Charles Henry Brown (1858–1946)
Mayor of Oxford 1932/3
Charles Henry Brown in 1932/3
(Picture Oxon 0655097)
Charles Henry Brown was born at Finchley in Middlesex on 29 May 1858 and baptised there on 5 December.
His parents were George Benjamin Brown, a gardener who was born at Beddingham in Norfolk, and Sarah, surname unknown, born at Chediston in Suffolk in c.1856.
Charles's parents moved around the country. Their first child Katherine (or Catherine) Brown was born at Chediston in Suffolk in 1852; George Benjamin Brown was born at Tongham in Surrey in c.1855/6 and baptised at Aldershot on 6 July 1856; Charles himself was born in Shoreditch in 1858; Herbert Brown was born in Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire in 1859; and the first of their two sons given the name Walter Brown was born at Hatfield, Hertfordshire in 1860.
At the time of the 1861 census Charles (2) was living at Cold Harbour, Finchley with his father George (31), who had been a carman in 1856 and was now a domestic coachman, his mother Sarah (30), and his siblings Katherine (8), George (5), and Walter (five months).
Young Charles continued to move around the country with his parents, and his second brother to be given the name Walter Brown was born at Alvenham, Hertfordshire in 1863, and his next brother Arthur Brown was born in Edgeware, Middlesex in 1866.
The family then moved to Cassington in Oxfordshire, where Charles attended the Bluecoat School, and his youngest brother Frank Donald Brown was born there in early 1871. At the time of the 1871 census Charles (12) was living at the Vicarage in Cassington with his father George (42), who was now a farm bailiff, his mother Sarah (42), and his siblings Katherine (18), Herbert (10), Walter (7), Arthur (4), and Frank (one month). The Vicar of Cassington lived alone in part of the Vicarage as a lodger.
Charles's his first job was with a wheelwright at Enstone, working from 6am to 8pm. He was then apprenticed to a harness-maker at Bicester for five years. His future wife Mary Ann George was born in Bicester in 1855 (the daughter of the tailor Henry George and his wife Mary), and it seems likely that he met her during his apprenticeship. He went on to work at Eynsham and then in London. He also had a period as a journeyman at Faringdon (then in Berkshire).
On 21 December 1879 at St Thomas's Church, Bethnal Green, Middlesex, the future Mayor of Oxford Charles Henry Brown (21), described as a saddler, married Mary Ann George (24): they were both then living in Wellington Row in Bethnal Green. They had ten children, two of whom died in infancy:
- George Henry Brown junior (born at Bethnal Green in London in 1880)
- Charles Herbert Walter Brown (born at Shoreditch on 25 July 1882)
- Gertrude Annie Brown (born at 8 Canal Street, Jericho, Oxford on 1 October 1883 and baptised at St Barnabas Church on 4 November; died at that address aged eleven weeks, with funeral at St Barnabas Church on 26 December 1883 (probably buried in St Sepulchre's Cemetery)
- Sarah Katherine Lucy Brown (born at 20 Albert Street, Jericho, Oxford on 13 December 1885 and baptised at St Barnabas Church on 14 January 1886): known as Catherine
- Hilda Lily Brown (born at 20 Albert Street, Jericho, Oxford on 25/26 June 1887 and baptised at St Barnabas Church on 21 July 1887)
- Arthur William Brown (born at 20 Albert Street, Oxford in 1889/90 and baptised at St Peter-le-Bailey Church on 16 March 1890)
- Frederick Thomas Brown (born at 20 Albert Street, Jericho, Oxford on 28 December 1891 and baptised at St Barnabas Church on 24 January 1892; died at 13 St Aldate's Street aged two months, with funeral on 20 March 1892 at St Barnabas Church (probably buried in St Sepulchre's Cemetery)
- Edith Emily Brown (born at 13 St Aldate's Street, Oxford on 31 July 1895 and baptised at St Aldate's Church on 23 August)
- Elsie Mary Brown (born at 13 St Aldate's Street. Oxford on 25 September 1897 and baptised at St Aldate's Church on 20 October)
- Frank Reginald Brown (born at 13 St Aldate's Street, Oxford on 13 March 1901 and baptised at St Aldate's Church on 10 April)
The couple began their married life in London, first in Bethnal Green and then in Shoreditch (Hackney). At the time of the 1881 census Charles (23), who was now a saddle & harness maker, spent census night on his own at 47 St Peter Street, Hackney. His wife Mary Brown (25) and their baby son George (two months) were paying a visit to his parents-in law Henry and Mary George in their home in the Market Place, Bicester.
