Mill Lane – Gorbutt

The boys are Thomas (born 1888 and died 1936)and Robert Gorbutt, Robert died young but Tom went on to be a butcher (which he hated). Their father lived on Mill Lane. He had many daughters, but he died relatively young. Another branch of the Gorbutt family had a draper’s and grocer’s shop on South Street. The uniform is, I presume, the expected style for the Grammar School, or a similar school. If it was the Caistor Grammar School the pupils would have been taught by the Rev. Robert Thomas and / or the Re. Thomas J. Thorburn. Thomas did not make it easy for his successor at the Grammar School as he set up a small school, in his vicarage at Cabourne. Note and photograph from the Rev. David Saunders Collection. Caistor Heritage Trust.

Brigg Road – Rhodes Family

John Rhodes lived on Brigg Road and he had a gardening business which included, at one point, supplying a large number of hedge seedlings to Thomas John Dixon of Holton Hall. In 1823 his daughter, Margaret, was born. She became a schoolmistress. She did not marry but had two sons by R. H. Kirkby, a sadler. Margaret’s family did not reject her and in 1861 was at home acting as her father’s housekeeper with her sons George (4) and John (2). In 1871 she was living on her own, with the boys at Hundon. They were already working as baker’s and printer’s boys. Later, in 1881, they were both working for Thomas Johnson, coach builder on the High Street, Caistor. Margaret was a poet. A descendant of Margaret’s let Rev. David Saunders, see a notebook full of her poems. David says, “she was more of a rhymester than inspired, but she could produce appropriate effusions to meet a particular situation. There was one, for instance, praising Miss Mary Ann Marris of the Old Vicarage who was very generous to the local poor.” If anyone is aware of where the notebook is now I would love to hear from them to see if we can add it to the website www.caistor.co.uk. Photograph and notes from the Rev David Saunders Collection. Caistor Heritage Trust.

Click on the following to read a poem about Caistor by Arthur Rhodes.  Arthur Rhodes Poem

Mary Wilkinson – “Rhodes lived at 100 Brigg Road but none left in Caistor now.” Peter Radcliffe, ” On the right, on the part between the corner after Canada lane, and the Caistor signs.”

George Rhodes, bottom row, the 2nd on the left. Photograph – Mary Wilkinson

Mary Wilkinson – “My great Uncle George Rhodes drove for Browns for many years (and told me off when I when I sat at the back waving to boys out of the window!) good old days!”

1929 September Order of the Buffaloes. George Rhodes – has been duly and carefully examined as to his ability and qualifications to be raised to the Dignity of Knight of the Order of Merit or Third Degree. Mary Wilkinson
Medallion belonging to George Rhodes. Mary Wilkinson
George and my Great Aunt Edith Rhodes nee Brocklesby soon after they married in a cottage on Church Street, Nettleton. He was a Cobler and she was a school teacher at Beelsby. She left school 23 December 1914 and married the next day at Hatcliffe Church. They lived in the end cottage on Church Street. He was a Cobler and Postman. Edith was a staunch Methodist and attended the little chapel in Nettleon. She sang very loudly. I think, unless anyone knows different, that George and his brother were orphan children at Hatcliffe where Edie was a pupil teacher. Carol Barnes
Mary Baker – “My grandmother (Mary Alice Clark nee Standerline) outside her daughters home in Church Street Nettleton in 1934.” Carol Barnes – “It was I remember poor Auntie Edie she got in such a mess before she died. She had no children to look out for her and she left piles and piles of papers stacked on chairs and Dad as a council worker had to go and fumigate the house it was so sad.”

Grimsby Road – Hartford Motors

 

Norma Radcliffe I remember before H M when it was George Roberts yard. e had a steam roller. is daughter had the bungalow built that is now Greenacres.Caistor Heritage Trust

Mark Day Used to work there 1987-1990

Alan Brown Dad worked alongside Frank Capp and they were great friends. I played darts with them both quite often. Frank was a regular in my tropical fish shop, (as was his brother Dave)

Neil Wilkyn Prior to Hartford’s I lived at 13 Grimsby Road 1950-1954. A row of terraced houses.

Anne Townsend I remember getting very large cardboard boxes from them to use as packing cases when I moved house. They were very helpful in the Stores.

Graham Thompson First place I worked

Brian Hunter A few more names I remember worked there, Mick Mason, Mick Hunter, Ray Burke, John Allenby, Brian Armstrong, Paul Dobson, Roy Belt, Eric Bell, Don Briggs, Andy Webber, Colin Parrott, John Thorpe, Terry Rouse, Ted Greaves, Paul Wilson, Nigel Webster.

Graham Thompson Yes I was there in 1973 / 74 ish.

Janet Burgin I remember coming to HM to pick mum up on a Saturday from work, she loved working there. Valerie Adams Janet Burgin who was your mum? I wondered if I worked with her! Janet Burgin Julie Leadbeater

Darren Mckay oh what a shame the photograph is taken when it’s run down and closed. Remember the big tractors shown in the large windows. Nick Parrott Yes it was a fine building and thriving business in the ’70s Darren.

