Jesse Lambourne, fishmonger

Born at Stanford in Berkshire in or about 1854, Jesse Lambourne was the son of Charles Lambourne, an agricultural labourer (1861 census). He appears on the 1891 census as a ‘Platelayer’ living in Staines (then in Middlesex, now in Surrey) but ten years later he was a ‘Fishmonger’ with premises on Church Street. Also present on the night of the 1901 census were his wife Eliza and their sons George (23), Thomas (17) and Jesse (14) and daughters Florence (15) and Gertrude (7).

The premises next door were occupied by 43-year-old hairdresser Frederick Taylor and his wife Harriet. According to the sign above his door, easily readable with a strong lens, he was ‘Licensed to Sell Tobacco, Cigars & Snuff.’

On 17 September 1906 Jesse Junior died, aged 19, ‘after an operation for appendicitis at St Thomas’s Hospital, London’ (Middlesex & Surrey Express, 21 September 1906).

Jesse Lambourne Senior ‘of Grenfell Cottage New-road Egham Surrey’ died, aged 54, on 27 February 1908, leaving an estate valued at £70.

Reports and advertisements in local newspapers consistently refer to Jesse Lambourne as a ‘fishmonger.’ It is therefore surprising to see this huge display of turkeys, geese and (on the left) rabbits outside his shop. Jesse is presumably the man seen here standing on the far right. The girl standing in the doorway is possibly his younger daughter, Gertrude May Lambourne, and the boy beside her one of Jesse’s three sons.

Photographer unidentified.