained at the Kings Head. A party of friends including the Rector and leading inhabitants of Beccles.

1877. Night Soil emptied during the day. AG Love, Inspector of Nuisances testified against CF Parker and Peter Youngs of the Kings Head. "Offensive smells through the Town." Fined 1s 6d each plus Costs 8s 6d each.

1892. Police Court. Charlotte Youngs, wife of Peter Youngs guilty of wilful damage to windows at the Kings Head, New Market. She caused a disturbance about 6.30pm and was put out the side door. She immediately smashed a window. She was fined 14s 6d, which she could not pay, and was taken to Norwich gaol.

1902. Fire Brigade: Annual Dinner of the Caxton Press Fire Brigade held at the Kings Head Hotel, the Mayor presiding.

Advertisement, circa 1937

My memories of the Kings Head are from my childhood days in the 1970s. My mother worked at the Kings Head as a Chambermaid and Barmaid from 1970 to 1976. I spent many of my weekends and school holidays roaming the corridors of that lovely place, sometimes on my own and sometimes with my friend Trevor (whose Mum, Brenda, also worked there). We got up to all kinds of mischief and I have fond memories of us hiding in a tiny room upstairs where we made a make-shift house with all the threadbare linen and broken crockery from the kitchen.

In 2009 I interviewed my Mum about her Kings Head days and the following is an extract, reprinted here with her kind permission:

"Rotary Day was on a Thursday. We had to plate up all of their meals and send them upstairs via the dumb waiter. No women were allowed in the meeting room you see because it was "secret men's business". My job description as a Chambermaid varied from cleaning bathrooms, changing sheets, arranging fresh flowers, refreshing hand towels, soaps and toilet rolls daily, as well as the usual task of vacuuming, polishing and wiping windows. If I had a breakfast shift I would start at 7 am where I would let myself in to the kitchen, heat the water, and pick up the newspapers. I had to consult a room-service list of residents and prepare their breakfast requirements. After delivering the room-service breakfasts I would have my own breakfast in the staff room before serving in the Dining Room. Then I would have to go and wake the Chef who lived-in upstairs, assist with general waitressing duties and assist with clearing the Dining Room and preparing the tables for dinner, before going home and returning later in the day (or in the evening if I was required as a Barmaid)."

My Mother on Duty

"I fondly remember working alongside Mary as part of my chambermaid duties. Her husband kept a Post Office somewhere, I wish I could remember where it was now. There was Lily the kitchenmaid or "Moaning Minnie" as we all liked to call her. She complained about everything and everyone. Bashi, Ian, John, Frank and Alfred were the barmen and wait staff and we all got along famously. My sister Shirley worked with us for awhile too, as well as young Tina and Brenda who was a single Mum like I was. They were lovely girls."

Kings Head in 1990

Kings Head Hotel in 2007

I wish all the staff and management of Wetherspoon every luck in the world with the re-opening of the Kings Head Hotel this coming Tuesday. I truly wish that I could be there to see it in all its glory and splendour, having had new life breathed into it after being so sadly neglected for the past two or more years. I will get myself back to Beccles one of these days and when I do I should love to walk through its corridors again.

My grateful thanks must go to local historian, David Lindley, for meticulously transcribing reams and reams of newspapers, rate books, almanacks and Official Guides (just to name a few) for the history of Beccles.

Staff and Management, February 2013
Photo courtesy of Beccles & Bungay Journal