Search my many thousands of pubs and London history
Abingdon index
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Berkshire. The Berkshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
Plasterers Arms, 39 West St Helens Street, Abingdon - circa 1925
Kindly provided by Andy Greenaway
My grandfather Richard Charles COX lived at 44 West St Helens Street up to 1951 and had the charabanc photo on his mantelpiece. He and his three brothers are all in the photo. He died in 1980 but prior to that was able to name just about everyone in the photo and I have a list of the names. Amongst them was Nibby Parsons the Landlord of the Plasterers Arms and Bill Henley the Landlord of the seven stars. *
Residents at this address
George BOWERMAN (the first Landlord and probably the person who set up the
Pub) was my great, great, great, great grandfather. He was a Plasterer and
Slatter. At the age of 66, in 1839 he is first recorded as being at the
Plasterers Arms in Robson's directory. After his death in 1847 his son David
takes over the pub, he's also a Plasterer and Slatter in 1841 census.
In 1851 census George's wife Catherine is living in the Almhouses at St
Helen's church, and is described a 'formerly victualler' she dies in 1858. *
1840/George Bowerman/../../../Robsons Directory ***
1844/George Bowerman/../../../Pigots Directory ***
1847/George Bowerman/../../../Post Office Directory ***
1852/David Bannerman/../../../Slaters Directory ***
1851/David Bowerman/Victualler and Plasterer/44/Abingdon, Berks/Census ***
1851/Mary Bowerman/Wife/48/Culham, Oxon/Census
1851/Richd Bowerman/Son, Scholar/14/Culham, Oxon/Census
1851/Clarissa Bowerman/Niece, House Servant/32/Bicester, Oxon/Census
1854/David Bowerman/../../../Billings Directory ***
1863/James Ricketts/../../../Duttons Directory ***
1864/J Ricketts/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1868/James Ricketts/../../../Casseys Directory ***
1871/James Ricketts/Carpenter & Licensed Victualler/39/Abingdon,
Berkshire/Census
1871/Elizth Ricketts/Wife/47/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1871/Chas Ricketts/Son/13/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1871/James Ricketts/Son/7/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1871/Elizth Ricketts/Daughter, Pupil Teacher/15/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1871/Sarah Ricketts/Daughter/10/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1877/William Edwards/../../../Harrods Directory ***
1881/Thomas Enoch/Carpenter & Publican/45/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Hannah Maria Enoch/Wife/45/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Willie Thos Enoch/Son, Laborer Boy/16/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Walter Enoch/Son, Turner & Fitter/14/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Kate Enoch/Daughter/13/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Tom Enoch/Son/10/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1881/Charles Henry Enoch/Son/8/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1887/John Yates/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1891/William Higgs/Carpenter & Joiner/47/Abingdon, Berks/Census ***
1891/Amey Higgs/Wife, Licensed Victualler/48/Thrupp, Abingdon, Berks/Census
1891/Kate Higgs/Daughter/14/Blewbury, Berks/Census
1891/Charlotte Mildred Higgs/Daughter, Scholar/7/Blewbury, Berks/Census
1891/William Thomas Higgs/Son, Scholar/5/Shillingford, Oxon/Census
1891/Harry Stanley Higgs/Son/3/Warborough, Oxon/Census
1891/Tom Rowland Higgs/Son/1/Dorchester, Oxon/Census
1899/George William Enock/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1901/George W Enock/Landlord of Public House/33/Dean Court, Berkshire/Census
1901/Catherine Enock/Wife/36/Coxford/Census
1901/Daisy E Enock/Daughter/13/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1901/Edith A Enock/Daughter/11/Abingdon, Berkshire/Census
1907/George William Enock/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1920/Mrs Catherine Enock/../../../Kellys Directory ***
Daisy E ENOCK, the daughter of the landlord (in 1901) George William ENOCK,
married a John O WELLS in 1915, John dies in 1922 and then in 1924 Daisy
remarries Claude Sinclair PARSONS. Additional info Daisy E Parsons (nee
Enock) died in 1926 aged 38 just 2 years after marrying Claude Sinclair
Parson. As Daisy is in the photograph this death helps date it to c1925.
So I think the J WILLS landlord in 1924 is probably a mis recording in
Kelly's and should be J WELLS.
It looks like the ENOCK 'family' kept the licence for over 30 years between
1899 and 1931
In 1911 census Catherine ENOCK is the landlady and a widow, aged 47, born in
Oxford, she has her single daughter Edith Annie aged 21, born Abingdon
living with her.
1924/J Wills (Wells)/../../../Kellys Directory
1928/Claude Sinclair Parsons/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1931/Claude Sinclair Parsons/../../../Kellys Directory ***
In 1939, there is a Claude S Parsons, a barman, at the Langston Arms Hotel,
in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. He was born in February, 1883. Claude's
will in 1964 went to a widow Hilda Irene COX (1888-1972). Hilda was Claude's
sister. *
* Provided By Mark Cox
*** Provided By Colin Ager