My Grandfather Frank martin was a baker and confectioner, in the 1901 census he had a bakery shop in Chaxhill, has anyone any idea where this bakery was also if the building still exists. Thanks

I guess this is the Census entry referred to,

GR 1901 Census, Westbury on Severn, Chax Hill Shop,

Frank MARTIN, Head, S, 21, Baker,
Harriet, Sister, S, 23, Housekeeper,
Wallace, Bro, S, 17, Baker,
Ernest, Bro, S, 25, Insurance Agent,

All b. Glos. Blaisdon

The progression of the Census is:-

61 Walmore Hill School
62 ditto
63 Walmore Hill Farm
64 Chax Hill Lodge, Israel STEPHENS, Gardener.
65 Chax Hill House
66 Chax Hill, The Laurels (Laurel Villa?)
67 Chax Hill Shop, Frank MARTIN + brothers and sister.

Enough of these can be seen on this map to identify the westward route,

http://maps.nls.uk/view/101453430

The BNA Gloucester Journal – Saturday 20 October 1900 reported the trial of Edward DAVIES and Christopher ROGERS for housebreaking at the home of Israel STEPHENS, Chaxhill Lodge. One witness was:-

………… Wallace MARTIN whose house is about three minutes’ walk from Chaxhill Lodge, said that on the morning of 5th September he saw the two prisoners outside his brother’s shop. They asked witness for some bread and afterwards went in the direction of Mr STEPHEN’s house……………….

Putting all this together perhaps the MARTINS’ shop was one of the buildings a little to the west of Laurel Villa. I have no idea if it survived but a check of Google Streetview might show something.

Thanks for the information about Chaxhill bakery and Frank Martin, it was very useful. I dont know how long he had the bakery shop in Chaxhill as the 1911 census shows he was a baker and confectioner living in Ashperton.

The BNA has a number of references to MARTIN, Chaxhill which likely refer to the family. They are mostly small ads where they are looking for staff (1901), discontinuing Christmas boxes (1903), advertising flour (1904) or announcing the birth of a daughter (1904). The last two are 22/10/1904 (where they are selling a horse) and 28/11/1904 (where they are seeking information about the disappearance of two ewes from Walmore Hill. There are no more references after this although the publications seem to be covered in later years.

There is also this from the Gloucester Citizen – Monday 16 July 1906

CONFECTIONERS – Young Man seeks Re-engagement; well up in everything, piping, fancies etc. SHEEN, Chaxhill, Nr, Newnham, Glos.

Perhaps he was employed by the MARTINs and was without a post when they left?

He may have landed on his feet though,

GR 1911 Census, Chaxhill

Arthur Livingstone SHEEN, Head, 25, Mar, Bread and Cake Baker, b. Westbury Glos
Beatrice, Wife, 22, Mar, Assisting in business, Bickley Glos

Less than 1 year married, no children, 4 rooms.

Frank Martin seems to have moved quite a few times, I know my Aunt Gladys was born in 1904 in Chaxhill, then another Aunt Ethel was born somewhere in Glos in 1906 have not found where, another Aunt was born in Ashperton on 1908. My Father was born in Alyburton in 1912, I know they lived in High Street, Aylburton but dont know the house number, I do wonder if Frank had another Bakery in that area before moving to Newport about 1920. The Martin family lived in Blaisdon Mill, Bridge House where they were Millers.

There certainly was a baker named Frank MARTIN in Victoria Street, Gloucester in 1906:-

BNA Gloucestershire Echo – Tuesday 20 February 1906,

GLOUCESTER COUNTY COURT

William Thomas WITCOMB sued Frank MARTIN, Victoria Street, Gloucester, for £2 8s 4d for coal supplied and loss of services of a horse hired………… Plaintiff’s evidence was to the effect that he sold a load of coal to defendant and lent him a horse to assist in delivering bread…………….

Perhaps a period in Gloucester around 1906 and this was where Ethel was born?

GR Births:-

LYDIA ETHEL
Last Name MARTIN
Birth Year 1906
Gender Female
Mother's Maiden Name
Year 1906
Country England
County Gloucestershire
Event Quarter 3
District GLOUCESTER
District Number
Volume 6A
Page 323
Entry Number
Line Number 231

Glos BMD:-

Child Surname Child Forename Father Surname Mother Surname Mother's Former Name Year District Office Register Entry
MARTIN Lydia Ethel MARTIN MARTIN STAITE 1906 Gloucester Gloucester, St John the Baptist 33 348

Groom Surname Groom Forename Bride Surname Bride Forename District Parish Building Year Register Entry
MARTIN Frank STAITE Amy Beatrice Gloucester Gloucester Register Office 1903 18 127

Thanks for that very interesting information about Frank Martin, it answers the question where he was living in 1906 and where my Aunty Ethel was born.