No 6 Park Lane
 
 

1896
Samuel May - Boat Owner. (K1896).

Sam was a legendary local lifeboatman. Born in 1860 into a long-established Southwold seafaring family, he spent much of his life as a fisherman. Between the ages of 27 and 57, he crewed lifeboats, and served aboard the Alfred Corry for the whole of its service life. He took charge as the boat’s coxswain from 1898. In the whole of his service he never failed to get the lifeboat launched and the lifeboat was never afloat without him.

Sam May marries Harriet Hannah Manning in 1881. The couple have no children. They move next door, to No 8 Park Lane, some time between now and 1906. In his later years Sam runs a bathing machine hire business.

Read more about the May family at No 64 Victoria Street.



 

 
 
 



 




 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
   

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
Our forum facility has been withdrawn by the provider. Sorry for the inconvenience. We are looking for an alternative.

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.



No 6 is the house on the left. No 8 is the one with the small front door to its right.

Sam May

Sam May 1860 - 1923 (Southwold Museum P629)

Sam May in his hut. (Southwold Museum P630)

A model of the Alfred Corry Lifeboat

A model of the 'Alfred Corry' hangs above Sam May's seat in St Edmund's Church.