So far the first reference found for this property is from the 1841 census.
The occupants then were the Ashton family.
18 Station Road showing the shop front circa 1960.
Unusually these are two sets of twins, Mary & Eliza aged 25 and born in 1816, Mary is described as a Victualler (supplier of food & drink). The earliest picture shown dates from around 1905 and certainly shows a typical Victorian grocers shop front. Also note the rounded brickwork on the corner of the lower storey, this was to assist waggons turning in and out of the farm yard next door.
Her brothers John & William are both aged 22 having been born in 1819, they both describe themselves as glaziers. All of the siblings were born in Littlethorpe.
The 1851 census records just William there with a young family, he now describes himself as a plumber/glazier.
A change by the 1861 census, it records just brother John living there aged 42 and with daughter Elizabeth. John is still carrying on the trade of plumber/glazier.
18 Station Road (far right in photograph) showing the earlier Victorian shop front. Note also the double entrance gates to the farm next door, the known as Old House Farm.
Unfortunately the newspapers in May 1858 report Johns bankruptcy application with the final certificate made in October of that year.
The Leicester Mercury of 22nd January 1859 reported the following:
“Joseph Sparrow (aged 42 and a baker) was charged by Ann Ashton (wife of John) with assaulting her at Littlethorpe on Jan. 8. – Complainant said that defendant married her husbands sister. On the above day, defendant came to her house and asked for a pigeon, which he swore was his. She said he should not take it, when defendant snatched at it, and pulled the pigeons head off. He then lifted up his whip stock and threatened to smash her brains out. He struck her on the head with the pigeon. Was afraid defendant would do her some bodily injury if he was not bound over. Last Saturday he threatened to bash her brains out with a whip-stock. – John Ashton, husband of the complainant corroborated her evidence, and defendant was ordered to enter into his own recognisance of £20 (today’s value £1640) to keep the peace for six months”
The Leicester Journal newspaper of November 6th 1863 carries a notice that with effect from 1st November 1863 Mr Alfred Adam’s (age 26) had taken over John Ashton’s business and begs friends and public alike to take note. He also seeks an apprentice, the same to pay a premium (Alfred came quite a way it would seem, being from Temple Coombe in Somerset).
The Leicester Mercury of 19th June 1867 carried the following report:
“Richard Smith, painter, Burbage, was charged with absenting himself from the service of Alfred Adam’s, plumber and painter, Littlethorpe, on June 3rd, without giving the usual weeks notice. Complainant said defendant about March 23rd, agreed to serve him as a painter, grainer (the art of using scramble and varnish to represent wood grain on basic pine doors), and paper hanger for the summer, at 26s (£189 at 2025 values) a week. He remained until June 1st, when he received his wages as usual, and went away saying nothing about leaving, but failed to come back on the following Monday morning, and had never come to work since. The custom of the trade was to give and receive a weeks notice under such circumstances. Four men had left him since defendant had been with him, and all had received notice.
Defendant said he had worked in the trade for 25 years, and never when he left a place had either given or received a weeks notice.”
The report ends “recommended to arrange” so we don’t know the outcome but interesting glimpse of working life and wages in 1867.
By June 1868 Alfred seems to have established himself quite well and he is the approved contractor for plumbing and glazing during the refurbishment of St John’s church, Enderby.
The Leicester Chronicle of 10th July reports an application by Mr Adam’s to the Leicester Highways Board for consent to pull down an old fence and build up a new stone wall in front of some property in Littlethorpe that he had purchased. He also wanted to take one foot from the side of the road and take in a small part of the village green (as yet whereabouts unidentified). We don’t know if he was successful but note that not much later he is serving on the Highways Board!
The 1871 census shows him aged 34 married to Julia and with children Clara 9, Alfred 6, Harry 3, and Annie 1. He is now employing 4 men.
The Leicester Journal of 13th June 1873 reports on the completion of the new school and schoolmasters house at Narborough and Alfred is the contractor for all of the plumbing, glazing, and ironwork.
Another project for 1873 is the refurbishment of Bagworth church. This year also sees him serving on the local highways board for the area.
1881 and Alfred is 45, he and Julia have added Bessie to the family in 1875. He is now employing 10 men!
Original letterhead dated Xmas 1883.
1891 and Alfred is now a widower with just daughter Bessie at home.
1899 and Alfred junior is applying for a beer off-licence is respect of a house he occupied at “New Cosby” midway between Cosby and Littlethorpe. The nearest licenced house was the New Inn , 445 yards away. There were 34 houses already occupied in that neighbourhood, with a population of 170 people, 3 workshops in addition furnishing 140 persons. The house was at the corner of a narrow road , and in the event of being granted, Adam’s was prepared to give up 10 feet of his land to widen the road to 20 feet. This was objected to by Mr Pole, an applicant for another license in the neighbourhood.
Interesting but where was all this?
The application was refused again in 1904.
1901 sees Alfred aged 60 married for a second time to Eliza aged 58 from Manchester.
1911 and it would appear that Alfred senior has retired (he would be 70 or so), and the occupier is Alfred Junior aged 49 who has taken over the business with his wife Clara assisting. Also there, are daughter Julia b.1909 and stepson Cecil Whitfield b.1895, Cecil is an apprentice plumber presumably to his stepfather.
The 1921 census records Alfred junior age 57 with wife Clara and daughters Julia and Muriel Clara. He describes himself as a plumber and painter.
The 21st December sees the demise of Alfred Junior and probate valued at £1348 17s. 4d. (£126,000 at 2025 values) granted to Clara his widow.
1939 and Clara is now 65 and also there is her daughter Muriel who describes herself as apprentice in the fancy goods trade.
A later picture of the shop front shows the window somewhat modified, and probably more in keeping with a plumbers than a Victualers, or possibly even fancy goods?
Sources:
As with any local history research continues on this and more information will hopefully be added as it is found, so keep checking for the latest updates. In fact if you can add anything to the above please get in touch via the contact form
