The Bedfordshire Archive Service
Saturday, 28 January 2023
34 Volume of deeds, with index at front 1603 - 1843 Bedfordshire Archives
33 "A Walk Around Luton in 1804"
If my research is correct (or even nearly) correct, there would be Brown family ancestors living in Luton in the late 1700s/early 1800s. As noted in this record, there was only a few thousand people in that town on 1804 (though many thousand in around about). It could be that some/many are related (brothers, parents, children, cousins) or not and it could be that some are connected to Frederick Brown born St Albans). However Brown is and was a common name. Then again maltsters, brewers and bakers were all closely aligned occupations, I've copied some text that I found interesting as it mentions Brown(s) and occupations. There are two more mentions of Brown in the text (J Brown involved in Methodist Chapel and Mr Brown. a Steward to Lord Bute).
The full text can be found by following the link (well done the Greg Harrison for putting all the information on line). The link has sketches and maps.
https://www.lutonheritageforum.org/exhibitions/buildings/a-walk-around-luton-in-1804
"In 1804, Luton contained just over 600 houses and slightly over 3000 people... Trade was confined mainly to malting, straw plaiting, straw hat manufacture and agriculture. The buildings were chiefly public houses, farm houses, maltings and old thatched cottages. The few shops had small low windows and the frontages of a few of the more respectable dwellings were paved with pebbles. Other parts were unpaved. Buildings projected far out into the roadway, which was further encroached upon by banks of earth, so that carts could pass each other only with some difficulty. Grass and weeds were much in evidence. The channels along both sides of the roadway were the receptacles of refuse, and planks were placed across these channels, opposite each front door, for the residents to get into the road. Sanitation was unheard of; the drainage and liquid refuse was conveyed down into the river Lea from the surface of the streets.
The directory that follows is taken from an article that appeared in the “Luton Times and Advertiser” in 1883. The origin was unquoted and its author unrecognised. The original text is in italics, to which I’ve attached my comments. The map below is not to scale and its only purpose is to assist with the location of the residents and their properties.
11. Hog Lane
“But keeping along George Street, next to Clark’s, is Stephen Taylor’s carpenter’s shop. Then Henry Cain’s the watchmaker; Thomas Foster, cooper; Mrs. Cain, whitesmith; Madame Barnet’s school; Edward Cain, tailor; Clarke, wood stainer; Olney, butcher; Mr. Richard Brown, maltster; Peregrine Nash, weaver; corner of Hog lane, up which are five cottages and Dame Henson’s school. There are also three cottages on the way to Farley Green”.
This little colony of trades-people speaks eloquently of life at this time. It was unusual to find a woman carrying on the business of a Whitesmith, a metalworker who does finishing work on iron and steel such as filing, lathing, burnishing or polishing, now called a silversmith. Mr Richard Brown’s malting was on the site of “The Old Bell” public house, not to be confused with the Bell Inn on the eastern side of George St (see no.28). Hog Lane would be re-named to Chapel Street in 1814, in consequence of a new Wesleyan chapel being built there. The schools mentioned above were probably Plait schools where young girls and boys would have to produce so many yards of plait as set by the parents. Conditions were deplorable and the rooms densely overcrowded.
17. The Crown Inn
“Then the Crown Inn, kept by Mr. Henry Taylor, who is the carrier to London. Next Mr. William Anstee, draper; Dr. John Chase; John Wesley, shoemaker; John Gardner, tailor; Mr. John Knowles, haberdasher; Mr. Robert Hill, auctioneer; Mr. Daniel Brown, the houses of the two latter being situated on Cross Pond. Mr. Daniel Brown, sen., is a baker and maltster, and next is Samuel Chase, surgeon”.
The Crown was yet another ancient hostelry, dating from the 16th century or before. The building still exists today and after a number of name changes is still The Crown. Cross Pond was the area now known as Park Square. The pond, which was of considerable size, lay at the corner of Church Street. It was enclosed with brick walls, except on the south-west side, which was left open for cattle, and freely used by children in summer for bathing, and for sliding when frozen over in winter.
