I've been trying to find "Victoria Buildings, Kingsdown" for a long time....

Thanks to the "Bristol Directory 1897", I now know it was on Albert Place, Kingsdown. The map is from 1901.....

	This is Victoria Buildings from 1883 - the shop frontages seem to date from the time: Unfortunately when I took this picture, I didn't realise that no. 7 was at the other end of the row.... It is just past the green fronted building on the above photo' - next time....
		This extract is from a Bristol Directory of 1897 The Salvation Army barracks have been rebuilt today, but the others are still there - and no.7 is the Bakers!!
		By 1914, the date of this directory, the houses had been renumbered to that of today. And what was No. 7 is now No. 36, the "Fruiterers"

John Willis continued as a Baker, becoming very successful in Exeter, as the following Directories show.... Also listed is his Brother Edwin (a Lithographic Draughtsman)

Sadly, John died in 1917 and the business failed. According to his daughter Lillian this was due to the war - loss of income, etc, and led to an early death at 56. The death certificate gives (1) Intestinal Obstruction - 7 days and (2) Pulmonary Thrombosis. Maybe stress-related IBS or similar??? His death certificate can be found here...

His wife, Agnes Clara, died 4 years earlier, in 1913 - cause of death: (1) Laryngitus. Evidently a respiratory illness with many possible causes. Her death certificate can be found here.... She left behind a 13 year old girl, and maybe youger children - no doubt adding to the stress of John.

Interestingly on both death certificates the informat is their son William, my grandfather. On Agnes' he gives his address as 63 Princes Avenue, Watford - where he was at Theological College. This would explain why he didn't take part in WW1, being trained at the time.

	21 South Street was the main business address, and also by 1916, 22 Melbourne Street. There are pictures of Melbourne street at the bottom of this page... Interestingly in 1906, Edwin is listed as "Baker" - perhaps a drop in his lithographic business?? By 1909 Edwin is resident at 13 Gordon Road, and by 1916 at 43 Blackboy Road John died on 5 February 1917 in the "Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital", the informant was his son William - my Grandfather. William, with the family, was resident at 21 South Street - actually probably visiting due to his father's stay in hospital. However... by the time of the 1919 directory (prepared in 1918) both 21 South Street and 22 Melbourne Street were empty. This is 21 South Street, Exeter in 1904:
This is South Street today, 2007:
The ovens are behind a new wall built to retain the car park - so sadly are not in view.	This doorway is adjacent to the premises - it would have ben next doors back entrance:
From the air, the position can be seen:
And this is Melbourne Street in 2007:
	Amazingly, the ovens survive in the back yard:
And, out of interest, 43 Blackboy Road (to the right of the tall white building), Edwins home. The original was probably lost in the war: