Littlebury’s trade directory of 1879 has an entry for a Mrs W. Wood (milliner) at number 39 Friar Street. Note that house numbering was different back then and this equates to the northern part of the present day number 42. This account begins at that point with our subject married, with a family (ranging from a baby in arms to grown up offspring) and already an established Worcester business-woman. That is how she first came to the attention of of Tudor House Museum. From that starting point her humble origins in the south-west counties of England have been discovered as too has her ignominious end in a Worcester suburb.
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The Cottryl family are inextricably linked to the Tudor history of Friar Street in general and Tudor House in particular. We have definitive records of several generations of Cottryls being present dating back as far as the reign of Henry VIII and extending to beyond the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. John Cottryl lived at around the time that the current half-timbered building was erected. This makes him a very strong candidate for having had a hand in its construction and maybe even living in it too.
Elinor Shipway died in July 1760 at the age of 65. The closest of her family had preceded her to the grave but her will suggests she still had the comfort of her extended family. She had helped establish the Cross Keys Tavern and, with her husband, had seen its expansion. This, the final instalment of Elinor’s involvement with what is now Tudor House museum, sets the scene for the next stage of the history of the Cross Keys.
After the death of Thomas Shipway Elinor lived another 8 years. She finally passed away in July 1760, having reach the age of 65. She outlived two husbands, two sons and a number of siblings. She was buried in St Helen’s in the same grave as her two Nicholas’s – son and husband
The Cross Keys Tavern had expanded during the 1740s. Elinor, husband Thomas and her son from her first marriage, Nicholas Ley, combined the running of the tavern with the Shipway building activities. All was going well but one by one, those close to Elinor were to leave her
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.
Elinor has re-married, now being Mistress Shipway and born another son. Things seem to be looking up for her. She and Thomas Shipway have acquired property in Friar street and seem to be combining construction with brewing. Things are not all plain sailing though.
Elinor is now a single parent, widowed at the age of just 30. Of how she got by there is no record. There is no evidence that she was supported by the parish church of St Helen’s. Elinor did not have to struggle on as a single mother for too long though, as in 1728 she re-married.
Elinor had married Nicholas Ley in 1723 a man at least ten years older than her and by trade a “victualler”. Last week we suggested he might have taken over the running of the Cross Keys Tavern after the death of Elinor’s father, George