Edwards & Deane

Edwards & Deane

Drapers of Church House in the Borough and 25 High Street

 

During the eighteenth century the building known variously as the Church House, Parish House, the Parish Church House or the Corner House, stood in the Borough on the corner of Middle Street and Silver Street, where the HSBC building stands today. Originally the property of the Chantry of the Name of Jesus in St John's church, by 1815 it was Peter Daniell's shop and warehouse and was the most valuable of the Church properties in town with an annual value of eighty pounds (some £6,000 at today's value). The Church House was sold by 1836 for £699 (approximately £64,000 at today's prices) and was demolished. London House was built on the site.

The premises were occupied "for many years" by the drapers Peter Edwards (1791-1842) and George Deane / Dean (b1801). Pigot's Directory of 1830 recorded Edwards & Dean as linen drapers of Market Place. Also in 1830, the Churchwardens' Accounts of St John's church recorded a payment of £3 14s 11d (around £340 at today's value) to Edwards & Deane, drapers, although the subject of the payment is unrecorded. Indeed, Peter Edwards was to serve as a Churchwarden himself from 1828 until 1830, alongside Edward Granger his neighbour in High Street. Edwards & Deane moved out of the Church House property when their own new premises at 25 High Street opened on Monday, 4 October 1830.

Very little is known of either Edwards or Deane. Peter Edwards was born in Somerset in 1791 and he and his wife, Elizabeth (b1791, Somerset), had five children; George (b1816), Edward (b1821), Peter Henry (b1821), James Frederick (b1826) and Elizabeth (b1826). All the children, except Elizabeth, were born outside of Somerset, most likely in Winchester, Hampshire. In 1835, Peter Edwards was also recorded as a glove manufacturer.

George Deane was born in Langport in 1801, the son of Arthur and Ann Deane. George was baptised at Langport on 12 July 1801. In both 1832 and 1834, George was recorded in the Yeovil poll books as being a resident of Kingston and occupying premises in Middle Street.

In August 1835, the partnership of Peter Edwards and George Deane, linen drapers, was dissolved and reported in the national and local press. However in his will dated 4 September 1835, Peter Edwards refers to the partnership of his son George Edwards and George Deane.

Nevertheless, following the partnership split, George Deane moved to Wells. The 1841 census recorded him living in High Street with his wife Martha (b1808) and their children Mary (b1835) and George (b1838). I could fine no further trace of George in the records.

Nevertheless, it appears that Peter Edwards continued the drapery business at 25 High Street, where the 1841 census recorded him with his wife, five children, two draper's shop assistants, a draper's apprentice and two domestic servants. Both 50-year-old Peter and his 25-year-old son George gave their occupations as drapers. Peter Edwards died in Yeovil the following summer.

Following the death of his father, George Edwards took over his father's business. In the 1851 census, at 25 High Street, Peter's widow Elizabeth was listed as the head of the household and gave her occupation as an annuitant. George, aged 38 and unmarried, gave his occupation as a master draper and tailor employing twelve men. His unmarried siblings, Edward and Elizabeth, aged 32 and 26 respectively, both gave their occupations as draper's assistants.

In 1852, at Melbury Osmond, Dorset, George Edwards married Harriet Swaffield. They were to have two children, both born in Yeovil; George William (b1857) and Harriet Katherine Anne (b1862). The 1861 census recorded George and Harriett, together with their Yeovil-born 3-year-old son George William Edwards at 25 High Street, together with six draper's assistants, a cook, a housemaid and a nursemaid. George gave his occupation as a draper employing sixteen assistants.

By 1866 George Edwards had moved his family to Melcombe Regis, Dorset, and the High Street drapery business had been taken over by drapers William Hurrell and Alfred Berryman. George died in Brighton, Sussex, in 1897, aged 84.

 

gallery

 

This sketch, made by Madeley to illustrate his map of 1831, shows the Borough seen from High Street - roughly the view seen today from the north end of King George Street. The Shambles is to the left and the Market House is to the right. The Church House is seen in the background between the Shambles and the Market House. The buildings at far left still stand today, that to the left is Clement White's shop, today's 8 High Street, at this time occupied by Benjamin Ryall, a draper, whose name appears above the door.

