OSBORNE STORES, ALMA STREET

The earliest mention I’ve found so far of Osborne Stores, which was located at 156 Alma Street in Abertillery, is in the Friday 11th November 1898 issue of the South Wales Gazette, where it was reported that Samuel Osborne Pegler of Osborne Stores, Alma Street, Cwmtillery had been nominated as a new member of the Abertillery Chamber of Commerce. The following month in its issue of 23rd December, it reported that “at a meeting of the Abertillery Chamber of Commerce held on Thursday, November 30th, it was decided to abolish the custom of giving Christmas boxes in consequence of the severe losses sustained in trade through late Crisis.” Amongst the many businesses who agreed with the decision was O. Pegler, Osborne Stores, Penybont.

The late crisis referred to was the Welsh coal strike that began in April 1898. According to Wikipedia, it was “an industrial dispute involving the colliers of South Wales and Monmouthshire. The strike began as an attempt by the colliers to remove the sliding scale, which determined their wage based on the price of coal. The strike quickly turned into a disastrous lockout which would last for six months and result in a failure for the colliers as the sliding scale stayed in place.”

By 1891, W. Pegler & Son had already opened stores at Pontypool, Llanelly, Merthyr, Yystrad, Treorchy, Tredegar, Port Talbot, Nantymoel, Porth, Ferndale, Swansea, Abertillery, Dowlais, Abercarn, Tonypandy, and Pontycymmer. William Pegler, who had been Christened at the church of St. Peter at Newnham in Gloucestershire on 24th April 1825, was the uncle of Samuel Osborne Pegler. William’s parents (and Samuel Osborne’s grandparents) were Samuel Pegler (a Grocer), and Susannah née Dart who were married on 18th June 1817 at the church of St. Mary at Henbury in Gloucestershire. In the 1841 Census, Samuel and Susannah Pegler are found with their children at College Green in Bristol, located close to the church of St. Augustine, also known as Bristol Cathedral (Ref: HO107 Piece 371 Book 5 Folio 36 Page 17).

Samuel Osborne Pegler was born on 4th May 1846 at Chipping Sodbury in Gloucestershire, and was Christened there soon after at the church of St. John the Baptist on 28th June. He was the Son of Samuel Pegler, a Chemist and Druggist who was Christened at the church of St. Peter in Newnham on 8th September 1822, and Matilda Osborne née Pritchard who were married by license at the church of St. John the Baptist in Chipping Sodbury on 15th March 1845. The witnesses to their wedding were her father, Joseph Pritchard, and his sister, Sarah Pegler. They were both residents of Broad Street in Chipping Sodbury, their fathers being named as Samuel Pegler, a Gentleman, and Joseph Pritchard, a Glazier. Tragically, Samuel never met his son, as he died at the age of 23 at Chipping Sodbury on 12th January 1846, less than four months before his son was born. He was buried at the St. John the Baptist churchyard on 19th January.

Matilda Osborne Pritchard was Christened on 4th September 1825 at the church of St. John the Baptist at Chipping Sodbury. She was the daughter of Joseph Pritchard and Elizabeth née Osborne who had been married on 15th December 1821 at Westerleigh in Gloucestershire. In the 1851 Census, Samuel Osborne Pegler is found with his maternal grandparents and widowed mother at Broad Street in Chipping Sodbury (Ref: HO107 Piece 1956 Folio 117 Page 8). Also in the 1851 Census at 7 Queen Square in Abergavenny is his paternal grandfather Samuel Pegler (a Retired Grocer), and his uncle and aunt, William Sewell (a Professor of Music) and Elizabeth née Pegler who had been married on 1st December 1847 at the church of St. James in Swansea (Ref: HO 107 Piece 2448 Folio 165 Page 4).

On 26th April 1853, Samuel Osborne Pegler’s widowed mother married George Holborow, a Baker, at Chipping Sodbury, their fathers being recorded as William Holborow and Joseph Pritchard. George and Matilda had one child together, a son named George, who was born on 13th May 1858 at Chipping Sodbury.

When the 1861 Census was taken, Samuel Osborne Pegler is recorded as a Wheelwright’s Apprentice in the household of William and Mary Jones at Marshfield Road in the Clifton area of Bristol (Ref: RG09 Piece 1732 Folio 112 Page 2). However, it’s seems that he had other things in mind with regards his future occupation. His mother and step-father are found at Broad Street in Chipping Sodbury in this Census, along with his half-brother, 2 year-old George (Ref: RG09 Piece 1743 Folio 106 Page 11).

