Albert Thomas Bowering 1864 - 1930, his wife Anna Maria (Nance) nee Nicholls 1866 – 1945 and their son Ernest Bowering 1893 – 1916
With contributions from the account of her childhood written by Olive Bowering, called ‘The end for the road’, included with kind permission from Jon Bigwood.
A Bridgwater baking dynasty
Albert Bowering came from long line of Bridgwater bakers with records going back to the elector’s list of 1780, which showed Thomas Bowering as a baker.[i]
Albert’s father James was the great grandson of the first Thomas. James was born in Bridgwater but for several years lived in Wales where he married Welsh girl Rachel Joseph. James and Rachel lived in Rumney, a district to the east of Cardiff. They had two children there, including Albert in 1864, but then moved back to Bridgwater by 1868. On his return, James worked in the family bakery in Friarn Street, which he took over after his father died early in 1881.
Unfortunately James was not very successful as a baker in Bridgwater. In 1884 he was fined after taking bread out to sell from a hand cart. James probably hadn’t realised that he needed to take weights and scales with him on the cart, and he was fined five shillings and costs[ii]. James was probably overworked and sleep deprived, and he may have got depressed and turned to alcohol. Sadly James was prosecuted for assaulting his wife Rachel in 1887. James had to pay a surety of £10 and was bound over to keep the peace for six months, and by this time James was described as a ‘former baker’[iii]. It seems that Rachel forgave him, and not long after James and Rachel returned to Rumney, where James again worked as a baker. They remained in Wales for the rest of their lives, but his father’s difficulties acted as a spur for his eldest son Albert.
Albert was determined to work as hard as possible to make a success of the family bakery business, and this fierce determination drove him on for the rest of his life.
Work, work, from morning to night
Albert had been born in Wales but his family roots were firmly in Bridgwater, so when his father got into difficulty and moved to Wales, Albert remained and took over his father’s business. As a young man, Albert played rugby in the position of half back, in the early days of the game in Bridgwater[iv]. In 1887 Albert married Anna Maria Nicholls in Bridgwater.
Life of a 19th century baker
The bakery ovens used by the first Thomas in 1780 were probably heated by lighting a fire inside the oven, using wood, charcoal or peat. When the oven was hot enough, which the baker would have to judge by experience, the fire ashes were raked out and the bread put into the hot oven using a peel, or long handled paddle, rather like a flat shovel. By the time Albert was working in the 1880s, he may have had the luxury of using gas fired ovens. However the ovens were heated, the routine continued of making the dough the evening before, then rising very early to knead the dough, bring the oven to temperature and bake the first batch, to be followed by as many subsequent batches as were needed. Life in the bakery was very hot and dusty, with a constant battle against cockroaches and rodents attracted to the flour.
After baking bread for the day, instead of putting his feet up the baker would put loaves on to a barrow to push round the streets of Bridgwater delivering to regular clients and hopefully attracting new custom.
There were some regular orders, such as for the workhouse, and perhaps some of the hotels, but a lot was sold in the shop and delivered on rounds. Bread was a very important part of the diet of poorer people, being eaten at every meal, and for the poorest was more or less all they ate.
The corner shop was small, but the bakery ran back quite a long way behind the shop. The photograph of his shop shows that Albert was also trading in various animal feeds, such as ‘Spratt’s Patent Dog Cakes’ and ‘Rapid Growth Chick Feeds’.
Albert started delivering bread from two hand barrows, and as this proved popular with his customers, Albert eventually bought a horse and small cart for the longer rounds. At the time this was all he could afford. Albert would not take out a loan, or give credit; that may have been how his father got into difficulties. Eventually he was able to buy a second horse and cart, and finally a third in order to do a longer country round.
