Turvey family (block hat occupation) of Dunstable

[tornado]

My step Grandmother was Florence Turvey b 1895 in Bedfordshire . She came from a family of block hat makers in dunstable I believe . "Are there any Turvies out there connected here?". Just wanting to link up with other possible relatives . I think Dunstable in it's day was famous for hat making . Thanks

[CaroleW]

Have you checked the Surname Interests Board?  Scroll to bottom of page & link is under TOOLS

[hanes teulu]

Florence was employed at Kershaw's Hat Manufacturer, George Street, Luton.

https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Luton/InterestingbuildingsinLuton/71GeorgeStreetLuton.aspx

https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/CommunityHistories/Luton/LutonImages/George%20Street%20in%201901.jpg#George%20Street%20in%201901

[AlanBoyd]

I think Dunstable in it's day was famous for hat making .

Following on from HT's discovery of Florence Turvey's employer I was curious to see how large the Kershaw company was. Looking at Florence Turvey's 1921 record, the employer code is 348, which corresponds to Manufacture of clothing; Straw Hats (including straw plait). [Hat-related codes are 347-351]

I searched for:

employer code: 348
employer name: Kershaw
1921 location: Luton (5 mile radius)

and got 138 results.

Looking at a few records to confirm that what I was finding was reasonable. I immediately encountered families where one person might be employed at Kershaw's, but there were others employed at other straw hat manufacturers eg Mr Allen, Straw Hat Mfr.; Bates and Co. Straw Hat Mfr.; W. Slough and Sons; Mr A E Heley(?) Straw Hat Manufacturer; Mrs Jackson, Straw Hat Manufacturer. Even in the Turvey family, Florence's father Edwin was a blocker at the Crown Factory, Alfred Warren, Hat Manufacturer.

Just to get a feeling for the size of this industry in the district, I broadened the search by removing Kershaw, and got 8,686 hits. I checked ~15 of these and all were correct. So, yes, famous for hat-making.

[tornado]

Many thanks to you all for the support and information here . It is all wonderful news , which i can look into and add onto my f tree files . Also , I will checkout the area in Luton to see the type of housing Florence lived in . Thank you again and best wishes .

[AlanBoyd]

In 1921 Florence Turvey was at 101 Great Northern Road. Here is a map from 1963 including house numbers.

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19.5&lat=51.88508&lon=-0.51157&layers=170&b=osm&o=100

The house is still there, you can see it on Street View. In the Oct 2024 image it has scaffolding, select an older image to see it without.

The house appears in the Lloyd George Valuation Survey. It was surveyed on 9th April 1914. It appears from the documents that the houses had been recently renumbered: the house has initially been recorded as no. 35 but this has been crossed out and the document is annotated with 'No. 101'.

The occupant is recorded as 'W Lurvey'; the owner is a Mr Nash, the rent is paid monthly and is recorded as £14 (I believe this is the annual rent which would make the monthly rent £1 3s 4d).

The description is 'same as 268' which is a reference to the next door house, formerly 33, but crossed out and annotated as 'No. 103'. The description matches the house seen in street view:

Bay Right Up

Passage

Front Room
Living Room
Scullery
Cellar (under)
1st =
3 Bed rms
WC

Garden

In the 1911 census the Turvey family is indeed at no 35 Great Northern Road, which matches the inferred renumbering.

[AlanBoyd]

7 June 1917: Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

A DUNSTABLE M. M. — Spr. Stanley Turvey, R.E., son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Turvey, of 35, Great Northern-road, has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous seryice. The successful soldier, in a letter home, expressed surprise at finding his distinction posted in the orders of the day, and accepted it as "a good birthday present that money can't buy." The gallant Sapper, who is 23 to-day (Thursday) has been two years at the Front, and has just obtained a stripe for a two-years' clean sheet. Two other sons of Mr. and Mrs. Turvey, are in France, and another, the youngest, is training with the Herts Yeomanry nesr Sevenoaks.

[AlanBoyd]

Florence Turvey a bridesmaid at her brother's wedding:

27 September 1917: Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

MILITARY MEDALLIST MARRIED.—Spr. S. K. Turvey, R. E., third son of Mr. and Mrs, E. Turvey, of 35, Greai Northern-road, was quietly married at the Priory Church on Monday, to Miss E. Fleet, second daughter of Mr. J. Fleet, of Milton Bryant. The bride, who wore a gown of white silk, with veil, was attended by her sister, and Miss F. Turvey, sister of the bridegroom. Mr. J. Langley acted as best man. The bridesmaids wore pretty gowns of blue art silk. Pte. S. Turvey, now training at Sevenoaks, was among those at the ceremony, at which the Rector (Rev. Canon Baker) officiated. Spr. Turvey, who has altogether had considerably over two years' experience of France, and some months ago was awarded the Military Medal for service in the field, had obtained special leave, and is due to start again for the Front to-morrow (Friday). The numerous useful presents included a handsome cruet stand from Mr. E. Bandy, his former employer.

S K Turvey seems to be an error: he was Stanley John Turvey according to the 1911 census. And it was a happy ending: He survived the war and is found in 1921 living with his wife and in-laws in Milton Bryant, employed as a Hat and Bonnet Blockmaker by Mr E H Bandy, Blockmaker

[AlanBoyd]

Florence's wedding, 1923

23 August 1923: Luton News and Bedfordshire Chronicle

WEDDING.—A very pretty and interesting wedding took place at the Dunstable Priory Church on Saturday, contracting parties being Miss Florence Nellie Turvey, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Turvey, of 101, Great Northern-road, Dunstable, and Mr. W. Fleetwood Dean, of Liverpool. Canon W. W. C. Baker officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, was attired in a robe of white satin, trimmed with georgette and seed pearls: her veil was secured by a wreath of orange blossom. She also wore a necklace of pearls, and carried a bouquet of white carnations, both gifts of the bridegroom. There were five bridesmaids:— Miss Lizzie Turvey (sister), Miss Nellie Hayward (friend of the bride), who wore pretty dresses. of almond green crepe-de-chine, and carried bouquets of pink carnations., and wore gold brooches, gifts of the bridegroom, and the Misses Joan and Hilda Chapman, and Miss Vera Turvey, who looked very charming. being all in white and carrying baskets of flowers. The duties of best man were carried out by Mr. Sidney Turvey (brother of the bride). After the ceremony a number of guests were entertained at the home of the bride. The honeymoon is being spent at Penmænmawr North Wales, after which they will live at 429, West Derby-road, Newsham Park, Liverpool. There were many presents.