Kelly’s 1908 and 1916 Directories
Text common to both is in black, changes are shown as blue for the 1908, red for the 1916 version. Lists of private residents and commercial enterprises follow the descriptive text.
ELMSWELL is a parish and village, with a station on the Bury and Ipswich section of the Great Eastern railway, 86 miles north-east from London, 8½ east from Bury St. Edmunds, 5½ north-west from Stowmarket and 18 north-west from Ipswich, in the North-Western division of the county, hundred and petty sessional division of Blackbourn, Stow union, county court district of Stowmarket, rural deanery of Thedwastre, archdeaconry of Sudbury and diocese of Ely. Elmswell is a place of some antiquity, but its importance in the mediaeval period was due to its close connection with the great Benedictine Abbey of Bury St. Edmunds, the abbot of which was lord of the manor, and in 1433 entertained the young King Henry VI. here. A portion of the “Lord’s Chariot way” from Bury still remains in the parish as a disused road.
The church of St. John the Divine, erected by the monks of Bury and situated on an eminence, is an edifice of local flint with stone dressings,in the Decorated and Perpendicular styles, consisting of chancel, vestry, nave, aisles, porch and an embattled western tower containing 5 bells, two of which, however, are cracked: the base and angles of the tower , which was restored in 1913, and the porch exhibit fine flint work in various devices: in the church is a monument to Sir Robert Gardiner, a benefactor to the parish: the chancel was almost entirely rebuilt in 1864: the north aisle was built in 1867, and a short time previous to this the nave was repaired and fitted with an open timber roof and oak benches: the octagonal font is of the Decorated period: the pulpit and carved litany desk, both of oak, were presented by W.Luke esq.: the wrought iron, screen, with gates separating the chancel from the nave, was erected in 1864 by the then rector as a memorial to his parents, to whom there is also a mural brass: the nave was restored in 1911; the walls were decorated in colour in 1884 and several memorial windows have been erected: the church affords about 300 sittings. In the churchyard are the remains of an ancient cross. The register dates from the year 1553. The living is a rectory, net yearly value £310 £348, with 43 acres of glebe and residence, in the gift of [blank] and is at present (1908) vacant W. A. Macfarlane Grieve esq. J.P. and held since 1908 by the Rev. John Reginald George B.A. of University College, Durham and Keble College, Oxford. .
Here is a Wesleyan chapel. Elmswell Tabernacle, on the Norwich road, is an iron building erected in 1887, at a cost of about £200, and seating 300 persons. A cemetery of 1¼ acres was formed in 1901 at a cost of £300; it is under the control of the Parish Council. A bacon factory was opened here in 1911 by the St. Edmundsbury Co-operative Bacon Factory Limited. Here also are engineering works, timber yards and sawing and roller mills.
Sir Robert Gardiner, who was lord of the manor in the time of James I, bequeathed charities of large amount for the benefit of the necessitous and deserving poor of the parish, the maintenance of six almswomen and the repairs of the church; these charities are administered by local trustees under a scheme of the Charity Commissioners. Elmswell Grange is occupied by William Durrant esq. W. A. Macfarlane Grieve esq. of Impington, Cambs. is lord of the manor. The chief landowners are the trustees of the late William James Owen Holmes esq. of Strumpshaw Hall, near Norwich, Sir James W. Malcolm, bart. J.P. of Tostock Place, Mrs. Kinsey, William Durrant esq. J. C. Leatherdale esq. J.P. and Walter Williams esq. The soil of the parish is composed partly of clay and partly loam; subsoil, gravel, clay and brick earth. The chief crops are wheat and barley. The area is 2,089 acres; rateable value £4,076 £4,232; the population in 1901 was 858 1911 was 853.
Sexton, John Fuller.
Post. M: O. & T. O., S. B. & A & I. Office.—Daniel Walter Collen, sub-postmaster. Letters through Bury St. Edmunds are delivered at 6.20 a.m. & 12.35 p.m. & dispatched at 11.50 a.m. & 6.40 & 8.30 p.m.; on Sundays, delivery at 6.20 a.m. & dispatch only at 6.40 p.m.
