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This pub is believed to have been established before 1623. ***
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Six Bells, St Michaels, St Albans, Hertfordshire - circa 1920 - 1925
In the photo is Edith Linney (the wife of Walter Andrew Linney), their two children (Hilda May Linney and Cyril Walter Linney), and the family dog.
Kindly provided by Philip Ward
Six Bells, 16-18 St Michaels Street, St Albans - in June 2008
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address
1851/Thomas Deacon/Maltster/60/Aldenham, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Ann Deacon/Wife/59/Anbury, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Mary A Deacon/Daughter, Straw Worker/31/Gadsden, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Sarah Deacon/Daughter, Straw Worker/24/Hempstead, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Amelia Hosier/Daughter, Straw Worker/27/Gadsden, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Sarah Hosier/Grand Daughter/10 months/St Michaels, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/Naomi Deacon/Grand Daughter/7/St Michaels, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/John Wilson/Brother, Ag Labourer, Widow/50//Census
1851/George Freeman/Servant, Ag Labourer/20/St Michaels, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/John Hanwell/Servant, Ag Labourer/18/Hempstead, Hertfordshire/Census
1851/William Butler/Lodger, Tailor/38/Hempstead, Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Thomas Deacon/Publican/69/Watford, Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Ann Deacon/Wife/68/Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Mary A Deacon/Daughter, Hat Sewer/41/Great Gaddesden,
Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Sarah Deacon/Daughter, Hat Sewer/33/Leverstock Green,
Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Naomi Deacon/Grand Daughter, Hat Sewer/17/Leverstock Green,
Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Mehala Norwood/Grand Daughter, Hat Maker/14/St Albans,
Hertfordshire/Census
1861/William Butler/Lodger, Tailor/48/St Pancras, Middlesex/Census
1861/Robert Brown/Lodger, Ag Labourer/54/Hertfordshire/Census
1861/James Roe/Lodger, Ag Labourer/39/St Albans, Hertfordshire/Census
1861/Jesse Dudley/Lodger, Ag Labourer/18/St Albans, Hertfordshire/Census
1866/Thomas Hosier/../../../Post Office Directory
1871/Thomas Hosier/Blocker & Publican/47/Abbots Langley,
Hertfordshire/Census
1871/Amelia Hosier/Wife/45/Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire/Census
1871/Sarah Hosier/Daughter, Dressmaker/20/St Michaels, Hertfordshire/Census
1871/Thomas Hosier/Son, Clerk in Clearing House/16/St Michaels,
Hertfordshire/Census
1871/Annie Hosier/Daughter/13/St Michaels, Hertfordshire/Census
1881/Thomas Hosier/Licensed Victualler/59/Abbots Langley, Hertford/Census
1881/Amelia Hosier/Wife/56/Great Gaddesden, Hertford/Census
1881/Sarah Hosier/Daughter, Dressmaker/28/St Albans, Hertford/Census
1881/Annie Hosier/Daughter, Dressmaker/23/St Michaels, Hertford/Census
1882/Thomas Hosier/../../../Post Office Directory
1886/Thomas Hosier/../../../Post Office Directory
1890/Edward Parkins/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Edward Parkins/Licensed Victualler/46/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Emma Parkins/Wife/50/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Alfred J Parkins/Son, Plumbers Labourer/18/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Florence H Parkins/Daughter/16/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Robert E Parkins/Son/13/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Sarah E Parkins/Son/11/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Arthur W Parkins/Daughter/9/St Albans, Herts/Census
1891/Ernest Parkins/Daughter/7/St Albans, Herts/Census
1901/William Stanley/Publican/38/Lambeth/Census
1901/Lucy Stanley/Wife/28/Wandsworth/Census
1901/Beatrice Copplestone/Domestic Servant/18/Luton, Beds/Census
1902/James Wm Spencer/../../../Kellys Directory
1908/Mrs Elizh Brackley/../../../Kellys Directory
1912/Mrs Elizh Brackley/../../../Post Office Directory
1922/Arthur Titmus/../../../Post Office Directory
My great-grandfather,Walter Andrew Linney, is listed as one of the previous
publicans of the Six Bells in St. Albans.
The photo above, circa 1920 - 1925 shows Edith Linney (the wife of Walter
Andrew Linney), their two children (Hilda May Linney and Cyril Walter Linney),
and the family dog.
I believe Walter came to be publican after the previous publican, Arthur
Titmus, moved to London and put in a good word for him with the owner /
brewery. Arthur and Walter were related by marriage; Arthur was married to
Elizabeth 'Lizzie' Titmus (nee Peters), the sister of Edith Linney (nee
Peters). In fact, the rest of the Peters family, originally from Luton,
lived around the corner from the pub in Blacksmiths Lane.
There is a family tradition that Walter's tenure at the pub ended on or
around D-Day 1944, as the van they were expecting to help them with the move
was requisitioned by the army at the last minute.
Walter and Edith are both buried at Holy Trinity Frogmore (outside St.
Albans). Members of the family still live around the city. *
1926/Walter Andrew Lilley/../../../Post Office Directory
1929/Walter A Linney/../../../Post Office Directory
1933/Walter A Linney/../../../Post Office Directory
1937/Walter A Linney/../../../Post Office Directory
* Provided By Philip Ward
** Provided By Stephen Harris