The Cobbs come to Kings Lynn.
Charles Cobb was born in 1860 and his brother Henry William Cobb in 1866. They both learnt their father’s trade of harness and saddle making and in 1881 when the family were living at South Creake they were both employed by their father. The family then moved to Thornham on the Norfolk coast. Charles may not have moved with them, but if he did he was not there for long because in the summer of 1884, he married Jane Armes in Kings Lynn.
How he met Jane is not known, but the move to Kings Lynn would have seen him move to a thriving and growing town. The development of the railway and docks had seen the town expand considerably in the last fifty years. Just a year before Charles’s wedding the Bentinck Dock was built, adding capacity to the existing Alexandra Dock.
Jane’s father Frederick was an ex sailor from Norwich, who in 1881 was publican of the London Tavern in Purfleet Street, Kings Lynn, across the road from the Customs House. [This address is now classified as 96 High Street]. The Kellys directories for 1875, 1888 and 1892 all list Frederick Armes as being landlord of the Sun Inn, Purfleet Street, so it seems that the pub’s name may have alternated between this and the London Tavern. Strangely the Sun Inn does not appear on the licence register list so the name changing may have been unofficial. By 1891 Frederick was no longer a publican but a dock worker. His son in law must have taken an interest in his career though and would later take up the profession himself. As far as we know Charles was still following his harness and saddle making career when he first moved to Kings Lynn and may have been working for established saddler George Coe. We do not know exactly where in Kings Lynn, Charles and Jane first lived, but it is possible that they moved to Gaywood very soon. If that is the case then it was probably by visiting them that Charles’s brother Henry William first met the Hornigold family.
In 1885, a year after their marriage Charles and Jane had a son Charles Herbert. Another son, Frederick Henry, was born two years later. Charles’s religious beliefs are unknown, but both Frederick Henry and a subsequent son Bertie Whitby were Wesleyan. Bertie’s unusual middle name was a surname from a few generations back on his mother’s side.
There has long been a tradition of circus visits to Kings Lynn, and these were always well publicised by newspaper articles and subsequent talk in the streets, shops and public houses. This ensured that all the townsfolk were aware of the impending event long before its commencement and Charles would undoubtedly have heard about it. It was customary for the circus to be pre-empted by a parade through the town so as to announce its arrival in style. Crowds gathered to watch the procession and catch a glimpse of clowns, acrobats and animals, either as a prelude to the show, or for the less well off, as an alternative to the circus itself.
In 1887 Ginnett’s circus came to town. The parade passed along Gaywood Road and past the Hob in the Well public house. A procession of animals from horses to bears had passed by, when the stars of the show came into view. The first elephant slowed and having seen the stream next to the Hob in the Well, tried to wade down to it for a drink. Unable to reach the water the elephant instead charged for the pub door. The crowd scattered, many of them losing drinks and hats in their haste to avoid the charging elephant. The elephant was kept under control with no more damage than a broken door and a few dislodged pieces of brick and plaster.
Charles Cobb may even have witnessed this event and it is certain that both he and his brother enjoyed Kings Lynn’s annual fair, known as the Mart. While still living at Thornham Henry William used to walk the twenty miles to Kings Lynn in order to see the Mart. Many years later he recalled that he would have a shilling with which he would buy a pint of beer, an ounce of tobacco, presumably something to eat, and still have some change to spend in the Mart itself.
The Mart took place as far back as King Johns reign. In the 13th and 14th century Lynn was the fourth biggest British port. Originally, from a charter in 1537 there were two fairs or marts; one in summer and one on the third day of February for 6 days. This changed to 14th February from 1752 when the new style calendar was adopted. All shops had to be shut and tradesman could take out a stall instead. No inflated prices were allowed. Frederick Savage was mayor of Lynn in 1889 and was also famous for his steam powered gallopers. Attractions at this time included fire eating, peep shows, shooting galleries and ghost shows.