As early as 1871, Samuel Osborne Pegler was working as a Shopman at Broad Street in Blaenavon, Monmouthshire (Ref: RG10 Piece 5312 Folio 96 Page 61). At some point he went into partnership with William Davis at Blaenavon, trading as Pegler & Davis Grocers and Provision Merchants, but this partnership was dissolved in 1876. They continued trading as Pegler & Davis at their store located at 7 Cross Street in Abergavenny from at least 1874 to 1880.

William Davis had been born in 1847 at Llanvihangel Nigh Usk, a village located about five miles east of Abergavenny. He was the son of Moses Davis and Elizabeth née Brown who were married on 29th October 1843, there fathers being named as William Davis and William Brown. In the 1871 Census, William is recorded as a Shopman and Grocer’s Assistant at Crane Street in Pontypool along with his brothers Robert and Charles (Ref: RG10 Piece 5331 Folio 37 Page 24). Not a million miles away was 19 year-old Mary Ann Gwatkin who was working as a Draper’s Assistant at Commercial Street (Ref: RG10 Piece 5331 Folio 31 Page 11). On 23rd July 1873, William and Mary Ann were married at Newport, their fathers being named as Moses Davis and James Gwatkin. In the 1881 Census, their address is given as 2 Laurels in Abergavenny, where William is recorded as a Grocer who is employing 3 men and 3 boys (Ref: RG11 Piece 5234 Folio 24 Page 6). Also enumerated with him is his 29 year-old wife Mary Ann, their children Oliver (aged 7), Alice Mary (aged 5), William Alfred (aged 4), Charles (aged 2), and 7 month-old Florence Eleanor, as well as his 16 year-old brother-in-law, John George Gwatkin, who was a Grocer’s Shopman. William ran a very successful grocery business for around 25 years at 7 Cross Street, until he retired and moved into “Bailea Mawr” on Hereford Road in Abergavenny. It’s there he is found in the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 31788 Schedule 172) and the 1921 Census (Ref: RG15 Piece 26062 Schedule 191). His sons Oliver and Charles continued the business at 7 Cross Street under the style of “William Davis” until 1934 , when they mutually consented to end the partnership. However, Charles continued running the business under the same name.

On 2nd September 1875 at St. Peter and Paul’s church in Blaenavon, Samuel Osborne Pegler, a 29 year-old Grocer of Abergavenny, married 21 year-old Elizabeth Ann Cox of Blaenavon, their fathers being named as Samuel Pegler, a Chemist, and William Cox, a Tailor. Their wedding took place in the presence of John Henry Burgoyne and Elizabeth’s sister Ellen Cox (who were married the following year).

Elizabeth Ann Cox had been born at Bristol in 1854, the daughter of William Cox and Elizabeth née Pippen who were married on 26th August 1834 at St. Peter’s church in Williton, Somerset. She was a soprano, and after appearing at an event in 1880 was described by the Abergavenny Chronicle as “a signal for a most emphatic expression of delight.” It added that she was “a great favourite, and very deservedly so, for she is an excellent singer.”

They had four children together, all of whom were born at Abergavenny: Samuel Osborne (31st December 1881), George Gordon (19th September 1884, William (24th January 1887, and their only daughter Lily (3rd May 1894).

In October 1880, it was announced that William Davis would continue trading at 7 Cross Street, while Samuel Osborne Pegler would carry on his business at 11 Cross Street which was known as the “Monmouth and Brecon Supply Stores.” It’s here that Samuel Osborne and Elizabeth Ann Pegler are found in the 1881 Census, his occupation being recorded as a Grocer & Provision Merchant (Ref: RG11 Piece 5235 Folio 41 Page 4). With them are his 23 year-old half-brother George Holborow (indexed as Pegler), and their 17 year-old nephew William Cox, both being recorded as a Grocer’s Shopman.

In late 1887, he opened another store at 24 High Street in Abergavenny, but it appears he fully relocated there just a few months later. It’s there at 24 High Street he’s found in the 1891 Census, recorded simply as “Grocers” (Ref: RG12 Piece 4348 Folio 3A Page 2). Electoral Registers show that he often went by his second forename of Osborne, and that he was registered at 24 High Street until June or July 1898. The South Wales Daily News of Saturday 23rd July 1898 shows that he was already in financial difficulties:

In July and August 1898, adverts began appearing for “W. T. STONEHAM, (O. Pegler,) HIGH STREET, ABERGAVENNY.” From September they changed to just “W. T. Stoneham,” and from December the name “Argyll Stores” also began appearing. W. T. Stoneham also ran a very successful business at 24 High Street for many years.

