Stonemason – Abingdon on Thames Town Council

Albert Lock spent much of his adult life living in Abingdon where he was a well-known figure and is still remembered by some today almost 60 years after his death. Bert, as he was generally known, was born in Sutton Courtney (as it was then spelled), the third son in the family of eight of Joseph and Maria Lock, who ran the Plough public house. Joseph was a noted stonemason and sign writer while Maria was the licensee. The Locks had been a presence in the village since the mid-eighteenth century having originally come from the Faringdon area.

Bert’s early years seem to have been quite a happy time and childhood exploits are well documented by his brother’s memoirs which give a fascinating insight into village life in the latter years of the nineteenth century. Fishing, swimming, skating, cricket and a bit of mischief making apparently occupied much of their time out of school, where older sister Sally was a pupil teacher.

There is an interesting account of a feud with the village of Drayton when two sets of young men became embroiled in a quite unpleasant fight. Bert and his brother Harry took to their heels and fled to the safety of the pub!

Malcolm Lock (great−nephew) June 2017

Joseph and Maria Lock with their eight children in in 1892. Bert is second from right in the back row.
(© From the author’s private collection)

Joseph was a partner in the firm of Lock and Godfrey, a stonemasons’ business at 35 East St Helen Street, Abingdon, now the ‘gatehouse’ to St Helen’s Mews. The Godfreys were cousins so it was a family affair and the two families had been in business together as stonemasons since the 1780s.

Advertisement in Baylis & Co’s Domestic Almanac and Companion, 1885.
(© Privately owned photocopy kindly scanned by the owner. We have not been able to trace the original publication or a current copyright holder. We apologise if we have inadvertently used a copyright image and invite copyright holders to contact us)

35 East St Helen Street in 1963. The house had been built by the Godfreys in about 1828.
(© From the author’s private collection)

In around 1892 Bert left school and joined the firm. He took quickly to the craft, gaining a reputation for excellent work. His other brothers left home once old enough to start apprenticeships elsewhere and, as the only son to remain in the area, it was Bert who carried on the Lock family name when Joseph died in 1905. By this time Dennis Godfrey had moved his side of the business to 163 Ock Street, where there is still a stonemason’s yard today, while Bert and his father continued to work from East St Helen Street.

After his father died, Bert also supported his mother in running the Plough in the evenings and at weekends. As well as this he gained a love of bell ringing which was to become a lifelong passion. It was through ringing that he met his wife to be, Kathleen Hollifield, who came from a well-known family of ringers in Appleton. They were married in 1915. At this time Bert joined up and served in the Royal Flying Corps as an artificer working on Bristol Bulldogs, possibly at the Milton Depot. He and Kath initially lived in the Vineyard but after the war moved to the house at 35 East St Helen Street which had been in the Godfrey family since they built it in 1828. A ledger survives showing the initial order of materials to construct the property. Kath was a great believer in female emancipation. She delivered army lorries during the Great War and subsequently was one of the first women to own a car in the district. She acted as chauffeuse to Bert throughout his life.

The years after the war brought a great deal of business to stonemasons as the War Office ordered thousands of headstones for the fallen. Bert was awarded a contract for a considerable number and received a commendation for the quality of his work. Portland stone was delivered to Abingdon station and transported by cart to the yard. The completed stones were returned the same way. The cart remained at East St Helen Street until Bert’s death, when it was removed to the Abbey buildings. It is now in the care of the Oxfordshire Museum Service and is on display at Swalcliffe Barn. Bert is unlikely to have approved of the change of county!

The stonemasons cart
(© From the author’s private collection)

Bert and Kath lived a busy life between the wars with work and bell ringing occupying much of their time. There were no children from the marriage. East St Helen Street was a place of work and sleep. A story is told that on a rare evening at home, they switched on an electric fire in the front room, which was then left on for three weeks. The bill was huge! Bert was for some time Honorary Secretary of the North Berks Branch of the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers and did much to encourage a younger generation to take up the art.

bert_and_kath_1930_extract_from_family_wedding_photo_-_ed_0.jpg

Bert and Kath in 1930 from a photo of a family wedding.
(© From the author’s private collection)

Bert served as a special constable throughout the Second World War which added to his duties, although by this time he was in his sixties and working less hard at his trade. There was little bell ringing to be done for the duration. The ringing fraternity had to wait for the cessation of hostilities before they could practise the art again.

As s shown by this plaque in the ringing chamber at St Helen’s Church, Kath remained active in the ringing world in her later years.
(© D Clark 2011)

Although semi-retired, Bert inscribed a plaque for Agnes Baker, a well-known Abingdon historian, which was installed in St Nicolas’ Church after her death in 1955. He was to die five years later, in July 1960 at the age of 81 and was buried in the family grave at Sutton Courtenay. A memorial service held at St Nicolas’ in the September attracted a large congregation.