On January 12th 1890 Henry William Cobb married Kerenhappuch Hornigold, known as Happy, at St Margaret’s church, Kings Lynn. Witnesses were Henrys brother Charles and their sister Julia. At the time of his wedding Henry William was living at Wyatt Street. There was a Model Lodging House in Wyatt Street and it was probably here that Henry William was living. The Model Lodging Houses were created as a place for people to stay in relatively safe and sanitary conditions, as opposed to some of the more squalid bedsits. When Henry William first moved to Kings Lynn he worked for a harness and saddle maker called George Coe. Henry William’s wife was from one of the fishing families of the tightly knit fishing community from the North End of Kings Lynn. Although things were beginning to change, many of their community did not mix with outsiders and some may have found her wedding to Henry William a little unusual. Henry William and Happy wasted no time in starting a family and a daughter Violet was born in Gaywood in 1890.
By 1891 Charles and Henry William were both living in Gaywood with their families. Henry William and Happy were living at 24 Garden Row. With them were young daughter Violet and mother in law, Peace Hornigold. Charles, Jane and youngsters Charles Herbert and Frederick Henry, were all living at Brick Yard. Charles was a harness maker, but not yet self-employed. This reinforces the likelihood that he worked for George Coe with his brother. Charles’ neighbours included Carter Hornigold, the brother of Henry William’s wife. Another neighbour was Thomas Lane, a dock labourer born in Babingley. With Thomas were his wife Mary and her mother Lucy Copeman, whose son Charles Christmas Copeman would marry Charles and Henry William’s sister Julia two years later.
In 1892 both brothers added another child to their family. Walter Percy was the son of Charles and Jane and William was the son of Henry William and Happy. A year later Henry William and Happy had another son named Harry.
Possibly influenced by his father in law, Charles became a pub landlord. For a few months in 1894, from 25th June until 14th October, he was the publican at the Fishermans Return in Pilot Street. There then seems to have been a year’s gap, during which time a son named Bertie Whitby was born in 1895. From 14th October 1895 until 4th January 1897 Charles was the publican of the Blue Lion at 68 Norfolk Street. The pub was more commonly referred to as The Hanging Chains as it had a “steelyard” projecting from the upper front wall. This was a counter balanced weighing arm which was once used to weigh bark which would then go to the tannery at Gaywood. The entire horse drawn cart would be lifted and weighed. This oddity was not removed until 1913 when it was dismantled and taken to the Greenland Fishing Museum in Kings Lynn.
Henry William and Happy had two more children; Gladys Helen born in 1896 and Charlie Frederick, born in 1898. While their family was expanding, sadly that was not the case for some in the town. In 1897 a typhoid outbreak killed 46 people in Kings Lynn and Gaywood.
1st August 1899 saw another circus incident that the Cobb brothers may have witnessed. Barnum and Bailey’s circus, which promoted itself as “the greatest show on earth” was in town. The pre-show parade of 40 horses pulling a large coach did not go to plan, probably because the organisers had not taken into account the sharp bends and narrow streets of the town. Early in the parade a horse became tangled in its reins and kicked its attendant, breaking the man’s leg. As the parade rounded the bend between Norfolk Street and Chapel Street the team of 40 horses were unable to make the turn and ran straight into the front of the Flower Pot tavern, breaking glass and wood panelling.
In the early 1900’s there were more than 180 licensed houses in Kings Lynn. This was partly due to an act passed in 1830, which allowed householders to sell beer and cider in return for a payment of two guineas to customs and excise. This changed in 1904 although compensation was offered to those who relinquished their licence. Frederick Armes seems to have left his pub a few years too soon with little to show for his time there. Charles Cobb may have been luckier. He may have stayed in Lynn for a while longer, but it was around this time that the family moved to a nearby village called Grimston. The village was good for Charles who diversified his business there over the next few years. He seems to have had an eye for business and his son Charles Herbert remembered him making boots. He would make a pair each for twenty or so men, who each paid for them weekly as they were being made until they were ready. As well as the business sense this also shows that Charles was able to make footwear as well as harnesses.