(William Thomas Stoneham was born on 31st May 1867 at Hoxton in London, the son of William Stoneham and Mary née Robbins who were married in the Cricklade area of Wiltshire in the summer of 1866. He married Alice Mary née Green at Reading in Berkshire in the spring of 1892, and they had evidently moved to Abergavenny from Fairford in Gloucestershire soon after the birth of their second son Charles Harold in 1896. In the 1939 Register, the Stoneham family is still at 24 High Street, William Thomas being recorded as a Retired Grocer, while his eldest son Jack is running the business and is said to be a Master Grocer (Ref: RG101 Piece 7431D Schedule 28).

In the 6th October 1899 issue of the South Wales Gazette, it was reported that “Osborne Pegler, living next door to the Mount Pleasant” public house in Abertillery was amongst those who supported Henry Rosser’s application for a spirit license on his premises. Henry had made a number of applications before this, all of which, including this one, were refused.

There is a single entry for Samuel Osborne Pegler in the Electoral Registers as “S. O. Pegler Alma Street, Cwmtillery” in 1900, again indicating he was there from at least June or July 1899. Of course, his nomination mentioned earlier proves he was actually there several months earlier than that. The Abergavenny Chronicle of 12th January 1900 then printed the following:

The Western Mail of Saturday 7th April 1900 under the heading “Bankruptcy Acts, 1883 to 1890. – Receiving Orders,” listed nine names, including “Samuel Osborne Pegler, of Osborne House, Abertillery, grocer.” Two weeks later in its issue of Saturday 21st April, it published that “a meeting of the creditors of Samuel Osborne Pegler, grocer, Osborne House, Abertillery, was held on Friday at Merthyr. It was reported that the debtor had not yet lodged a statement of his affairs, and so no information could be presented as to the position of the estate.” Soon after, the South Wales Daily News of Saturday 2nd June 1900 published an update:, where it was reported that “the adjourned examination of Samuel Osborne Pegler, grocer, Abertillery, for whom Mr Daniel Evans appeared, was taken, and the necessary accounts having been filed the examination was closed.”

Sadly, his filing for bankruptcy brought his time trading at Abertillery to a close, but his family had evidently left their mark on the community in the short time they were here, which included having “Osborne” engraved in the stonework above the doorway of the shop. In fact, it remained on view until the property was demolished more than a century later. In 1899, Rev. H. S. Rees of St. Paul’s church in Cwmtillery appointed Mr. O. Pegler as a sidesman. The South Wales Gazette published details of the Volunteer Prize Distribution at Abertillery in its issue of 12th January 1900 which included Private W. Pole who was awarded a goose and 1lb of tea, which was supplied by O. Pegler of Penybont. The South Wales Gazette of 2nd March 1900 reported on a tea meeting and entertainment evening which was held at the Colliers’ Hall in Cwmtillery on behalf of the Church Boundary Wall. The entertainment included a song by Master O. S. Pegler, a song by Mrs. Pegler, and a laughable sketch by Messrs. Pegler and Sutcliffe. In the Merthyr Express of 24th March 1900, “Mr. S. O. Pegler (Abertillery)” was named among those following the hearse at the funeral of his 65 year-old aunt, Susannah Long née Pegler, to the Mountain Ash Cemetery in Glamorgan. Her husband, Jabez Long, was a Provision Merchant at Commercial Street in Aberdare in the 1891 Census (Ref: RG12 Piece 4448 Folio 115 Page 6).

Electoral Registers show that by the summer of 1900, the Pegler family had moved to 16 Ton Mawr Road in Blaenavon. When the 1901 Census was taken on the night of 31st March, Samuel Osborne Pegler is found at Broad Street, Chipping Sodbury with his half-brother, George Holborow (Ref: RG13 Piece 2407 Folio 84 Page 18). Samuel’s occupation is recorded as a Publisher’s Agent, and George is said to be a Produce Broker. Back at Blaenavon, his wife and three of their children are found at Middle Hill Street (Ref: RG13 Piece 4932 Folio 36 Page 13). Their son George is a 16 year-old Grocer’s Assistant, 12 year-old William is a Grocer’s Errand Boy, and their daughter Lily is 6 years-old. Their 19 year-old son Samuel Osborne Pegler, an Electrician (who later became the Musical Director of The Burslem Philharmonic Orchestra), is found boarding with Michael Whitehouse and his family at 19 Oxford Street in Abertillery (Ref: RG13 Piece 4935 Folio 145 Page 64). Shortly after this Census was taken, they moved to 18 New William Street in Blaenavon where they are also found in the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 31808 Schedule 158). Samuel is recorded as a Grocer and is stated to be an Employer.

