The Brickmakers of St Albans (index)
George Farr Arnold
Because of the amount of information available on George Farr Arnold this biographical note has been divided into three sections:
Family History
Building and Brickmaking Activities
Community and other Activities
George ARNOLD married Temperance FARR on 1 Oct 1804 at Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire and the children listed below were baptised in the church over the following years:
| Mary Ann ARNOLD Geo. Farr ARNOLD Sarah ARNOLD Sarah ARNOLD William ARNOLD Maria ARNOLD |
11 Aug 1805 20 Jan 1809 4 May 1811 28 Mar 1813 30 Jul 1815 7 Dec 1817 |
George Farr ARNOLD married Susannah FOSTER at Aspley Guise on 15th May 1837. At the time of the 1841 census the couple were living in Apsley Guise, Bedfordshire:
| George ARNOLD | 30 | M | Builder | Beds |
| Susannah ARNOLD | 30 | F | Beds | |
| Frederick JACKSON | 18 | M | Carpenter | Beds |
George is not listed in the 1847 poll book for the Borough of St Albans, or the 1850/1 Post Office Directory for Hertfordshire, but the couple are listed in St Peters Street, St Albans, in the 1851 census:
| George Farr ARNOLD | Head | 41 | M | Joiner & Builder | Aspley. Beds |
| Susannah ARNOLD | Wife | 39 | F | Aspley, Beds |
George has an extended entry in the 1855 Post Office Directory which reads : Arnold, George Farr, carpenter, contractor, undertaker & agent to the Kent Mutual fire & life assurance company, St Peter's Street.
The 1861 census shows him in St Peters Street with a different wife. and in the fourth quarter of 1855 George Farr Arnold married Emma Bachelor in the St Albans area [details not checked].
| George F. ARNOLD | Head | 57 | M | Builder & Brickmaker occupying 60 acres of land employing 34 men & 3 boys. | Aspley Guise. Beds |
| Emily ARNOLD | Wife | 48 | F | Hertford, Herts | |
| Rose MATTHEWS | Servant | 21 | F | General Servant | Harpenden, Herts |
In the 1862 and 1866 directories he is simply listed as builder.
An Emily Arnold is registered as dying in the St Albans area in the first quarter of 1865 and on 3rd August 1865 George married Eliza Coote at the Old Church, St Pancras, London.
In 1870 he has become a brick & lime manufacturer, 42 St Peter's Street, and the 1871 census shows the household as
| George Farr ARNOLD | Head | 62 | M | Brickmaker | Aspley. Beds |
| Eliza ARNOLD | Wife | 57 | F | Hertford, Herts | |
| Elizabeth FOOKES | Servant | 17 | F | Woburn, Beds |
In the 1878, 1882 and 1886 directories he is listed simply as a brickmaker. He was at 42 St Peters Street, St Albans, at the time of the 1881 census:
| George F ARNOLD | Head | 72 | M | Brick Maker (30 persons) | Aspley Guise, Beds |
| Eliza ARNOLD | Wife | 68 | F | Woodford, Essex | |
| Sarah A. BOON | Serv. | 23 | F | Dom Servant | Hatfield, Herts |
| Elizabeth ALLEN | Serv. | 20 | F | Dom Servant | St Peters, Herts |
He is listed as a private resident in St Peter's Street in the 1890 directory and in the 1891 census was living in London Road, St Albans, possibly with another wife.
| George F ARNOLD | Head | 82 | M | Retired Builder | Beds |
| Ann ARNOLD | Wife | 78 | F | Essex | |
| Ellen GUNTER | Serv. | 21 | F | Domestic Servant | Herts |
George Farr Arnold's death is registered in the St Albans area in the first quarter of 1897. There is no evidence that he had any children by any of his wives.
Baptism, marriage and death information comes from familysearch, the Vital Records Index, and FreeBMD
Building and Brickmaking Activities
Arnold's Brick Works about 1880.
Advert for Brickworks in Victoria Road in 1858
Advert for New Brickworks on Bernards Heath in 1864
G F Arnold v. Charnock - Dispute over Bricks in St Albans in 1866
Annual Brickfield Treat in 1869
Building Ground for Sale in 1873
Community and other Activities
George Farr Arnold was General Superintendent of the Fire brigade in 1856. see Fire Brigade, St Albans, late 19th century
If you can add to the information given above tell me.
Page updated March 2007