Memorial plaque to Albert Lock in the ringing chamber at St Helen’s Church
(© D Clark 2011)

When Kath died a few years later and the house was cleared, it proved to be a treasure trove. Not only had the ledger survived, but school books from Sutton and Milton, one from as early as 1790 and several from the early nineteenth century, as well as all sorts of other family papers and documents which added much to the Lock archive.

The Lock family grave in Sutton Courtenay churchyard
(© From the author’s private collection)

Albert Lock gave a great deal to the town during his lifetime and well deserves to be remembered as an Abingdon personality.

Malcolm Lock (great−nephew) June 2017

© AAAHS and contributors 2017

The Peyman family lived in Abingdon throughout the nineteenth century and were an established family of stonemasons, builders, carpenters and related trades. The earliest mention of the Peymans in Abingdon is the baptism in 1781 at St Helen’s Church of Sarah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Peyman.

Thomas Peyman the elder (1750-1835) founded the family firm in 1775. A year later he married Elizabeth Mason at Marcham, moving to Abingdon shortly afterwards. They had seven children, one son who died young and six daughters who survived to adulthood. Shortly after the birth of the sixth daughter in 1789, Elizabeth died and was returned to Marcham for burial. Thomas re‑married in 1790, in Oxford, to Elizabeth Toms (1763-1844). They went on to have five sons and possibly three daughters at their home in Abingdon. Thomas had taken a lease on a property owned by Abingdon Town Council in Bath Street (formerly Boar Street), near to the corner with Broad Street.

A postcard of Bath Street (formerly Boar Street) showing the building at the top end of the street where Peymans lived, to the left of the two white pointed gables. The buildings between Little Bury Lane and Broad Street were demolished in the 1960s to make way for a modern shopping area.
(© From the author’s private collection.)

In 1798 Thomas re-built the old Almshouses-over-the-Water which were situated on the narrow strip of land between the river and the road, opposite Brick Alley Almshouses.

The Almshouses-over-the-Water built by Thomas Peyman in about 1798 are the building with the four chimneys to the right in this view. They and the buildings to their left along the river edge were demolished 1884 when the wharf was redeveloped to create an open riverside area.
(© From a privately-owned postcard. Scan kindly provided by the owner.)

Thomas died 11 December 1835 at the grand age of 85 and was buried in St. Helen’s Churchyard. His wife Elizabeth (1763-1844), their son Thomas (1790-1859) and his wife Sarah (1792-1848) were all interred in the same grave with a headstone marking the spot.

An obituary appeared in the Jackson’s Oxford Journal not only informing the reader of the death but also that Thomas’ father was born in the year 1670. He had “married when he was 80 years of age and Mr. T. Peyman was the issue of that marriage”.

The two eldest sons, Thomas Peyman junior (1790-1859) and William Peyman (1792-1821) would have been apprenticed at an early age into the trades of the family stonemason’s business and they worked together for several years until the untimely and tragic death of William at the age of 29. The tragedy – was it accidental or was it murder? – was painstakingly reported in the Jackson’s Oxford Journal at regular intervals in 1821. In short:

William was found one morning lying on the road near Kennington Common, opposite the paper works, he was unconscious and had a severe cut to the back of his head. His horse was close by. His father, Thomas the elder, was sent for only to discover that William’s pocket book containing about £12 was gone, so were his watch and carpenter’s rule. Sadly William died without re-gaining consciousness. It was unclear as to whether he had fallen from his horse accidentally and then been robbed or was knocked off deliberately and brutally beaten by the villains who had robbed him. On the evidence put before the jury at the Coroner’s court, a verdict of accidental death was recorded. However, there was further evidence that emerged which indicated William had been “murdered” as well as robbed! But this could not be proved. Two men were held in custody for stealing the watch and carpenter’s rule. They were later transported for seven years for “robbing William Peyman whilst lying on the Abingdon Road near Hinksey”. The Coroner’s verdict of accidental death still stood.

Thomas Peyman junior continued to live in the family home in Bath Street and, on his father’s death, became head of the household and continued to run the family business. The Overseers and Churchwardens Accounts at St. Nicholas Church record several entries of payments to the Peyman family for work carried out on the church.

Thomas was married at St Helen’s Church in 1812 to Sarah Prince, also known as Sarah Bartlett (1792-1848). They had ten children. As mentioned above, Thomas and Sarah are buried in St Helen’s Churchyard.

Henry Prince Peyman (1814 – 1877) was the eldest son of Thomas junior and his wife Sarah. Born and baptised in Abingdon, Henry grew up learning the family trade and eventually became a master mason, skilled ornamental sculptor and builder in his own right. Having succeeded his father and grandfather he continued to run the family business from his premises at 24 Ock Street in the former stable range of the Clock House, at one time employing fifteen men and one boy.

