This article was written by Janet Woodall and Eleanor Waldock in 2011.
We now have more information on the Bakers of Walkern and particularly Elizabeth Kingsley, so please contact us if you would like more information.
In the 1930s and 1940s there were four bakeries in Walkern: Stockbridge in Froghall Lane opposite what is now the empty site of the Baptist chapel yard; Meads in the High Street in the buldings opposite Posy Palace1; Spearmans, also in the High Street; and Kitchener, opposite Clarks garage. The story of these bakeries is very much interlinked.
Thomas Stockbridge, was born in 1813 in Wrestlingworth, near Sandy, Bedfordshire, marrying Hannah Kingsley in 1832. Hannah’s father, Thomas, died in 1836, bequeathing his properties in Walkern, including the property opposite what is now Posy Palace, to his wife, Hannah’s mother Elizabeth.
This property is numbered 542 and 543 on the tithe map of 1841, in which Elizabeth Kingsley is listed as the owner but Thomas Stockbridge as the occupier. Elizabeth’s son Samuel (Hannah’s brother) also bequeathed plot 247 (the site of Posy Palace) to Thomas Stockbridge “upon trust to pay the rents to my said mother for her life”;
Elizabeth lived as a woman of independent means in a cottage opposite what was the Red Lion pub (now Redlyns) until her death in around 1850, at which point the “Posy Palace” property was sold by Thomas Stockbridge for £80, it eventually being converted to a butcher shop.
Thomas and Hannah Stockbridge produced 12 (possibly 15) children in Walkern between 1834 and 1857, several of whom sadly died in childhood or young adulthood.
The bakery appeared to thrive, with Thomas describing himself variously as baker, baker & mealman, and baker & farmer of 50 acres. He was an employer of 2, 3 or 4 people over this period, including his son, James Edward, an apprentice baker, and in the 1841 census another apprentice called Daniel Pearman.
By 1851, Daniel Pearman was running his own bakery plus the Post Office, in premises close to Stockbridge bakery (probably opposite the Totts Lane entrance, no 539 on tithe map) and was training his own apprentice baker, John Kitchener who became a grocer and draper at the site opposite Clarke’s garage which was later taken on as a bakery by one son John Elliott Kitchener. Another son, Ebenezer, founding Kitchener stores opposite the White Lion.
In December 1876 Thomas Stockbridge’s wife Hannah died and two weeks later so too did their youngest daughter, Martha, aged 23. Soon after this he transferred the bakery to his son James, and on Thursday, May 19th 1881 the premises comprising “a valuable and compact Freehold Property” was offered for sale by auction at the White Lion, Walkern.
The auction notice has been reproduced below (with many thanks indeed to John Hill of Box Wood). It has lots of wonderful detail, not only of the bakery but also the tea & coffee shop next door. It is also interesting to note that the two plots of pasture land being sold as lots 3 & 4 contain what is described as “brick-earth” – obviously a selling point.
Sadly, we haven’t yet worked out who bought the premises, though the Stockbridge’s continued to live in the High Street for a while after the auction. Initially Thomas lived with his son, but by 1891 he was living out his retirement in Irving cottage (between Froghall Lane and the houses opposite Clarke’s garage), dying in 1894 aged 83, and being buried at the Baptist Chapel in Froghall Lane.
By 1901, James had moved his growing family to the bakery opposite the Baptist Church. He died in 1927. Two generations, at least, of Hanscombe were the bakers in the premises prior to Meads taking it over from the late 1940s until its closure as a bakery. The oven wasn’t removed until the late 1940s/1950.
1 Posy Palace was at 69 High Street, which is now Brethren Brothers
For historical pictures of Walkern Bakers click here
1881 Auction Notice for Stockbridge bakery
Walkern, Hertfordshire
Between Stevenage and Buntingford
About four miles from Stevenage Station, on the Great Northern Railway
Comprising a commodious principally Brick-Built and Tiled Dwelling House and Old-Established Bakery and Wholesale and Retail Corn Dealing Business Premises, with Baker’s Shop, two enclosures of Old Pasture Land, a portion of which is eligible for Building Purposes:
A Dwelling House with Front Shop, also Four Cottages and Garden Ground;
The area of the property is 5 acres 1 rood or thereabouts; to be offered for sale by auction, by Mr George Jackson, at the White Lion, Walkern, on Thursday, May 19th, 1881, at Two for Three o’clock, by direction of the mortgagee.
