Page 72 • The HERALD • 16th November 2023 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v Holbury Service Station Web: www.holburyservicestation.com Email: holburyservicestation@hotmail.co.uk Member of Good Garage Scheme.com TYRES FITTED WHILE-U-WAIT Budget and Branded tyres held in stock Long Lane, Holbury, SO45 2NZ Tel: 023 8089 3727 All Major Cards Accepted and Repairs to Cars & Vans MOT’S & SERVICING 023 8084 9370 Prospect Place, Hythe SO45 6AU • MOT’s • MOT Repairs • Air Con • Auto Electrics • Servicing • Welding • Diagnostics • Suspension • Tyres • Clutches • Cam Belts • Brakes AUTOPAT A Family Business Established since 1982 PROMPT & EFFICIENT v Servicing v Mechanical Repairs v MOT’s - Petrol & Diesel v Air Conditioning Service Unit 3, Hardley Ind. Est., Hythe 023 8084 0163 James Wills - Farrier In the large area to the south of the church is situated the resting place of James Wills, one of the two farriers located in Fawley Village at the end of the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s. Both forges are now long gone, but at the time of their existence they were an essential part of the community. James was born in 1865 in Merriot in Somerset, to his parents Edwin and Louisa (nee Lawrence) Tales from the Graveyard of All Saints’ Church in Fawley by Patricia-Hedley Goddard, Churchyard Archivist at All Saints’ Church in Fawley James Wills The Blacksmith/Farrier Wills. Edwin was a master carpenter by trade and Louisa was recorded as being a ‘Glover’. James was the 3rd child in a family of 10 children, but only 9 of the children survived. By the time he was six years old the family had moved to 96 Snails Hill, West Chinnock in Somerset. In 1881, aged 16 he was apprenticed to a Blacksmith in West Chinnock. A er nishing his apprenticeship James was working as a Blacksmith in Merriot, and in September 1888, aged 23 he married Anna (Annie, nee Inder) who lived in Shepton Beauchamp, Somerset. Annie was recorded as being a ‘Glover’, but shortly a er her marriage she had become a ‘domestic servant’. Possibly she was looking a er the family home. e trade ’Glover’ was mentioned in 1708 as being in the village of Shepton Beauchamp, and a ‘Glove Master’ lived at the eastern end of Great Lane in Shepton Beauchamp and was active between 1837 to 1847. In 1851 there were 126 female glovers active in the area, by 1861 there were 139 glovers, this declined slightly to 122 in 1871, but the numbers soon increased again. e glove industry was still booming in 1928 and Glovers working at Shepton Beauchamp were described as excellent workers. In those days everyone wore gloves of all types and styles, and a lady or gentleman would not be seen outside without wearing a pair of gloves. Within a year Annie had given birth to their rst child Lydia (May), and they had moved to e Smithy, Back Lane, Honington in Wiltshire. eir second child, Ernes (Ern) was born at this address in 1890. In 1891 James was recorded as being a ‘Journeyman Blacksmith’ and he had moved his family to 4 Challis Court, Orchard Lane, in Southampton. A Journeyman Blacksmith is a Blacksmith who has completed his apprenticeship and is considered to have the skills their own business. ey became members of the local guild. By moving to Southampton, which was a thriving city and port, there would have been an abundance of available work. Four years later in 1895 James had moved his ever growing family to Jasmine Cottage in Forge Lane in Fawley, where his 5th child, Lilian Florie (Lily) was born. Here he remained, but in 1900, aged 10, their eldest daughter went back to Shepton Beauchamp to live with her Inder grandparents. James’s children were fortunate because they were all able to attend the local school, so the basic education would have meant that they could all write their name, read, and do basic arithmetic. 1911 saw several changes within the household. Lydia (May), the eldest daughter, now aged 21, le her grandparents to became a Parlour Maid, located in Cambridge Road, Wimbledon, London. eir only son Ernest (Ern), aged 20, started to work in his father’s smithy, and their 19 year old daughter Lucy (Dot), had become a Housemaid in Portland Place, Marylebone, London. eir 15 year old daughter Lilian (Lily) went to live with her widowed Grandmother in Shepton Beauchamp, and the three remaining children all became scholars in Fawley. Probably the most to work alongside their master or seek work with other shops, or even open Continued on page 73
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