Chummie Newman's House
In 1856 sixty year-old Chimney Sweep John Newman lived in this house with his wife Mary. Working from horse and cart, there was a stable and cart-shed in the back yard. On the 1871 Census, now 76, John was still working as a sweep, but was then employing his 20 year-old grandson John in the same trade.
By 1881, the young John Newman is at the same address, now married, living with his wife Sarah, two daughters and a 2 year-old son John. Living with them is his widowed mother Mary.
On the 1891 Census his widowed mother Mary is described as head of the house, and at 79 years is recorded as working as a chimney sweep alongside her son John. By 1901, John and Sarah are still in the same house and 50 year-old John is still recorded as working as a chimney sweep alongside his 21 year-old son John in the same trade.
On the 1911 Census 60 year-old John is still working as a chimney sweep and living with his wife Sarah. Thirty-two year-old John junior has now married Esther, and they are living nearby in London Road. John junior is recorded as a chimney sweep and a ‘worker’ so he is still in his father’s business. John and Esther have three children, two girls Elsie and Doris and a five year-old son called John…
Jump forward twenty years and John and Esther’s son John is working as a chimney sweep – this is the John that was known by locals as ‘Chummie’ – I hope you’re keeping up! That’s four generations of chimney sweeps that had worked from the house in London Road car park known today as Newman’s Cottage. In the late 1940s, Chummie Newman was one of the few trades still working by horse and cart.
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