Albert & Florence Coldridge of Pontypool
Albert COLDRIDGE, born in Weymouth in 1889, is the eldest child of Arthur & Mary COLDRIDGE and my grandfather. He married in Devonport and probably met my grandmother through visits to his aunty Jessie who was living in East Stonehouse.
Albert COLDRIDGE & Florence Emma ANDREWS – Marriage registration December (Q4) 1917 in Devonport [Plymouth].
1921 census for Monmouthshire
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Pontypool⧉ 17 George Street |
Albert Victor COLDRIDGE Florence Emma COLDRIDGE |
32 30 |
Head Wife |
Boot & Shoe Dealers Home Duties |
In 1921 Albert & Flo, my grandparents, are recorded in Pontypool. Albert is recorded as Manager & Salesman for George Oliver Boot & Shoe Dealer. They stayed in Pontypool for the rest of their lives, and had 2 sons:
Arthur Victor George COLDRIDGE – Birth registration June (Q2) 1923 in Pontypool. Arthur was born on 27th April.
Kenneth Frederick COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1925 in Pontypool. Ken was born on 18th February.
Arthur V G COLDRIDGE & Iris GEORGE – Marriage registration June (Q2) 1949 in Pontypool.
Kenneth F COLDRIDGE & Minnie Irene [Ena] HOPKINS – Marriage registration June (Q2) 1949 in Pontypool. They were married on 2nd April in St John's Church, Garndiffaith.
My grandfather's occupation, as far as my own family is concerned, was managing Oliver's shoe shop in Pontypool. Those early memories of boot warehouses must have influenced his choice of work I'm sure. I was very young when he died so I have no memory of him at all.
Albert V COLDRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1954 in Pontypool, aged 64.
Albert Victor COLDRIDGE of Hillside 9 St. Johns-crescent Wainfelin Pontypool Monmouthshire died 6 May 1954 at Pontypool and District Hospital Abersychan Pontypool Administration Llandaff 21 July 1954 to Florence Emma COLDRIDGE widow. Effects £643 5s. 2d.
Florence E COLDRIDGE – Death registration June (Q2) 1964 in Pontypool, aged 73.
Florence Emma COLDRIDGE of 9 St. Johns Crescent Wainfelin Pontypool Monmouthshire widow died 4 June 1964 at Pontypool and District Hospital Pontypool Administration Llandaff 29 July 1964 to Kenneth Frederick COLDRIDGE income tax officer. £2253.
My grandmother worked as a seamstress when she was younger and died when I was 11. My memories of her house are of poor light and clutter – my family and gran sitting around half the dining table eating Sunday tea by gaslight – the other half of the table piled high with dressmaking patterns and magazines. Florence was a hoarder, as was Albert, and the strange things that we found when we cleared her house, like the boxes full of pencil stubs, and the bicycle with perished tyres in a bedroom, are impossible to forget.
The following records relate to Arthur & Iris's family:
Adrian V COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1954 in Pontypool.
Martyn A COLDRIDGE – Birth registration September (Q3) 1960 in Caerleon.
Adrian V COLDRIDGE & Jessica V WILLIAMS – Marriage registration September (Q3) 1979 in Chippenham, Wilts.
Martyn A COLDRIDGE & Karen A G MACGUIRE – Marriage registration August 1985 in Bath, Somerset.
Arthur Victor G COLDRIDGE – Death registration May 1991 in Bath, Somerset, aged 68. Date of birth 27th April 1923.
The following records relate to Ken & Ena's family:
Andrew P COLDRIDGE – Birth registration June (Q2) 1953 in Pontypool.
Jeffrey B COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1956 in Pontypool.
Kim E COLDRIDGE – Birth registration March (Q1) 1959 in Pontypool.
Jeffrey COLDRIDGE & Susan BLACK – Marriage registration March (Q1) 1976 in Pontypool.
Andrew COLDRIDGE & Elizabeth M MAGUIRE – Marriage registration June (Q2) 1983 in Cleveland.
Irene [Ena] COLDRIDGE – Death registration January 2002 in Newport, Mon [aged 76]. Date of birth 22nd March 1925.
Kenneth Frederick COLDRIDGE – Death registration June 2002 in Pontypool, Mon [aged 77]. Date of birth 18th February 1925.
The following records relate to my grandmother's family:
1901 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Devonport⧉ |
Henry ANDREWS Emma Jane ANDREWS Fredrick Henry ANDREWS Florence Emma ANDREWS Mabel Louise ANDREWS |
46 35 14 10 2 |
Head Wife Son Daughter Daughter |
Living on own means Office Boy H M D Yd |
The 1901 census records my grandmother's family in Devonport. Her father is no longer working.
1911 census for Devon
| Address | Name | Age | Relation | Occupation |
| Devonport⧉ 5 Beyrout Place |
Henry ANDREWS Emma Jane ANDREWS Fredrick Henry ANDREWS Florence Emma ANDREWS Mabel Louise ANDREWS |
56 44 24 20 12 |
Head Wife Son Daughter Daughter |
No occupation Fitter Machinist Tailoress School |
The 1911 census records my grandmother's family in Devonport, 6 years before she got married.
Henry Thomas ANDREWS & Emma Jane TURPIN – Marriage registration September (Q3) 1885 in Stoke Damerel.
According to his Royal Navy record, Henry ANDREWS was born on 25th July 1857, joined the service in October 1872 and on first entry was a Polisher on HMS Impregnable. He served on HMS Agincourt in 1881, was awarded the Egypt Medal and Khedive's Star in May 1883. He volunteered for a further 10 years' service in July 1885, but was discharged in February 1886 because of a problem with his ears.
Florence's birth certificate has the following information:
Florence Emma ANDREWS, born 21st March 1891, father Henry Thomas ANDREWS, Driller H.M. Dock Yard, mother Emma Jane ANDREWS, formerly TURPIN, living at 1 Ker Street, Devonport.
Florence's brother, Fred ANDREWS, emigrated to Western Australia in the early 1900s, where he married Ruth and managed a sheep farm on the Upper Kalgan River.
There is a record of Florence's younger sister's marriage:
Mabel ANDREWS & George W GORRILL – Marriage registration December (Q4) 1918 in Devonport.
George & Mabel's son Fred was born the following year. George died in 1935, aged 42, and Mabel subsequently re-married:
Mabel L GORRIL & Charles A LIVINGSTONE – Marriage registration June (Q2) 1938 in Plymouth.