Yeovil People

Walter Samuel Hurdle

Grocer of Middle Street

 

Walter Samuel Hurdle was born in Haselbury Bryan, Dorset, in late 1832 or early 1833. He was the son of Yeovil grocer Henry Hurdle (1803-1865) and Frances née Drake (1806-1881) and was baptised on 20 January 1833. Henry and Frances had three children; Georgiana Elizabeth Drake (1828-1897), Henry John (b1831) and Walter. In the 1841 census the family were listed in Wine Street, and Henry gave his occupation as a grocer. The family were still in Wine Street in the 1851 census but this time Henry gave his occupation as a cheese factor. Walter, however, was not listed with the family and was presumably at a boarding school or staying with relatives.

On 24 January 1856, at Holy Trinity, Hackney, London, Walter married Clementina Maria Bradbury (1833-1899) of Chippenham, Wiltshire. Walter and Clementina initially set up home in Chippenham, where their first five children were born. They were to have nine children; Henry Walter (1856-1934), Georgiana Frances (1858-1947), William George (1859-1907), Elizabeth Drake (b1861), Clementina Maria (1864-1947), Edward James (1867-1935), Frederick John (1870-1964), Frank (1872-1958) and Herbert (1872-1950).

In the 1861 census 28-year old Walter, Clementina, Georgiana and William, together with two servants, were living in High Street Chippenham. Walter gave his occupation as a provisions merchant.

Between 1861 and 1863, Walter moved his family back to Yeovil. In the 1871 census the family, together with two servants, were living in Middle Street above Walter's shop premises, close to the Triangle. Walter gave his occupation as a cheese factor.

Walter was listed as a grocer and cheese factor of Middle Street in the Post Office Directory of 1875 and he placed an advertisement in the 1878 edition of Whitby's Yeovil Almanack Advertiser. However by the time of the 1871 census he had moved his family to 66 Castle Street, Salisbury where he was listed as a cheese shopkeeper.

Clementina died, aged 66, in Salisbury in 1899. Walter was still in Salisbury in 1901, but died in Portsmouth, Hampshire in the autumn of 1910, aged 77

 

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Walter Hurdle's advertisement in the 1878 edition of Whitby's Yeovil Almanack Advertiser.