The whole property will be offered in one lot, and if not sold will be offered in the following lots:
Lot 1
The valuable & compact freehold property (land tax redeemed) comprising the commodious and principally brick-built, tiled and slated Dwelling House, containing an attic bedroom; on the second floor, 5 bedrooms, approached by 2 staircases; 2 front sitting rooms, large kitchen, dairy, and cellar;
The valuable & compact freehold property (land tax redeemed) comprising the commodious and principally brick-built, tiled and slated Dwelling House, containing an attic bedroom; on the second floor, 5 bedrooms, approached by 2 staircases; 2 front sitting rooms, large kitchen, dairy, and cellar;
Adjoining the house, and in communication therewith is the Baker’s Shop fitted up with a 11-bushel coal oven, and a 7-bushel wood oven; counting house, flour-room or warehouse, store-room, drying-room, and Man’s room, with approach from bake house;
Adjoining is a large brick and slated wash-house with lift pump; A covered gateway entrance from street to a large enclosed yard, in which is a timber and thatched store-house with loft over, stable, churn-house, cheese-house, and meal-house;
A partly brick, timber and thatched retail corn-warehouse with boarded floor, enclosed by sliding door; Timber and thatched 3-bayed open cart-shed; a small yard; Timber, thatched and tiled corn-barn with asphalte floor, and corn shop with loft over;
A productive garden, partly enclosed by a brick wall; Adjoining which in the rear is a valuable enclosure of pasture land. The above has been used for the purposes of a very Old Established Bakery business, doing about 16 sacks per week, and attached to which is a Wholesale and Retail Corn Dealing Business
It is well placed in the Village; in the occupation of Mr Stockbridge; having a frontage to the High Street of about 64 feet and a depth of about 600 feet; No 542 [and 543]on tithe plan; and contains about 3 roods 15 poles
Lot 2
A partly Brick-built Dwelling House with Double-Fronted Shop. Many years used as a Harness Maker’s Shop, but now in the occupation of Mr Wm Warren, and used as a Tea and Coffee Shop, and contains 3 bed-rooms, sitting room, wash-house, and wood oven;
Together with a Yard enclosed from the road by a pair of Folding Gates; a Timber and Pantiled Cow-House and Piggeries, and Timber and Thatched Cattle-Shed;
Also an Enclosure of Pasture Land (as staked out), a Piece of Enclosed Garden Ground;
Four Convenient Cottages (formerly five) adjoining the Dwelling House, two of which are Brick-built and Tiled; In the respective occupations of Poulter, Cox, Goodchild, and Cotton: With Piece of Garden Ground and Wood Barn to each, and Well of Water;
The whole of the above are let at Rentals amounting to £26 per annum, (Exclusive of the Piece of Pasture Land), Landlord paying Rates and Taxes.
Adjoining property belonging to Mr GD Pearman, Mr Knott, Mr Green, Mr Philip Dilley, and Lots 1 and 3.
A right of cart and foot way through the Entrance Gate from the Street is reserved for the purchasers of Lots 1, 3 and 4.
The above has a frontage to the High Street of about 49 feet and a depth of about 250 feet; the Garden and Paddock extend a considerable distance at the back of adjoining Houses forming part of the High Street.
The area of this lot is 3 Roods (35) Poles, or thereabouts.
Part of No 541 on parish tithe
Lot 3
A valuable enclosure of Old Pasture Land adjoining Lots 1, 2 and 4, with right of cart and foot way over and through Lot 2 from the High Street, and subject also to similar right of way for the Purchasers or Tenants of Lots 1 and 4, thus enhancing the value of the Lot for Building Purposes, about 350 feet wide and 230 feet deep, containing about 1 Acre 3 Roods 10 Poles
Part of No 541 on Parish Plan, and is supposed to contain Brick Earth; in the occupation of Mr Stockbridge.
Lot 4
A valuable Enclosure of Old Pasture Land adjoining Lots 1 and 3, with right of cart and foot way over Lots 2 and 3 to the High Street, and valuable for Building Purposes, and is supposed to contain Brick Earth, and contains 1 Acre 3 Roods 10 Poles.
No 552 on Parish Plan; in the occupation of Mr Stockbridge