Wall Letter Box, New Hall, cleared at 10.30 a.m. week days only& 8 a.m. Sundays.
THEDWASTRE SUB-COMMITTEE OF WEST SUF- FOLK LOCAL PENSION COMMITTEE
Meetings are held at the Council school on the second Saturday in each month.
Chairman, Benjamin Mason, Woolpit, Bury St.Edmunds
Clerk, Daniel Walter Collen, Elmswell
Police Station, Charles Lilliston, constable
Schools
Public Elementary, founded in 1864 by Admiral Sir George Seymour, & held in trust for the education of the children of the poor in the principles of the Church of England; the school will hold 120 children; average attendance, 45 ; Miss Edith Bugge Mrs M. Ainley, mistress
Public Elementary Council, erected in 1891, at a cost of £800, for 175 children; average attendance, 120; Thomas Owen Jones, master; Mrs. E. O. Jones, mistress John J. Wilson, master; Mrs. B. A. F. Wilson, mistress
Railway Station.—Thos. Herbert Barnard Henry Flowers, station master
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
| 1908 | 1916 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderton | Daniel | St. John's house | ||||
| Andreason | Julius | The Limes | ||||
| Ivy house | Robert | Baker | Baker | Robert | Ivy house | |
| White Thorn ho | Thos.Herbt. | Barnard | ||||
| White Thorn house | Mrs. | Barrell | ||||
| Norwood house | George | Boby | Boby | George | Norwood house | |
| Manor house | Hugh O. B. | Clough | ||||
| The Chestnuts | Arthur Edward | Crisp | ||||
| Holly cottage | Henry | Durrant | ||||
| Elmswell Grange | William | Durrant | Durrant | William | Elmswell grange | |
| . | Madame | Gandolfi | Gandolfi | Madame | ||
| St. Lucy | Miss | Garwood | George | Rev.Jn.Reginald B.A. (rector) | ||
| Woodstock house | George | Godbold | Godbold | George | Woodstock house | |
| St. John's house | William N. | Green | Hansen | Hjalmar | Hotly house | |
| Church Mt | Rev. James M.A. | Hipwell | Harrison | Mark | Elmswell hall | |
| . | Charles | Hood | Hassall | James White | Thorn house | |
| Arundel Villa | Mrs. | Hughes | Hughes | Mrs. | Arundel villa | |
| Sunnyside | Oliver C. | Jewers | Jewers | Oliver C. | Sunnyside | |
| Station | Henry J.P. | Jolly | ||||
| Elmswell Hall | John Coleby J.P. | Leatherdale | Leatherdale | John Coleby J.P. | The Chestnuts | |
| Long | Mrs. | Belleville | ||||
| Winterthorn | Mrs. | Lord | Lord | Mrs. | Winterthorn | |
| Low | Stanley R. | Eagle house | ||||
| Butcher | Arthur Cecil | Miller | Mackay | Miss | ||
| . | Harry | Mulley | Mulley | Herbert | ||
| Mulley | James | Nelson villa | ||||
| Mulley | William | |||||
| The Cottage | John Henry | Newson | Newson | John Henry | The Cottage | |
| Buttenhaugh | George. | Norman-Crosse | Nunn | Frank J | ||
| Parsey | Arthur Benjamin | |||||
| Laburnum House | Harry Cornelius | Pearl | Pearl | Harry Cornelius | Fern cottage | |
| The Laurels | Frederick | Pechey | Pechey | Frederick | The Laurels | |
| Fern Cottage | Mrs. | Pollard | Roll | Joseph | Buttenhaugh | |
| . | Mrs | Potter | ||||
| . | Robert Stephen | Pye | ||||
| Buttenhaugh | Mrs. F. | Sherlock | ||||
| . | George | Sillito | ||||
| Fairlight | Mrs. | Smith | Smith | Mrs. | Fairlight | |
| . | Miss | Sparke | Sparke | Miss | ||
| . | Mrs | Stevens | Walpole | Reginald | Houghton house | |
| . | Miss | Warren | ||||