Grain merchant
As well as the bakery, Albert diversified into buying and selling grain. He would keep a keen eye on prices and buy a whole shipment which arrived in Bridgwater docks, was then unloaded into trucks at the siding and then transferred on to temporary storage. The sacks of grain would be stored for a short time in a warehouse; space being rented at this time. Albert was speculating that the price of grain would rise before it came to be sold and then he made a good profit. He even had ‘an engine’ installed to crush his own grain. This would be a grist mill; it is not clear how it was powered or how big it was. Wooden bins in the shop were full of corn which was sold by the bushel or peck. A rounded bran shovel was used to shovel the grain into bags or sacks. Olive Bowering remembered that all the children loved to dip their hands into the corn and let it run through their fingers.
Olive described her father as being at work almost all the time, the children hardly saw him during the week and Sunday was his only day off. Occasionally on a Sunday, Albert would hire a brake[v] to take the whole family on an outing to an inn with a garden in the Quantocks, but he was anxious as he had to be back in the evening in time to prepare the dough for the next day. On other Sundays he would hire a governess cart[vi] which he would drive himself to nearby villages, but only five children could go at a time so they had to take turns.
Albert had a spell of ill health involving bad pain in one leg. This could have been sciatica, caused by lifting and carrying large sacks of grain. He went to Droitwich for some weeks where he had to lose a lot of weight, but returned free of pain. In the mid-nineteenth century Droitwich had become famous as a spa town, where the warm spa water was saturated brine. Unlike other spas, this water was not drunk but was used for baths which patients could swim or float in, and which provided muscular relief. His eldest son Aldred had to run the bake-house in his absence, but all went well, and this proved to be useful experience for Aldred.
Olive didn’t mention a date for this treatment, but it was likely to have been sometime between early 1910, after Ernest left school, and before late 1915 when Ernest joined up. Albert told Nance that he would ring the doctor up to arrange his treatment, showing that he had access to a telephone. There is a telephone directory entry for Albert in 1909, his number was Bridgwater 114 with the National Telephone Company[vii]. Albert would have found a telephone very helpful for conducting business, placing and receiving orders and checking prices.
Anna Maria Bowering nee Nicholls (Nance) 1866 - 1945
Anna, known as Nance, was the daughter of railway porter William Nicholls and his wife Maria nee Trevelyan, who also ran a greengrocer’s shop. Before her marriage Nance had worked as a milliner, and was a Congregationalist Sunday school teacher, which was how she met Albert who was also a Sunday school teacher. After marriage she had to throw herself into the business of running a bakery. Her daughter Olive said that from their wedding day ‘it was nothing but hard work but they were very happy and proud.’
The baker’s dozen
‘It was work, work, from morning till night both my parents seemed to thrive on it and they intended to bring their children up the same way’.
Nance worked in the bakery shop, which they lived over, arriving downstairs at nine am and working until the shop closed in the evening. She worked until immediately before the birth of their first child, took only two weeks off and then came back. More children soon followed, and Nance and Albert eventually went on to have fourteen children, although baby Edward died aged 3 months in 1901. This left thirteen children, who were known in Bridgwater as ‘the baker’s dozen’[viii]. As their family grew, Nance and Albert had to move into a larger house, although they stayed very close to the shop. After a couple of moves they settled in 54 North Street, which was in sight of the shop. They remained there for the rest of their lives.
Nance’s parents William and Maria Nicholls lived nearby, at one time opposite the shop. William and Maria helped Nance a lot with the children, and Nance also had the invaluable help of Ellen Hooper, a faithful maid who lived with the Bowerings for years. Ellen really loved the children, and she was a very hard worker and a good cook. One of her famous sayings was 'better belly bust than waste' as she ate the remains of the children’s porridge after breakfast.
Olive remembered washday with Ellen Hooper
‘I think we shall always remember Monday washday. Special arrangements had to be made as it was a very big affair. Clothes were piled up almost to the ceiling. Then came the ironing that fell to Ellen, which was done in the evening when all was quiet. There were dozens of little pinafores all inserted with lace which needed special care and little frocks with puff sleeves. When finished they looked a picture, but not for long! Ellen had two evenings off a week, Sunday and Wednesday.’
