Butchers in Leigh
One of the Butcher’s Shop in Leigh was situated at what is today called Church Hill House, which was built in 1856 (see Church Hill House). From the 1870 Sales Particulars of Hall Place (held in the Leigh Archives), what we now call Church Hill House is described as “a newly erected residence” – brick and tile, with bath stone dressings. It contained 8 rooms, a butchers’s shop, washhouse, & c with garden. (It is no. 13 on the plan, and was situated on a area of 28 perches (0a 0r 28p). It was in the occupation of Mr Edward Outram, a yearly Michaelmas tenant, at an apportioned rent of £23 per annum. He was Leigh’s butcher from about 1868 to 1871, but is no longer listed at Leigh in the 1871 census. All we have is a calling card in our Archives which lists Edward Outram, Butcher, Leigh, with prices of meat: however, no date.
Click on: Edward Outram, Butcher, Leigh: Price List
There is also a record of Edward Outram in the Maidstone Telegraph of Saturday 1 May 1869 where he is summoned by the inspector of weights and measures charged with having two weights and a pair of scales incorrect.
Maidstone Telegraph: Sat 01 May 1869
LEIGH. Edward Outram butcher of Leigh was summoned by Mr Francis, inspector of weights and measures, charged with having two weights and a pair of scales incorrect. Defendant did not appear when the case was called, and the service of the summons was proved.
Henry Francis stated. I visited defendant’s shop and found one 36lb weight 5 ½ oz short and another 2 oz short. I also found a pair of scales 5 oz against the purchaser. I do not believe there was any intention to defraud. Hooks were attached to the scales to adjust them but when they were hung on the scales were on ounce incorrect. I have cautioned the defendant’s wife before. The hooks could be easily taken off. Defendant entered the court and said he did not know anything about the matter. He took the shop about 9 or 10 weeks ago and thought the scales and weights were all correct. Mr Francis: Defendant’s son in law had the business before. Defendant: I put my daughters there to make them a home and it was not my intention for the weights to be incorrect. The Bench ordered defendant to pay 10s and costs, and told him he must be more careful for the future.
Defendant: Can I have my weights back?
Mr Francis: The weights are forfeited.
Defendant. I ought to have them back and put them right.
Mr Francis: He does not forfeit the scales.
Mr Goldsmid: Then the inspector ought to visit the house shortly after the conviction in order to see if the scales are put right.
In the 1871 census, the premises described as ‘Butcher’s Shop in Village’ are occupied by Joseph Miller, carpenter and William Martin, Cricket Ball Maker.
In 1861, a James Waghorn is given as Butcher in Leigh: although the 1861 census does not specify Church Hill or name the various properties along Leigh Street or Church Hill, the one which is clear is the residence of John Humphrey, grocer, where the Post Office was situated, today’s Great Brooks. Purely by deduction, with the two former cottages at the top of Church Hill occupied by a William Foreman and James Kingswood named next, the following property mentioned is occupied by the Butcher, Mr Waghorn: and Church Hill House was built with a butcher’s shop incorporated within it.
From the 1881 Census it appears that the Village Butcher’s Shop was occupied by George Leigh, Butcher: but the premises did not remain a Butcher’s Shop: in the 1891 census, it would appear that it is occupied by R Barden, a Baker: then 1901 and 1911 by George Everest, a bootmaker, who also lets some of the rooms. Sometime later it is used in part as a doctor’s surgery.
BUTCHERS IN LEIGH (1827-1938)
(Taken from sample trade directories, etc)
John Fry 1827
Richard Crandall 1840 and 1846/1847 and 1855
James Waghorn 1862
Mr Benton 1868 (son-in-law to Edward Outram: married Fanny Outram)
Edward Outram 1869
1871 census ? In the 1871 census, the premises described as ‘Butcher’s Shop in Village’ – Church Hill House – are occupied by Joseph Miller, carpenter and William Martin, Cricket Ball Maker. Our next reference to a butcher is a Trade Director in 1874 when George Leigh is listed.
George Leigh 1874
George Leigh 1881 (census: Butcher’s shop in village: near Anderson’s)
John & William Burfield 1882
William Burfield 1891
Walter Nicholson 1899
Henry Hammond 1899 (separate shop probably)
Henry Hammond 1913
Edward George Malpass 1922 (Henry Hammond: ‘farmer’)
Donald Whitehead 1930
Donald Whitehead 1938
For fuller details of butchers in Leigh 1900 on, see “We Had Everything …” by Chris Rowley: pp 262 (general); 263 on (D. Whitehead); the Wells family (various, see index); H. Hammond (pp24/91)
Mr Groves was Leigh’s last butcher, who traded in the ‘Forge Cottage’ (before it was converted) between Great Brooks and Forge House.
Joyce Field (Dec 2023)