The headstone in St Helen’s churchyard to Thomas and his wife Elizabeth, and to their son Thomas and his wife Sarah.
(© Sue Peyman-Stroud)

It is probable that Henry made the memorial in St. Helen’s churchyard to his parents and grandparents, which still stands in the churchyard. There are many surviving memorials made by the Peyman family both inside and outside the church, including those to the families of Gallaway, Eldridge, Jenner, Woodridge, Thornhill, Davies,Syrett, Kempe and the Revd John Cleoburey.

However, the most exquisite example of Henry’s work is the intricately carved marble font in St Helen’s Church, signed on the plinth “H.P. Peyman – Abingdon”. This font is a marble copy of the old stone Norman font at nearby Sutton Courtney and it was exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 held in the Crystal Palace at Hyde Park, London.

Following major restoration work on St Helen’s Church in 1872-3, the Churchwarden’s Accounts show an entry where Henry was paid £3. 8s. 0d for “fixing the decorations in the Town Hall at the re-opening of St. Helen’s Church”. It is possible that Henry was involved with the restoration of the monuments at this time and that his font was installed in its current position.

Henry lived with his wife Clara (née Holloway) (1814-1888) and his younger sister Thirza Peyman (1836-1911) who was twenty-two years his junior. The family business operated for over fifty years from 24 Ock Street, which is part of the Clock House complex of buildings. It was also at these premises that the Mechanics’ Institute had their library and reading room for over 20 years. The Institute had been established in 1854 with the aim of spreading “useful knowledge” and to “elevate the mind and bring the different classes of the town into social intercourse with each other.” Henry was appointed Treasurer. It moved to the Clock House in 1857 – the Institute’s rooms were situated above the carriage arch and below the clock tower – and the day-to-day supervision of the library and newsroom was carried out by Clara and Thirza.

Henry met an untimely and sudden death in 1877 when he had a seizure whilst visiting the offices of Mr. Morland in Bath Street, from which he never recovered, much to the grief of all who knew him. Clara and Thirza probably struggled to continue running the business efficiently as well as the Mechanics’ Institute reading room and may have been relieved when the Institute closed its doors for the last time in 1879 due to a fall in support and competition from other organisations.

The same year that the Mechanics’ Institute closed, 1879, there was a disastrous fire on the opposite side of Ock Street which started in a furniture warehouse and soon spread to adjacent premises. The fire brigades from Abingdon and Culham endeavoured to control the fire by pumping gallons of water onto the flames. Many people came to assist in salvaging as much property as possible from the nearby dwellings and shops. Clara and her neighbour at Clock House Mr Paulin Martin, a surgeon from Highworth, Wiltshire, made available their rear premises for the storage of the rescued goods. Mr. Martin’s coachman acted as security guard to protect the items in Clara’s back yard.

In 1881 the Beaconsfield Working Men’s Conservative Club opened in Ock Street in “premises formerly in the occupation of Mr Peyman, stonemason”. The building had undergone various alterations to create a large upper room with a committee room and lobby underneath at street level. This arrangement would have left some ground floor space where the stonemason’s business could continue.

Detail from a postcard of about 1900 showing “T. Peyman – Abingdon Monumental Works” in the white “Z” banner on the side of the former stable building at the Clock House. The main house of the Clock House complex is on the right.
(© From the author’s private collection)

On Clara’s death in 1888 Thirza Peyman took over the business as “Manageress” employing two men. She had her name painted on the side of the building: “T.Peyman, The Abingdon Monumental Works”.

She also advertised in Hooke’s Abingdon Almanack and Directory in 1903, 1904 and 1905. The business may have been sold shortly after this last date.

Thirza Peyman’s advertisement in Hooke’s Abingdon Almanack and Directory 1904
(© With thanks to Abingdon Library)

Thirza moved to 24 Radley Road, Abingdon. When she died, at this address, in 1911 she brought to an end the Peyman era in Abingdon which had lasted for over 100 years. Henry, Clara and Thirza are buried together in the churchyard at Shippon under an unusual and very unimposing memorial stone.

The memorial in Shippon Churchyard to Henry Prince Peyman 1814-1877 his beloved wife Clara Peyman 1814-1888 and his sister Thirza Peyman 1834-1911
(© Sue Peyman-Stroud)

Thirza never married so the main beneficiaries of her will were Mary and Dorothy Martin, daughters of Dr Paulin Martin of 26 Ock Street and her good neighbours for many years. They were also appointed to execute her will.

Other Peymans who had been born in Abingdon ventured elsewhere in search of work and adventure, to places such as Oxford, London, Birmingham, Kent and as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Many of them took with them the Peyman trades of stonemason/builder/carpenter and painter which, in some cases, still continue to this day.

Sue Peyman-Stroud

Albert Edward Lock

The Peyman family – stonemasons and builders

Archive for: Stonemason