Page 79 - Redditch People

Redditch People

George Snr. & George Jnr. Heaphy

In 1831, during the time of William IV, George Heaphy set up stall in the Redditch
Shambles. The Shambles was an unadopted road leading from the main Evesham Street
it was later demolished and part of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre has been built on the
site. He survived the cholera epidemic of 1832 and in 1841 married Miss Margaret
Brasford, from Glastonbury, the daughter of a draper with a corner shop. George Junior
was born in 1842.

When the Shambles were demolished in 1861, George Senior and George Junior decided
to open a shop in Evesham Street. Business flourished and in 1876 they took over the old
stables on the corner of Walford Street and New street and converted it into a shop selling
bed linen and ladies' clothes. It was so popular that in 1893 they closed the shop in
Evesham Street and expanded their New Street shop.

George Senior and George Junior were both honest, hard-working Christians, regularly
attending the Congregational Church. Poor families were given clothing coupons by the
Rector of Saint Stephen's for them to exchange at Heaphys for overcoats and warm
clothing. The family sometimes worked until the early hours but at midnight on Saturday
night it was company policy that everyone laid down their tools. No one was allowed to
work on a Sunday.

George Junior was very friendly with Mr Morris who owned the grocer's shop opposite.

One afternoon, they were out together and they happened to pass a large barn south of

Alcester. Two painters were supposed to be tarring the barn, but they were fast asleep in

the sun. Tip-toeing up to the sl

eeping painters, the two

businessmen grabbed the brushes

and a pot of tar. Mr Heaphy wrote

in large letters on the front of the

barn 'Wear Heaphys Trousers'

while Mr Morris wrote, 'Drink

Morris's Tea'. The graffiti was cl

early visible from the road and was

only removed in the late 1980s.

George Jnr. and his wife Sarah, el
had six children, three boys and lo
three girls. Sarah died when their
dest son, Fritz was only twelve. He
promised his mother that he would
ok after the girls and he did,
assisted by a housekeeper until
one of the daughters, Tot, was old
enough to run the household.
Apparently, Tot ruled with a steel
hand, insisting on a strict regime
and not allowing any lax behaviour.

© RLHS 2015 Page: 79