Just a few years later, a brief announcement regarding Samuel Osborne Pegler’s death and funeral was published in the Western Mail of Monday 22nd November 1915:

FRED EVANS & HENRY TALBOT

Meanwhile, back in the 1901 Census of Abertillery, two families were enumerated at 156 Alma Street (Ref: RG13 Piece 4935 Folio 167 Page 26). On Schedule 132 was Frederick William Evans, a 34 year-old Grocer Shopkeeper, his 32 year-old wife Martha née Wilshear (who he married on 18th April 1892), and their son Reginald Wilshear (born 15th April 1894 at Abertillery). On Schedule 133 was Henry Talbot, a 33 year-old Grocer Shopkeeper, his 34 year-old wife, Sarah Jane née Wilshear (Martha Evans’ sister who he married in 1889), and their children Eliza Maud (born 30th September 1890 at Abertillery, and who later became the popular local soprano Madame Talbot-Jones), and Montague Wilsheare (born 7th April 1896 at Abertillery). They also had another two children prior to this Census, a daughter, Sarah Lilian, who was born in early 1893 who passed away at the age of 6 years on 20th November 1899, and a son named Harry Haddon, who was born in the summer of 1900, and who passed away on 20th November aged 4 months.

Frederick William Evans, better known as Fred, was born at Blaina on 13th February 1865, the son of Benjamin Evans, a Mechanical Engineer, and his wife Frances Hester née Bessell (who were married on 23rd January 1864 at Bristol. Henry Talbot was born at Abertillery in 1867, the son of Moses Talbot and Hannah née Vater who were married on 2nd August 1852 at the Holy Trinity church in High Littleton, Somerset. Before joining Fred Evans at the Osborne Stores, it appears that Henry had spent a number of years at the Clarence Shop in Clarence Place, which later became part of Victoria Street in Blaenau Gwent.

Sarah Jane Wilshear (born 10th April 1866) and Martha Wilshear (born 20th May 1869) were the daughters of John Wilshear and Eliza Ann née Arnould who were married in 1862. They also had an elder sister, Harriet Ann Wilshear (born 2nd July 1863), who married John Price in 1886. The Wilshear family are found living at “Jones House, Clynmawr (In Wood)” at Abertillery in the 1871 Census (Ref: RG10 Piece 5318 Folio 25 Page 44). On 15th November 1888, John Wiltshire, a Colliery Contractor, lost his life following an accident at the Penybont Colliery siding, he was 48 years old. His memorial inscription at the Blaenau Gwent Cemetery names him as John Wiltshire, a “Butcher and Grocer of Blaina Gwent.” In the 1891 Census, The now widowed Eliza Ann (enumerated as Elizabeth) is found at 74 New Town, otherwise known as the Clynmawr Shop (Ref: RG12 Piece 4353 Folio 96 Page 55 Schedule 292). Her occupation is recorded as a Grocer, and with her are her daughter Martha (a 22 year-old Grocer’s Assistant), her son-in-law and daughter, John and Harriet Price (both recorded as Grocer’s Assistants), and her two grandchildren, 4 year-old John Charles Price, and 1 year-old Montague Wilshear Price. Next door at no. 73, also known as Clynmawr House, are Eliza’s son-in-law and daughter, Henry and Sarah Jane Talbot, and their 6 month-old daughter Eliza Maud (Ref: RG12 Piece 4353 Folio 96 Page 55 Schedule 290). In the summer of 1893, Almost five years after the death of her husband, Eliza Ann married Edwin Barnes in the Fulham area of London. Edwin was a widower and local Colliery Manager in Abertillery.

It appears from the newspaper clipping (right), that Osborne Stores was either owned or rented by Martha and Sarah’s remarried mother, Eliza Ann Barnes who either purchased or began renting it around the time of Samuel Osborne Pegler’s bankruptcy in 1900. She certainly seems to have had an interest in local property, and of course the timing matches up with her daughters and sons-in-law moving in to Osborne Stores.

