Since writing the article about Abberton Barkery in December Mersea LIFE, I have received more details from Mr Alan Smith.
Alan is the son of the late Frederick Smith, the last Smith Family owner of West Mersea Bakery. Alan had expected to follow his father into the Mersea business but the family were concerned that the expanding Tesco business would effect small businesses so he went into the water industry, starting as tea boy with the Colchester Water Company.
He worked his way up to eventually become Managing Director of Anglian Water. Now retired, he is researching the Smith family history which, of course, includes Abberton bakery. It seems Fred G Smith bought Abberton Bakery in 1902, but sadly his father George Frederick died just two weeks later. It would appear his death was quite unexpected and Fred G instead of moving to Abberton stayed on at Mersea to manage for his mother Mary, who's other son Preston went to Abberton.
After a while a Mr Boon was manager and in 1929 the Abberton Bakery was sold to another of Mary's sons Eddie. Eddie owned the bakery for around twenty years during which time he gave part of his garden to Lexden & Winstree Rural District Council for the erection of a water tower which provided the area with mains water for the first time. Previously water had come from a well under the bakery, was taken by horse drawn water cart and sold to the villagers.
The picture above shows the cart at the bakery. Eddie is seen standing by the horse. I am greatly indebted to Alan for providing the details of his research which is ongoing and will eventually be deposited with our Museum for us all to see.
Article from Mersea Life, February 2014, page 55. |