William Henry Watts was a blacksmith in the High Street from about 1898 to the 1940s.

Early life

William was born at Beaminster on 12 July 1871, the eldest son of Thomas David Watts and his wife, Jane. Both his father and his grandfather were blacksmiths.

He served his apprenticeship with the blacksmith at Glanvilles Wootton.[1]

By April 1891, he worked as a blacksmith in his father’s forge.

Life at Hardington

In about 1898, William joined Thomas Matraves as an “improver.”[2] In 1899, he married Grace Marsh of Hardington. At about the same time, he took over the business from his employer. In March 1901, his brother, Edwin, helped him in the forge. In April 1911, his sister, Mary Meade, and his wife’s aunt were in his household.

At the estate sale on 18 October 1920, William paid £370 for the smithy, cottage, garden, orchard and two fields.

A trade directory of 1939 lists him as a blacksmith.

In April 1949, William and Grace celebrated their golden wedding with a party for about fifty people at Hardington WI hall, arranged by their son and daughter. Although William was by that time retired, he still shod the occasional horse to oblige neighbouring farmers.[3] When he obtained probate for his wife’s will on 19 May 1950, he described himself as a retired master blacksmith.[4]

Grace died on 6 March 1950, aged 81, leaving an estate valued at £299-8s-5d, which she left equally to her son and daughter.[5]

William died in 1969, aged 97, without leaving a will.

Children

Their daughter, Violet, married Laurence Gordon Chick, a farmer at West Coker. Their son, Bertram Leonard Watts, was a piano tuner.

References

[1] Western Gazette, 15 April 1949, p.3.

[2] Western Gazette, 15 April 1949, p.3.

[3] Western Gazette, 15 April 1949, p.3.

[4] The will of Grace Watts, dated 21 March 1938, proved at Bristol on 6 March 1950.

[5] The will of Grace Watts, dated 21 March 1938, proved at Bristol on 6 March 1950.