 

An advertisement for the sale of the Church House in the 14 December 1835 edition of the Western Flying Press. The Church House was demolished just months afterwards to be replaced by London House.

 

Peter Edwards and George Deane announced the 4 October 1830 opening of their new premises at 25 High Street in the 23 September 1830 edition of the Dorset County Chronicle.

 


From my collection

This hand-tinted stone lithograph by Henry Burn (1807-1884) entitled 'Market Place - Yeovil' was published by William Porter and Henry Marsh Custard in January 1839.

The lithograph looks down High Street from its junction with Hendford / Princes Street. On the left the Mermaid with its familiar archway and large overhanging sign is clearly seen. On the opposite side of the road, at extreme right, just two bays are shown of the new (built 1830) shop premises of Edwards & Dean - most recently Beales' store.

 


From my collection

An enlargement of the previous image, showing Edwards & Deane's new premises at 25 High Street.

 


This photograph features in my book "Yeovil In 50 Buildings"

This view of the former Edwards & Deane premises at 25 High Street was taken between 1887 (when the Sugg lamp was erected in the street outside to celebrate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria) but before 1897 when the Capital and Counties Bank replaced the building on the corner of High Street seen at extreme left. At this time it was the premises of Lindsay Denner.

 

1835 WIll of Peter Edwards

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Peter Edwards of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gentleman I give and bequeath unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Edwards the whole of my Wines and Liquors to and for her own sole and separate use and also the use of all my household Goods and furniture plate linen china and books during her life if she shall so long continue my Widow and from and after her decease or marriage again whichever shall first happen I give and bequeath my three volumes of Hewlett's Bible to my Son George my Mahogany Bookcase and Secretary to my Son William my Mahogany Wardrobe Sofa and Set of Mahogany Chairs unto my Son Edward my Silver Watch and Seals together with all my Plate to my Son Peter Henry the whole of my Paintings and Prints with their Frames one Mahogany Dining Table my fluted Mahogany Bedstead and furniture with the Feather Bed Bolster and Pillows usually used thereon to my Son James Frederick Mahogany Work Table and Rose Wood Work Box my best Twisted mahogany Post Bedstead with the drab ground Chintz Furniture belonging thereto my best Feather Bed Bolster and Pillows used thereon one Mahogany Chest of Drawers with my Wife's Gold Watch and appendages (after her decease) to my Daughter Catherine my Mahogany Bedstead and [word illegible] Furniture one good Feather Bed Bolster and two Pillows one Mahogany Dining Table and one Mahogany Chest of Drawers to my Son Edwin and the rest of my said household goods and furniture linen china books I direct my trustees hereinafter named to make sale and divide the monies arising therefrom equally between my said Children George, William, Edward, Peter Henry, James Frederick, Catherine and Edwin All the Rest and Residue of my real and Personal Estate to which I may be beneficially entitled I give devise and bequeath unto my Son George Edwards my Brother in law Edwin Deane of Wincanton in the said County of Somerset Linen Draper and my friend James Tally Vining of Yeovil aforesaid their heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and tenure thereof respectively subject to the several provisions and declarations in this my Will contained upon trust out of my personal Estate to pay and satisfy all my just debts funeral and testamentary expences and upon trust after payment thereof to lay out and invest all such parts of my said personal Estate as shall consist of monies and the debts due to me from time to time as they may be received and got in together with the monies arising from the sale of any of my freehold or leasehold hereditaments and premises under the power for that purpose hereinafter contained upon some of the Parliamentary stocks or funds of Great Britain or upon first mortgages of freehold or copyhold Estates of Inheritance in England or Wales with full power to them my said trustees to alter vary and transfer such investments and all others which may be made at the time of my decease or into any other investment of the same descriptions from time to time as occasion shall require and upon trust to permit and suffer my said Wife to receive the interest dividends and annual produce of all my personal estate so invested at interest as aforesaid and also all the interests profits and proceeds of my real Estate and all such parts of my said personal Estate as may consist of leasehold houses and lands to and for her on use and benefit during her life if she shall so long continue my Widow out of which I direct my said Wife shall keep on [fool?] any Policies of Life Insurance that may be effected by me and in existence at the time of my decease and also to maintain educate and bring up my children being Sons until the age of twenty one years and my daughter until that age or marriage and from and after the decease or marriage again of my said Wife whichever shall first happen upon trust to pay out of the annual produce of my said residuary Estate unto my said Wife (in the event of her marrying again) during her life one clear annuity or yearly sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to her quarterly and in the event of her death after any quarter day and before another shall arrive such annuity shall cease from the quarter day next preceding her decease and upon trust to pay and apply the residue of the said annual produce unto or for the benefit of such of my children as at the time of the marriage again of my said Wife shall be under the age of twenty one years until they respectively attain that age by maintaining educating clothing and apprenticing them and upon trust to permit and suffer the surplus of such annual produce to accumulate until the decease of my said Wife and from and after the decease of my said Wife upon trust to pay and divide the whole of the said accumulations together with the residue of my said real and personal Estate unto and equally between all my children in making which division I direct my said trustees shall take into account the sum of one thousand pounds already given by me to the said George Edwards to set him up in trade and the several sum that may be advanced to any other of my children by my said trustees in pursuance of the power for that purpose hereinafter contained it being my desire that the whole of my children shall enjoy an equal portion of the whole of my property and if any of my said children shall die under the age of twenty one years unmarried then as to the share or shares original and accruing of the child or