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The Later History of
Clevedon - - - extracts from the 1897
Directory and Guide Book for Clevedon The history of Clevedon as a town commences only in the
present century. The manor of Clevedon came into the possession of John Digby,
Earl of Bristol, and of that family, it was purchased in 1710, by Abraham Elton,
afterwards first baronet of that name. Clevedon Court the residence of the Elton
family is an Edward the 2nd mansion altered in the reign of Elizabeth, but much
of the 14th century work remains. The present Baronet's tastes have developed
themselves in an artistic pottery known as the Elton Ware and the kiln and
workshops form a not un-picturesque part of the adjacent outhouses and woodyard. Mr Abraham Elton was descended from the family of the
Eltons of the Hazels, Ledbury, and Herefordshire. He was sheriff of Bristol in
1702, and Mayor in 1710. Was sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1716, was created a
Baronet in 1717, and was afterwards chosen Member of Parliament for Bristol. He married Mary, daughter of Robert Jefferies, Esq. of Pile
Green in the county of Gloucester, by whom he had three sons and two daughters,
of whom the eldest son, Abraham, succeeded to the Baronetcy, While Sir Abraham
was an Alderman, and Mayor of Bristol, and dying in 1761, unmarried, the
Baronetcy devolved on his youngest brother, Abraham Isaac; the other brother,
Jacob, having been killed in a sea fight in 1745, leaving no issue. Sir Abraham
Isaac was his son, the Revd Sir Abraham Elton, MA, succeeded town clerk of
Bristol and after his death. Who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Durbin,
Knt., by whom he had issue three sons and one daughter, Julia Maria [married in
1807 to Henry Hallam the historian]. Lady
Elton dying in 1822 Sir
Abraham married secondly Mary, daughter of William Stuart, of Castle Stuart in
the county of Wigtown N.B. Sir Abraham dying in 1842 was succeeded by his eldest son,
Charles Abraham, who was a Captain in the 4th Infantry, and afterwards a Lt-Col
of the Somerset Militia, He married
Sarah, daughter of Joseph Smith Esq. of Bristol by whom he had issue of five
sons and eight daughters. The two
eldest sons, Abraham and Charles, were drowned at Weston-super-Mare, in 1819,
being overwhelmed and carried away by the rising tide whilst attempting to cross
from Birnbeck Island to the Mainland. [See the memorial tablet in St. Andrew's
Church] 3:-Arthur Hallam Elton [the late Baronet]
4:-Edmund William, married first, Lucy Maria, daughter of Revd John
Morgan Rice, by whom he had issue, Edmund Harry [of Firwood Clevedon]; Mrs Elton
died in 1846. Mr Elton married secondly, Clementine Sandryk of Florence, by whom
he had issue two daughters, Mina Antoinetta Beatrice, and Alma Marion; he died
in 1859 Sir Charles Elton died in 1853, and was succeeded by Sir Arthur Hallam
Elton, seventh Baronet of the line. Sir Arthur bore a commission in the 14th
Infantry from 1836 to 1841 when he married Rhoda Susan daughter of the late
James Willis Esq. of Hampton Court Palace, and widow of Captain James Baird,
15th Hussars, by whom he had issue 1- Octavia Maria who died in infancy, 2- Laura Beatrice (married George Louis Mock Gibbs Esq. of
Belmont in this county) 3- Mary Agnes (married her cousin Edmund Harry Elton), and
had issue two sons and three daughters. Lady Elton died November 1st, 1873. Sir
Arthur married secondly Eliza daughter of the late Edward Anstice Stradling, and
widow of the Revd William Mathias, incumbent of Burtle Somerset, who died
January 5th 1884. Sir Arthur Hallam Elton died October 14th 1843, and was
succeeded by his nephew Edmund Harry Elton who was educated at Bradford College
and Jesus College Cambridge, married in 1868 his cousin Mary Agnes the second
daughter of Sir Arthur Hallam Elton, and has issue Ambrose born 1869, Kathleen
Agnes Rhoda, Winifred Lucy, Bernard Arthur, and Angela Mary.