When the 1911 Census was taken on 2nd April, Fred Evans was a 44 year-old Butcher, his son Reginald was a 16 year-old Clerk, and also with them was Edith Lillian Humphries, a 19 year-old Housemaid (Ref: RG14 Piece 31838 Schedule 125). Fred’s wife Martha is found with her sister Harriet Ann Price at 1 Heatherbrae, Tregonwell Road in Bournemouth, which appears to be some sort of boarding house. They were visiting their mother and step-father, Edwin and Eliza Ann Barnes (Ref: RG14 Piece 5837 Schedule 50). It appears the Talbot family had been living down the far end of Alma Street for several years, which is where they were found in the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 31838 Schedule 263). In this Census, Henry is recorded as a 43 year-old Grocer, his wife Sarah Jane is 44, their 20 year-old daughter Eliza Maud is assisting in the business, and their 14 year-old son Montague Wilshear, who is a Printer. They also had four more children born at Abertillery since the last Census, Sarah Elsie (17th November 1902), Harry Norman (in the summer of 1905 who very sadly passed away in the spring of 1906), Reginald Mervyn (21st December 1907), and Arthur Vernon (20th November 1910).

Electoral Registers indicate that Fred Evans and Henry Talbot were still in partnership until 1913. It was at this point that Henry Talbot retired, and moved his family to Waen Fawr in Crosskeys.

It was also during 1913 that Edwin Barnes passed away at the age of 70 on 20th May. His death registration gave his full name as Edwin Caleb Wareham Barnes. He was laid to rest at the Blaenau Gwent Cemetery.

Osborne Stores, as well as a number of other houses and underhouses adjacent to the shop were put up for sale as published in the Friday 23rd November 1917 issue of the South Wales Gazette. However, by this time the properties were owned by Reginald Boyt:

Reginald Boyt had been born in 1867 at Llanfrechfa near Cwmbran in Monmouthshire, and had moved to 63 Cwm Street (later known as Somerset Street) in 1893. By 1899 he had moved to 33 Alma Street where he is found in the 1901 Census (Ref: RG13 Piece 4935 Folio 157 Page 5). By 1905, he had moved again, this time to Bargoed in Glamorgan, where he is found at 28 Cardiff Road in the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 32417 Schedule 108). He died at Bargoed on 1st March 1917, and was said to be 48 years old.

On 12th October 1918, Eliza Ann Barnes (late Wilshear formerly Arnold) passed away at the age of 74, and was laid to rest at the Blaenau Gwent Cemetery. The following announcement regarding her death appeared in the South Wales Gazette of Friday 18th October 1918, where her name was incorrectly printed as Harriet:

Local newspapers from 1920 show that Fred Evans had gone into business with his son Reginald, trading as “F. W. Evans & Son.” The following year, the South Wales Gazette of Friday 4th March 1921 published the following, showing that the private sale of property owned by Reginald Boyt in 1917 had not been successful:

A few months later when the 1921 Census was taken on 19th June, the Evans family are again found at 156 Alma Street (Ref: RG15 Piece 26097 Schedule 150). Fred is a 55 year-old Grocer, his wife Martha is 52 years-old, Reginald is a 27 year-old Grocer, and also with them is Bertha Goodwin, a 23 year-old General Domestic Servant. The Talbot family are found at 2 Park Road in Risca in this Census, Henry’s occupation being recorded as “Gardening (Retired)” (Ref: RG15 Piece 26322 Schedule 255). Shortly after this Census, Fred, Martha and Reginald Evans also moved away from Abertillery, to 46 Ombersley Road in the Stow Hill area of Newport.

On 17th January 1931, Henry Talbot passed away at 57 Alexandra Road in Six Bells while visiting Abertillery on business matters. He was buried at the Risca Old Cemetery on Wednesday 21st January. The South Wales Gazette of Friday 23rd January 1931 printed the following regarding his death and funeral:

Henry Talbot’s widow, Sarah Jane née Wilshear, is found at 2 Park Road in Risca in the 1939 Register, her occupation being recorded as “Private Means” (Ref: RG101 Piece 7465G Schedule 131). In the mid 1930s, Fred and Martha Evans had moved from no. 46 to no. 1 Ombersley Road in Newport, where they are found in this Register (Ref: RG101 Piece 7425C Schedule 178). Fred is recorded as a Retired Grocer, and also with them is their son Reginald who is a Rent Collector.

