Charles Smith

[texmex]

I dont know whether any one will be able to help me.  In the Bristol Arcade in Sleaford there is a plaque which states "Post Horses and Carriages For Hire - Charles Smith Proprietor".  I am not sure what date this relates to.  My late uncle told me that Charles Smith was a relative of ours but i cannot find a Charles Smith in my family who would have done this as an occupation.  The only Charles Smith i can find was a market gardener who was my great grandfather.  Does any one have any ideas how i may be able to go about tracing this Charles Smith to see if he was indeed related to my family.

Many thanks

Terri

[CaroleW]

What timescale are we looking at for the plaque - 18th/19th/20th century?  have you checked with the Local Authority in Sleaford or with the Bristol Arcade owners

With a name like Charles Smith - we will need a lot more info from you

[texmex]

Hi Carol
thanks for the response.  I have no idea what time date the plaque is so i am going to get my sister to take a photo and e-mail it to me to see if it has a date on it.

i haven't tried the owners of bristol arcade as i am not sure who owns it but will try them first.

Thanks again

[Alan7636]

This entry for the 1901 census could be of interest

RG13/3049/46/14

It has a Charles Smith Hotel Keeper & Farmer bn. 1852 Winthorpe Lincs

The address is:  Bristol Arms Hotel,  19 Market Place, New Sleaford
 
Unfortunately Sleaford is outside my Lincolnshire comfort zone so I have no idea if the Bristol Arms Hotel was or is still in the Bristol Arcade but the Hotel must have been a fairly large establishment for also listed on the census were 9 servants including a Groom.

Alan

[Geoff-E]

Unfortunately Sleaford is outside my Lincolnshire comfort zone ...

 ... mine too   I think I drove through a couple of years ago without setting foot in the place.

I suspect the Bristol Arcade was built on the site of the Bristol Arms Hotel.  Failing that, the hotel was the place on the left here http://tinyurl.com/3or54on

See below -

[Geoff-E]

The Bristol Arms was just round the corner at 19 Market Place, next door to the Corn Exchange.  The address is now that of the India Garden http://tinyurl.com/3f98gde

EDIT:  I've changed my mind again - the Bristol was the place two to the right of the India Garden, the place with the archway.  Now (and in 1901) this is followed by a draper's shop and a bank

This appears to be the same Charles SMITH (same age and birthplace) in the 1881 census http://tinyurl.com/437o44x