Introduction
Elinor and Thomas Shipway are by 1731 most probably living at number 40 Friar street. Not content with just this they now embark on a period of expansion buying or leasing adjoining property.
Growing the Business
Shortly before brother William’s death in 1744 Thomas extends his portfolio of property by buying number 36. He obtains it from one “John Lilly glover’s widow Catherine”. It cost him just £10. So number 36 was either:
- considerably smaller than number 40
- he only bought part of the building
- it was for leasehold not freehold
- the house was in a very poor condition
Other researchers on the history of the Tudor House museums have concluded that the Cross Keys Tavern occupied numbers 40, 38 and 36 at around this time. Our research appears to confirm this and it may well have been Thomas Shipway who instigated the expansion.
In 1741 he acquired the lease of number 38 from the governors of King Edward VI Grammar School, Stourbridge. Maps from the end of the 19th century show number 38 as being a very simple and small one up/on down dwelling. The same maps also suggest number 40 included land directly behind number 38 abutting number 36.
Expanding Downwards
If you are lucky enough to go down into the cellar below number 40 you will be presented by a fine brick lined edifice. There are also a number of half-barrel shaped, brick-line niches built into the walls. The cellar itself extends beyond the line of the building frontage and under the street beyond. This under-mining would have allowed barrels to have been easily loaded into and out of the cellar.
Dating has not been done on the brickwork but it is clearly not original to the 1554 build date of the house. The cellar of the adjoining number 42 are lined with local sandstone and are assumed to predate the current building itself. It may well turn out to be a Victorian cellar but it is also possible that it is an 18th century conversion. If the latter is true then one can well imagine it to have been the work of Thomas himself.
Financing the Deals
In November 1743 Thomas Shipway does a deal that involves the sum of £70 with a man called Thomas Marshall. This may have been a mortgage either to cover the expense of buying the various houses or a £70 loan secured on said properties.
The Benefits of Property
Thomas Shipway was able to use the fact that he was now a property owner to good effect. He became eligible to vote, satisfying the three criteria of the age:
- being male
- over 21 years old
- owning property or land
Because of this he was able to vote in on at least two occasions – 1741 and 1747. The poll book for 1747 shows that “Thomas Shipway, mason, of St Helens” voted. The poll books even tell how he voted. We will not reveal information on how he voted, however, respecting his privacy here at least. It was not until the general election of 1868 that secret ballets were introduced in this country.
Read Part Five: Stormy TimesRead Part Seven: All Alone