Just a few years later, Martha Wilshear Evans passed away at the age of 74 on 31st March 1943. Sarah Jane Talbot survived her husband by almost sixteen years, until she passed away on 24th October 1946, and was buried with him at theRisca Old Cemetery. Frederick William Evans survived Martha by ten years, until his death at the age of 87 on 5th July 1953. The South Wales Gazette of Friday 17th July 1953 printed the following regarding his death:

JOSEPH BUNN

In the meantime, back in Abertillery, Joseph Bunn and his wife Frances Mary née Harrop moved from 25 Victoria Street to the Osborne Stores shortly after the 1921 Census. They appear to have moved into no. 25 when my Tiley family had moved to 28 Oak Street. They are found at 25 Victoria Street in both the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 31834 Schedule 259) where he is recorded as a Shop Manager, and the 1921 Census where he is specifically recorded as the Branch Manager of the Cwmtillery Cooperative Society Ltd’s store in Victoria Street, which was located very close to their home (Ref: RG15 Piece 26098 Schedule 252). It’s interesting to note that from the time the Bunns moved in to Osborne Stores, Electoral Registers only record the number 156.

Joseph Bunn had been born on 24th December 1875 at Elworth in Cheshire. He was the son of Joseph Bunn, a Greengrocer, and Alice née Brooks who were married on 26th July 1870 at St. Leonard’s church in Warmingham, Cheshire. Frances Mary Harrop was born on 2nd November 1873 at Stanthorne in Cheshire, the daughter of Thomas Harrop and Frances née Cooper who were married in 1872 at the church of St. Mary at Astbury in the Congleton area of Cheshire. Joseph Bunn, a Grocer of 88 Gladstone Street in Abertillery, married Frances Mary Harrop on 18th July 1909 at the St. Michael and All Angels church in Middlewich, Cheshire. It appears they had no children.

Joseph continued trading until 1936, when it was reported in the 1st May issue of the South Wales Gazette that “Joseph Bunn, residing and carrying on business at 156 Alma Street, Abertillery, grocer and provision dealer,” had filed for bankruptcy. Electoral Registers show that they almost immediately moved to 101 Alma Street, located on the corner of Oxford Street, where it appears he began running another business. When the 1939 Register was taken on 29th September, his occupation was recorded as a “Shopkeeper Grocer’s Meat Dealer” (Ref: RG101 Piece 7432J Schedule 60). Joseph and Frances Bunn stayed at 101 Alma Street until sometime around the end of World War II, when they retired and returned to Cheshire. Frances Mary Bunn died in late 1953, she was 80 years-old. Below is an excerpt from the Winsford Chronicle of Saturday 26th December 1953 which reported on her death:

In actual fact, Joseph had been the manager of the Co-Operative store at Blaenau Gwent for around twelve years out of the thirty-six years or so they had lived in Abertillery. Joseph survived his wife by more than five years, until he passed away at the age of 83 in the spring of 1959.

Electoral Registers seem to show that no one was registered at 156 Alma Street for a couple of years following Joseph Bunn’s bankruptcy. Advertisements in local newspapers regarding the shop being available to let, similar to the one below which appeared in the South Wales Gazette of Friday 19th February 1937, appeared from May 1936 to November 1938.

JOHN WILLIAM BIBEY

Electoral Registers show that the Bibey family had moved just a few doors from no. 164 Alma Street to no. 156 by the summer of 1938, and it was there they were living when the 1939 Register was taken (Ref: RG101 Piece 7432A Schedule 263). Interestingly, it appears that none of the Bibey family were grocers or shopkeepers, or at least, not at that time. My uncle Gwyn remembers their daughter Vera helping out occasionally in the shop in later years. John William Bibey was a Colliery Hewer, his wife Bessie Maria was unpaid for her domestic duties, their sons William Henry (born 7th May 1916) and Albert John (born 12th June 1921) were both recorded as Coal Hewer Helpers. Their son-in-law John Albert Carter (born 20 July 1910) was a Chemical Process Worker, and their daughter Hilda Ethel Carter (born 29th November 1913) was also unpaid for her domestic duties. It appears that John and Hilda Carter were visiting at this time, as all six of their children were born in the Middlesbrough area of Yorkshire.

