History of Guernsey Butchers

Was your ancestor a butcher in Guernsey in the late 18th/ early 19th Century ?
Introduction Butchers Contact What's New ? Search

Introduction & Brief History

This site is focused on the history of families who were butchers in Guernsey from the early 19th Century. Many of them were immigrants from the south coast of England - particularly, Devon and Dorset - attracted by the growth in population and trade during this period. They established close links with each other and formed a strong community, with many connections between the families.

The picture on the right is of Rue des Vaches (Cow Lane) - the original site of the meat market in St Peter Port. This lane connected the High Street with the Harbour. Cattle arrived on ships, and were herded up the beach into this lane where they were slaughtered. At high tide, the sea washed away all the blood and offal.

In 1777, a private company was established which bought a field from the St Peter Port rectory garden, just behind the Town Church, and 1780 they built a market there in which to house the butchers. This building became known as the French Halles or Leadenhall market.
 

Rue des Vaches, St Peter Port
by Peter Le Lièvre
In 1818, the States of Guernsey acquired the market, and in 1820, began construction of a new market building to house the butchers. The building was designed by John Wilson, architect of a number of acclaimed public buildings in Guernsey, and was completed in 1822 (see left).

An early trade directory showing stall holders is Barbet's 1845 Commercial Directory, which is reproduced below.

From this period through to the end of the 19th Century, the same family names kept coming up while I was researching my own family history, so I have starting collecting information on them too. This site contains the results of that research with details of some of the families and the relationships between them. My aim is to add to it to complete the picture as my research progresses - so if you can help in any way - please get in touch.
Market Place, St Peter Port c 1900 by Henry Wimbush  

Links

 Further Reading

Beef and Liberty
by Ben Rogers

A fascinating & entertaining study of the relationship between the eating of beef and the English national pride - particularly with reference to the nation's relationship with its French neighbours. Cultural & social history which spans from 18th century to the present day.

Guernsey Butchers and the 19th Century Meat Trade
by Stephen Foote
Two-part article published in the Autumn 2001 & Summer 2002 editions of the Review of the Guernsey Society.

L'Histoire de la viande en France
by Pierre Haddad
History of meat trade in France at MHR Viandes online trade magazine.

 
 

Butchers' Families

Butchers in Guernsey Meat Market circa 1905
(Thanks to guernseypostcards.com)
Below there is a list of the stallholders for the 36 stalls in the Market according to Barbet's Commercial Directory for 1845. Please click on those with links for more details. If you have details of any of these families - I'd be delighted to hear from you (click on the links at the top and bottom of this page for my email address). Please visit regularly, as I hope to be updating this site as new material becomes available.

 

BARBET'S COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY 1845
No Stallholder Origin Comments
1 Francis LAMBLE Chivelstone, Devon  
2, 3 George FOOTE Brixham, Devon  
4 Mrs BASKFILL Plymstock, Devon  
5 Mrs GARDNER Uplyme, Devon  
6 Samuel WATERMAN Wiveliscombe, Somerset  
7 Mrs HAYES    
8 Samuel COOPER England  
9 George PAYNE England  
10 William LAMBERT Haselbury Bryan, Dorset Thanks to Angela Radford
11 L. HELLIER   Thanks to Claire Robinson
12 Albert GARDNER Uplyme, Devon  
13 Richard HEYWARD Langstone, Devon Thanks to Peter Hayward
14 C. LANG    
15 Robert HEYWARD Manaton, Devon Thanks to Peter Hayward
16 Charles BASKFILL Plymstock, Devon  
17 Thomas CROFT    
18 Mrs RADDEN England  
19 Peter WATERMAN Wiveliscombe, Somerset  
20 William KENNELL    
21 Robert WATERMAN Wiveliscombe, Somerset  
22 Mrs MALE poss Somerset Thanks to Geraldine Hyland
23 William BEDDLECOMB    
24 Richard PERRETT Paignton, Devon  
25 Peter ROBERTS    
26 Thomas MARTIN    
27 John ROBIN    
28 Mrs LE MARCHANT Guernsey  
29 John DE PUTRON Guernsey  
30 Samuel DRAKE COX    
31 Thomas HEYWARD Moreton Hampstead, Devon Thanks to Peter Hayward
32 Frederick LE PATOUREL Guernsey  
33, 34 William HAMMOND Bishops Caundle, Dorset  
35, 36 John GARDNER Uplyme, Devon  
OTHER BUTCHER FAMILIES
Year Surname Origin Comments
1849 Samuel BEST Kingsbury, Somerset Thanks to Colin Best
1803 James BOUTCHER Plymouth, Devon  
1820 E BULLEN    
1878 Robert Edgar CHILCOTT Melplash, Dorset Thanks to Bob Chilcott
1851 PARSONS Dorchester, Dorset  
1860 John SHERWILL North Huish, Devon Thanks to Susan Donlea
1820 George VIGARS Podimore, Somerset Thanks to Daphne Wills

This site © Stephen Foote 1999-2007

Introduction Butchers Contact What's New ? Search

Last updated 9 January 2007