Charles and George Pettifer – builders

Charles Pettifer married Elizabeth Hawks in the summer of 1847. They were both born in Bampton in Oxfordshire and they set up home in the village at a house in Lavender Square where they were living at the time of the 1851 census. Isn’t that a lovely address – Lavender Square? I bet it’s all quaintly Cotswoldy now. In 1851 there was probably no running water, the privy was at the bottom of the garden and it was cold and damp.

Charles and Elizabeth first appear in Swindon on the 1871 census. Charles had previously worked as a cordwainer (a shoemaker) but once he arrived in Swindon he states that his occupation was that of a mason. That might sound like an astonishing career change, but as his father was a stonemason I’m guessing he had learned the trade alongside him. In 1871 Charles and Elizabeth were living with their two sons George 23, a bricklayer and Alfred 17, a bricklayer’s labourer, at 2 Eastcott Lane.

For a description of this amazing photograph visit the flickr page, Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Charles had already set up in business by then and in 1875 he was joined by George. In the early days the Pettifers worked almost exclusively at the top end of Victoria Road, then called Victoria Street North. In 1872 they built houses and a workshop in that area and in 1877 they built a house, stable and workshop on the corner of Victoria Street North and King John Street and several cottages in Albert Street.

They continued in partnership until around 1881. Charles died in 1889 and was buried in grave plot E8304 on October 14.

George married Ruth Hill, a widow, in 1884. They were married for thirteen years when George died in 1897. They do not appear to have had any children. Ruth married again in 1900. Her third husband was George Popjoy, a joiner, so possibly a colleague of her second husband, George Pettifer. Ruth died on May 11, 1905 and was buried with George Pettifer (her second husband) in grave plot D33.

You might also like to read:

William Crombey – builder

James Spackman – a well-known builder and contractor

Job Day – Clerk of the Works