The site of Richold’s Coach Building business in Long Melford

The Richold family first settled in Long Melford in the late 1770s when Michael Richold [1717-1788] of Coggeshall in Essex bought a row of cottages on the east side of Hall Street near The Bull.  His son Peter Richold [1748-1824] a wheelwright by trade opened a coach building works from premises on the opposite side of Hall Street, which may have been built or converted by him to accommodate the new enterprise and serve the wealthier clientele of the village.  By the late eighteenth century Melford, had become a fashionable waystation on the route from London to Norwich.  Situated roughly halfway, with many of the local inns vying for the lucrative passing trade; horses could be changed, and passengers rested and refreshed.  For more detailed information see Records of the Richold Family 1523-1913 compiled and edited by Francis Henry Richold and Stanley Louis Richold, 1954; a copy of which is held in the Long Melford Heritage Centre.  The business was still listed in trade directories in the 1890s.[1]

Selected Biographies

Richold, Charles – Born: Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex on 1.4.1889.[2]  Parents: Arthur Richold of Long Melford (Solicitor’s Clerk) and Emma [née Herbert].  Family Connections: Brother to Sidney Richold [b1886]; also, cousin o Henry Stewart Richold of Long Melford [b1873] and brother-in-law of Theophilus Arthur Hermon [b1868].    Home: Station Road, Kirby Cross, Essex (1891), 90 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk (1901 to 1911), 39 Roundwood Road, Ipswich [1916] to (1921).  Occupation: Draper’s Assistant (1911), Draper [1916], Dispatch Clerk for Footman, Petty & Company, General Drapers (1921).  Married: Gertrude Elizabeth Rayson in 1915.  Service Record: Charles was conscripted on 7.6.1916 as Pte.2797 of 3/6^th [Cyclist] Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, being re-numbered in 1917 as Pte.265683.  On 16.2.1918 he was transferred as Pte.19396 to the Army Pay Corps, receiving his discharge in February 1919.[3]  Died: Newmarket, Cambridgeshire in 1972.

Richold, Francis Henry – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 23.10.1876.[4]  Parents: Frederick Richold (Coal Merchant) and Jane Fisher [née Stanhope].  Family Connections: Brother to Robert Patrick Richold [b1875] and George Edward Richold [b1881]; also, cousin of Wilson Joseph Richold [b1891].   Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1881), Tye Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), lodging with Frederick Dilloway at 46 Church Road, Richmond, Surrey (1901), attempted emigration to British East Africa [1927],[5] 92 Strawberry Vale, Twickenham, Middlesex [1935], 23 Thornbury Road, Isleworth, Middlesex [1936], 66 North Drive, Isleworth [1939], 43 Sidmouth Avenue, Isleworth [1951], 7 Ivy Road, Isleworth [1954 to 1969].  Occupation: Cheesemonger’s Assistant (1901), Grocer [1925], Farmer [1927], Storekeeper and Clerk (1939).  Married: Elsie Gibbons in 1926.  Service Record: Although no definitive First World War record has been found, Francis may have been conscripted as Pte.54205 with 2/10^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.  If this assumption is correct then he was transferred to 1/8^th [Ardwick] Battalion, Manchester’s.  Both battalions saw action on the Western Front.[6]  Died: Hounslow, Middlesex on 8.3.1969.[7]

Richold, George Edward – Born: Clare, Suffolk on 29.11.1880.[8]  Parents: Fred Richold of Long Melford (Coal Merchant) and Jane Fisher [née Stanhope].  Family Connections: Brother to Robert Patrick Richold of Long Melford [b1875] and Francis Henry Richold [b1876]; also, cousin of Wilson Joseph Richold [b1891].  Home: Tye Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), lodging with Charles Best (Employer) at 23 Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (1901), 122 Dalwally Road, Croydon, Surrey [1917], St Edmunds, Cheston Avenue, Croydon [1933], 6 Woodland Way, Shirley, Surrey (1939), 15 Mead Way, Croydon [1963].  Occupation: Draper’s Assistant (1901), Salesman [1917], Soft Furnishing Buyer (1939).  Married: Alice Alston in 1913.  Service Record: George was conscripted on 3.2.1917 as Gnr.28030 with the Royal Field Artillery.[9]  Died: Croydon, Surrey in 1970.

