Research Forum

I would agree with you - Looking at the original picture  and comparing it with Google Street View  there are a couple of cottages on Hill Road which look promising.  In 1911  a GALLOP family was at Church View Cottage, Dundry which might be worth following up.

Thank you Pat. I know that I need to get to Somerset Archives to investigate but it is a bit of a trek for me.

I agree that JOHN and EMILY GALLOP family at Church View Cottage, Hill Road, appear the best bet. Certainly the photo looks very much like that property on Google Maps. I am reasonably sure that both were there in the 1920's as both died at Dundry in 1935. However if the photo was take about mid 1920's then EMILY would have been about 70. All their children moved away but I think that LENA, who married in Plymouth in 1922, may have returned to Dundry sometime after marriage as she was at the cottage in the 1939 survey. However her married name was HOBBS so it is unlikely that she was running the tea garden in view of its name.

The reason I am hoping that someone can help further is that nearby is another GALLOP family headed by ALFRED and LILLIAN. They were married in 1915 at Dundry and in the 1939 survey are shown living at Brandon House, The Steps, which is at the rear of Church View House. LILLIAN would have been about 30 in the mid 1920's and seems to me a more likely person to be running a tea garden. Both properties were at the top of The Steps - a common route for walkers from Highridge Common and Bishopsworth. I suppose it could have been a joint enterprise by both families.

John's probate record lists his address as Hill View so I think this is certainly the location of the Tea Gardens. I think John and Emily were involved in the running of Tea Garden once John retired in 1926.

There is a report on their Golden Wedding Anniversary on p13, Western Daily Press, Saturday, November 12, 1927:

“Golden Wedding. On November 8, 1877, Mr and Mrs John Gallop were married at the Parish Church of St. Michael's, Dundry, by the late Rev. Charles W. Boutflower (vicar). On Tuesday last they celebrated their golden wedding. Mr and Mrs John Gallop are highly respected in the parish and a large number of relatives and friends partook of tea, at their home, The Tea Gardens, Dundry, the handsome wedding cake being the gift of the children. Mr John Gallop who has reached the age of 75, and his wife, 72, are both in excellent health. Mr J. Gallop, who was born in Dundry, was formerly employed the Long Ashton District Council as a roadman for 40 years, only retiring from active service a year ago. He is a lover of the garden and is still able to do most of his garden duties. Five children survive, two sons and three daughters. One son, Herbert John, enlisted in the 1st Life Guards and has seen 12 years' service. During the war he was on Active Service the whole period 1914—1917, and fortunately returned to England unharmed in any way. Another son, William is an inspector for the Bath Tramway Co. The happy couple, who have lived in Dundry all their lives were the recipients of a large number presents.”

It was advertised as Gallop’s Tea Gardens in July 1926, p1, Western Daily Press, Friday July 30, 1926:

“GALLOP’S TEA GARDENS. Dundry (within easy reach of 'bus).-Teas, etc., supplied at moderate prices. Parties catered for.”

Harriet Harwood was running the Tea Gardens until her death in December 1922. p7, Western Daily Press, Saturday, December 23, 1922:

“Funeral of Mrs Harwood. The funeral of Mrs Harriet Harwood, widow of the late Mr George Harwood, Dundry, who predeceased her 22 years ago, took place amid many signs of sympathy on Tuesday in the parish churchyard of St. Michael’s, Dundry. Deceased, who had attained the age of 82, was well known and greatly esteemed by a wide circle, being the proprietress of the noted Dundry Tea Gardens and the chief village shop …”

So was running the Tea Gardens between 1923 and 1926? I imagine Harriet's probate delayed a business sale until mid-1926. I am having a look and get back to you here.

I hope this helps,

Richard

It will not let me edit my comment - Oh well! I meant the sale of the business was probably delayed until mid-1923.

I would say that Harriet's daughter, Jessie Eliza Oldfield (nee Harwood) was running the Tea Gardens between 1923 and 1926. She was an executor for her mother's estate (and presumably inherited as well). Her funeral report in 1932 states "of Ye Olde Tea Gardens".

What a fantastic piece of research! - thank you so much for posting. It demonstrates how helpful newspaper articles can be in putting flesh on your family tree.  However, it also shows how errors can occur in print - I think that Harriet 's husband was Samuel HARWOOD (not George) and - this is a minor point - that Jessie was Harriet's step-daughter, a child from Samuel's first marriage to Sophia PEARCE.

It is interesting to note that by the time of John & Emily GALLOP's Golden Wedding in 1927 it is likely that the Tea Gardens were being run by Jessie OLDFIELD, although they were still living there.