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Stoke Row Census Return 1891

Parish of Ipsden

Night of Sunday, 5 April 1891

A book on the history of this village, called Dipping into the Wells, is available; details here.

Notes on the Stoke Row 1891 Census

I apologise for the number of ? marks on this page, but of all the twelve censuses that I have typed up (for both Stoke Row and adjacent Highmoor), this has definitely been the most illegible.  This is largely due to the fact that the checker has scored through almost all the ages and the handwriting of the enumerator is appalling!  Fortunately, I know the names of many of the residents and of the places they came from, sometimes checking them against a gazetteer.

In this last census there were three extra columns, entitled Employer, Employed and (I think) Whether Employee is not employed.  Unfortunately, the photocopies I were sent were also very poor quality and some of the illegibility is due to this.  I did not have space to include these, so if needed, the originals, in the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies, should be referred to.

As always, it is not clear which residence is where, but I submit the following notes from my own knowledge:

No 10: John Wheeler was publican of 'The Oak' public house at the top of Stoke Row Hill.

No 12: 'Hawthorne House' is now called 'Clayhill', at the top of Stoke Row Hill, next to 'The Oak'.

Nos 16 and 17 were probably Nos 1 & 2 Rosetree Cottages.

No 23: Probably the Police House, now known as 'Coggins Cottage' after the late police Sgt Coggins.

No 39: Is probably Stag Farm in Newlands Lane.

No 43: Was a cottage named after its owner, Mr Smallbones, at the foot of Newnham Hill.  It is now known by the Latin version of that name, as it is owned by a married couple who are both doctors.

No 59: Manor House (now the old Farm House).

No 61: Heath Farm is now called Ipsden Heath Farm.

No 62: Although this is not stated, Mr Hewitt was not only a blacksmith but is probably the Wellkeeper.

No 53: West End.  This was the first name for the house which very soon afterwards and for a long time was known as 'The Rest'.  For a few years it was called 'Bodgers' and now is known as 'Virginia Cottage'.  It is opposite the Rectory.

No 71: This school was at Basset Manor on the Checkendon/Uxmoor Road.  I note that Harry B Morris, at the age of 24 is a Mineral Water Manufacturer!  He is also marked in the 'unemployed' column!

No 73: Burncote (sometimes written Berncote).  John Messenger was a publican as well as a woodcutter, and ran a beerhouse called 'The Jockey'.  See Stoke Row: Pubs for details and photographs.

No 75: Grocer's Shop.  Edward Adams ran this shop which is thought to have been at the side of 'The Jockey', where there was also a bakery.

No 76: I think this woman's occupation was 'charwoman' (domestic cleaner, from the Indian word 'Char', meaning tea).

No 79: William Higgs.  There is a photo of this man, with long beard, beside an old-fashioned lorry, hauling timber, in the Stoke Row: Woods file.

Nos 85/86: Nuthatch.  This is the area on which Council houses were built.  It is as one enters Checkendon, at the top of the slope.

No 87: 'Boydes'.  Unfortunately, I have absolutely no idea where this property lies.

No 91: 'The Grove'.  This is the large detached house, opposite the Maharajah's Well.  The owner's name is believed to be a Mr Voss, who ran the Plant and Flower Nursery there.

There were 90 inhabited properties: 224 males, 214 females = total pop: 438 (inc visitors and boarding pupils).

Angela Spencer-Harper.  February, 2002.