| . | Mrs | Warren | Warren | Mrs. | Ivanhoe cottages | |
| . | Mrs. Fred | Warren | Warren | Mrs. Fred | ||
| Watts | Miss | The Gables | ||||
| Wilson | John Jamea | |||||
| . | Miss | Wing | Wing | Miss | ||
| . | Alfred W | Winter | ||||
| New Hall | Mrs. | Wolfe | Wolfe | Mrs. | New hall (letters through Woolpit) | |
| . | Mrs | Young | Wright | Henry George | (letters through Woolpit) | |
| Wymark | Walter | Buttenhaugh |
COMMERCIAL
| 1908 | 1916 |
|---|---|
| Aldridge, Herbert J. tailor | |
| Atkins, Robert shoe maker | Atkins, Robert shoe maker |
| Baker, & Son millers (oil) & merchts | Baker & Son, millers (oil) |
| Barclay & Company Limited, bankers (sub-branch to Stowmarket), open fri. 10.13 to 12.13 | |
| Bennett, William farmer Eastwood | Bennett, William farmer Eastwood |
| Borley, Frederick & Louis farmers & landowners | Borley, Frederick William farmer & landowner |
| Borley, John William builder | Borley, John William builder, decorator & plumber |
| Borley, Louis wood hurdle maker | |
| Bridge, Arthur farmer Bennett's | |
| Bridges, Wm1. shoe maker & shopkpr | Bridges, William shopkeeper |
| Bussey, G. ,& Co. Limited cricket bat manufacturers | Bussey, George G. & Co. Limited cricket bat manufacturers |
| Capital & Counties Bank Limited, (sub-branch to Stowmarket), open fri. 10.15 to 12.13 | |
| Cemetery, (Daniel Walter Collen clerk to the Burial Authority) | |
| Clarke, Frank Railway tavern | |
| Collard, William Jas. beer retailer | |
| Collen, Daniel Walter corn & flour merchant & stationer Post office | Collen, Daniel Walter corn & flour merchant & stationer, clerk to the Thedwastre Sub-Committee of West Suffolk Local Pension Committee Post office |
| Compton, Harold Arthur sanitary inspector to Thedwastre Rural District Council West hill | |
| Cooper, Walter butcher | |
| Coy, John farmer | Coy, John farmer |
| Crick, Louisa (Mrs.) laundry. | Coy, John Thomas farmer White ho |
| Diaper, William farm bailiff to Mr. John C. Leatherdale The Hall | |
| Durrant, Robert chemical manure merchant, saddler & harness ma.&c | Durrant, Robert saddler & harness maker &c. Yew Tree house |
| Durrant, William farmer & landowner Elmswell Grange & Whitehouse farm | Durrant, William farmer & landowner Elmswell grange |
| Elliston, William pork butcher | |
| Ennals, Arthur Daniel highway surveyor to the Thedwastre Rural District Council Linden croft | Ennals, Arthur Daniel highway surveyor to the Thedwastre Rura1 District Council. Linden croft |
| Everett, Edward (Mrs.) carrier | Everett, Jane (Miss) carrier |
| George, William horse slaughterer & farmer | George, William horse slaughterer & farmer Willow farm |
| Gibson, George farmer. Willow wood | |
| Green, Walpole & Co. wholesale corn & seed merchants & maltsters; & at 88 New Corn Exchange Mark La. London E C | Green, William N. corn merchant |
| Groom., John farmer | Harrison, Mark farmer Elmswell hall: |
| Harris, Kichard beer retailer | Hassall, James relieving & vaccination officer & registrar of births, deaths & marriages for Walsham-le-Willows district, Stow union |
| Hawes, Walter Wakelin Lion P.H | Hawes, Walter Wakelin printer |
| Hicks, Thomas Frederick baker & confr | Hicks, Thomas Frederick baker & confectioner; families waited upon daily |