John William Phipps had been born on 23rd June 1883 at Coleford in Gloucestershire, and was the son of Alice Louisa Phipps. On 3rd November the same year, his mother married William Bibey at Christchurch in West Dean. Very sadly, when John was only 12 years-old, his mother passed away, as did William Bibey just a year later. In the 1901 Census, 17 year-old John William Bibey is the head of house, and is living at Berry Hill in Coleford (Ref: RG13 Piece 4922 Folio 57 Page 5). Bessie Maria née Morgan was also born at Coleford on 5th October 1890, the daughter of Henry Morgan and Annie née Chalcroft who were married on 7th July 1888 at St. John’s church in Coleford. In the 1901 Census, the Morgan family are found living at Scowles Road in Coleford (Ref: RG13 Piece 4920 Folio 34 Page 12).

John William Bibey and Bessie Maria Morgan were married locally in late 1910, and several months later when the 1911 Census was taken, they were living at 1 Hawarden Cottages in Cwmtillery where John worked as a Coal Miner Hewer (Ref: RG14 Piece 31839 Schedule 38). They had a total of five children, Gwendoline Annie Alice in 1911, Hilda Ethel in 1913, William Henry in 1916, Agnes Vera in 1919, and Albert John in 1921. When the next Census was taken in 1921, they are living at 5 Pretoria Road in Six Bells (Ref: RG15 Piece 26108 Schedule 63). In this Census, John is recorded as an out of work Coal Miner Hewer with the Ebbw Vale Iron & Coal Company Ltd. Tragically, while still living at Pretoria Road, their eldest daughter Gwendoline Annie Alice died on 2nd October 1926, she was 14 years-old.

In the midst of World War II, John and Bessie’s son, William Henry Bibey, married Doreen née Davies (born 28th September 1919 at Abertillery) in the spring of 1942. In the 1939 Register, Doreen was working as a Housemaid for Samuel Willington Lane (a retired Army Colonel) and his second wife Sarah (formerly Unwin) who were married in 1924 in the Kensington area of London. They were living at Elmshurst in the Catisfield area of Fareham, Hampshire (Ref: RG101 Piece 2335G Schedule 123). After having been married for a couple of years, William and Doreen moved from 156 Alma Street to 5 Newtown (also known as Blaenau Gwent Rows).

Also during World War II, John and Bessie Bibey’s daughter, Vera Agnes (born 16th December 1919 at Abertillery) was engaged to Corporal Philip Pope of Grange Park in London. His birth was registered as Philip Edmund Temple Hope, and he was born on 25th January 1921 at Haringey in Middlesex. His parents were Percy Herbert Hope and Marion Ethel née Wood who were married on 7th June 1899 at the church of St. Paul in Harringay. In the 1939 Register, Philip was with his widowed father at 31 Cheyne Walk, Winchmore Hill, at Enfield, just a 5-minutes walk from the Grange Park station (Ref: RG101 Piece 0755C Schedule 87). Vera was also in the London area at this time, working as a Domestic Servant for Frank Alfred Godfrey and his wife Constance Nellie née Giddings who were married in early 1930 in the Hackney area of London. Their address was given as 28 Mayfield Avenue in Southgate (Ref: RG101 Piece 0885I Schedule 111).

It’s apparent that Philip and Vera ended their relationship, because in early 1945, Vera married George Hayden Silcox (born 30th March 1920 at Six Bells). He was the son of Abraham Silcox and Kate née Jenkins who were married locally on 1st April 1899. In the 1939 Register, the Silcox family are found living at 74 Aberbeeg Road (Ref: RG101 Piece 7434H Schedule 100). Phillip Hope survived World War II, and while living in Norfolk in 1981 and Thailand in 1994, he applied for membership of the Burma Star Association.

In September 1950, the South Wales Gazette published the following announcement in its issue dated Friday 15th:

In its next issue of Friday 22nd September, the South Wales Gazette made the following announcement:

Electoral Registers show that Abraham Wheeler (born in 1877 at Cwmtillery) lived with the Bibey family at 156 Alma Street for a time. He was the son of Cornelius Wheeler and Harriet née Silverthorn who were married on 4th April 1865 at the church of St. Peter in Blaina. In the 1939 Register, Abraham is found at 33 Gaen Street (the home of his brother George), his occupation being recorded as a Colliery Haulier Below (Ref: RG101 Piece 7432F Schedule 312). At some point during World War II, he moved just a stone’s throw to 156 Alma Street, where he lived until at least 1951. It appears that he was then admitted to the Regent House Public Assistance Institution in Chepstow. He passed away unmarried in the spring of 1954 at the age of 77.