Richold, Harold Victor – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 13.4.1904.[10]  Parents: Henry Stewart Richold (Plumber and Painter) [see details below] and Jessie Theobald [née Prigg].  Home: Chapel Green, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1921), 1 Bixby Cottages, Westgate Street, Long Melford (1939).  Occupation: Stock Boy (1921), Builder’s Labourer (1939).  Married: Constance Duce in 1935.  Service Record: Harold enlisted in May 1942 as Gnr.11425015 with 622 Regiment, Royal Artillery.  He was released to the Army Reserve in May 1946, receiving his discharge in 1954.[11]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk on 18.2.1998.[12]

Richold, Henry ‘Harry’ Stewart – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 2.9.1874.[13]  Parents: Henry Richold (Plumber and Painter) and Ann Crawley [née Stewart].  Family Connections: Father to Harold Victor Richold [b1904]; also, cousin of Charles Richold [b1889] and Sidney Richold [b1886].  Home: Westgate Street/Lane, Long Melford (1881 to 1891), Rotten Row, Long Melford (1901), Chapel Green, Long Melford (1911), Westgate Street, Long Melford (1921) to [1947].  Occupation: Blacksmith (1891), Plumber (1901), Plumber and Painter (1911), unable to work due to injury sustained during the Great War (1921), retired Handyman (1939).  Married: Jessie Theobald Prigg in 1899.  Service Record: Harry enlisted on 1.9.1914 Pte.9725 of 1^st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.  He was transferred to 8^th [Service] Battalion, Suffolks and posted to the Western Front on 25.7.1915 as part of 53^rd Brigade, 18^th [Eastern] Division and seeing action during the Somme Offensive of 1916 and at the Third Battles of Ypres in the following year.[14]  He was later transferred as Sgt.441175 to 104^th Labour Company, Eastern Command Labour Corps.  Harry fell ill, possibly with influenza and was issued with a Silver War Badge and discharged on 21.3.1918.[15]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1947.

Richold, Reginald George – Born: Fulham, London in 1891.  Parents: George Lilly Richold of Long Melford (Office Clerk) and Kate Clyde [née Scott].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Thomas Arthur Westbrook [b1889].  Home: 21 Ewald Road, Fulham, London (1901) to [1918], 113 Guildford Street, Chertsey, Surrey [1922], 29 Grove Road, Chertsey [1923], 31 Bond Street, Egham, Surrey [1925], 138 High Street, Egham [1929], 41 Lower Teddington Road, Twickenham, Middlesex [1939], 123 Elm Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey [1946].  Occupation: Carrier’s Porter (1911).  Married: Elsie Ethel Tappin in1920.  Service Record: Reginald was conscripted on 26.11.1915 as Dvr.3412 with 4/3^rd [London] Field Company, Royal Engineers.  He was posted to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 20.6.1916, transferring as Spr.550919 to 552^nd [1/6^th London] Field Company, Royal Engineers as part of 60^th [2/2^nd London] Division. It was while serving with this unit that he met Thomas Westbrook, his future brother-in-law.  His final posting was on 15.11.1917 as A/Cpl. WR/195543 to the Railway Transport Section of the Royal Engineers as a clerk.[16]  Died: Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey on 30.3.1946.

