No 6 & 8 Church Street
 
 

1896
The workshop building now numbered 2 - 8 was built by James Powditch, a carpenter and builder, for his engineer brother William Powditch who has been operating from much smaller premises down the street at No 44 Church Street. Although the wall plaque records 1896 as the construction date, William is still giving his address as No 44 two years later. Perhaps he keeps both premises going for a year or two. For more about the Powditch family see The Sole Bay Inn at No 7 East Green.

post 1898
William Powditch -General engineer, whitesmith, gas and hot & cold water fitter, bell hanger. For more about the Powditch family, click here.

1901
Arthur Fairweather and Sydney Percy James - Trading as Fairweather & James - letterpress printers. The firm is established this year. Arthur Fairweather is a Woodbridge-based printer and stationer and we have no evidence that he is actively involved in the Southwold business. Perhaps he is a 'sleeping partner'.. (C1901-11)
 

1916
Sydney Percy James - Printers (K1916)
 

1924
Sydney Percy James - Printers (K1924)
 

1939
Sydney Percy James - Printers (SRB1939)

1940
Sydney Percy James - Printers. The firm closes this year when the town is evacuated. (SRB1940)

Late 1940s
Leslie James (Sydney's son) and his son Roger James, reopen the firm after the War as 'Southwold Press' and move out of this addres into the premises next door, No 2 & 4 Church Street.(LM)

The premises later becomes part of the Adnams bottling plant.
 



 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 



   

Do you have any memories or records about this address? Can you correct any of our information or fill in any of our blanks? If so, please email Barry Tolfree
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SOURCES:
BSD - Bernard Segrave-Daly
BCS = Bygones & Characters of Southwold by Barrett Jenkins
C = Census
CP = Cinema Programme 1958
CSP = Coronation Souvenir Programme 1953
G = Gales Trade Directory
GRO = General Register Office
K = Kelly's Directory
LM = Local memory
M = James Maggs' Southwold Diary 1818-1876
MCG = Methodist Church Guide 1930
NA = National Archives
PP = Pantomime Programme 1933
PLR = Petrol Licence Records
POD = Post Office Directory
PPP = Pier Pavilion Programme 1924, 1926
RCE = Rotary Club Exhibition 1969
SCM = Southwold Catholic Magazine 1923
SCTG = Southwold Corporation Tourist Guide
SER = Southwold Electoral Register
SFP = Southwold Scouts Fete Programme 1947
SG = Southwold Guide
SGCH = Southwold Golf Club Handbook
SLHR = Southwold Local History Recorder 1980s 1990s (Mrs R. McDermot)
SMHS = Southwold Museum & Historical Society
SN = Southwold & Neighbourhood 1903
SPM = Southwold Parish Magazine 1895 -1954
SR = Southwold Recorder 1927, 1932, 1934, 1935
SRB = Southwold Rate Book
SRT = Southwold Railway Timetable 1915
SSAS = Southwold Sea Angling Society Handbook 1909
SST = Southwold Summer Theatre Programmes
SSW = Southwold Shopping Week Programme, June/July 1922
STG = Southwold Town Guide 1930
SVL = Southwold Visitors List 1907, 1930
SVCP = Southwold Victory Celebration Programme 1946
SWCG = Southwold Wesleyan Church Guide
TTR = 'The Town Revisited' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 2000
TTT = ''To The Town' - Portraits of Southwold by Stephen Wolfenden 1988
W = White’s History, Gazetteer and Directory of Suffolk 1874
 
Note on dates
Unless otherwise stated, dates given do not indicate the years in which the business started or finished but those for which there is firm evidence that it was trading at this address. Sources in brackets; key at bottom of page.


Nos 6-8 are the premises to the right of the picture



Plaque recording that William Powditch occupied the premises which had been built for him by his brother, James in September1896.

William Powditch as a young man with cornet.
He and his brother, James, were both cornet players in the Town Band.
Photo reproduced courtesy of Carol Stone (nee Powditch)

Click the picture to enlarge

William Powditch, front right, pictured during the building of Southwold Harbour in the early years of the 20th Century.
A section of a photo provided by Carol Stone (nee Powditch

Click the image to see the complete photo.

William Powdich with his daughter, Hilda on the left of the picture and his niece, Ivy (daughter of his brother, James).
Photo courtesy of Carol Stone