Historic Context: Gowland’s 1892 Eastbourne Directory states ‘Seaside is a road running from the end of Seaside Road towards Pevensey. It was originally known as Seaside, but has been renamed from time-to-time: Pevensey Road, Seaside Road, &c. And now again is to be known as Seaside. This accounts for the fact that some of the houses have three or four numbers on the door.’
Listed below for the same property on the corner of Seaside and Myrtle Road is Edward Pike, a baker.
Gowland’s Almanac Eastbourne Postal Directory 1884 gives the address at that time as 559 Pevensey Road, occupied by Pike, E., baker.
Gowland’s 1886 Directory states ‘Seaside, Allfrey Cottages, (No) 517, Pike, E., baker.
1871 census: Edward (18 years old) was living at home in The Goffs (No 5) and was employed as a milkman. The household contained his parents, James, and Harriet, as well as 2 other brothers, and 3 sisters.
1881 census: the bakery address is given as ‘Pevensey Road, Allfrey Cottages, No 11’. Edward is listed as a Master Baker employing 2 men. He lives there with his wife, Ellen, 2-year-old son Horace, a niece, and his father-in-law (William Holter), who is described as a ‘journaman (sic) baker.’
1891 census: the bakery address is now given as ‘Seaside Road, (No) 517. The household is listed as Edward (baker), Ellen, 12-year-old Horace, and 7-year-old daughter Lillian, as well as the father-in-law (baker).
1901 census: the address has changed to Seaside rather than Seaside Road, but is still numbered 517. Edward and Ellen’s daughter, Lillian, now 17, is listed as ‘assistant in baker’s shop’. They also have another daughter, Eva, aged 9, as well as the father-in-law, now aged 84 and listed as ‘Boarder.’
1911 census: address as per 1901. Edward listed as ‘Baker & confectioner.’ Ellen as ‘assisting in the business.’ Lillian and Eva as ‘Shop assistant.’ William, the father-in-law, is no longer listed.
1921 census: Edward (age 68) and Ellen (age 66) are now living at 147 Latimer Road, and Edward is listed as ‘Shop Manager, A. Stapley, Millers, 32 South Street’ (the Find My Past website has incorrectly transcribed the name as ‘A. Staphy’). The 1915 Kelly’s Sussex Directory states ‘Stapley Alfred & Co. millers (steam & wind), Mill Road; 32 South Street & 268 Seaside.’
From the above, and from OS maps, we can see that the Seaside bakery was built in 1877 and occupied in that year by Edward and his family. The road (Seaside) was renamed several times and the bakery address and house number changed several times as a result. Sometime between 1911 and 1921, Edward gave up the bakery to take the job in South Street.
Edward and Ellen’s only son: Horace Edward William Pike (incorrectly listed on the Find My Past transcribed 1891 census as ‘Horace G. W.’), is listed in the 1901 census as a ‘Journeyman baker’ at 149 Latimer Road with his wife Louisa Maud, and 2-year-old daughter Louisa Ellen.
1911 census: same address. Occupation now listed as ‘Market Gardener,’ and his wife as ‘Assisting in Business.’
In the 1915 Kelly’s directory he appears as ‘Pike Horace Edward William, shopkeeper, 149 Latimer Road.’
It appears he died aged 39 in 1918, but I cannot find any details.
Eastbourne Herald, March 17th, 1951: ‘Pike – on March 12th, 1951 at 7 Fitzmaurice Avenue, Eastbourne. Maud, widow of Horace Pike. No letters please.’
In addition, Edward’s older brother Frederick is listed in the 1881 census as ‘Dairyman’ living at Ferland Lodge, High Street (Old Town), Eastbourne, with his wife Mary, 3 daughters, 2 servants, and 2 lodgers.
In the 1915 Kelly’s directory he is listed as ‘Pike Frederick Ltd, Upperton Farm dairy, 2 The Goffs.’
References: -
OS maps various. Gowland’s Eastbourne Directories. Find My Past website. Kelly’s Sussex Directory 1915.
Eastbourne Herald.
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