Richold, Robert Patrick – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 21.8.1875.  Parents: Frederick Richold (Coal Merchant) and Jane Fisher [née Stanhope].  Family Connections: Brother to Francis Henry Richold [b1876] and George Edward Richold [b1881]; also, cousin of Wilson Joseph Richold [b1891].  Home: Station Road, Long Melford (1881), Tye Green, Glemsford, Suffolk (1891), lodging with Walter Williamson at 3 Carlysle Road, East Ham, London (1901), School House, Messing, Essex (1911), Barons Field, Tiptree, Essex [1927].  Occupation: Pupil Teacher (1891), Assistant Schoolmaster (1901), Head Schoolmaster (1911) to [1920].  Married: Lily May Pettitt [1876-1920] in 1904 and Florence Annie HART in 1921.  Service Record: Robert was conscripted on 26.5.1916 as Pte.20707 with 2^nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, transferring as Pte.49245 to 2^nd [Graduated] Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, being discharged on 17.10.1918.[17]  Died: Tiptree, Essex on 29.7.1927.[18]

Richold, Sidney – Born: Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex on 25.5.1886.[19]  Parents: Arthur Richold of Long Melford (Solicitor’s Clerk) and Emma [née Herbert].  Family Connections: Brother to Charles Richold [b1889]; also, cousin of Henry Stewart Richold of Long Melford [b1873] and brother-in-law of Theophilus Arthur Hermon [b1868].  Home: Station Road, Kirby Cross, Essex (1891), 90 Cauldwell Hall Road, Ipswich, Suffolk (1901 to 1911), 27 Cowper Street, Ipswich [1925], Church Street, Orford, Suffolk (1939), The Lodge, Rushmere St Andrew, Ipswich [1978].  Occupation: Grocer’s Assistant (1901 to 1911), Master Grocer and Draper (1939).  Married: Katherine Mary Goldie in 1929.  Service Record: Although no definitive First World War record has been found, Sidney may have enlisted as Pte.DM2/171980 with the Army Service Corps.[20]  Died: Ipswich, Suffolk in 1978.

Richold, Wilson Joseph – Born: Long Melford, Suffolk on 6.11.1891.[21]  Parents: William Byford Richold (Innkeeper, later Restaurateur) and Kate Isabella [née Metcalfe].  Family Connections: Cousin of Robert Patrick Richold [b1875], Francis Henry Richold [b1876] and George Edward Richold [b1880].  Home: George and Dragon Inn, Hall Street, Long Melford (1901), 91 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, Suffolk (1911), emigrated to Canada [1912], returned to England [1915], given free passage back to Canada [1919].  Occupation: Carpenter’s Apprentice (1911).  Married: Leah Elizabeth Burgess in Ontario in 1914.  Service Record: Wilson was attested as Wheeler Gunner N^o. 132964 with 220^th Siege Battery, part of LVI Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery.  This unit was posted to France from 25.12.1916.[22]  Died: in 1978.

Related Biographies

Hermon, Theophilus Arthur – Born: Bridlington, Yorkshire on 7.11.1868.[23]  Parents: Theophilus Hermon and Elizabeth [née Gibson].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Charles Richold [b1889] and Sidney Richold [b1886].  Home: 24 South Back Lane, Bridlington, Yorkshire (1871 to 1881), 555 Liverpool Road, Islington, London (1891), 34 Bathurst Road, Norwich, Norfolk (1901), 90 Mill Road, Norwich [1903 to 1904], 194 Earlham Road, Norwich [1906 to 1908], 26 Reynard Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy , Lancashire [1910], 31 Carlingford Road, Tottenham, Middlesex [1910], 36 Sholebroke Place, Leeds, Yorkshire (1911), emigrated to Canada on SS Victorian in 1912, 1055 Barclay Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [1914], repatriated to Canada to 970 Howe Street, Vancouver [1919].[24]  Occupation: Tailors Cutter (1891 to 1911), Tailor [1914].  Married: Agnes Moody [1869-1896] in 1895 1869-1896, Ellen Emma Richold of Long Melford [1875-1915] in 1899 and bigamously to Montin Cammish in Canada in 1913.  Service Record: Theophilus Hermon enlisted on 23.9.1914 under a false date of birth of 7.11.1873 as Pte.16653 with 7^th Battalion [1^st British Columbia] as part of 2^nd Canadian Brigade, 1^st Canadian Division, having previously served for six years with 2^nd Battalion, East York Volunteers.  He was posted to the Western Front on 14.5.1915 and wounded and captured near Ypres on 11.9.1915, reportedly held at various German Prisoner of War Camps, namely at Paderborn, Munster, Minden. Schneverdingen and Soltau.[25]  Due to the nature of his injury he was sent to neutral Holland in March 1918, where he was interned until the following October when he was returned to England, where he underwent several months of treatment for a bullet wound to his back.  He was demobilized in March 1919.[26]  Died: Vancouver, Canada on 16.12.1955.