The hardworking Ellen would have been dealing with this mountain of ironing using flat irons, heated on a trivet over the fire.
Christmas day with the Bowerings, described by Olive
‘Christmas was dawning near, great preparations were on the way at home. Ellen was already making the puddings. A large number was made every year. They were kept at least four years before they were used. In turn we all had a stir of the mixture which was made in a large earthenware bread pan. It was a busy time for mother with the shopping, presents for us all. She always seemed calm and collected and gave just what we wanted. Gertie was a great help finding what each of us had in mind. May, with mother, set out shopping and would come back laden with parcels which were kept hidden in the shop until the very last hour. The turkey was cooked in the bake-house oven as it was far too large to roast at home and father allowed some of his customers to make use of his oven. Stumpy (chief bake-house assistant) was left in charge. I can see him now swaying up the garden path wondering if he would reach the back door with safe delivery. When the customers collected their bird, each of them would give him a tip and every time he would pop into the pub next door to refresh himself. Each year, however, he managed to reach the back door safely. He then received a little more refreshment. By the time he arrived home he was certainly under the weather, well-oiled as they say.
Christmas day came. It was an event for father to be at home. During the day, although he often walked to the shop to see if all was well, it seemed a magnet to father - his heart was there. On Boxing Day the dough had to be prepared for the next day. The two older boys would give a hand to make things a little easier. It seemed strange having both parents at home together during the day. They remained very much together leaving us children to our own amusements. We usually had quite a number of table games between us which gave great interest and certainly kept us all together. It would be all quiet for hours until suddenly someone was accused of cheating, then the board counters would fly across the room. That finished the games for a while. We soon forgot, then we would start again, choosing different partners this time and keeping our eyes keen on the board. Aldred, Ernest and May would join in sometimes to keep us younger ones amused. Ellen often rushed into the room warning us father was upstairs resting. She thought we were making too much noise. Sometimes father would appear in the doorway to know what all the noise was about, one look from him was enough. Graham, Bill and Hubert received a cycle for their present, so they were off. We did not take a lot of notice of this as we knew father was in a particularly good mood, we guessed he had done good business. At lunch hour he allowed us to have our little say which was very unusual. When we were at home, that was Sundays and holiday times, we were unable to sit in the dining room for meals altogether. Several had to go into the kitchen with Ellen and there was always a big rush. We were certainly at ease with Ellen and could have plenty. Ellen would carry the Xmas pudding through the hall into the dining room. It would be soaked with brandy when it arrived at the table. Father then would put a lighted match to it. There was always a wonderful blaze. The ones in the kitchen rushed to watch, they did not want to miss it and then they waited for it to be served’.
Daily life with thirteen children
All the children attended a Congregationalist Sunday school and a day school. The boys attended Dr Morgan’s school, while the girls went to a small dame school in a Regency house near the river, then later a private school nearer to the shop, run by two maiden ladies. The children kept pets and Nance organised a shed in the garden when the boys wanted to keep chickens.
All the children, as they became old enough, had to do an early turn in the shop before school, and then go back there to help again after lessons. The eldest daughter May helped Nance in the shop every day, while the second eldest, Gertrude, preferred to be at home helping Ellen with the children and cooking. Before she went to work, Nance had to organise the meals at home, planning the food and each day she ordered the meat from the butcher and groceries which were then delivered to the house. Lunches had to be made and sent over to the shop as the family working there did not come back during the day. Although Nance was always busy in the shop and had to let Ellen and Gertrude do much of the childcare and housework, she was the organiser and planner who ensured this large household ran smoothly. By the time Nance got home from work, the younger children were already in bed, and she was so tired that Ellen and the older children had to look after her. Nance and Albert never had a holiday.