children o dying in trust for the other or others of my children in equal shares provided always that if any or either of my said Sons not being set up in trade at the time of the decease of my said Wife or having been set up shall have failed therein or if my said daughter shall then be unmarried or have married without the consent of my said Wife and trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or id any or either of them shall be considered by my said trustees incapable of managing prudently his share of my estate so given him under this my Will then and in every such case it shall be lawful for my said trustees and I do herby direct them and the survivors and survivor of them if they or he shall think fit to invest the shares of my said children so incapable or receiving the same in either of the cases mentioned in this proviso at interest for hi her or their benefit and to pay unto such children or child the interest and produce of his or her share only until such time as such children or child shall be considered by my said trustees capable of managing and receiving the same and in the event of the decease or either of such children whose share shall have been so invested under this my proviso before the same shall have been paid to him or her I direct my said trustees for the time being to pay and divide the same equally between his or her children or if but one then to such only one and if there shall be no child or children then to his or her next of kin provided always and I do hereby direct that it shall be lawful for my said trustees by and with the consent of my said Wife during her Widowhood and after her marriage again at their own discretion to raise and pay unto each of my Sons (not being or having been in trade previous to my decease) on his embarking therein with the consent of my said trustees the sum of one thousand pounds and undo my Daughter on her marriage (provided the same shall be with the consent of my said Wife and trustees) the sum of five hundred pounds and to settle and assure the further sum of five hundred pounds to and for the sole and separate use of my said Daughter during her life notwithstanding her coverture and after her decease upon trust for the benefit of her issue if any in equal proportions but if no issue then I direct the same to be paid to the husband of my said Daughter and in the event of his decease before my said Daughter then I direct the same to be paid to such person or persons as she shall by deed or will appoint and in default of such appointment to her next of kin provided also that if the marriage of my said Daughter shall be without the consent of my said trustees and Wife then the said sum of five hundred pounds so directed to be paid to her as aforesaid shall be settled and assured to her separate use in like manner and upon such trusts as the said other sum of five hundred pounds And it is my Will and I do hereby direct that such of my said children as hall not have been paid such sum of one thousand pounds during my life or under the power and direction hereinbefore contained previous to the decease of my said Wife shall be paid the same out of my residuary estate before any division thereof shall be made in pursuance of the trusts hereinbefore contained and it is my Will and I do hereby further direct that the sums of one thousand pounds to be advanced and paid to my said children by my said trustees under the power hereinbefore contained shall be obtained and taken from the debts now due to me from the said George Edwards and his Partner George Deane if the same should not have been sooner discharged but if so discharged then from such other source as my said trustees shall think fit and in case my said trustees shall consider it to be for the advantage of my trust Estate and the benefit of my family it shall be lawful for them and the survivors or survivor of them by and with the consent of my said Wife at any time during Her life to make sale of the whole or any part of my said real or personal estate consisting of Houses or lands (except the house and premises situated in the High Street of the Borough of Yeovil now let to my said Son George and his said Partner George Deane) to any person or persons willing to become the purchaser or purchasers thereof for the best price or prices that can reasonably be obtained for the same and in such manner as my said trustees shall think fit and I declare that the receipts of my said trustees to purchasers and others for monies paid to my said trustees shall be sufficient discharges for the same and from all liability to see to the application thereof And it is my Will and I do hereby further declare and direct that the said Dwellinghouse Shop and Premises situate in the High Street of the Borough of Yeovil now let by me to the said George Edwards and George Deane shall be continued to them during the life of my said Wife (provided my said Son shall so long live) at the same rent and under the same conditions in all respects as they now rent or hold the same of me and immediately upon the decease of my said Wife I direct my said trustees to sell the same for all my Estate and interest therein to the said George Edwards at the sum of two thousand pounds and in the event of his refusing or neglecting to purchase the same at that price within thirty days next after the same shall be offered to him or the [word illegible] of my said Son George being then dead then I direct my said trustees for the time being to offer the same at such sum as aforesaid to such other of my said Sons as they may think fit and in the event of all of them refusing to purchase the same at that sum or being all dead then I direct my said trustees for the time being to dispose of the same under the trusts of this my Will in like manner as the other parts of my said estate I devise all real Estates vested in me as trustee unto my Son George Edwards upon such trusts as shall at my decease be subsisting concerning the same respectively and I do hereby declare that the trustees for the time being of my Will shall not be answerable for each others acts or receipt nor for losses happening without their own respective defaults and shall be at liberty to retain and allow to each other all expences incident to the execution of the trusts and powers of this my Will and I do hereby appoint my said Wife and the said George Edwards Edwin Deane and James Tally Vining to be Executors of my said Will and my said Wife during her life if she shall so long continue my Widow and after her death or marriage again which shall first happen the said George Edwards Edwin Deane and James Tally Vining and the survivors or survivor of them to be the guardians or guardian of my infant children In Witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and seal to wit my hand to and at the bottom of the first four sheets hereof and my hand and seal to this fifth and last sheet this fourth day of September one thousand eight hundred and thirty five