In 1901 Charles and his family were living at 50 Long Row, Grimston. Youngsters Frederick, Walter and Bertie Whitby were still living at home. Charles was now a self-employed saddle and harness maker, working from home. May Rudd, the soon to be wife of his son Charles Herbert, was living with her parents a few doors away from the Cobbs. Her father was a farmer and carter and may have been an influence on Charles later becoming a carter too.
Charles’s brother Henry William and his family were still at Gaywood, but now at 37 Farrow Buildings. They had recently had another daughter, Elsie, but mother in law Peace had died.
It is unlikely that Charles’s move to Grimston spoilt the brothers’ relationship as Grimston was only a few miles away from Gaywood. Charles and Henry William had always been close and this relationship was mirrored by two of their sons. Cousins Dick and Charles Herbert shared a love of gardening and vegetable growing as did Henry William.
Ten years later and little had changed, with both brothers seeming to prosper. Charles, Jane and son Frederick were still living at Grimston. Charles was a saddler and Frederick a commercial traveller. The 1912 Kelly’s directory shows that as well as being a saddler, Charles was also running a carrier service taking parcels from Grimston railway station to Congham and to Kings Lynn station every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. William Rudd, his son’s father in law, was no longer running a carrier service and it is possible that Charles had taken over that business. He was also steward at the Working Men’s Club.
Henry William and his family were still in Gaywood, in a property attached to the Ship Inn. When he had first moved to Kings Lynn, Henry William worked for Coe harness-makers in Norfolk Street, before setting up on his own. George Coe did well from his harness making, although the fact that he and his wife Amy never had children probably helped too. The 1901 census shows him “living on own means” in nearby Hunstanton, but in 1911 he is back in Gaywood as a retired harness maker, living not far from his former employee Henry William Cobb. It was probably at the start of his self- employment that Henry and his family moved into premises attached to the Ship Inn, which had both a home and a shop. Many years later their home and shop became Denny’s chip shop. When the building of a new Tesco’s required the pub to be demolished Denny’s chip shop stood firm and became a very narrow detached property. The census shows that William was a harness maker working for his father and that Violet was a self-employed dressmaker, working from home. Harry was an outfitters apprentice. The census also reveals that the property had 6 rooms, excluding bathroom, landing, shop, etc. This presumably meant that the family lived in four bedrooms with a kitchen and living room. Even if Violet conducted her business from one of the many outbuildings, living conditions must have been cramped with six, soon to be seven, children in the house. Son Richard, known as Dick, was born in Gaywood after the census had been taken. Dick developed polio at about four years of age.
Over the years Henry William took several steps to counter the cramped conditions and to provide for his family. The property had a range of single storey outbuildings in the yard at the back and Henry William built an upper storey on top of these which provided him with a workshop. This hybrid building looking like a wooden shack on top of a brick outbuilding was apparently not liked by the Avis family in the pub next door as it overlooked them. Like most rural families Henry William kept some livestock and grew vegetables. His allotment, known as “the garden” was home to a variety of flowers as well as vegetables. He even had a greenhouse in which he grew tomatoes [including the yellow variety] and a vine of black grapes. The grape vine was a cutting from the plants at Crimplesham Hall where his nephew Charles Herbert lived. That vine was in turn a cutting from Hampton Court. The greenhouse was heated by a pipe around the wall which distributed the heat from a fire in an adjoining “bunker”. The fire was used to burn the family’s rubbish. Henry William kept pigs, geese, ducks and chickens. The allotment remained productive and was only sold between the wars, when Henry William was much older and beginning to slow down.
Slowing down was not on his agenda in earlier life though and on occasions he was a skater in the winter months. Skating on the frozen fens had taken place for centuries, but in the latter part of the nineteenth century it rose in popularity. The National Skating Association was formed in 1879 at Cambridge and the top skaters became relatively famous. At local level the sport was taken up by men like Henry William and it was on a smaller scale. Prizes tended to be sides of meat from the butcher or cases of ale from the publican and the outcome would have been gambled on. Whilst there were prizes to be won, it was not a paid job.