Westbrook, Thomas Arthur – Born: North Kensington, London on 4.1.1889.[27]  Parents: Thomas William Westbrook (Gas Fitter) and Catherine [née Crowe].  Family Connections: Brother-in-law of Reginald George Richold [b1891].  Home: I Spencer Terrace, Lillie Road, Fulham, London (1891), 9 Grimston Road, Fulham (1901), 2 Disbrowe Road, Fulham (1911), 41 Gaveston Road, Wandsworth, London [1918],[28] 21 Ewald Road, Fulham (1921), 7 Ruvigny Gardens, Wandsworth (1939).  Occupation: Gas Fitter for the Gaslight & Coke Company (1911 to 1921), Clerk for the Gaslight & Coke Company (1939).  Married: Violet Ellen Richold of Long Melford in 1915.  Service Record: Thomas was conscripted as Spr.T2492 with the Royal Engineers, later transferring as Dvr.550621 to 522^nd [1/6^th London] Field Company, Royal Engineers as part of 60^th [2/2^nd London] Division.  In 1917 his unit was briefly in Salonika before joining the campaign against the Ottoman Turks in Palestine.  It was while serving with this unit that he met Reginald Richold, his future brother-in-law.[29]  Died: Sudbury, Suffolk in 1957.

Notes – [1] Listed as Richold Brothers Coach Builders in Kelly’s Directory for Suffolk of 1900.  [2] Date of birth from his Death Record.  [3] Soldiers’ Documents and Pension Claims, First World War [WO 364].  [4] 1939 Register.  [5] Returned to England with his family from Mombasa on the SS Guildford Castle on 17.5.1927.  [6] Medal Roll [WO 329].  [7] National Probate Calendar.  [8] Baptism Register 2.5.1883, St Marys Church, Glemsford, Suffolk.  [9] Surrey Recruitment Register [ref: 2496/18].  [10] 1939 Register.  [11] Royal Artillery Tracer Cards, 1939-1948.  [12] National Probate Calendar.  [13] 1939 Register.  [14] For more information of Harry’s time at the Front see 8^th Suffolks War Diary [WO 97/2039].  [15] Silver War Badge [TNA – WO 329/356571] and Medal Roll [WO 329].  [16] Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Medal Roll [WO 329], and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [17] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [18] National Probate Calendar.  [19] Date of birth taken from his Death Record.  The 1939 Register records his birth year as 1887.  [20] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].  [21] Baptism Register 4.12.1891, Holy Trinity Church, Long Melford. [22] For details of 220^th Battery’s roll in France see the Brigade’s War Diary [WO 95/392/4].  See also his Soldiers’ Documents, First World War ‘Burnt Documents’ [WO 363], Service Medal and Award Rolls 1914-1918 [WO 329] and Service Medal and Award Rolls Index Cards 1914-1922 [WO 372].  [23] Hermon gave a variety of birth dates in official documents: 7.11.1868 on his Canadian Army Discharge papers, 7.11.1869 to his captors on his Prisoner of War record and 7.11.1873 on his Canadian Attestation Papers.  [24] Some addresses from the Electoral Roll.  [25] International Committee of the Red Cross [ref: PA6263].  [26] Library and Archives of Canada https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca [ref: RG 150/468665].  [27] 1939 Register.  [28] Address from the Absent Voter Lists, which also gives his military service details.  [29] Medal Roll [WO 329] and Medal Index Card [WO 372].