Chapter 8 - Trade



Edward Wastell. Son of James Wastell & Elizabeth Dodge

Edward was born 1841 just south of Finsbury Square in Cross Street (Now the site M&S) and baptised at St. Leonard’s Shoreditch 30 May 1841





On the 1851 census, Edward is living at 57 Buxton Street (aka Spicer Street) and is a “scholar”  








Widespread illiteracy amongst the poor children of the Spitalfields area was revealed by the visits of the members of the Soup Ladling Society, which was formed in 1797.  To deal with this problem a new society was formed under their auspices. Some of its members, such as Peter Bedford, Thomas Fowell Buxton (Anti-slavery campaigner), Joseph Allen and William Allen, were already active in the work of the soup kitchen.

The society planned to open schools for 1,000 boys and 500 girls. No rooms large enough for this purpose could be found, (so in 1811 a site on the north side of Spicer (now part of Buxton) Street was taken on a ninety-nine-year lease, and a schoolroom 104 feet by 42 feet erected. This was opened on 3 February 1812 as a boys' school. Although many of the founders were Quakers, the school was non-sectarian, and any child between the ages of six and fourteen years was to be admitted either on the payment of one penny per week on the nomination of a subscriber. By 1816 the school committee was no longer able to grant this privilege to subscribers, and the widespread poverty in the area made it impossible for many families to pay the penny fee. The average attendance was only 500 and a debt remained on the buildings. The girls' school building appears never to have been built.

Between 1833 and 1840 the school was closed, and its site taken over by the new National Schools of All Saints' Church. The trustees of the Spicer Street British School assigned the lease of the site to the Rev. Henry Taylor, the incumbent of All Saints' Church, and Robert Hanbury, brewer, and new buildings bearing the date 1840, were erected.  They are of two storeys and are constructed of stock brick with a slated roof, in the same style as All Saints' Church. There was a central entrance on the south side, below a gable, formerly flanked by pinnacles




On 3rd June 1859 the 5’5” tall, ruddy complexioned and blue eyed, James enlisted in the Royal Navy.  On his 18th birthday, 2 months later, Edward volunteered for 10 years continuous service. 




With the decline in the Silk industry, enlisting in the Services was an escape from poverty and an opportunity to learn a trade. Edward enlisted to HMS Fisyard.(Fishguard)


HMS Fisgard was a specialised shore establishment of the Royal Navy. She was used to train artificers and engineers for the increasingly mechanised and professionalised navy. It was on HMS Fisyard that Edward trained as an engineer. In the census for 1861, Edward was serving on the 91 gun HMS Victor Emmanuel, somewhere in the Mediterranean.

Having served his 10 years in the Royal Navy, Edward met and married Mary Ann Banter.  He was now back home living with his parents at 15 Globe Road. Mary Ann lived opposite at 23 Globe Road.

They were married 26th Dec 1870 in Saint Peter’s, Stepney. His occupation: Engineer.





Mary Ann Banter, daughter of Joseph Banter and Jane Thorn, born on 9th January 1841 in Stepney. Joseph Banter was a Cabinet Maker at 23 Globe Road

In 1871 Edward and Mary Ann were living at 39 St. Peter Street not far from the church where they were married. Edward was employed as an Iron Plate worker.




St. Peter Street is described as:


By 1881 Edward’s life had taken a new direction. He had moved out to the “country” suburb of Tottenham and was running a shop selling groceries at 8 Poynton Road.






The 1882 Post Office Directory Edward is listed under Grocers and Tea Dealers.
Photo of trade directory



Although running a grocery business from 8 Poynton Road, on the electoral register, Edward is listed as living at 55 Tilson Road, a house adjacent to 8 Poynton Road. In 21th century the Poynton Road front door is just feet away from the Tilson Road front door.



Throughout the period Edward is listed as living at 55 Tilson, but running the shop next door at 8 Poynton. 



Edward died in the spring of 1892 in Eastbourne. It is possible that he was there for health reasons. He left an estate of £93.10s. Approx £12K in 2020.

After his death, his wife Mary Ann took over responsibility for the business. 



By 1898 Mary Ann is officially the Postmistress at 8 Poynton Road. Mary ran the Post Office from her Grocery Shop as the 1900 Trade Directory shows.



 However, by the following year, 1901,  Mary Ann had moved to 17 Willoughby Lane. (Now the site of a Shell Garage) 



Mary Ann is head of the Household, but it is daughter Edith who is described as a Post Office Clerk.

1909 Electoral Register.


 Son, Arthur, as a furnished room on the first floor and Frederick has two furnished rooms, one on the first floor and another on the round floor. Mary Ann and Edith were living in the rest of the house? Although living at 13 Willoughby Lane, in 1905 Mary Ann is listed in the Post Office Directory as the proprietor of the Post Office at 31 Gladstone Road. By the 1911 Census Mary Ann had moved to 61 Gladstone Road, Wood Green. By now son, Frederick is married, but 
Arthur (age 38) and Edith (33) are still at home with her.








Sometime between 1911 and 1913 Mary Ann moved to be near her son, Frederick who lived in Clapton Common.

Mary Ann died 1st August 1913. She left an estate worth £25,000 at 2020 prices.


                                                                                                                                                        
Edward and Mary Ann had the following Children.

Twins: Herbert and Beatrice b. 1881. Sadly, both twins died in the September of that year.

Edith Maud Mary b. 1877
Edith assisted her mother in the running of the Post Office. Throughout the 1920s and 1930’s Edith lived in various lodgings but by the out-break of war, in 1939, Edith was living with her brother, Frederick and his family. She died in the North Middx County Hospital 5th February 1945. Her address is given as 4 Varty Road DShe left an estate worth ; £5,028 17s. Which in 2020 prices is the equivalent of £218,641.24

Frederick Augustus Wastell b. 1874
In 1901 Frederick is described as a commercial clerk.
In1904 Frederick was a member of the Freemasons. The Lodge of Prudent Brethern describe him as a Clerk. However, by 1939 Frederick has progressed to being a Bonded Warfinger, and when his sister Edith died in 1945, Frederick is described as a company director, living at 38 Clapton Common.(since redeveloped in blocks of flats). When he died 8 February 1953 he left an estate worth £45,426. In 2020 prices this would have been the equivalent of £1,277,872
At the age of 35, Frederick had married Anna Ada Freemen. They had one child: Bertie.

Arthur Edward Wastell b 1872

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