By October 1883 Charles Henry Brown had moved with his family to the city of Oxford and set up his own business there in Jericho, settling at 20 Albert Street by 1885..
At the time of the 1891 census Charles (32), described as a self-employed saddle and harness-maker, was living at 20 Albert Street, Jericho with his wife Mary Ann (35) and their first five children George (10), Charles (8), Sarah (5), Hilda (3), and Arthur (1).
Kelly’s Directory for 1891 listed him as “Brown Charles Henry, 12 St Aldate’s st & 20 Albert st”, and from 1895 his home address was 13 St Aldate's Street. In 1899 his address was given in Kelly's Directory as both 12 & 13 St Aldate's Street.
On 1 August 1899 his son Charles Herbert Walter Brown, who had just had his 17th birthday and had been working as a footman, enlisted in the Royal Marines.
The 1901 census shows Charles (45), described as a saddle and harness maker and an employer, living at 13 St Aldate’s Street with his wife Mary Ann (42) and six of their eight surviving children: Sarah (15), who was working as a dressmaker, Hilda (13), Arthur (11), Edith (5), Elsie (3), and Frank (eighteen days).
His son Charles, who now described himself as submariner, was married in 1908:
- On 28 December 1908 at St Aldate's Church, Oxford, Charles Herbert Walter Brown (26) married
Edith Kate Taylor (23) of 21 Buckingham Street, the daughter of the bus driver Charles Richard Taylor.
At the time of the 1911 census Charles (52) was still a saddle and harness maker living at 13 St Aldate's Street with his wife Mary Ann (55) and their three youngest children Edith (15), Elsie (13), and Frank (10). Two of his daughters were working as servants: Sarah (27) was the maid of an elderly widow in Brighton and Hilda (23) was a domestic nurse in Seend, Wiltshire.
By 1914 Charles Henry Brown was listed in Kelly's Directory as a saddler & harness maker at 13 St Aldate's Street and at Market Buildings in Market Street.
Brown came on to the City Council as the Liberal representative for the South Ward in 1916.
By 1920 he was living at 1 Wytham Street in South Oxford.
The 1921 census shows Brown (63), described as a saddler & harness maker and employer in the Market Builldings, Market Street, living at 1 Wytham Street with his wife Mary Ann and two of his daughters: Sarah Catherine Lucy Brwn (35), the proprietress of tea rooms at 98 The Market, and Elsie Mary Brown (23)., a shorthand typist for the ironmongers Barlow & Alden at 5 High Street.
Two more of his children were married in the 1920s:
- On 26 August 1920 at St Matthew's Church, Oxford, Edith Emily Brown (25) of 1 Wytham Street, New Hinksey married Percy Stuart Mills (27) of 16 Newton Road, the son of the late Christopher Mills, commercial traveller
- Near the end of 1926 in the Bicester registration district Frank Reginald Brown married Iris May Rouse, who was born in Souldern near Bicester on 22 February 1902.
Brown was elected Sheriff of Oxford for 1923/4 and an Alderman in 1930
In 1932 Brown was elected Mayor of Oxford (for 1932/3). He took an interest in the launching of the Hinksey swimming pools and the allotment movement. He was a Governor of the Radcliffe Infirmary, and a Member of the Board of Guardians (and later of the Public Assistance Committee).
By 1927 Kelly’s Directory lists “Brown C.H. & Son, saddlers, Market bldgs, Market st”, and this business continued until after Brown's death (with the premises latterly called Market House). By the 1930s the demand for saddles was presumably diminishing, and they were advertising themselves as having “the most complete range of dog requisites in the district” and as “Oxford's Doggy Specialist”
Brown was for many years a sidesman at St Aldate’s Church, and was also a member of the Diocesan Guild of Bell Ringers. He was an honorary member of Hannington Rowing Club. He belonged to the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society, and was an Honorary Member of the Ancient Order of Foresters and Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of Britons, and the Buffaloes. He was also a member of the Alfred Lodge of Freemasons.
His wife Mary Ann Brown died on 16 November 1934 at the age of 79 and was buried at Wolvercote Cemetery on 20 November.
Brown retired from the city council in 1941.
He was still living at 1 Wytham Street in 1943, but by 1945 was at 45 St John Street, Oxford.