Sir Edmund Elton is J.P. for the county of Somerset, and
Major of the 9th battery 1st Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery. [Sir Edmund Elton died and many of the farms had to be
sold and some of the other property, in order to pay the death duties on the
Estate. He was succeeded by Sir Ambrose Elton who had two sons Arthur &
Ralph. On the death of Sir Ambrose again many of the remaining properties had to
be sold. When Sir Arthur Elton died in the 70's this meant that the properties
which were left after death duties; had to be sold to raise enough money to
endow the Court House etc. so that the National Trust would take over and run
Clevedon Court. Sir Charles Elton the present Baronet lives in London. The
Dowager Lady Elton, Lady Margaret, lives at Clevedon Court in a flat. She too,
is very interested in the history of Clevedon, although more particularly the
Elton Family.] At the commencement of the present century (1800) Clevedon
consisted of only a few farm houses and cottages, which were built on the road
from the court to the Old Church (where lie buried the remains of the Hallam
family, the historian, his wife, daughter, and two sons) part of which is now
generally termed the village. The entire population in 1801 was only 334, ten
years later it was 455; and in 1821 the number was 581. During the next decade the town began to grow more
rapidly, and the population nearly doubled in 1831, being 1147. The need for
another church now being felt, Christ Church was built by a voluntary
subscription; Lady Elton, laid the foundation stone on May 9th 1838, and the
church was consecrated on August 3rd 1839. It is built in the early English
style, consisting of nave, chancel and tower, which forms a very conspicuous
landmark that can be seen for miles. In 1841 the population had increased to 1741. In 1851 the
population had increased to 2,000 Sir Arthur H Elton built the public hall in 1853; it was
greatly enlarged and improved in 1879. The Congregational or Independent Chapel
was built in 1855. It is a very handsome structure in the Early English style,
and accommodates 500 persons. All Saint's Church was consecrated on Nov. 1st All
Saints' Day], 1860. It was built and endowed by the late Lady Elton, Sir A.H.
Elton's first wife. It is a cruciform edifice in the decorated style, consisting
of nave, chancel, north and south aisles, transepts, porch, and tower,
surmounted by a spire. The church is very rich in coloured glass windows, it
accommodates from three to four hundred persons, it is open daily for private
prayer, and all the sittings are free. The sewerage works were completed in 1865; the cost was
approx. 5,346. Pounds Additional works were constructed in 1875 at a further
cost of 1,425 pounds. The Clevedon
Water-works were opened in 1867, the pumping station is near the National
Schools, and the Reservoir is situated at the top of Park Road, under Dial Hill
at an elevation of about 220feet above the pumping station. In this century
there were signs that the borehole, which had been sunk, could not cope with the
influx of people into Clevedon and so a new one was sunk at Tickenham Road, and
a new pumping station was built there also. [This is still standing today and is
now used as a Bristol Water Co. depot and works station.] In order to
accommodate places, which the main reservoir could not supply, a smaller one has
been erected on the top of Dial Hill, one of the highest points in Clevedon, and
from which any building site can be supplied. In 1868 the Village Hall Institution was opened for the
benefit of the working classes. It provides a reading room and lending Library
(with a separate room for games,) for the use of members on payment of a small
annual or weekly subscription. A room has been built in connection with the
Institution, available for lectures, meetings, etc. A new pier head was erected
in 1893, and opened by Lady Elton, Mr G.N. Abernethy, engineer to the Local
Board, being engaged to carry out the work. The new head is 100 feet long and 50
feet wide, and is capable of taking the impact of a steamer without any shock to
the promenade portion; the pier is now 840 feet long and 18 feet wide. It forms
a pleasant promenade, and a good sea breeze can be always obtained at the pier
head. The Market was opened in the same year. It is a handsome
structure, well situated in the middle of the town, and is well supplied. St.
Mary's Church was consecrated on Nov. 3rd 1870. This church is the restoration
of a ruined edifice, dedicated to St. Paul, of which only the ruined tower and a
potion of the East Wall remained standing. The time at which the church fell
into disuse is not known, but long after it became a complete ruin the
churchyard was the burying place of the poor of Walton-in-Gordano [to which
parish the church belonged. The settlement at Walton St. Mary was originally
known as Stoke-super-Mare, there is archaeological evidence of early settlement
in the general area with Beaker type inhumations found at 2 points when the
modern houses were built at the start of the 1880's] People were interred here
as late as the commencement of the present century.
The greater part of the old tower and some remains of the east wall are
utilized in the present building. The church will accommodate about 300 persons.
The belfry contains 4 bells; in 1871 the population was 4,091 The Cottage Hospital was opened in 1874, accommodates 8
patients, and is supported by voluntary contributions. St. John's Church was
consecrated 30th April 1878. Sir A.H.Elton built this church to the memory of
his wife, dame Rhoda Susan Elton who died Nov. 1st 1873. It is in the Early
Decorated style, consisting of nave and chancel, north and south aisles, and
transepts. It will accommodate 500 persons. All seats are free and
un-appropriated. We have thus given the leading features of the history and
growth of Clevedon from a few cottages in the early part of the present century,
to the handsome and well-built town of some 5,500 inhabitants in 1891.
Everywhere buildings are in the course of construction, and signs of rapid
progress are apparent. End of Guide Book. |