all inhabitants

NAG’S HEAD YARD OCCUPANTS

1840’s
The building originated as a private house and was owned by a former French cavalry officer. He settled in England after marrying the daughter of a land owning family from Onibury called Syer.

1851 Census
John Drew Carpenter
Ann Drew Wife
Mary Drew Dressmaker (Daughter aged 23)
Mary Ann Lloyd Grandaughter (9)
Isaac Beddin Lodger – Basket Maker
Samuel Prince Mason
Milborough Prince Wife
Charles Prince Servant (Son aged 20)
Mary Pugh Dressmaker
Harriet Pugh Daughter (4 weeks)
George Hughes Shoemaker
Mary Hughes Wife
Eleanor Hughes Daughter (4)
Samuel Potts Labourer
Maria Potts Wife
Eliza Potts Scholar (Daughter 11)
Emily Potts Scholar (Daughter 9)
Sarah Potts Scholar (Daughter 7)
Mary Potts Daughter (4)
Thomas Powell Labourer
James Powell Labourer (Son 15)
Samuel Powell Labourer (Son 14)
Eliza Powell Wife
Thomas Miller Blacksmith
Elizabeth Miller Wife
Thomas Miller Son (7)
Jane Miller Daughter (3)
William Jones Visitor (8)
Thomas Jones Visitor (4)
James Evans Licensed Victualler
Sarah Evans Wife
Louisa Evans Daughter (11)
William Evans Son (2)
Thomas Pugh Visitor - Shoemaker
Caroline Wood Visitor

1861 Census
Richard Gatehouse Labourer
Mary Gatehouse Daughter (43)
Samuel Prince Plasterer
Milborough Prince Wife
Sarah Potts Grandaughter (17) Dressmaker
Thomas Churchman Labourer
George Hughes Shoemaker
Mary Hughes Wife
Eleanor Hughes Daughter (4)
William Crossland Bank Agent
Eleanor Crossland Wife
Emma Coombe Crossland Daughter (14)
Thomas Miller Blacksmith
Elizabeth Miller Wife
Thomas Miller Son (17) Blacksmith
Mary Miller Daughter (13) Scholar
Charles Miller Son (7) Scholar
Charles Yapp Publican
Nancy Yapp Wife
Martha Yapp Daughter (7)
Selina Yapp Daughter (1)
Jane Gilson Visitor
Caroline Emmitt Servant
Edward Hall Lodger – Excavator
James Carter Lodger – Excavator
Thomas Smith Lodger – Stone Mason
Mary Ann Smith Lodger – Dress Maker
Sophia Smith Lodger (aged 4)

1871 Census
Mary Davies Laundress
Emma Davies Daughter (11) Laundress
Arthur Davies Son (5)
Elizabeth Miller Widow Laundress
Jane Miller Daughter (23) Laundress
Charles Miller Son (17) Blacksmith
Ann Pratt Widow Laundress
Eliza Edwards Sister
Mary Edwards Sister
John Edwards Nephew (2)
Ellen Davies Lodger
James Houseman Labourer
Mary Houseman Wife
William Houseman Son (11)
Ann Houseman Daughter (9)
John Houseman Son (7)
Sarah Houseman Daughter (5)
Herbert Houseman Son (3 weeks)
John Sawyer Mason
Mary Ann Sawyer Wife
Charles Hull Lodger - Labourer
William Langford Groom
Mary Ann Langford Wife
William Langford Son (13) Scholar
Sarah Langford Daughter (6) Scholar
Thomas Langford Son (4)
Charles Langford Son (1)
Elizabeth Yapp Charwoman
Charles Yapp Son (21) Railway Porter
Fanny Yapp Daughter (11) Scholar
Thomas Swarbrick Inn Keepr
Nancy Swarbrick Wife
Agnes Swarbrick Daughter (2 Months)
Charles Yapp Stepson (15) Apprentice to Stonemason
Louisa Yapp Step-daughter (14)
Selina Yapp Step-daughter (11) Scholar
Alice Yapp Step-daughter (9) Scholar
Elizabeth Yapp Step-daughter (7) Scholar
James Butcher Lodger - Brewer
Thomas Jones Lodger - Millwright
Maria Northwood Lodger – Widow

