RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Devon => Topic started by: deb usa on Tuesday 06 March 07 01:00 GMT (UK)
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Hi everyone
Can anyone living in Exeter, tell me if the Enfield Hotel still exists?
On my great Grandfather's casualty details of WW11 the additional information states :
William Skinner Middleton ( died 29 march 1918)
Son of James Middleton of Enfield Hotel, Exeter,
(I have James being a hotel proprietor in one census)..... If anyone has any photos or can tell me the history of the above hotel, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks so much
Deb
ps: I have googled for info .... and come up empty handed ::)
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Hi Deb,I live in Exeter,I don't recognise the name of the hotel ,but will have a look through the yellow pages and ask around,it may take a day or two though.If any one will know it'll be my father-in-law.
Barb
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Hi Barb
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it! Unfortuantely I do not have any other info to add.
My great granfather died March 1918, so I am assuming that his dad, James, was at the hotel at that time.
regards
deb
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Having had a quick look at the census records when the family were based in Teignmouth with what appears to be a couple of rooms and other "full time" employments.
A lot of this still goes on today with the B&B - both hubby and wife have full time jobs but operate a "hotel" on the side. The lodgers/boarders you have you can feed and water on a B&B basis and still have time (how I am not sure) to do your "main" job. You give the lodger/guest a front door key so that they can come and go, but you are just contracted to provide bed and breakfast.
One reason why the legislation is changing so fast in the UK is to stop this practice in certain types of B&B.
A lot of "hotels" would not have been registered as such and hence on the 1881 census you can see a residential street address but they have two "boarders".
It would be like naming your house "Rose Cottage" but in reality is actually "whatever number, whateverstreet, where-else"
There is no registered hotel currently under the above name in Exeter - courtesy of 192.com.
Jude
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Hi Jude
Thanks for that info. :)
In the 1901 census my James Middleton (wid) is "Hotel Prop, tobacconist, Pub employer" underneath that is 'postman'. His address is Station Rd and underneath that is written Tobacconist and refreshment rooms.
William Skinner Middleton (my Ggrandad) and his brother James John are both Soliciter's clerks, law, living with him.
There are also 2 servants and a boarder.
the reason I was invetigating is that James, the father, is mentioned on William Skinner's casualty details of 1918. I was hoping that there may be old references and hopefully a photo of the Enfield Hotel or even better maybe a picture of my GGgrandad James. :D
I was thinking that seeing as he had been a hotel Prop in 1901 he had moved onto work at a larger hotel.
Thanks so much for looking for me.
regards
deb
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Sorry I could not be the bringer of better news :(
However, ever thought he may have tied in with one of the local breweries? If he had such a job they may have an archive as suppliers/vv customer!
Jude
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Hi Jude
I must admit that I have never thought of that.! ::)
I have no idea how to go about investigating the supplier/customer avenue, especially if the 'Enfield hotel ' was not really a hotel.
Would there be any kind of references to this "hotel' in newspaper articles or in books of the early 1900's?
any suggestions are greatly appreciated .
Thanks again
Deb
BTW; how far is Exeter from Truro?
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Deb
I am not local, just in the hotel trade for a while ( you get less time served for robbery! ;D).
Try this link http://www.breweryhistory.com/
they have heaps on local stuff here and there.
Exeter to Truro - i'd have a guess at 90 miles-ish - anyone closer who can give it more accurately???
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Hi.
I just tried a search for 'Enfield Hotel' under Devon, at the 'Historical Directories' website.
The search turned up with zero results I'm afraid, although all of the directories are pre-1920 I thought it'd be worth a shot.
Living in Exeter myself, I'm not familiar with any hotel currently with that name.
Ryan.
:)
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;D Hi Deb,sucess ! i've located the Enfield Hotel or at least where it was.It was a temperance hotel near St.David's Rail station.If my informant is right the building is now a hostel for refugee's.I think there's a web cam near the station.If yougoogle St.Daid's and Bonhay Road you'll find the area.It's quite close to the river Exe.Would you believe one of my patient's came up with the answer,so it was probably the enfield until WW2.Must sign off now as I'm on duty tomorrow.
Sleepybarb
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What if I said the "Elmfield Hotel"..........
Found this really good site for Exeter, called "exetermemories"
The info fits, even lists Middleton on the history of the place!
Now called the Jolly Porter you can see the history if you go down to the list on the following page and click on the pub name. At the bottom of the history is the list with Jas. Middleton mentioned in 1919!
http://www.exetermemories.co.uk/EM/inns_pubs_hotels.html
Good when there's a result!
Jude
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Hi Everyone
Thank you all so much :-*
I am really excited about your finds....how great that there are pictures...
I really appreciate you all taking an interest :)
many hugs
Deb
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Nice to see that the entry on my site, Exeter Memories was of use. The history grew from very little to quite a lot with some intensive research, especially with the census and trade directories.
PS it's strange but I took a photo of the grave of Edwin Banfield, the first owner of the Elmfield just this morning.
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Hi everyone
I have just contacted the 'owner' of the Jolly Porter , hoping that she may have old photo's etc of the Elmfield Hotel. She says that everything was sold or taken away when it was renovated!!
I have been searching all morning for anything re: the Elmfield hotel... can anyone suggest where I may find old photo's /articles ??
Davidc: Thank you so much for your site ... it is great!
regards
deb :) :)