Introduction

Gilbert Leach Partridge was the oldest child of Abraham Partridge, the village baker. Gilbert played a significant role in the village’s commercial life, initially working as his father’s assistant before establishing his own bakery business in about 1893. However, growing competition probably caused him to switch to cheese dealing in about 1910. During the First World War, he left the village and moved about sixty miles north to Almondsbury. While living at Hardington, he was actively involved in parish affairs, serving on the parish council, as a churchwarden and as treasurer of the cricket club.

Early life

Gilbert was born at Hardington on 4 July 1870, the oldest child of Abraham and Julia Partridge.[1]

By April 1891, Gilbert was working as an assistant baker, presumably for his father.

Marriage

On 14 November 1893, Gilbert married Emma French at Hardington.[2] Emma was a farmer’s daughter from Islington in Devon and may have worked as a servant at Hardington Rectory.

Own business

Around this time, Gilbert started his own bakery business, renting premises across the road from his father. These premises were owned by John Yeandle’s son-in-law, James Warr. Gilbert’s rounds extended into Yeovil, and, in November 1894, he wrote to the Pulman’s Weekly News complaining about the poor condition of the roads in the higher part of Newtown, Yeovil. He said that as he “was driving through there on Thursday last, the horse walking steadily, when one of the wheels went in a deep rut, which is sometimes hidden with mud, and I was thrown violently into the road.”[3]

In about 1910, Gilbert changed his business to cheese factoring. At this time, he probably gave up his tenancy at Hardington Moor, which would explain why, in March 1910, the property owner put the property up for auction at the Three Choughs Hotel, Yeovil. However, the property failed to reach the reserve price and was withdrawn at £190. A newspaper report of the sale stated that Gilbert was the yearly tenant at a rental of £12 per annum.[4]

By 1915, Gilbert occupied a cottage at Marsh Farm.[5]

Parish offices

In December 1894, Gilbert was elected to Hardington’s first parish council.[6] He was last elected to the parish council in April 1912.[7]

In 1901, he held the position of churchwarden, and in 1911, he served on the coronation committee.[8]

Sport

In March 1894, Gilbert was elected as the treasurer of the village cricket club.[9]

Move to Almondsbury

Between 1915 and 1917, Gilbert and Emma embarked on a new chapter by relocating to Almondsbury, just north of Bristol.

In June 1921, Gilbert was unemployed, having last worked for a baker named Mr A. Williams.

Emma’s death

Emma died at Almondsbury on 5 January 1938, aged 69.

Gilbert’s later life

The 1939 register shows Gilbert as a Delivery Fruit Salesman living at Townsend, Almondsbury. Towards the end of his life, he lived with Emma’s niece, Emily Marion Robins at 94 The Hill, Almondsbury.

In 1943, following the death of his stepmother, Gilbert inherited half of his father’s estate.[10]

Gilbert’s death

Gilbert died on 24 November 1956, aged 86, leaving an estate valued at £663-18s-9d. He appointed his niece, Nora Evelyn Roskelly, the daughter of his sister Ellen, as his executor.

Children

Gilbert and Emma did not have any children of their own. However, after the death of Emma’s sister, Julia Rowell, in January 1897, they provided a home for Julia’s only daughter, Emily Marion Rowell, until Emily married Harold John Robins at Almondsbury in 1931.[11]

References

[1] Civil Registration Birth Index; 1939 census.

[2] Western Chronicle, 24 November 1893, p 8.

[3] Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 13 November 1894, p.5.

[4] Western Chronicle, 11 March 1910, p.5.

[5] Guardian valuations.

[6] Western Gazette, 7 December 1894, p.7.

[7] Western Chronicle, 26 April 1912 p. 7.

[8] Western Gazette, 3 May 1901, p.6; Western Gazette, 23 June 1911, p.4.

[9] Pulman’s Weekly News and Advertiser, 20 March 1894, p.6.

[10] The will of Abraham Partridge, dated 11 September 1922, proved at Winchester on 13 October 1944.

[11] Following her mother’s death, Emily was an orphan, as her father, Joseph Rowell, died in 1905.