Elmhurst
At the time of the Inclosure Act, 1806, there were no buildings on the plot of land behind No 375. It was then Plot No 373, an allotment in Lower Churchfield, 7-3-25 in area and owned by Thomas Rudge. It is believed that the first two of the three houses that later stood here were built in 1815.
This will discuss the second of these cottages coming from the south.
[1806]
Identifying the residents of this cottage through the nineteenth century has proved impossible so far. From approximately 1919 the Hughes’ lived here and are the first known occupants. They were to reside here for 75 years.
Sidney Joseph Hughes was born on 8 April 1894, son of William Hughes and Eliza Ellen nee Cummings. He grew up with his parents possibly in Marlpit Lane and in 1911 was employed as a labourer at Norton Court. Appears to have been known as Joseph or Joe. In November 1912 was employed by Samuel Hayward, a fisherman of Wainlode Hill. Then he briefly worked for Great Western Railways at Bullo Pill Station, Forest of Dean, as a cleaner, between 2 December 1912 and 14 July 1913 at the rate of 2/6. Served during the First World War with 2/5th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, when, it is said, that he was batman to an officer, and was gassed at the Third Battle of Ypres.
Sidney returned to Norton after the war where he married Louisa Mary Stephens on 8 November 1919 at St Mary’s, Norton. They came to live at Elmhurst where they appear to have had six children; Sidney William, Lavender Joan, Doris Rosemary, Margaret May, Anthony Reginald and Janice Louise. Louisa Mary was born on 28 April 1897, daughter of Frederick George Stephens and Annie Amelia nee Jefferies and grew up at Dunsworth Cottage, Norton. When she left school Louisa went to work in a ‘big house’ as a parlour maid and was paid £30 per year.
Some years ago, daughter Margaret May shared the following memories; “My mother was born at ‘Dunsworth Cottage’ which was the family home. Upon her marriage she moved to the cottage at Cold Elm where she lived for 75 years. She had six children; two boys and four girls, my sister Rosemary died when she was seventeen, I was fifteen. My mother was fifty-eight at the time she was widowed, she was a widow for thirty-nine years, a longer period than she was married. My mother continued to do her own shopping until she was eighty-nine, regularly going by bus to Gloucester. At that time the bus ran to Norton Green. I took over as her health deteriorated and she died at the age of ninety-seven. For water we relied on the well, which was in the garden, in times of draught we would have to walk to the spring in Wainlode Lane to collect and carry water. Twice weekly our cottage was used as the doctors surgery, we were under strict instructions to be quiet on those days !”.
In 1939 Sidney was employed as a wood machinist at Hatherley Step Works and was also in the Civil Defence Service. He suffered from a lung condition, possibly emphysema, due to being gassed during the First World War. Sidney died on 19 November 1955.
Louisa, or Aunty Lou as she was known to many in the village remained at Elmhurst until she died on 21 December 1994, was reunited with her husband and they have a memorial in the churchyard at St Mary’s, Norton.
Photos of ‘Aunty Lou’ taken outside and inside Elmhurst.
In 1999 Stuart J and Debbie C Elrick were here and were still resident in 2002.