At the south-east end of this pond stood the “Round House” and fire-engine house. The “Round House” was a lock-up for the temporary accommodation of malefactors pending their removal to Bedford prison. The pond was condemned at the Court Leet in 1836, and was filled up within two days therefrom, and the lock-up and fire-engine house taken down.
18. Park Street
“Then come the Hospital, the Workhouse, known as “the house with the three steps,” Workhouse Yard, the Tythe Barn and Tythe Barn Yard. These may now be said to be fronting Park Street, formerly called Sheep Street or South End. Down this street are Mr. Anthony Sherlock, painter and glazier; Mr. J. Woodward at the Cock; Mr. Richard Haselgrove, builder; Mr. Thomas Mead, grocer; Mr. Daniel Brown, Jnr., flour and pig dealer; Mr. John Wood, butcher; Thomas Battams, basket maker; Robert Whitting, Bland, Coleman, J. Sherlock, Jackson, Flitton, Richard Stone, Bull Inn, Horton, Wright, Glenister, Newman, and Prudden”.
The drawing shows Park Street as it was in 1821 looking south from Park Square. Going from right to left, we see the workhouse, the Tithe Barn and the Cock inn further down. On the left we see the Cross Pond and the lock-up. As mentioned above, “Hospital” signified a place or building erected out of charity for the reception and support of the poor, aged, sick, and otherwise helpless.
Until 1766, part of a large house in Castle Street called Langleys was used for this purpose. In 1836, after the workhouse was transferred to Dunstable Road, this building was converted to a private dwelling, but later this became “The Brewery Tap“. The Cock Inn was trading till a few years ago but is now closed. The Bull later became “The Black Bull” in the 1940’s and was demolished in 1969 for road widening purposes.
19. Long Pond
“There are three houses in Old Yard. F. Newman lives at the corner of the street, opposite Long Pond. Next to him are three cottages (empty) and three more occupied by Mead, Buckthorpe, and Master Crawley, who sees after Burr’s farm-yard adjoining. Next to which is Mr. Samuel Ainsworth’s house with a cottage, and then a passage called Ainsworth’s passage, up which are three cottages and. a barn. There are three Church charity cottages between Mr. Ainsworth’s shop and The Chequers public-house, kept by Mr. Clarke, next to which lives Cookson, carpenter, and in the yard, Pates. Fronting the street there are four cottages, before the meadow which is in West Hyde hamlet. Carter and Jacob Chad live at the last two. Beyond is the Breache Mill, occupied by Mr. Brown”.
Long Pond was as insanitary as was Cross Pond. This can be guessed from the fact that today’s Lea Road bore the unsavory name of Blackwater Lane for the overflow from the pond ran through its ditches down to the river.
21. Towards St. Ann’s Lane
“Returning to Park Street by Mr. Bunn’s meadow, opposite the Baptist Meeting Burial Ground, live Nehemiah Munn, grave-digger, and pew-opener Dorrington, Whitley, Deamer, the watchman and lamp-lighter. Hunt, Harris, Crawley, and Godfrey, then Dr. Robert Kerby’s, “the Diel House”, Limbury the carrier, and next to him Quick and Pollie Knight. Next to her is Mr. Joseph Brown, and opposite to him is St. Ann’s Lane, down which dwelleth Walker, Brown, and Clark”.
No reference can be traced to Mr. Bunn and it is possible that it was a mistake for Mr. Burr. There remains the need for an explanation to “the Diel House”.
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
29. Children of Frederick Brown and Ida Brown (nee Wild)
1890 Jessie Victoria Brown Born 29 July 1890 Bowen St Hawthorn, Victoria. Frederick is identified as aged 23 and occupation baker, born St Albans England. Mother aged 25, born Middleborough, England. Jessie married Ruben Wellington Williams 22 April 1920. Note that Frederick Brown collapsed and died on the evening of the wedding. Jessie died 3 June 1946 (Richmond), buried 5 June 1946 Springvale. According to newspaper Argus death 24 May 1946 at home 541 Church Street Richmond.
