Yeovil's Virtual Museum

John Tatchell

Rope and Twine Maker

 

John Tatchell was the son of William Tatchell (1746-1803) and Jemima née Thorn (d1847). John was born in Thorne Coffin in 1793 and baptised at St Andrew's church on 12 May 1793. He had two older sisters; Mary (b1788) and Jemima (b1789. Married James Jeanes at St John's church on 17 January 1813). The Tatchell family of Thorne Coffin had a long history of rope making.

Virtually nothing is known of John's early life - although he may have been the John Tatchell recorded in Pigot's Directory of 1830 as a "shopkeeper and dealer in sundries" of Reckleford.

In the winter of 1837, at Bridport, Dorset, John married Sarah White (1800-1848). It is believed there were no children of the marriage.

Roping Path, between Higher Kingston and Sparrow Lane (now Sparrow Road), had been the site of an 18th century rope and twine works mentioned in the Terrier of 1743 as 'Ropeing Field and Yard'. John Tatchell owned a rope factory in Higher Kingston in the early 19th century which may have been this factory.

From 1837 until 1849, John Tatchell appears frequently in the Churchwardens' Accounts as a rope maker and supplier of rope. In 1840 John was listed as a "Rope, twine and bag maker of Back Kingstone" in the Somerset Gazette Directory.

I found John in the 1841 census, living in Reckleford with his wife Sarah, mother Jemima and a house servant. At this time (bearing in mind that ages were rounded to the nearest 5-years) John was recorded as 45 (actually 47), Sarah 40 and Jemima 85. The census recorded John as a twine manufacturer.

The Sherborne Mercury recorded him as a rope and twine manufacturer of Reckleford in 1847 and in 1852 Slater's Directory recorded him as a rope and twine maker of Huish (presumably because the northern end of his Wellington Villa rope works was close to Huish).

Making rope and twine, and the associated trades of manufacturing webbing and sacking, was established centuries ago in Yeovil and continued into the twentieth century. Common natural fibres used in rope making were manila hemp, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, straw, and sisal. A ropewalk was a long straight narrow lane or a covered pathway, where long strands of material were laid before being twisted into rope. Ropewalks historically were harsh sweatshops, and frequently caught fire, as hemp dust forms an explosive mixture. Other Yeovil rope walks were located at Fair Ground between North Lane and Court Ash, with another running alongside the eastern edge of Mount Pleasant.

In 1848, John Neal's rope factory on Reckleford (see Maps) was destroyed by fire. After the fire, John Tatchell took over Neal's company and moved production from Higher Kingston to his Wellington Villa rope works in West Hendford.

In the notices in its edition of 8 July 1848, the Salisbury and Winchester Journal reported "June 3, at Aldermore, near Southampton, in her 48th year, Sarah, wife of Mr John Tatchell, of Yeovil".

 In the 1851 census, John was listed as a widower. The 1851 census recorded him living in Horsey's Lane (today's West Hendford). Although not listed as such, this was Wellington Villa. His occupation was recorded as "Manufacturer of sacks, twine etc. employing 11 men, 7 females and 9 boys"

John Tatchell died on 17 March 1852.

 

 

Edward Bullock Watts' map of 1831 shows John Neal's covered rope-walk running parallel to Reckleford (most likely replacing an earlier open-air rope-walk) with possibly a second rope-walk and other associated buildings at right angles to it. John Neal died at the beginning of 1847 and in 1848 his rope factory in Reckleford was destroyed by fire, John Tatchell took over Neal's company.

 

An extract of Hickes & Isaac's map of Yeovil of 1858 showing, in pink, the land of Wellington Villa. The rope walk was the long strip at the west of the site, beneath the 'H' of Huish. West Hendford (annotated on this map as Horse Lane) runs from top right to centre bottom.

 

This map, based on the 1886 Ordnance Survey, shows Wellington Villa at centre with a long, straight path to its left. The rope walk was to the left of the path. At the time of his death, John Tatchell also owned eight houses in Wellington Street occupied by his staff.

 

 

The record of the 12 May 1793 baptism from the parish register of St Andrew's church, Thorne Coffin.

 

John Tatchell's home, Wellington Villa in West Hendford, photographed around 1960. The swimming pool is being constructed behind Wellington Villa on what would have been Tatchell's rope walk. At right is Morley House that survives today.

 

The notice of the sale of John Tatchell's rope and sack manufacturing business from the 27 March 1852 edition of the Bristol Mirror.