====== 12A St. Austins Lane ======

No. 12A is part of the jigsaw of houses on the north side of St. Austins Lane. They are all very old but in the case of 12A we’re not quite sure how old.

The building was originally a one and a half storey, close-studded, oak timber-framed house but there is evidence of timber re-used which makes it difficult to date. The building was listed Grade II in 1972 and the listing text plumps for “C16 or earlier”.

There is certainly a very good case for no. 12A working in conjunction with 13 and 14 as a large residence and indeed 12A has an internal door head that would once have led into 13.

In the late 18th or early 19th century there was a roof raise which made the house a full two storeys with attic rooms in the roof space. The roof raise was completed in pine and this ties up with no. 13 suggesting that the house was still “as one” at that time and simultaneously upgraded.

At some stage the frontage was rebuilt in brick and this could have been done earlier than or at the same time as the 19th century windows and shop front we see today.

===== Occupants =====

We have no suggestions for the early occupants of the building but can take a guess that the 1766 will of Captain Thomas Hearn, which specifies his house on the “north side of St. Austins Lane”, is referring to all or part of the interconnected block from 12A to 14.

When St. Austins Lane is numbers in the 1850s we start finding reference to 12 St. Austins Lane. Today there is no 12, just 11A and 12A and we have concluded that no. 12 once had a combined commercial and residential use and 12A became attached to the residential part of the property.

In 1861 we believe that Abraham Precious was living at the house with Elizabeth his niece as housekeeper. Abraham was a bootmaker and it is possible that the premises have a combined commercial and residential use at this point.

In 1871 James Ward is living at the house with his wife Harriett and mother-in-law but Thomas and Caroline Watson are also resident. James is listed as a master mariner whilst Harriet is a greengrocer.

In the Post Office directory of 1874 we find that James Ward is listed as a greengrocer of 12 St. Austins Lane.

An advertisement in the East Anglian Daily Times on 20th August 1878 details an auction of the property owned by the late J. H. Nalborough which includes:

//A Freehold House and Shop, being No. 12, St. Austin's Lane, in the occupation of Mr. James Ward, at a rental of £14.//

By 1881 we find William and Maria Harvey and their four children and a boarder living at 12 St. Austins Lane. William is a “carman”, which probably meant he collected and delivered local goods for the railway. Maria is a greengrocer suggesting that she has taken over the business at the premises carried on by Harriet and James Ward.

In 1891 William and Maria Harvey are still living at 12 St. Austins Lane with five of their children and William is now described as a “carter”, essentially the same as a “carman”.

In the 1899 Kelly’s Directory we find Mrs. Maria Harvey listed as a greengrocer of 12 St. Austins Lane.

In 1901 we find that William has passed away as Maria is widowed and still resident at no. 12. Her son William has followed his father’s trade and is listed as a “carman” and two of Maria’s daughters are still living at home. Maria is running the greengrocers shop.

In 1911 Maria and two daughters are still at no. 12. Daughter Alice is married and her son is living with them and the family are still running their greengrocers shop at the premises.

===== Harwich Architectural Survey =====

The building at 12A St. Austins Lane was surveyed and interpreted as part of the Harwich Architectural Survey Project which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

An interpretation of 12A St. Austins Lane by Brenda and Elphin Watkin is available for {{ :12a_st_austins_lane_building_survey.pdf |download here}}.
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