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Some Special Interests => Occupation Interests => Topic started by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 14:59 BST (UK)

Title: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 14:59 BST (UK)
Just came across this (as you do) when looking for something completely different

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn7gew9zxo

I found J H Belville in 1841 and 1851, but he rather boringly lists his occupation as "Astronomer" and
"Civil service of the Royal Observatory". Not found the widow and daughter who took on the time selling business.
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Ladyhawk on Monday 27 May 24 15:18 BST (UK)
Is this the daughter?

The Citizen Wednesday April, 4th 1945

Her Strange Job

Miss Elizabeth Ruth Belville of Plough Lane Beddington, Surrey, who for half a century took the Greenwich time to London business houses on a watch one hundred years old, left £189. She was 89

Elizabeth Ruth Belville, spinster
Probate to Lewes Hector Read, Miller
Died 07 Dec 1943
Probate Norwich 10 Feb 1945
Effects £186. 6s. 10d.

1921 Census Surrey
Ruth Belville b1856 Blackheath Kent
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 15:20 BST (UK)
Yes that looks like the daughter who took on the business after her mother and father
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 15:23 BST (UK)
Just found Elizabeth Ruth in 1901, living on own means, with 4 single male lodgers in their 20s.
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Ladyhawk on Monday 27 May 24 15:24 BST (UK)
and possibly mother & daughter on 1871 & 1881 census

Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London & Kent, England
Maria E H   Belville   Head    1812   School mistress   Lowestoft, Suffolk
Ruth   Belville   Daughter    1854   Annuitant   Greenwich, Kent
plus boarders, servants

N 1 Ward, 44, Crooms Hill, Greenwich, London & Kent
Maria E Belville   Head   Widow 1812   School mistress   Lowestoft, Suffolk
Ruth   Belville   Daughter     1855   Governess (sch)   Greenwich, Kent
plus boarders & servant
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 15:25 BST (UK)
Found ER in 1939, a reference to time in her occupation!
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Ladyhawk on Monday 27 May 24 15:26 BST (UK)
See FreeBMD Dec 1851 W London
John Henry BELVILLE married Maria Elizabeth LAST

Edit to add Marriage detail is on ancestry
John's occ Gentleman
Married   22 Dec 1851 Saint Andrew, Holborn
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 15:28 BST (UK)
See FreeBMD Dec 1851 W London
John Henry BELVILLE married Maria Elizabeth LAST

So Maria Last was his last wife  ;D
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Ladyhawk on Monday 27 May 24 15:34 BST (UK)
Burial of daughter there's a picture and info.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92752993/elizabeth-ruth_naomi-belville

Elizabeth Ruth Naomi Belville
Baptism  Apr 1854 St Alphege, Greenwich
Father   John Henry Belville, Gentleman Mother Maria Elizabeth
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Ladyhawk on Monday 27 May 24 15:40 BST (UK)
Found ER in 1939, a reference to time in her occupation!

Check 1921 census
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 16:30 BST (UK)
Wow, that's not an occupation, that's an essay !
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: LizzieL on Monday 27 May 24 16:31 BST (UK)
Should we start a thread on the longest occupation description?  ;D
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Rena on Monday 27 May 24 16:51 BST (UK)
Found ER in 1939, a reference to time in her occupation!

It's hard to realise that in  earlier centuries there were different time zones in Britain.  Even when Greenwich Meantime was introduced.

It wasn't until the introduction of the railways that eventually the Great Western Railway (GWR) stopped quoting the local time in each town that clocks around the country all showed the same time.
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Newtogene on Thursday 09 October 25 12:39 BST (UK)
Well I've learned something new today
Title: Re: Occupation: Time Seller !
Post by: Andy J2022 on Thursday 09 October 25 19:33 BST (UK)

It wasn't until the introduction of the railways that eventually the Great Western Railway (GWR) stopped quoting the local time in each town that clocks around the country all showed the same time.
To see the farcical way in which the French railways tried to cope with time differences, watch this video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PELruSTO3qI