My great grandparents William and Susan were married on Christmas Day 1880. By 1881 they were living in Brown's Buildings in Pawlett and Williams' mother was living between Pawlett Farm and the then Shoulder of Mutton pub in the village. William had I believe worked in the brickworks at Puriton but there appears to have been a small brickworks in Pawlett and the terraced houses at Brown's Buildings were constructed for the workers there and it seems therefore that he moved to that place to work. By 1891 they have moved to Puriton Road which at that time appears to have been the current Bristol Road and seems to be the property above and to the left where they lived with 7 of their children. Susan is seen at the door above right. Next door were William's mother and step-father Eliza and Frederick Shute. In 1901 they appear to be in the same property which is by now called 3 Common Cottages and in 1911 it is just labelled as being between "No 9 Pawlett" and "Pawlett"!! having 6 rooms but only 2 of their children remained with them. I understand that William and 5 of his children were buried in Pawlett Churchyard with William having died in 1932 and despite this there was I understand a bit of a battle having Susan interred there as she had moved to be with her sister in Shrewsbury until she died in 1938. I am not therefore sure at what stage the property left their hands.
It has been wonderful to be in touch with Denise in Pawlett who has forwarded these up to date photos of the property and welcomed having information about the history of the family who lived there just over 100 years ago as I indeed welcomed her contact. The property has been sensitively restored and even a Bridgwater brick has been incorporated in the upgrade to remember the brickyard workers within the Hookins family who had lived there.