The children were not short of amusements, board games were very popular, as were the occasional Sunday outings. The nearby weekly cattle market was also something to watch. During St Matthew’s Fair the numerous stalls erected in West Street were exciting for the children and provided good business for the shop. The carnival in November was held on a Thursday which was early closing day. The shop windows were boarded up, tarpaulins were hung from windows and soaked with water to quench sparks. The parade and bonfire would have been exciting for all the family.
Nance, like others of her generation, had to live through two world wars, and saw three of her sons serve in the first war. Ernest joined the Royal Army Medical Corps, although he died at home of illness in 1916. William was a gunner in the Royal Naval Reserves and was on the merchant ship SS Cameronia when it was torpedoed and sunk on the 15th of April 1917[ix]. 210 lives were lost but around 2,500 were rescued, and William came home safely, although his parents must have had a very anxious few days. Hubert joined the Army Service Corps aged 17 and did his service in the UK.
Gradually the other children grew up, got married and left home. Albert was still working hard in 1921, but for the last six years of his life he was ill. He died at home on Boxing Day 1930 aged 66, of a stroke and high blood pressure. He was buried in Wembdon Road Cemetery, Dissenters Plan 6 8/658, together with his son Ernest.
The eldest son Aldred took over the bakery. Nance continued to live at 54 North Street, with the company of her daughter Olive. Nance lived through WWII and died at home on the 2nd of October 1945, aged 79. She was buried in Wembdon Road Cemetery together with her husband Albert and son Ernest. Nance’s parents William and Maria Nicholls are also buried in the cemetery in Dissenter’s Plan 12 9/1052.
Nance made provision for Ellen Hooper in her will, leaving her enough furniture to furnish a small house, and the right to live in one of Nance’s houses, 52 Provident Place, until her death.
Ernest Albert Bowering, also known as Ernie, 1893 - 1916
Ernest was born over the Bowering Bakery shop in Friarn Street on the 31st of July 1893. He was the fourth child of Albert and Nance, but was their second son and he was very welcome indeed to his father, who wanted lots of sons to help in his business.
Ernest’s parents both worked morning, noon and night in their bakery business, but the children, including Ernest, were well taken care of by their grandmother Maria Nicholls and their nursemaid and general servant Ellen Hooper.
Ernest and his older brother Aldred were expected to take a turn helping in the shop in the early morning, then go to school, and then back to help in the shop after their lessons were over. As soon as Ernest was strong enough, he would have begun helping in the bake-house. Ernest first went to West Street Elementary School, before entering Dr Morgan’s school in 1907. Ernest finally left school on the 23rd of December 1909 to start work full time in his father’s bakery.
Ernest’s little sister Olive described how Ernest worked on the morning bread delivery round. Ernest was popular with customers and loved to stop for a chat.
‘The bread barrows were packed. Father and my brother Ernest would be off to deliver his morning bread. It was certainly not the best part of town. Some of the houses were very poor and dilapidated and little courts were running along with houses each side. They were all very friendly people, my brother got on well with them and gained a lot of customers which pleased father, but what did not please him was that he took twice as long as he should in delivering, which was quite true. He was a friendly lad. He would knock on the door, call 'Baker', then walk in, sit down, have a cup of tea and a chat and then off he would go. This happened time and time again. Father became very angry and told my brother it had to stop. Ernest was very bold. Shaking in his shoes he said 'Well father, if you stop me you will lose your best customers. You have to be friendly in business'. These words pleased father, they were the truest words spoken. He knew the bread barrows were his first success and from those very customers. Not another word was mentioned, Ernest still carried on as usual’.
When Albert had trouble with his leg and went to Droitwich, Ernest had to accompany him and push Albert around in a bath chair. His elder brother Aldred was left in charge of the bake-house which was a heavy responsibility, but Aldred was relieved that he was not the one alone with their father. During this period, Aldred often worried about Ernest and how he was ‘standing up to his ordeal’ as father could be ‘a little difficult particularly when anything interfered with his business’.
