Chafor’s Shop
Although the
Chafor’s shop site on the Crowle manorial plan of 1738
The Terrier lists 172 as being owned by Edmund Maw junior and is described as a messuage house homestead and garden with an area of 32perches. The property was held as copyhold.
1911 Land Tax Survey
The survey took place as a result of the 1909-1910 Finance Act which provided for the levy and collection of duty on land in the United Kingdom based on any increased value of the land as a result of public money spent on communal infrastructure – a so-called ‘increment value duty’. These records give useful details on the owners and occupiers of property.
1911 Land Tax Survey
The report from the 1911 Tax Return shows that the Shop was owned by Miss Gertrude Pheasant (confirming that George Pheasant did live in this particular property) and the occupier is stated as ‘Batty Jno E now Donald’.
The property is shown as being sold in 1909 for a consideration of £800
The rent is given as £50 per annum.
The shop is described as;
Ironmonger’s shop, warehouse, workshop & good
Area approximately 26 perches.
Property further described;
- Brick & tile. Front shop, Back shop, 2 rooms, kitchen warehouse and showroom over. 3 bedrooms and box room.
- Brick & slate. Stores, wash house. Workshop over.
- Brick & slate. Stores
Brick & slate. Coals & closet
Using trade directories and census returns we can identify who was occupying the shop.
George Pheasant – To 1900
In the 1841 census he is shown as living near Snaith at
Hirst Courtney and his profession is given as Gun Smiths Apprentice.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/8978/WRYHO107_1279_1280-0531/12191498
By the 1851 census he is living with his wife Sarah, who was born in Crowle, and his profession is gunmaker – difficult to say for definite whether he is already living in the building that was to become Chafor’s.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/8860/YRKHO107_2349_2349-0915/14318820
In the 1861
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/8767/WRYRG9_3526_3528-0042/11722528
In the 1871 census he is described as an Ironmonger with 6
men. He is living with his wife and three children Charles, Annie and Emily.
Again because of the proximity to the George & Dragon I am fairly confident
that he is living in the property that was to become Chafer’s.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/7619/WRYRG10_4728_4730-0038/9803905
In the 1881 census he is described as an Ironmonger and is
living with his wife, and two daughters. The road is Market Street, which
appears to have been the name given to the bit of the high street between the
Market Place and Church Street. Again the entry is in close proximity to the
entry for the George & Dragon.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/7572/WRYRG11_4696_4700-0700/25843557
In the 1891 Return it is clear that George Pheasant Ironmonger is occupying the property adjacent to West Terrace, indeed West Terrace has been given the name Pheasant Lane in brackets.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/6598/LINRG12_3868_3870-0502/19774866
In the 1901 census at the age of 81 he is described as a
retired ironmonger and is living in the Market Place with his wife and two of
his grandchildren.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/7814/LINRG13_4418_4421-0430/28374097
He died on the 29th November 1905.
Trade Directories;
| Year | Classification | Entry | Directory |
| 1856 | Ironmongers | Pheasant Geo. & gun maker | Whites |
| 1861 | Commercial | Pheasant Geo. ironmongr. & gun maker | Post Office |
| 1868 | Commercial | Pheasant George, general ironmonger | Post Office |
| 1872 | WATCHMAKERS AND JEWELLERS. | Pheasant George, Market place | Whites |
| 1872 | IRONMONGERS. | Pheasant George, Market place | Whites |
| 1872 | Crowle Directory | Pheasant George, ironmonger, general furnisher, tinner, brazier, gasfitter, bell hanger, lock and whitesmith, watchmaker, silver | Whites |
| 1872 | TINNERS AND BRAZIERS. | Pheasant George, Market place | Whites |
| 1882 | Pheasant George, ironmonger, and gun mkr, High st | Whites | |
| 1885 | COMMERCIAL. | Pheasant George, general furnishing ironmonger, tinplate worker, watch, ma. silver smith & jeweller, High st | Kelly’s |
| 1889 | commercial. | Pheasant George, general furnishing ironmonger, High street | Kelly’s |
The fact that in some of the trade directory entries the address is given as Market Place is not a concern as it appeared they included properties near the Market place.
John Edward Batty 1900-1911
Although born in Bradford he moved to Glossop and then the Isle of Man before coming to Crowle. In 1861 he is described as a Tinplate worker, in 1871 he is described as a Tinplate worker and gas fitter, in 1881 after moving to the Isle of Man he is described as a Master Ironmonger. He had 6 children with his first wife, Ruth, before being widowed. He married his second wife Mary who came from the Isle of Man.
The 1901 Census shows John Edward Batty living in Crowle with
his wife Mary, and he described as an Ironmonger. He is clearly living at what
is now Chafor’s shop.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/7814/LINRG13_4418_4421-0428/28374039
The 1911 Census shows John Edward Batty still described as
an Ironmonger living with his wife in the same location.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/2352/rg14_28263_0343_03/32628820
He died in in 1914 on the Isle of Man.
Alex J Donald 1911- ?
Alexander Donald was born in Banffshire in Scotland. In 1901 he was living in Worksop and is described as an Ironmonger’s Assistant. He married his wife in 1908 in Worksop. She was from Snaith. He clearly took over the shop in 1911 as stated on the Tax survey form
Key & Sons ? – ?
The Keys seem to have been a family of Ironmongers and Tinsmiths for much of the 19th century as seen in the trade directories
Ernest & Rosie henning
In the 1940s and ’50s the shop was being run by Ernest and Rosie Henning, although the appeared to keep the Key & Sons Name.
Brian Chafor 1963-
Brian Chafor purchased the shop in 1963 from Sun Engineering, wh owned it at the time.
The shop is still run by the Chafor family and is a Crowle institution.