1879
George Walker (Kelly’s Post Office Directories 1879)

1881 Census
Harriet Caswell Laundress
George Caswell Son (35) Spade Tree Maker
Benjamin Caswell Son (29) Spade Tree Maker
Charles Caswell Son (13) Scholar
Mary Sawyer Washerwoman
Thomas Sawyer Grandson (10) Scholar
George Venables Lodger – General Labourer
John Hiles General Labourer
Charles Hiles Son (11) Scholar
Silvia Hiles Daughter (9) Scholar
Rose Hiles Daughter (7) Scholar
Mary Ann Hiles Daughter (4)
Frederick Hiles Son (2)
Elizabeth Yapp Charwoman
Charles Yapp Son (31) General Labourer
John W Yapp Grandson (9) Scholar
Julia Jones Laundress
Elizabeth Jones Daughter (11) Scholar
John Jones Son (8) Scholar
James Jones Son (3)
Rose H Pearce Laundress
Rose Pearce Daughter (17) Dressmaker
Rebecca Jones Mother
William Langford Brewer’s Assistant
Mary Langford Brewer’s Assistant (wife)
Charles Langford Son (11) Scholar
Sarah Langford Daughter (19) General Servant
Edward Langford Son (8) Scholar
Eliza Langford Daughter (6) Scholar
Mary Sawyer Washerwoman
Thomas Sawyer Grandson (10) Scholar
George Venables Lodger – General Labourer
Wilson Machell Innkeeper
Martha Machell Innkeeper - wife
Wilson Machell Son (4)
George M Machell Son (1)
Elizabeth Harrington Monthly Nurse (Servant)
Maria Collier General Servant
Charles Machell Son (4 days)
Thomas Pilson General Labourer - Poacher (Shrewsbury Chronicle)
Susan Pilson Wife
James Houseman Journeyman Mason
Mary Houseman Wife
Annie Houseman Daughter (21) Imbecile
Sarah Houseman Daughter (17) General Servant
Edward Houseman Son (11) Scholar
Margaret Houseman Daughter (7) Scholar
Joseph Houseman Brother – Journeyman Mason

1888
Mary Lloyd Mother
Alfred Lloyd Aged 11
Thomas Lloyd Aged 9

1891 Census
Elizabeth Charmer Mother
William Charmer Son
Edward Charmer Son
Charles Henry Charmer Son
Richard Charmer Son
Sarah Charmer Daughter
James Charmer Son
Edward Locket Marine Stove Dealer
Mary Ann Locket Wife
Jemima Locket Daughter (14) Scholar
Mary A Locket Daughter (8) Scholar
Ellen Locket Daughter (6) Scholar
Sarah Locket Daughter (4) Scholar
Martha Locket Daughter (1)
Cornelius Basey Labourer
Hannah Basey Wife
Walter Basey Son (28) Labourer
William Capper Boarder – Ottogas Engine Driver
Thomas Baynham General Labourer
Eliza Baynham Wife
John Baynham Son (22) Labourer
George Baynham Son (15) Labourer
Ellen Baynham Daughter (10) Scholar
William Felton Groom
Elizabeth Felton Wife
William Felton Son (16) Groom
Edward Felton Son (11) Scholar
Richard Felton Son (6) Scholar
Charles Felton Son (7) Scholar
George Ward Labourer
Hannah Howells Boarder - Servant
John Howells Boarder (10) Scholar
Annie Howells Boarder (3)
George Thomas Labourer
Mary A Thomas Wife
George Thomas Son (12) Scholar
Jane Thomas Daughter (9) Scholar
John Thomas Son (6) Scholar
Elizabeth Thomas Daughter (4) Scholar
Albert Evans Inn Keeper
Fanny Evans Wife
Fanny Reynolds Widow
Herbert Reynolds Son (24) Porter
Alfred Reynolds Son (14) Porter
Elizabeth Reynolds Daughter (12) Scholar
William Attfield Boarder - Porter
Thomas Wainwright Boarder - Shoemaker