| Hitchcock, Percy Walter motor & general engineer Station | |
| Hitchcock, Ralph miller. Station; & at Rattlesden | |
| Hood, John boot maker | Hood, John boot maker |
| Hurst, Robert farm bailiff to Mark Harrison esq. The Hall | |
| Jacob, William Freeman cycle agent | |
| Jakens, Arthur grocer | |
| Jewers, Oliver C. corn merchant | Jewers, Oliver C. corn seed, oil cake & manure merchant |
| Johnson, Herbert grocer & draper | Keen, Charles Fox hotel |
| Jolly, Henry J.P. miller (wind &steam) Station | |
| Kinsey, Henry C. farmer & income tax collector Hill farm | Kinsay, William income tax collector |
| Last, Horace Fox family & com. hotel | |
| Laver, John Henry Railway tavrn.&bkr | |
| Leatherdale, John Coleby farmer Elmswell Hall | Leatherdale, John Coleby J.P. farmer The Chestnuts |
| Lomax, George William grocer | Lomax, George William grocer |
| Manning, Frederick beer retailer & seedsman | |
| Middleditch, Wm. H. insurance agent | Morley, Wm.E. farmer. Cross Way (letters |
| Moy, Thomas Limited coal merchants | Moy, Thomas Limited coal merchants |
| Mulley, Brothers builders | Mulley Brothers, builders, contractors & undertakers |
| Mulley, Arthur builder, contractor, carpenter, plumber, painter, decorator & undertaker | Mulley, Arthur builder |
| Newson, John Hy. coal & manure mer | Newson, John Henry coal & salt merchant & insurance agent. Station |
| Norman-Crosse, George artist Buttenhaugh | |
| Nunn, William cycle agent | Nunn, Frank J. (late N. Warren &Sons) engineer & agricultural implement manufacturer & agent; horse hoes & harrows a speciality; wagon & cart builder, ironmonger &c. Blackbourn iron works. T A "Warrens, Elm |
| Palmer, Wm. farm bailiff to Mr. Peddar | Pearce, Harold F. miller, corn & coal merchant. Station & at Great Ashfield |
| Pearl, Harry general dealer | Peck, Alfred insurance agent |
| Phillips, Edward shopkeeper | |
| Pye, Robert Stephen timber merchant, saw mills Station | Pye, Robert Stephen timber merchant, saw mills Elmswell station |
| Redit, Herbert blacksmith | Redit, Herbert blacksmith |
| Rice, Frederick fire, life & general accident insurance agent, & agent for wines & spirits Myrtle cottage | Rice, Frederick agent to Messrs.Firmin & Co. Ipswich, for ropes,lacks, waterproof covers, stack cloths, tents &c. ; also agent for manures, cakes &c. ; all kinds of insurances effected. |
| Sillitto, George inland revenue officer | Russell, Frederick Lion P.H |
| Warren, N. & Sons engineers, manufacturers of general agricultural implements; horse hoes a speciality ; wagon & cart builders, ironmongers &c., Blackbourn ironworks, & Stowmarket | St. Edmundsbury Co-operative Bacon Factory Limited (The), (H. Hansen, manager & sec.), bacon, lard & sausage manufacturers T A "Bacon, Elmswell" - See advertisement page 91 |
| Steed, Arthur Edward commercial traveller; proprietor of Steed's String Band & .representative for "Makbar" food for cattle. Church mount | |
| Thompson, Norman excise & old age pensions officer | |
| Watts, Caroline (Miss) private school for girls | Watts, Caroline (Miss) private school for girls |
| Williams, Walter farmer & landowner The Grove & Botany Bay farms | Williams, Walter farmer & landowner The Grove & Botany Bay farms |
| Williams, William T. farmer Hill frm |