Electoral Registers also show that John Burrows lived with the Bibey family in 1946, 1947, and 1955, as did John Prior from 1952 to 1954. So far, I haven’t been able to find out anything about either of them with certainty.

John William Bibey passed away at the age of 73 on 24th August 1956, and was buried at the Blaenau Gwent Cemetery. The following year, Vera’s husband, George Hayden Silcox, passed away at the young age of 37, and was buried at the New Cemetery, Brynithel. The following year, Vera married her second husband, Edward Glyn Hemming (born 12th March 1927 at Argoed near Blackwood). They lived with the Bibey family at 156 Alma Street until the mid 1960s when they moved to 60 Blaenau Gwent Rows. Bessie Maria Bibey née Morgan survived her husband by around seventeen years until she passed away in the summer of 1973.

THOMAS EDWIN PRICE

The South Wales Gazette of 8th August 1958 named “T. E. Price (Osborne’s Stores)” among the mourners at the funeral of Phoebe Bennett of 38 Lancaster Street in Blaina. Thomas Edwin Price was born on 25th May 1899 at Abertillery, the son of Edwin Price and Maria née Allen who were married on 23rd January 1882 at Nantyglo, their fathers being named as Thomas Price and Thomas Allen. It appears that Thomas Edwin Price spent much of his married life at 7 Bryngwyn Road in Six Bells, where he is found in the 1939 Register with his wife Muriel née Powell (born 7th August 1902 at Six Bells) who he married in 1931. His occupation is recorded as a Grocer and Provision Dealer (Ref: RG101 Piece 7434B Schedule 10).

Muriel was the daughter of Herbert Powell (a Coal Miner Hewer with Budd & Co.’s colliery at Aberbeeg) and Caroline (also known as Carrey) née Witchell who were married in the Crickhowell Registration District in the spring of 1888. The Powell family are found at 7 Bryngwyn Road in Six Bells in the 1911 Census (Ref: RG14 Piece 31847 Schedule 191), and in the 1921 Census (Ref: RG15 Piece 26108 Schedule 256).

Muriel Price née Powell passed away on 21st January 1977 at the age of 75. Her husband survived her by more than three years, until his own death at the age of 81 on 10th August 1980.

FRANK & ETHEL JOHNSON

I have fond memories of going to Osborne Stores as a child while visiting my maternal grandparents who lived on the opposite end of the block to the shop. I remember it was run by a lovely couple, Frank and Ethel, and I always knew the shop as simply “Ethel’s.” As far as I’m aware, they were the last to live at no. 156.

Francis Charles Johnson was born on 17th January 1924 at Coventry in Warwickshire, the son of William Charles Johnson and Frances née Hobson who were married locally in 1922. In the 1939 Register, Frank is found with his parents at 2 Pretoria Road in Six Bells (Ref: RG101 Piece 7434B Schedule 251). Both Frank and his father are recorded as Unemployed Colliery Hewers.

Ethel Eileen née Padfield was born in January 1931 at West Harptree in Somerset, the daughter of Henry James Padfield, a Dairy Farm Labourer, and Elizabeth Ann née Roberts who were married locally in the spring of 1930. In the 1939 Register, they are found living at Haydon Cottage in the Compton Martin area of West Harptree in Somerset (Ref: RG101 Piece 7071I Schedule 129).

Frank and Ethel were married locally in 1955, and Electoral Registers show that they lived with the Johnson family at 2 Pretoria Road in Six Bells until at least 1968.

Ethel Eileen Johnson née Padfield passed away at the age of 60 on 1st February 1991, and was cremated at the Gwent Crematorium, Croesyceiliog. Her husband survived her by more than ten years, until his own death on 4th December 2001 at the age of 76.

AND FINALLY...

According to a Google search, the last time 156 Alma Street was sold was on 21st July 1998, the sale price being £37,000.

The area of Alma Street where the Osborne Stores once stood is now quite different to how it was in the late 1890s. The shop and living accomodation was demolished, as was the archway that connected it to the Mount Pleasant Hotel. Even the red telephone box which was a landmark in its own right is long gone. “The Mount,” as it was affectionately known, is no longer a public house, but like so many other pubs around the UK, has been converted into flats.

CREDITS

The AI generated image of the stone plaque with the inscription “Osborne Stores” was created at ChatGPT