The Argus 28/2/1955, Funeral of Reuben Williams died 27/2/1955 at Epworth Hospital of 541 Church Street Richmond, Father of Reuben deceased, husband of Jessie deceased, brother of Fred deceased, Jack, Maud deceased, Muriel, Horace.
Wills and Probate Index. Reuben W Williams, Gent Richmond, died 27/2/1955 Registration number 489/254.
For more on Jessie Victoria Williams see:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/22252243?searchTerm="Jessie Victoria williams"&searchLimits=
1895 Ida Frederica Brown Born Hawthorn, Victoria. Ida married Albert Hermann Lauer 1921. Ida died Adelaide South Australia died 3/4/1977, buried Enfield park 1977, Person id 9555315.
For more on Ida Lauer see:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=creator%3A%22Lauer%2C+Ida.%22
http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/result?q=%22ida+lauer%22
Albert Hermann LAUER b.1894 Collingwood - son of Gottfried Heinrich LAUER & Friedericke KOCH) Died 18 Feb 1967
1897 Frederick George Edison Brown Born 8 November 1897 19 Henry St Hawthorn. Informant Eva Wild of 533 Church Street Richmond. Eddie married Olive Stella Hindmarsh 1922 Richmond. Died Caulfield 24 May 1970, Buried Dromana 26 May 1970.
1899 Reginald Alfred Brown Born Melbourne. Married Olive Marion Prowd 1927. Died 2 September 1967 Jolimont, buried 4 September 1967.
Olive Marian PROWD - b.abt 1900 -dgtr of James PROWD & Florence JOHNSTONE - d. 1979 Ringwood.
1901 (3 April) Gordon Stanley Brown Born Richmond. Married Eva Maude Adamthwaite 12 April 1924 St Stephens Church, Richmond. Died 27 May 1960, Portarlington, Buried 30 May 1960 Fawlkner Cemetery.
Eva Maud ADAMTHWAITE -b.abt 1903 - dghtr of Charles ADAMTHWAITE & Emily Harriet NEWLING - at Silvan 1931 - d.1976 Geelong @ 73yrs
- BROWN, Gwenda P. - b.1924
- BROWN, Maxwell Gordon - b.1931
1904 Elsie Irene Brown Born Richmond. Married Rudolph Eberherdt Lauer (brother of Albert Lauer see above) 1927. Died 4 April 1973 Malvern, Buried 7 April 1973.
Rudolph Eberhardt LAUER- b.1897 Collingwood- son of Gottfried Heinrich LAUER & Friedericke KOCH)
32. Grandchildren of Frederick Brown and Ida Brown (nee Wild)
Alberta Lauer
Wills and Probate Index; Reuben F Williams, Pay Clerk, Richmond, death 26 March 1951, No 440/552.
Death Index; Reuben Frederick Williams, Olinda age 25. Reg No 5941
Inquest Record; Reuben F Williams 1951, Motor Car, Ref 867 1951-6-13.
Reuben Frederick Williams (born 16 May 1925) was a student at Hawthorn West Central School and then Melbourne Boys' High School (1940-1941). He served in WWII in the R.A.A.F (information from Luke Savage)
Reginald Alfred Brown
Married Olive Marian Proud 1927, daughter of Jas Chas (Prowd) Proud (Charlie) and Florence Margaret Johnston.
Children of Reginald Alfred Brown and Olive Marian Proud:
i. Ralph Brown, b. 1928, d. 1955.
ii. Norman Brown.
Ralph Charles Fr Brown, Fitzroy 1955 Reg No 5447
Father Reginald Alfred Brown, Mother Olive Marion Prowd.