Valerie Adams My dad Vic Edge worked there and I followed from 1981 to 1989 – I also worked with Julie Leadbeater, Chris Barney, June Parrott, Janet Borrill, Margaret, Hedley Giddings – Good times with some memorable people! Alan Brown You missed off my Dad, Valerie, LOL. If you have forgotten him, then at least you cannot have forgotten me. I used to babysit you all almost every week for years! – Your Dad sold me my first (Vespa) scooter for the magnificent sum of £2. Valerie Adams Alan Brown, of course, I couldn’t forget Geoff, your mum and dad were great friends an neighbours, I can remember spending lunchtimes with them when I was very small.

Dawn Lister I used to walk past there on way to and from Nanna & Grandad Young ….they lived at Fairview – the bungalow roof can be seen in the background – I used to cheat and go up the gulley in between Hartford yard and the bottom of the garden.

 

Nettleton Road – Joiners Shop

 

1984. Photograph from the Rev. David Saunders Collection

Rev. David Saunders description: “This was pulled down soon after I took the photograph in 1984. I do not know when it was built. From 1851 a Joseph Sanderson had a business on Nettleton Road as a builder. He was born at Keelby and in 1841 was on South Street than a Joiner’s Journeyman. He married Elizabeth Cheeseman in September 1842 at Cabourne. He had a builder’s apprentice in 1851, but in 1861 he was down as a master carpenter with no employees. In 1871 he was a builder again and in 1881 was also a cabinet maker. There was now a Sanderson’s Row for the first time, probably built by Sanderson.

In 1891 Joseph’s son, Robert, was living in Nettleton Road and his trade was a cabinet maker. His father, Joseph, had died in April 1889. Robert, with Harriet, his wife, had his mother with them. There were no children in 1901. In 1911 they were on their own (Robert 65) still on Nettleton Road.

In the 1918 – 19 electoral list both Robert and Harriet were included and their home called Mount Pleasant. They were still there in 1928 but not in 1938/9.

Joseph had made a will in 1888. It was simple – it made sure his widow, Elizabeth, had enough for life and then most of the estate went to Robert. Elizabeth’s will of 1905 shared out her property between the three children.”

1891 invoice for an oak post to be installed on Plough Hill. From the Rev. David Saunders Collection. Caistor Heritage Trust
The pit saw found near the site of the Joiner’s shop. Caistor heritage Trust
Photograph Caistor Heritage Trust.

South Street – Houlden

Photograph courtesy of Eileen Mumby. Caistor Heritage Trust

Eileen Mumby gives the following description: “This shop was for many years Houlden’s (2 generations) then Dawson’s, men’s and women’s drapery; boots and shoes – a very good shop indeed. Mrs. Grace Watson (nee Houlden) gave the following information: Her father John William Houlden came to Caistor from Woodhall Spa in 1900, aged 24, to manage a tailor’s shop in the Market Place (now part of Costcutters). In 1908 he moved to an empty shop to start his own business in Cornhill. This shop was owned by Mr. Robert Taylor, a nephew of a Miss Turner who lived to be 100. Mr. Taylor lived in London. At some later date, Mr. Houlden bought the premises from Mr. Taylor and continued his business as a tailor, draper and boot and shoe retailer until he retired in 1956. Mr. Houlden’s daughter, Grace Watson, continued to run the business until her own retirement in 1972 then Dawson’s took over for about ten years.

In Mr. Houlden’s day, there were three men working ‘on the board’ at tailoring – two of these were Mr. Hugh Wilkinson and Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon lived in the house where Nurse Towle now lives. The Dixon’s had a lodger who was a motor-bike riding district nurse. Mr. Dixon later set up as a tailor on his own and made Jack Mumby’s wedding suit. He later went to Scunthorpe.

Young Grace Houlden had violin lessons with Miss Bullen and piano lessons with Mr. Storr. She went to the Methodist School until the age of eleven (the family was Wesleyan) then to the Grammar School. She went into her father’s business and eventually became a partner. Her brother William Priestley Houlden also followed a career in the retail trade being first apprenticed to Mawer and Collingham in Lincoln; then he had further experience in Hull and eventually became a buyer for Selfridges in London.

The Caistor business became a very successful shop selling men’s and women’s clothing, drapery, haberdashery and later, in Mr. Watson’s time, curtains and carpets. A Mr. Mudd came as another tailor in the town and Mr. Houlden discontinued this side of the business and concentrated on ready-made clothes. Mr, Mudd made blazers, etc. for the Grammar School. A Miss Glew kept wools and embroidery materials in a separate shop and Mr. Lane sold children’s clothes and Houlden’s did not rn the same lines as other small retailers. ‘We didn’t overrun each other in those days,’ Mr. Watson said.

Houldens sold all sorts of ladies’ wear and underwear besides men’s clothes including strong cords for the men working on the land and in the mines at Nettleton. Before rubber wellington boots came in galoshes were sold in the boot and shoe department. Pre-war the underwear was cotton then rayon and locknit.”

Steve Critten I almost bought this property in the ’80s but I couldn’t get a mortgage as it had what they call a “flying freehold”. The 3rd window on the top floor (right) belonged to this property, but it was over the property next door. Because of the lack of computerisation, it was difficult to insure as you couldn’t guarantee next door was insured to the same level or at all.