Bath Road │1   previous /  next  |  main map  /  bath road map

119 Bath Road (formerly Prospect House/Cottage)

In 1841 Prospect Cottage was the home of bricklayer Thomas Clarke and his family. Ten years later the occupier of Prospect Cottage was Charles Cary, a Norfolk-born boot and shoe maker. In 1850 he had married Penelope, one of the daughters of Thomas Clarke and in 1851 they named their new son Thomas Clarke Cary, in honour of her father.

By 1851 the census lists both Prospect House and Prospect Cottage so it is difficult to know exactly which is the present building. The 1855 map shows two properties but only one is named “Prospect Cottage”.

During the next 30 years Prospect Cottage was the home to tailors and dressmakers. Amongst them was John Sparkes and Mary Lawrence.

The 1881 census lists Prospect Cottage as the home of dressmaker Harriet Mantell. Harriet was a spinster born in Bradlow, Herefordshire who died at the age of 50 in 1902.

Prospect House, next door, was the home of Thomas Spencer, a watchmaker, who was born in 1834 in Malmesbury. He had lived there since at least 1861 and had been married to Annie Mantle in 1855. Annie was also born in Bradlow, Herefordshire and there must have been a family connection between her and Harriet (Mantell and Mantle are probably versions of the same name).

In 1861 Thomas Spencer employed his brother James as an apprentice watchmaker and in due course his son Alfred assumed this position. Sadly the couple lost two of their other sons, one who died in infancy and William who died in 1874, at the age of 11, after having been hit on the head with a stone thrown by a schoolmate in Croft Street. Thomas Spencer died in 1887 at the age of just 53.

By 1891 there was just one property listed here – Prospect House. It was still the home of Annie Spencer and her family, whilst her nephew, Frederick Charles Mantell , an apprentice watchmaker, was also living with the family.

By 1901 Prospect House was the home of Ralph Rogers described in the census of that year as a manservant. He worked for Mr E. Scott-Skirving of Cheltenham College and lived here with his wife and four young children. In 1911 they emigrated to Canada.

By 1920 this was the home of Mr and Mrs Tucker and their Fine Art Gallery. Mr Ernest J Tucker was described as a photographic artist and Mrs Tucker was known as the Lady Photographer. They also had a picture framing business.

In about 1928 the studio became Prospect Cafe. Owned initially by William Green, it was bought the following year by Mr Leslie Charles Townsend, a baker formerly employed by the well known George’s Bakery at their Weston-Super-Mare branch. Mr and Mrs Townsend ran the cafe and converted the front of the shop into a bakers shop. The living quarters were at the side of the property and the bakery itself at the rear. The property stretched back almost to Commercial Street.

1950

Townsends supplied cakes to many events at Cheltenham College, including the annual cricket festival. Mr Townsend’s speciality cakes were much sought after.

Picture 1960s advertisement

When Mr Townsend retired the property was sold to Mr Hackett who shortly after sold it to Mr Ernest Marshall, a well known confectioner. Mr Marshall had a sweet making factory in town behind the Public Library employing about 150 people. He made rum truffles and Devon toffee and his well-known Marshalls Fruits as well as jams and preserves. He made sweets in the Bath Road shop whilst his wife served in the shop.

The shop was called Ye Olde Copper Kettle Candy Shop a name that went perfectly with the bow-fronted shop.

In 1971 the First Church of Christ, Scientist purchased 119 Bath Road and after refurbishment opened 27th March 1972 as the Christian Science Reading Room. At the end of 1981 the living accommodation was separated from the retail premises and sold. Whilst this work was going on the Reading Rooms were temporarily housed in Bayshill Road, returning to Bath Road in January 1982. After more than 50 years here, in the autumn of 2022 the church vacated the building, which was then refurbished awaiting new occupants.

The rear of 119 was divided into two workshops. From 1979 monumental sculptor Philip Boulton occupied one of them and French Polisher R K Goodhall the other. In 2007 Mr Goodhall retired and Mr Boulton moved on.

Christian Science Reading Room

Christian Science Reading Room

Research: Marilyn West & Stuart Manton

If you have any further information or photographs of this property please let us know via the contacts page.