I spent 2 days in the archives during my time in Gloucester. On the first day I read some letters to a journalist by a descendant of the Vick family about a branch of his family. Some months previously I had read the article about which the information related. The people mentioned in the letters and article are very distant cousins and as yet I have spent little time researching most of them. The information I noted at the archive was the exact address of the family’s business. When walking down Southgate St before seeing the letters I’d looked for any likely spots for a saddlery business and found nothing. The location was the bottom end of Southgate St near the docks where I intended returning as canal boat trips were unavailable on my first excursion there.
Recently I found the advertisement below. The originator of the business in 1814 was Silvanus Vick, father of the advertiser and cousin of my 2 times great grandfather. They also shared a name which made identification and verification of records tricky and I actually needed to buy a death certificate to ensure I had identified the correct ancestral death. Actually I backed the wrong horse in a 2 horse race and bought the certificate for Richard Martin Vick’s father. Later, being curious about the circumstances of my 2 times great grandfather’s death I bought his certificate.
Advertisement Far more diversified than I’d imagined. Richard Martin Vick died at a relatively young age, 9 years after this advertisement was published.
Pub beside the sale site including the building on the right with the blue trim, small window glass which includes a piece of bulls eye glass.
Location of Silvanus and the then Richard Martin Vick’s saddlery business
Entrance to the club, an unusually named social club. The appearance of the location of the saddlery business is much changed from the 19th century and the site is currently for sale.
Another entrance on the left
I read somewhere online that there is a very large hall behind the front facade and Google Earth shows a very large building behind. I wasn’t able to find a way to reach the back of the property.
The Gloucester Citizen published an article about the sale of the club in February 2014 and the For Sale signs remain.
Opposite side of the street
The area looks quiet these days but I imagine it must have been pretty active in the heyday of the docks and horse drawn vehicles.