Olive spoke about Ernest while he was away in Droitwich.
‘We did miss Ernest, he was a bright lad and I am sure mother missed him very much. He was so loving and considerate to her. He would often don boots and pop into the shop as mother was leaving knowing she was very tired. He would arm her home. On the way they would call at Gran’s to see if all was well. He would see mother settled and then back again to the shop for he had many hours still to work’.
When Albert and Ernest eventually returned home from Droitwich, Albert was largely cured apart from a slight limp, but Ernest was thin and exhausted from the effort of pushing his father around in a wheelchair.
World War I began in 1914, and at the end of 1915 Ernest joined up, serving in the Royal Army Medical Corps, regimental number 89462. He attested in Taunton on the 10th of December 1915, was posted to the Army Reserve the following day and was mobilised on the 22nd of February 1916.
Shortly after this Ernest wrote a letter to his eldest sister May, saying that he had been involved in night operations and asking her to write to him as he looked forward so much to getting a letter. He told her that the weather was very trying but he was beginning to settle down and was feeling very fit. He asked May to send him a bandage for his arm for when he would be vaccinated. He still had plenty of money but asked her to send him a nice homemade cake. Ernest had only had bread and dripping for tea after drilling all afternoon, so was enjoying eating a meat pie from home. He had also just been paid 7 shillings.
Ernest’s army service lasted only six months before he was discharged as medically unfit in August 1916. Ernest had contracted tuberculosis sometime in May, and he died at home on the 6th of December 1916, aged 23. Ernest was buried in Wembdon Road Cemetery in Dissenter’s Plan 6 8/658. His family subsequently received his war medals, the Victory and the British medal.
Bowering’s company
The Bowerings were an old established family of bakers, operating from a small shop and bake-house in Friarn Street, but it was Albert Tom Bowering who started the family business on the rise to the next level. He did this by becoming a corn merchant in addition to being a baker, and making shrewd deals when buying and selling corn.
Albert passed this thriving business on to his eldest son Aldred, who continued the good work, and it was Aldred’s son John Trevelyan Bowering who became company director of Bowerings Animal Feeds Limited, now Bowering Properties Limited.
Clare Spicer and Jill Trethewey, 27/09/2025
References
Ancestry.co.uk – births, marriages and death records, census and probate records, military service and medal rolls.
Friends of Wembdon Road Cemetery – burial records and images of memorials
British Newspaper Archives – digital images of newspapers.
Blake Museum – List of Bridgwater Electors 1780
[i] List of Electors 1780 Blake Museum https://www.bridgwatermuseum.org.uk/museum-collections/index_htm_files/1780.pdf
[ii] Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser 30 Jan 1884
[iii] Central Somerset Gazette 20 Aug 1887
[iv] Bridgwater Mercury newspaper obituary
[v] A type of vehicle called a brake in the 19th century was an open, horse drawn cart, with four wheels.
[vi] A governess cart was a one horse, two wheeled cart with a deep ‘tub’ body meant to carry several children.
[vii] The National Telephone Company had opened a manual exchange in Bridgwater in 1899.
[viii] Albert and Nance had fourteen children, although one, Edward, died as a baby. All born in Bridgwater – May 1888, Gertrude 1889, Aldred 1891, Ernest 1893, Constance 1894, Beatrice 1895, Graham 1897, William 1898, Hubert 1899, Gladys 1900, Edward 1901 – 1901, Reginald 1903, Olive 1903 and Doris 1906.
[ix] The SS Cameronia was a passenger steam ship built in Glasgow in 1911. During WWI she served as a troop ship and was en route from Marseilles in France to Alexandria in Egypt when she was torpedoed by the U-Boat U-33. The ship sank in 40 minutes, 150 miles east of Malta. The surviving troops and crew were able to escape on lifeboats or were picked up by the escorting destroyers HMS Nemesis and HMS Rifleman.