Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

William Hudson Hannant (903)

21/04/1869 –07/03/1938

A hairdresser and tobacconist who moved to Berkhamsted late in life

• Melanie Hilton

Unmarked grave William Hudson Hannant (1869-1938)

William was born in 1869 in Reepham, Norfolk to William Hannant, a corn chandler and Hannah (née Burton). He was their second son and was to have two younger sisters.

His father died in 1879 when he was only ten years old and his mother became a dressmaker whilst the older son, Solomon was a grocer’s apprentice. In the 1881 census the family were living in Back Street, Hackford. (This would appear to be close to Aylsham – although only Hackford Hall is still shown on modern maps – and not the Hackford just east of Wymondham).

William became a hairdresser and had moved to Thetford in Norfolk by at least April 1891, when he was assistant to widow Sarah Louisa Hedge. He lived in her household with three other boarders in King Street.

He married Martha Mann in Thetford in 26 May1896 and their sons Sydney J (1898) and Cecil Vivian (1899) were both born in the town.

The 1901 census shows the family at 40, King Street where William was a hairdresser and tobacconist. It may be that he took over Mrs Hedge’s business. William’s younger sister Florence was living with them and they also employed a female servant.

Eric Leslie was born in 1904 and they were still at the King Street address in 1911. William, who described himself in the census return as “Master hairdresser”, stood for Thetford Town Council in 1919.

In 1921 Cecil was working with William as his assistant. William is shown on the census as married, although there is no sign of Martha, nor does she appear on any of the Thetford electoral registers. Her death has not been traced.

William was in Thetford until at least 1928. He then appears in the electoral rolls for 48, Eleanor Road, Wood Green in 1929-1931.

At some point after that William moved to 255, High Street, Berkhamsted, which was his address when he died in March 1938 at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead, aged 69.