On 9th January 1913 Henry William’s son William married Isabella Ashton, known as Bella. Very soon after marrying they emigrated to Australia.
Some time before the outbreak of World War one Charles and Jane moved to Crimplesham Lodge, close to Downham Market. They followed Frank Birch from Grimston to Crimplesham, as did Charles’s son Charles Herbert and his family and milkman Joe Jarvis. Charles Herbert’s daughter Jane didn’t move with them as she was about to start work at nearby Rougham Hall. In later years Jane’s sister, Chrissie was a frequent visitor to the family throughout their time at Crimplesham. Despite this move Charles Cobb is recorded as being the landlord of the Bushel Inn at Grimston in 1916, a position he had presumably held a little earlier.
The Birch family were quite illustrious. Francis Mildred Birch, known as Frank, was born in Hanover Square in London. His father was John William Birch who was governor of the Bank of England from 1879 until 1881. Frank married his first cousin Constance Julia Birch in 1907 thereby transforming his [deceased] uncle into his father in law! This gentleman was Henry Mildred Birch who at one time was the canon of Manchester. Frank and Constance married in the borough of Westminster in 1907 and two or three years later moved to The Paddocks in Grimston. This was a fifteen room property, which was just as well as the couple employed a nurse, a cook, a housemaid, a ladies maid and a nursery maid – all of whom lived on the premises – in order to look after themselves and their young daughter Ruby, who was born in 1909. Next door was Charles Cobb’s son Charles Herbert who was their gardener. Frank, who was a justice of the peace, was the parish clerk at Grimston for several years.
Before her marriage Constance and her mother and brother lived at Watlington Hall and shortly after her marriage she and her husband moved from Grimston to nearby Crimplesham Hall.
Crimplesham was not too far from Kings Lynn and the brothers would have remained close, but very soon more important matters would intervene – the outbreak of World War One.
Like all families the Cobb’s underwent many changes during the years after World War One. Despite the deaths of Harry and Gladys and the emigration of Willie they were coming to terms with Dick’s polio and with less children to feed were a little better off. The 1920’s saw an increase in popularity for holidays and family outings, which was perhaps partly due to a sense of relief at having survived the war. The Cobb family photographs show a host of days out. The summer of 1922 included family trips to Great Yarmouth, Sandringham Flower Show, Snettisham Beach, Heacham Beach, Hunstanton and Dersingham Common. The mode of transport is unclear and presumably a train was used for Yarmouth, but a van is seen in the background of some pictures and may have been used by the Cobb family. This may have belonged to Frank Birch, but been driven by Charles Cobb. Certainly both families feature in many of these pictures so Charles and Henry William obviously remained close.
Henry William’s business did quite well and twice a year he visited surrounding farms to repair harnesses. He had the Sandringham Estate contract for repair and maintenance, and took his son Dick with him; Dick was sometimes left playing with the children on the estate, including minor members of the royal families. A regular customer was Queen Maud of Norway, who always came to the shop in person. Maud was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the daughter of Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales. She married Prince Carl of Denmark, who was actually her cousin, at Buckingham Palace in 1896. In 1905 Sweden’s long standing union was dissolved and the throne was offered to Prince Carl who then became King Haakon. He and Queen Maud made many visits to England, staying at Appleton House, on the Sandringham Estate, which was a wedding gift to the couple from Maud’s father.
The late 1920’s was not a happy time for the brothers. Henry William’s daughter Violet died of a bee sting in 1927. A year later Charles wife Jane died on 16th April 1928 at Crimplesham. Charles outlived her by several years and died on 26th February 1939, also at Crimplesham. Throughout his life Charles walked with a stick and had a slight limp, but the cause of this is unknown – it was almost certainly the result of an accident in his younger days.
Henry William and Happy survived a few years longer than Charles and Jane. Happy died on 13th March 1947 at the age of 81. Henry William died two years later on 31st January 1949.