Thomas DAWES "The Builder"

There used to be a large windmill at the top of Belton Road. It was owned by the Cutress family and was used to mill flour for their bakery which is now Forfars Bakers. Click here for more information on the Cutress family.

Thomas DAWES (1840-1925) purchased the windmill, tore it down and recycled the bricks and other materials to build terrace homes on Belton Road. The top of Belton Road is shown at right and the windmill was situated in the vacant spot st the top of the street. Thomas didn't start out as a carpenter or builder.

In the 1861 census, at age 21, he is shown as living with his mother (Ann LANGRIDGE) and step-father (James GALLOP) in Brighton and working as a wheelwright. Hi father (Thomas "The Bricklayer") had died in 1851, at age 42, when my great-grandfather was only eleven. He later remarked to his grandson, Reg Barnes, that he put on his fathers boots and walked from Uckfield to Brighton to find work. I don't know when he did this because his mother didn't re-marry until 1856.

By 1871, they are living at 9 Old Shoreham Road. Thomas is now married to Sarah Ann BOXALL (1841-1890) and is recorded as a house painter. Sons Walter and Ernest born in 1864 and 1866 had been added to the family.

In 1881, they are living at 9 Old Shoreham Road he is still a house painter. Children Bertha - b. 1871, , Alice - b. 1872, Minnie - b. 1874, Ada - b. 1876 and Tom - b. 1880 (my grandfather) had been added to the family. Walter is listed as a house painters apprentice and Ernest is listed as a carpenters apprentice so they must have been helping to build the family business.

In 1891, they have moved to 54 Springfield Road and Thomas is still listed as a house painter. His wife Sarah had died in 1890 and one more child, Albert Henry - b. 1882 has been added to the family. Walter and Ernest are no longer living at home and are found elsewhere in the census. Walter married Lucy Ann Gaston in 1887 and Ernest married Mary Jane Wright in 1890.

The 1901 census now records Thomas as a builder and still living at 54 Springfield Road. he has re-married to Sarah ROUST (1851-1928) and has added the final child to the family, Thomas George - b. 1895. Alice, Ada and Albert Henry from his first marriage are still living at home.

By 1911, which is the last census available, Thomas is recorded as a builder and house decorator. Still at 54 Springfield Road he has his second wife Sarah, son Thomas George and brother-in-law George Roust living with him.

The 1905 Kelly's Directory of Sussex lists Thomas Dawes as a Builder located at 54 Springfield Road. The directory can be found at http://www.historicaldirectories.org/

In 1925, Thomas dies at age 84 and he leaves the family business and the premises at 54 Springfield Road to his oldest son Walter. The Brighton and Hove Herald of Saturday January 17, 1925 printed this funeral notice.

A large number of relatives and friends attended St. Augustine's Church, Standore Avenue, on Wednesday, to pay their last tribute to the memory of Mr. Thomas Dawes, who passed away last week at 54 Springfield Road, at the age of eighty-four.

Mr. Dawes was a well known and highly respected builder in the Preston Park district. Until quite recently he retained an active interest in the business which he founded nearly fifty years ago, and which is now being carried on by his son, Mr. Walter Dawes.

The funeral service took place on what would have been Mr. Dawes' eighty-fifth birthday had he lived. The Vicar (the Rev. J.E. Page, M.A.) officiated, and impressive music was played by the organist, Dr. Alfred Abdey, F.R.C.O.

Among those present in the church were several members of the Brunswick Lodge of Manchester Unity of Oddfellows, of which Mr. Dawes was a member for sixty-five years.

The mourners were the widow, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Dawes, Mr. T.G. Dawes A.R.C.O., Mr. E. Dawes, Miss Gladys Dawes, Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Dawes, Mr. and Mrs. W. Barnes, Miss Moon, Mr. G. Roust, Mr. C. Tampkin, Mr. T. Gardner (representing Mr. and Mrs. T. Dawes and family, of Montreal, Canada), Mr. W.T. Dawes, Mr. A.E. Saunders, and Mr. G.S. Godfree.

There were many floral tributes, including those sent by the following:

The Widow and family; Charlie and family; Mr. and Mrs. James Horton-Stephens; Mr. G.S. Godfree; Tom, Carrie and the Children in Canada; Miss Howell; Ellen and Nellie (Eastbourne); Mr. and Mrs. Hall; Mr. and Mrs. Phillimore (Worthing); the Employees; and the Officers and Members of the Loyal Brunswick Lodge, I.O.O.F., Brighton District, Manchester Unity.

My Legacy...lost

One of my great-grandfathers was Thomas DAWES (1840-1925) whom I call "The Builder" because he built more than 100 houses in Brighton during the first part of the twentieth century. I do this to differentiate him from his predecesors Thomas (1809-1851) "The Bricklayer" and Thomas (1769-1943) "The Labourer."

In his will dated 22 Sep 1924 and probated 21 Apr 1925 Thomas left sixteen of his houses to his children and grandchildren among other things. Here is a transcript of that portion of the will

"I give and devise my freehold houses as follows: (a) No 25 Belton Road and No 66 Beaconsfield Road to the said Walter Dawes in fee simple (b) Nos. 44 and 46 Belton Road and No. 114 Chester Terrace to Ernest Dawes in fee simple (c) No. 92 Chester Terrace to my Grand-Daughter Gladys Dawes of 11 Havelock Road, Brighton in fee simple (d) No. 27 Belton Road and No. 112 Chester Terrace to Minnie Barnes in fee simple (e) Nos. 40 and 48 Belton Road and No. 94 Chester Terrace to Tom Dawes in fee simple (f) Nos. 29 and 31 Belton Road and No. 2 Sandgate Road to Albert Henry Dawes in fee simple (h) No. 20 Lowther Road and No. 16 Dyke Road Drive to the said George Dawes in fee simple"

What is interesting here is he left out some children. His daughter, Bertha Tampkin, died in 1921 but he omitted her widower and his two grandsons Charles and Sydney Tampkin. Also excluded was his daughter, Alice Goldsmith, who had emigrated to New Zealand. He included his daughter, Minnie Barnes, but excluded the others, why?

These terrace houses are worth about £300,000, or more, in today's market making their total value C$1,530,000. If my father only knew!

My grandfather, Tom Dawes, died in 1933 shortly after inheriting the houses. His widow, my grandmother Carrie, had to sell the houses to survive after he died. Unfortunately, that was just before WWII and they weren't worth much. Family lore has it that his half-brother, George, either looked after the sale or bought the houses himself.

The top photo is No. 48 Belton Road, the middle is No. 40 Belton Road and the bottom is No. 94 Chester Terrace.

The Thomas (2) DAWES Line

This is the main line that I descend through. Thomas "the builder" was born in Framfield on 14 Jan 1840 and was baptised twice in Holy Cross Church, Uckfield. The first time was 29 Aug 1842 and the second time 22 Oct 1843 along with his new sister, Ann b. 1843.

Thomas and his first wife, Sarah Ann BOXALL (1841-1890) had nine children. He remarried Sarah ROUST (1851-1928) in 1894 and had one more child.

Thomas worked his way up from wheelwright, to house painter, to house decorator and finally to house builder under Thomas Dawes & Sons, Brighton. His company built over 100 houses in Brighton.

Thomas DAWES "The Builder" c1890 and his final resting place.