The first mention of the Biddle family in the village is in the 1851 census, with Joseph, a farmers son from Sapcote, his father Thomas was born there on 10th September 1780, he was the son of another Thomas and wife Elizabeth. Thomas junior married Mary Coleman at Aston Flamville church on 18th April 1815. At the time of the 1841 census Thomas was farming at Primethorpe (Broughton Astley) with Mary and sons Joseph then aged about 20 (our Joseph), and Thomas born 1826.
1845 on February 27th at Cosby parish church, Joseph, describing himself as a farmer from Broughton Astley, marries Ann Holmes from Littlethorpe, daughter of James and Elizabeth. In the 1841 census, Anns mother Elizabeth describes herself as a Victualler, at perhaps the Joiners Arms, or maybe even one of the lost pubs in the village, The Bluebell or The Woodboy Perhaps?
1846 and Thomas senior dies intestate (he left no will) at Primethorpe.
1849 and the administration of Josephs estate is finally granted to his brother Thomas (born 1826).
Mary continues farming the 50 acres at Primethorpe with 2 agricultural labourers (quite possibly her sons).
1851 and the Littlethorpe census shows Joseph now aged 32, married to Anne 31 from Wigston Magna, and a dressmaker, they have 2 children Thomas 3, and Harriet just 1 month old, both children were born at Cosby. Joseph describes himself as a farmers son born at Sapcote like his father. The fact that he describes himself as such seems to suggest he is one of his mother’s agricultural labourers working at Primethorpe, she now being widowed and aged 70 or so.
1853 and Marys son Thomas, Josephs brother, marries Ann Howkins at Broughton Astley on 18th April 1853.
1861 and Anne is running the Joiners Arms. So where was Joseph and when did they open the pub?…… also there are her children Mary 15, James Thomas 13, and Harriet 10, all born in Littlethorpe.
1869 29th July sees the tragic death of daughter Harriet aged 18.
1871 Anne is 54 still running the pub, Mary is still there, James is now a carpenter.
1881 Anne is still at the Joiners Arms with Mary assisting. Son James is at 12 Station Road carrying on the trade of carpenter and joiner (did he make that door casing for the front door I wonder ?), he is married to Fanny from London, and they have sons John born 1878, and Joseph 1879, their birthplaces noted as Cosby but as Littlethorpe was then in Cosby parish this could be misleading. These dates would tie in nicely with No.12 being extended by James circa mid 1870’s to accommodate his new wife and family.
1891 Ann now 72 is still at The Joiners with Marys help. James and family are all 10 years older, he is still a carpenter, but we now know that his wifes birthplace was St Pancras.
1897 Ann dies.
1901 and Anns son James now 52 is the publican at The Joiners with wife Fanny, also there is son John 22, a boot maker, and Joseph (born 1879) assistant barman, Harriet Moore 43 is a visitor from St Pancras.
1907 October at Cosby parish church Joseph (born 1879) marries Emma Wapples a local girl.
1911 John now 32 is a boot maker riveter and wife Emma is an elastic weaver employed by Burgess at Victoria Mills on Whetstone Lane. Joseph with wife Emma is landlord at The Plough Inn, also there is daughter Harriet born August 1903 and Ivy May born June 1905 (Claude Whitmores mum), and boarding is James T Biddle (Josephs uncle) born 1848 and retired from The Joiners Arms.
1913 James born 1848 dies on 9/5/1913 probate is granted to his son, John James Holmes a concrete hand, and Joseph Thomas Biddle licensed Victualler (The Plough). Gross estate value £1704 11s 8d Net £314 6s 8d. (Gross at 2026 values c.£15,000)
1921 Joseph and Emma are still at The Plough, daughter Ivy is a blouse cutter for Harris & Co, Hinckley Road, Leicester and they also now have Lily age 9, and John age 6. Brother John is now 43 and an artificial stone labourer at Empire Stone, his wife is another Emma from Mountsorrel, they have a son James age 9.
1934 Joseph & Emma retire from The Plough and move across the road to 12 Station Road where he was born.
Joe Biddle & Mildred Couling at 12 Station Road
1939 Joseph and Emma are in retirement at No.12. John J H is still at Empire Stone, wife Emma and son John born 11/4/1912 is a Ferro concrete carpenter, also at The Empire.
1958 a conveyance dated 2nd September between John James Holmes Biddle and Joseph Thomas Biddle of the one part and John Graham Holyoak of the other part. This was for the sale of Biddles Meadow O.S.1517 (the field between the Soar and 10 Station Road through which Riverside Way now runs).
21/12/1958 sees the death of John James Holmes Biddle of Cosby Road with probate granted to James Thomas Biddle his son and an experimental engineer, total effects £ 187 1s 10d. (2026 value £5600). John James is mentioned on the Littlethorpe War Memorial as serving in The Royal Artillery during the First World War, one of the fortunate ones to return home.
1959 22nd September Joseph sells 14 Station Road to Irene McReynolds and David & Ann Evans after having first converted the property into two cottages.
1960 12th July and Joseph sells his home to Mildred Couling and goes to live with his daughter. Mrs Couling, a nurse took people into care and looked after them at 12 Station Road. Joseph was later to return to his old home in his last years to be cared for by Mrs Couling.
1966 14th Dec and Joseph Thomas dies aged 87 at 12 Station Road, probate is granted to son John Thomas Biddle, a post office telephone engineer. The amount being £2150 (2026 value c. £40,000).
In his younger days with an impressive physique of 19 stones Joseph had no trouble in keeping order at The Plough Inn. He also played cricket along with his brother John, who was a star all rounder, for Narborough. According to The Hinckley Times article published on 3rd June 1966 he “is best remembered for for his magnificent work in St John’s Ambulance. When an accident occurred it was the habit to “send for Joe” (See article above).
I remember with affection both Joe and Emma, living next door to them for 15 years or so. I can still see their black leaded coal fired kitchen range in their homely front room, and the television they had well before us!
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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
