Sunday 31 October 2010

GEORGE WICKHAM AND HIS SONS

Described as bottler and general storekeeper circa 1871 to 1910. He owned Wickham’s Stores (now Cullens), and also built Wickham’s Castle, now called Stonewalls. He bottled Page & Overton’s Ales under his own name in both ½ pint and 1 pint sizes. See below for examples of his beer-labels. The illustration accompanying this article is of a label issued by his sons Philip and Harold who continued the business after George's retirement until WW1, trading as Wickham Brothers.

George Wickham was born 21st May 1841 to Philip (b 1806) and Ann Wickham (nee Pode, b. 1802), his father’s occupation given in the 1851 census for Southborough, Kent, as a mastic ball maker. His siblings were Mary Anne (b. 1843), and Philip William (b. 1846). George was christened on 20th June 1841 at Tonbridge. He was shown in the 1861 census as apprenticed as an assistant Draper and grocer to one Stephen Sawyer of Headcorn, and first appears in Limpsfield in the 1871 census, where he is listed aged 29, with his wife Emily Chambers (aged 27, whom he had married in 1867 at Tonbridge) and one son, Philip (aged 1). Here he is described as a draper, and grocer employing 2 men and 1 boy. His place of birth is shown incorrectly as Tonbridge, Kent – although later census returns gives the correct Southborough, Kent. His wife Emily (b. 1843), was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Chambers of Headcorn (Holingbourne), Kent. The 1881 census describes George Wickham as a draper, grocer and baker employing 6 men and 2 boys, and his children are listed as Emily (9), George (7), Elizabeth (4), Harold (2), and Maria (newly born), so it would appear that within the 10 interceding years his business had rapidly grown. By 1891, the enterprise had expanded again to incorporate the business of wine and spirit merchant with his address given as “West Heath” At this time the household consisted of himself, his wife Emily, and his children Emily (19), George (17), Elizabeth (14), Harold (12), and Maria (10). By 1901 his address had changed to “Stone Wall”, and most of the children had fled the nest, only having Emily (29), Harold (22) and Maria (20) still living there. George Wickham must have retired by 1911 when he is listed (in Kellys Dir) as residing at Stonewalls, but the business is referred to as Wickham Brothers, (his two sons Philip and Harold). However, by 1918 (Kellys Dir) there is no further record of the Wickham business at Limpsfield, both the sons having enlisted in the Army, which may account for the closure of the business. Philip joined the East Surrey Regt, and Harold joined the Queens. Nothing further is heard of either of them except that examination of subsequent death registers gives 1950 Newton Abbot for Harold, aged 71, and 1953 Croydon for Philip, aged 84. It is interesting to note also that their mother Emily died in 1916, and their father George Wickham died 2nd Feb 1919. Was George Wickham a victim of the influenza pandemic, I wonder? His probate was granted on 27th June 1919 to his son George Wickham jnr and showed his estate to have been worth £18,712. 12s 3d.

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