1899 – 1904
Arthur Ward Inn Keeper
Martha Ward Wife

1901 Census
Mary Jane Houseman Dressmaker
Harriett G. Watkins Daughter (11)
William F. Watkins Son (7)
Richard Hall Chimney Sweeper
Eliza Hall Wife
Richard G Hall Nephew (4)
Charles Adlington Public Water Works Manger
Ann Adlington Wife
Cornelius Basey General Labourer
Hannah Basey Wife
Richard Woosnam Boarder – Assistant Maltster
William Baron Retired Postman [Civil]
Jane Baron Wife
Margaret Baron Daughter (19)
Thomas Baron Son (16) Labourer
John Baron Son (6)
Thomas Ratcliffe Boarder – General Labourer
Arthur Ward Licenced Victualler Pub
Martha Ward Wife
William Ward Son (4)
Gertrude Gazard Barmaid
Bessie Price General Servant Domestic

1913
William Hogan Publican (1913 Ludlow Directory)

1917
William Hughes Publican (1917 Ludlow Directory)

1918
William Steadman Publican (Ludlow Advertiser)
Sarah Jane Steadman

1922
Richard Harrington Publican (1922 Ludlow Directory)

1926
Thomas Edwards Landlord

1941 -1949
George Oliver Jones Publican (1944 Ludlow Directory)
Irene Jones Wife
Arnold Jones Son
Cicely Jones Daughter
Nell Jones Daughter
Audrey Jones Daughter
Ralph Jones Son
Bert Hope (somewhere between 1949-1953)

1945
Mary Jones Publican
Graham Munns
Ina Munns

1953-1968
Thomas Cooper Publican
Elizabeth Cooper Wife (died 1957)
Kathleen Cooper Wife
Tom Cooper Son
Theresa Cooper Daughter
Jack Francis Smout Lodger

1968 –1985
George & Sally Price Publicans
David Price Son
Gillian Price Daughter

1985- 1989
Coopers (Pub closed) Publicans

2006
John Fleming Website Designer
Rosemarie Fleming

We have discovered evidence of nearly 300 people who lived at Nag's Head Yard, from the first 1851 census until today. In some cases we have uncovered whole life stories or at least key life events. However, there are many occupants for whom no information remains but their name. Note that census records are only available until 1901 - later census records have not been made public yet. The dry data of the census can sometimes hide the drama of everyday life. While today 2 inhabitants enjoy the historic building, in 1871 there were 35 people living, sleeping, eating and working in the same rooms. All would have made use of a communal pump instead of running water (a trap for disease) and primitive open fire cooking. The open sewer which ran through the yard can still be traced.

Find our eleven main characters along the time-line (linked directly to their page).

Gas, Electricity, Running Water and Toilets at Nag's Head Yard

In the early 1950’s there was no running water piped into the poor houses in Corve Street. Access to water was through stand pipes.
1891 the Gas company was founded so Gas would have been put into the pubs in the 1890's. The larger houses would have supported the gas company (all was private then) so that they could have gas lighting. Moor Park had gas lighting and there was a gas company established in Gravel Hill from about 1823. The Electricity Company was founded in 1905, probably would have been put into pubs about 1926.
There were public toilets in the Nags Head Yard, (1940’s) which served the auction yard as well, and there would have been a plentiful supply of standpipes because the auction yard had to be swilled down. Urine would have been collected previous to this to use in the fulling process (the process of degreasing and softening wool).

A brief history of 130, Corve Street

Prehistory
Corve Street was a prehistoric routeway with archaeology suggesting Neolithic settlement in the vicinity
Roman Britain
Corve Street was used by the Romans as a roadway; archaeology shows evidence of Roman engineering
Medieval towns
The plot occupied by Nag’s Head Yard, stretching back a good distance from the street but with a narrow frontage, is a prime example of the burgage plot characteristic of medieval town development
Tudor times
Ludlow’s great prosperity, founded on the cloth industry, meant a huge surge in building. Further research will reveal whether the Nag’s Head Inn and Yard were constructed as part of this building explosion, possibly, as suggested by Ludlow’s listed buildings officer, from the fabric of an even earlier building
Eighteenth century
Nag’s Head Yard is within spitting distance of the old cattle market, where livestock was penned overnight ready for sale in the Bull Ring the following morning. The site is now occupied by Tesco, an interesting example of land use continuing in general character and purpose
Victorian England
The back end of Nag’s Head Yard gives on to a lane running alongside the railway and rail station. The railway was developed in the 1850s, and Nag’s Head Yard residents at that time would have been well aware of the Industrial Revolution arriving in the form of steel, steam and speed.
Twentieth century
The houses in Nag’s Head Yard were subject to many improvements, with gas and running water arriving in the first half of the century and indoor lavatories and other amenities arriving later.