† Charles Henry Brown died at 45 St John Street at the age of 88 on 24 August 1946. His funeral was at St Aldate’s Church on 27 August, and was attended by his sons George H. Brown, Charles H. W. Brown, and Arthur W. Brown, and his daughters Miss Elsie Mary Brown, Mrs Edith Mills, and Miss Hilda Lily Brown. He was buried with his wife at Wolvercote Cemetery (Grave C1/147).
His effects came to £600 10s., and his executors were his youngest son Frank Reginald Brown, who was also a saddler, and his solicitor.
The eight surviving children of Charles Henry Brown
- George Henry Brown junior (born 1880) is hard to find after the 1891, when he was still in Oxford. He may be the George Henry Brown who married Kathleen Alice Lay in the Woolwich district near the beginning of 1902 as the 1911 census shows that he was Oxford-born. He was then a greengrocer living with his wife at 99 Abbey Wood Road, Plumstead. He attended his father's funeral in 1946.
- Charles Herbert Walter Brown (born 1882) remained in the Royal Marines and was re-engaged in 1912 (service record here). On 17 May 1910 when he and his wife Edith had their daughter Helena Mary Kate Brown (born 27 July 1910) baptised at St Aldate's Church he was a Corporal in the Royal Marines and living at Avon Cottage, San Diego Road, Gosport, Hampshire. He died in the Gosport area at the age of 68 and his Royal Marine records state that the date of his death was 12 August 1950. He was buried with his parents in Wolvercote Cemetery.
- Sarah Katherine (or Catherine) Lucy Brown (born 1885), known as Catherine, never married. She remained in Oxford, where she founded Brown's Café in the Covered Market. On 5 December 1923 the Oxford Journal Illustrated published a photograph of a cottage mock-up showing Devonshire clotted cream at a trades exhibition, “the stand of Miss Brown, of market café fame”. At the time of the 1939 Register she was living at 14a Broad Street, Oxford. In 1941 Kelly's Directory lists "Brown, S. C. L. (Miss), dining rms 92 & 128, 129 & 130 The Market". She died at Flat 4, Douglas Veale House, Trafford Road, Headington, Oxford at the age of 92 on 26 October 1977, with an obituary in the Oxford Times on 4 November 1977 (p 2). Brown's Café is still going strong at 92 The Market in 2025.
- Hilda Lily Brown (born 1887) never married. She was at Leatherhead in Surrey at the time of the 1939 Register doing domestic work for a barrister. She was living at the Alms House in Kidlington when she died at the Cowley Road Hospital on 30 May 1961 and was buried at Botley Cemetery.
- Arthur William Brown (born 1889/90) is hard to trace after the 1901 census. He attended his father's funeral in 1946.
- Edith Emily Brown, Mrs Mills (born 1895) was living at 32 Kennington Road (then in Berkshire) at the time of the 1939 Register with her husband Percy Mills, who was a certified accountant, and their daughter Mary E. Mills, a student teacher born in Oxford on 6 August 1923. Her husband died in the Abingdon district at the age of 59 near the beginning of 1952, and Edith herself died aged 87 in the Oxford district near the beginning of 1968.
- Elsie Mary Brown (born 1897) never married. She died in the Abingdon registration district in 1974.
- Frank Reginald Brown (born 1901) went into partnership with his father and took the saddlery business at some point before the latter died in 1946. On 15 December 1938 Frank Reginald Brown of Market Buildings, Market Street, a saddler signed a tenancy agreement for two years for two rooms on the first floor of Market Buildings. The 1939 Register shows him described as a saddle & harness maker and living at 53 Portland Road in Summertown with his wife Iris May Brown. Iris died at Bampton, Oxfordshire at the age of 45 and was buried at her home village of Souldern on 25 February 1948.
(Frank's death is hard to find. A Frank Reginald Brown of 6 The Garth, Yarnton died at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford at the age of 50 on 27 January 1952, but he had married Alice Laura Ashton or Brown in Oxford in 1947, the year before Iris's death.)
The saddlery firm C. H. Brown & Son continued to be listed at the Market Buildings until 1962. This photograph is not very clear, but shows a general view of the Market Buildings in 1949.
See also:
- Oxford Monthly, July 1933, pp. 26–7
- Oxford Monthly, November 1933, p. 27
- Oxford Times, 30 August 1946, p. 8c (obituary)
- 1871 Census: Oxford (Cassington), 1448/30
- 1891 Census: Oxford (St Thomas 6), 1169/120
- 1901 Census: Oxford (St Aldate), 1384/27