More information on the Prowd family http://www.familiesunearthed.com/mason/tree/master.htm?http://www.familiesunearthed.com/mason/tree/pafg23.htm
Frederick George Edison Brown married Olive Stella Hindmarsh 1922
Child
Reginald Gordon Edward Brown born
married
Bertha Albeury Streitberg
Children
Stephen Peter Brown
Julie Meredith Brown (Meaden)
David John Brown
BROWN, Gwenda P. - b.1924
BROWN, Maxwell Gordon - b.1931
Saturday, 12 April 2014
30. Horace John Brown and family - Photographs
Elizabeth Annetta Brown (nee Sharp)
Horace John Brown
Elizabeth, Jack, Joseph and May Brown
May and Jack Brown
Joseph Edward Brown 1888-1969
May Elsie Brown 1893-1976
Photographs supplied by family in WA (asked for anonymity)
Thursday, 10 April 2014
31. Brown's Bakery 539 Church Street Richmond
Currently a Renault Dealership for the shop on Church Street
Frederick Brown owned (?) the business from the 1890s to 1920s. There is information to be researched - but I haven't done anything much at this time except for some searching of TROVE:
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/93809161?searchTerm=Frederick brown&searchLimits=l-title=310
Short-Weight Bread.
Inspector James Reid, the newly appointed officer of the Eastern Sub urbs Weights and Measures Union, made his debut at Richmond Court on Monday, when he charged Frederick Brown, 539 Church-street, with having sold short-weight bread. Inspector Reid said he stopped- one of defendant's carts and found 54 2-lb. loaves to be 42oz. short weight. A fine of 1/6 for each oz. short, with £1 5/6 costs was imposed.
Richmond Guardian (Vic_ 1917 - 1918), Saturday 3 August 1918, page 2
Notice is hereby given, that after the expiration of 14 days of the publication hereof application will be made to the Supreme Court of the State of Victoria, in its Probate jurisdiction that the PROBATE of the LAST WILL and TESTAMENT of FREDERICK BROWN, late of 539 Church street in the State of Victoria, baker, deceased, may granted to Ida Brown of 530 Church street Richmond aforesaid widow, the sole executrix named in and appointed by the said will.
Dated this fourth day of June 1920
Alfred W Fergie 469, Little Collins Street Melbourne. Proctor for the said executrix
The Argus (Vic), Saturday 5 June 1920, p22
Sunday, 6 April 2014
28. Kate Brown Daughter of Richard Walter and Harriet Brown
1878 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 33 Avenue Rd St Mary Stratford Bow Tower Hamlets.
1881 Census, Residence 105 High St Poplar London, Robert (Head), Occupation Journeyman Baker, Age 49, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Harriet (Wife), Occupation, Age 45, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Frederick (Son) Occupation Plasterer, Age 17, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Martin (Son) Occupation Baker, Age 21, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Kate (Dau) Occupation Scholar, Age 11, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Lottie (Dau) Occupation Scholar, Age 7, Born St Albans Hertfordshire.
1888 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 29 Aberfeldy St Dee St Tower Hamlets Poplar
1893 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 48 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar.
1895 Electoral Record - Richard Walter Brown Residence 41 Ettrick St Tower Hamlets Poplar.
1899 Richard Walter Brown Death March 1899, 66 yrs, Poplar, 1c, 421.
1901 Census, Residence 41 Ettrick St Poplar London, Harriet (Head), Occupation Widow, Age 64, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Walter (Son) Occupation Breadworker Baker, Age 42, Born St Albans Hertfordshire; Kate (Dau) Occupation Forewoman confectioner, Age 30, Born Poplar (plus three boarders - one cooper and two gas stokers).
1911 Census, record 41 Ettrick St Poplar, London, Harriet (Widow), Occupation Old age pensioner, Age 74, Born St Albans Hertfordshire (for the last three years paralysis; Kate (Dau) Occupation Boys trouser machinist (wkr), Age 30, Born Poplar (plus one boarder).
1911 Harriet Brown dies 41 Ettrick St, Poplar, Tower Hamlets, London.
I haven't searched for Kate Brown's death yet or investigated more about her after 1911 as of yet. I am pretty sure more to find though. From the photo below Kate was still alive in 1949.