Peter Edwards

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Peter Edwards the testator as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto

Cha[rle]s Vining Yeovil     James Amor  W Godwin Shopmen to Messrs Deane & Edwards

 

Yeovil July 12 1839
I Peter Edwards of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Linen & Woollen Draper do hereby declare this to be my desire the trustees inserted in my Will bearing date the fourth day of September one thousand eight hundred & thirty five are my Wife my Son George Edwards Edwin Deane and James Tally Vining I do hereby alter such my trust to my said Wife my Son George Edwards Edwin Deane and my Son Edward Edwards instead of Mr James Tally Vining aforesaid and I do hereby declare this to be my last Will and desire

Peter Edwards

Signed in the presence of us Witnesses

W R [illegible surname]     Jno Moody     A Bowring

 

In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury In the Goods of Mr Peter Edwards deceased

Appeared Personally Anna Bowring of Dinnington in the County of Somerset Spinster and made Oath that she is one of the subscribed Witnesses to the Codicil to the last Will and Testament ofPeter Edwards late of Yeovil and of Alvington in the Parish of Brympton in the County of Somerset Linen Draper deceased now hereunto annexed bearing date the twelfth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine and she further made oath that on the twelfth day of July aforesaid the testator duly executed the said Codicil by signing his name t the foot or end thereof in the presence of this deponent and of William Rawlins Dallyn and John Moody the other subscribed Witnesses all of whom were present at the same time and this Deponent and the said William Rawlins Dallyn and John Moody respectively attested and subscribed the said Codicil in the presence of the said testator and of each other

Anna Bowring

On the 29th day of July 1842 the said Anna Bowring was duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit by virtue of the annexed Commission Before me

John Dowdall Commissioner

 

Proved at London (with a Codicil) 6th August 1842 before the Judge by the Oaths of Elizabeth Edwards Widow the Relict and George Edwards the Son two of the Executors to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted having been first sworn (by Com[missi]on]) duly to administer Power reserved of making the like Grant to Edwin Deane and James Tally Vining [sic] the other Executors when they shall apply for the same

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn