About: The Turnpike Forge At Clifton Hampden 1736.
The Turnpike Forge At Clifton Hampden
The Abingdon to Henley-on-Thames road runs through the Parish of Clifton Hampden from east to west, keeping to the higher ground away from the river Thames.
This highway is of great antiquity and a major route from Abingdon, the then County town of Berkshire. It appears to have been neglected in the 16th and 17th centuries and by 1736 was in 'a ruinous state'. In that year an Act of Parliament established a Turnpike Trust for the area between Henley and Abingdon and empowered it to levy tolls for the maintenance and repair of the road.
This highway is of great antiquity and a major route from Abingdon, the then County town of Berkshire. It appears to have been neglected in the 16th and 17th centuries and by 1736 was in 'a ruinous state'. In that year an Act of Parliament established a Turnpike Trust for the area between Henley and Abingdon and empowered it to levy tolls for the maintenance and repair of the road.
Many fine artisans have held the tenure to the Turnpike Forge history during it's long and productive life. In 2008 the business was incorporated into the A W Grace & Sons Group, who continue to produce the traditional craftsmanship of the forge.
The Grace family have been long been involved with metal fabrication in Oxfordshire. Their business roots began with a smithy in the village of Steventon. Founded by Arthur Grace, who is pictured (top right) in 1926 shoeing a horse at the original family business. Grandson Colin Grace now heads the concern. Whilst A W Grace Ltd produce all aspects of metal work for construction and associated fields, the traditional skills are paramount to their business ethos.
A toll-gate was set up at Clifton and it is most likely that the Turnpike Forge began it's long existence on the site at this time. Providing a smithy service offering "road-side" repairs for re-shoeing horses, and blacksmithing services to both the local community and travelers of the day. Since that time the forge has continued to maintain it's presence on the site, the centre image above was taken at the forge in the early 1900's. Although no longer involved in the mainstay of farrier work, it remains a traditional Smithy producing fine work for all to regard.
A Breif Outline:
Elizabeth Eason of Clifton Hampden in parish of Dorchester, Oxon …
….
Give and bequeath to my son John Eason, his heirs executors or
administrators my dwelling house and blacksmiths shop thereunto
belonging in the parish of Clifton and all the blacksmiths working tools
and utensils and coal and all that iron that is in the aforesaid shop….
Elizabeth was the widow of Richard Eason who I believed died in 1755
(buried Dorchester)
Elizabeth (nee Panting) was buried in Clifton Hampden 25 July 1772. It
is quite likely that Richard was the village blacksmith and when he died
in 1755, Elizabeth took over responsibility for the business.
Their son, John Eason (1743 to 1787), died without making a will
Administration was granted his son John Eason of Clifton on 25 April
1796.
The administration documentation states that John Eason (jnr) was
a blacksmith. John Eason junior’s dates were 1769 to 1833. He was buried
on 19 Aug 1833 in Clifton Hampden.
John Eason, jnr, married Catherine Mutlow in 1796 in Oxford. They were
my 3 x great grandparents.
John and Catherine had eight children including Catherine (born 1803),
Maria (born 1807) and Thomas (born 1809). Maria married John Kempson –
they were my 2 x great grandparents.
Two male children before Thomas died in infancy and seemingly the
blacksmith business transferred to Thomas and his sister Catherine, who
married William Ball in 1827.
The 1851 Census shows William and Catherine Ball living with their
children together with William’s brother in law Thomas Eason at “The
Village, Clifton Hampden”. Both William Ball and Thomas Eason are
recorded as blacksmiths. One of William Ball’s children, William Ball
jnr (aged 22) is also recorded as a blacksmith living at the same
address.
Thomas Eason died in January 1856. His will proved 8 September 1856
includes the following :-
I, Thomas Eason of Clifton Hampden Oxon, blacksmith, … give unto my
sister Catherine the wife of William Ball of Clifton Hampden, blacksmith
all that my freehold Messuage or Tenement in which myself and William
Ball and Catherine reside with the blacksmith’s shop, stable, hovel,
brewhouse and other outoffices and garden thereto adjoining and
belonging, and also the garden adjoining the churchyard in Clifton
Hampden as all the said premises are now in my possession and in the
occupation of myself and my said sister and her husband. And all other
my real estate and also my household goods and furniture, stock in hand,
tools and other personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever
of or to which I may be possessed or entitled at the time of my
decease……
The 1861 Census shows William Ball snr, aged 55, blacksmith, and his
wife Catherine living in Clifton Hampden. The adjacent entry shows
William Ball jnr , aged 32, blacksmith, living with his wife Emma and
their son Arthur, aged 6.
William Ball snr died 1870. He was buried in Clifton Hampden
The 1871 Census shows Catherine Ball living at “The Village, Clifton
Hampden” aged 67, blacksmith’s widow. Also living in Clifton Hampden at
the time of the census were William Ball, aged 42, blacksmith master
employing 1 man, and his wife Emma.
William and Emma’s son Arthur did not follow into the family business.
In 1871 Arthur was aged 16 living in Westbury, Wilts employed as an
“engine fitter in works”.
He subsequently went on to be a ships chief
engineer. He died in 1896, aged 41 in Liverpool and was buried in
Clifton Hampden
William Ball snr’s widow, Catherine (nee Eason) died 1873 and buried in
Clifton Hampden.
The 1881 Census shows William Ball, aged 52, blacksmith employing 1 man
and 1 boy. Living with William is his wife Emma and their nephew Arthur
Scott,. aged 17, blacksmith’s apprentice. Other blacksmiths listed in
Clifton Hampden in the census were William T Sims aged 39, born Kent,
blacksmith journeyman, and John Weedon, aged 24, born Chalgrove Oxon,
also a blacksmith journeyman. John Weedon subsequently moved to Compton,
Wantage and he appears there as a blacksmith in the 1891census.
In the 1891 Census two blacksmiths are recorded in Clifton Hampden :
William Ball , aged 62, and William T Sims, aged 49, blacksmith
journeyman.
William Ball died in Feb 1901, buried Clifton Hampden.
The 1901 Census (taken end of March) shows William T Sims, aged 59,
blacksmith, living at “The Lane, Clifton Hampden”. Also in the village
was Herbert J Bargus, aged 20, born Clifton Hampden, blacksmith.. Emma
Ball (William Ball’s widow) was aged 72 .
Emma Ball died in April 1908
The 1911 Census shows William Thomas Sims, aged 69, blacksmith and
Herbert John Bargus, aged 29, blacksmith. Living with Herbert Bargus,
and his wife are their children including Vincent , aged 5. I note that
son, Vincent Bargus is mentioned in the Oxford Times article in October
2012 entitled “Forging the Future”
Welcome to AW GRACE & Sons Turnpike Forge.
Founded in 1948, AW Grace & Son have eight decades of experience providing the skills and expertise for all facets of metal fabrication.
A family run business, now in it's fourth generation, the AW Grace level of service extends from major structural contracts right down to the person who needs something in metal repaired but does not know who to approach. Providing a service to the local community is where we started, the business grew from those roots. The ethos of good service with pride in our work remains firm, we are a company who are . . .
"Big enough to matter, small enough to care".
Based in Culham, Oxfordshire, we operate throughout the Thames Valley area and beyond. Fabricating on site when needed, or in our extensive workshops at Culham. AW Grace & Son are specialists in bespoke metal fabrication, working with mild steel, stainless or aluminum, undertaking major projects or one off commissions.
Our client base encompasses local authorities, building constructors, farmers, police authorities, educational establishments, architects, insurance companies, sporting organisations, restaurants and retailers, plus of course, numerous domestic customers. As metal stockholders we supply all types of metal fabric to the commercial and domestic market, from stainless steel sheets to basic nuts and bolts. If we do not have your requirement in stock, our service extends to sourcing it for you at no additional cost.
A family run business, now in it's fourth generation, the AW Grace level of service extends from major structural contracts right down to the person who needs something in metal repaired but does not know who to approach. Providing a service to the local community is where we started, the business grew from those roots. The ethos of good service with pride in our work remains firm, we are a company who are . . .
"Big enough to matter, small enough to care".
Based in Culham, Oxfordshire, we operate throughout the Thames Valley area and beyond. Fabricating on site when needed, or in our extensive workshops at Culham. AW Grace & Son are specialists in bespoke metal fabrication, working with mild steel, stainless or aluminum, undertaking major projects or one off commissions.
Our client base encompasses local authorities, building constructors, farmers, police authorities, educational establishments, architects, insurance companies, sporting organisations, restaurants and retailers, plus of course, numerous domestic customers. As metal stockholders we supply all types of metal fabric to the commercial and domestic market, from stainless steel sheets to basic nuts and bolts. If we do not have your requirement in stock, our service extends to sourcing it for you at no additional cost.