John Skeeles

John Skeeles

In 1930, aged 77 years, John Skeeles started writing about St Ives and its residents. The image shows him in his workshop about the time he was creating his manuscript. He may still have been updating it at the time of his death three years later. Some details, such as dates, were left blank.

During the period he compiled his notes John was often asked 'What's the good of it? Who in a few years will care much about such things?' Besides gaining pleasure from the work, he anticipated a renewed interest in social history, the way our ancestors lived their lives. John's manuscript was based on his own and his family's knowledge of St Ives, backed up by various business documents dating from 1796.

The content of John's manuscript is wide ranging and replete with echoes of old St Ives. He writes about how congested and squalid parts of the town were in the early 1800s, of cholera epidemics caused by the unimaginably poor sanitary conditions, a corner of the Parish Church graveyard reserved for night burials of sufferers.

The Parish Church bells are a favourite topic, ringing out across the meadow to announce the death of one of the townsfolk. As one old lady used to say 'I can't abear to hear the bells ring for a wedding, but I do love to hear the big bell ring for a death.'

John records barge horses swimming across the river to arrive at The Quay via the slope at the far end beside the Masonic Hall. The barges would then be hauled across to the quayside, bridge traffic often halted to allow the horses to be led pulling into the alley beside the location of today's River Terrace Cafe.

Many of the chapters have an enormous amount of detail. Important buildings in the town, the 'Great Fire of St Ives', costs of various items such as wages, clothes and food, extinct industries of St Ives and lots of other facts of interest to social historians.

There's a record of old and extinct names of St Ivians and mention of many other residents. All surnames have been listed in the surname index. You can also search for the name of an ancestor (or any other search term) in John's manuscript. Guidance on how to do that is in how to search for content.

The Norris Museum has kindly agreed to allow publication. To make this copy the 1976 typed transcription from the original by C I Morris was used. To read John's manuscript in full, click here. The file may take a minute to appear.

Who was John Skeeles?

John was a St Ivian through and through. Born in the town in 1853, he lived his whole life in St Ives and carried on business as a builder.

His father Richard, also born in St Ives, was a builder, as was John's grandfather George Skeeles. The dynasty started with great grandfather Richard Skeeles, who moved to St Ives in 1782 or earlier.

In 1861 John, aged 7 years, was living with his father and mother, Charlotte, along with three elder brothers and one sister in Back Street, St Ives (the eastern part of East Street).

John's mother died in January 1866, aged 53 years, when John was 13yrs old. By 1871 the family were living in East Road. John's father and two uncles were partners in their own building business. John, aged 17 years, was an apprentice carpenter and joiner.

In 1879 John married Agnes Dunham. They lived at Crown Close in 1881. A son, Harold, was born in 1833.

In 1886 they moved to what was to become their family home, 4 Clarendon Terrace. Aged 28 years, John was doing well. He owned the freehold to his house. In 1890 a daughter, Maud, was born. By 1891 Agnes' infirmed 71 year old mother was living with them. In 1895 a daughter, Amy, was born.

John was running his own building business in 1901, employing his son Harold. By 1911 John's household comprised himself, his wife Agnes and 15yr old daughter Amy.

John died on Sunday 23 April 1933. His passing was reported in the Hunts Post 27 April 1933.