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
