Hertfordshire Postcard Artists, Photographers, Publishers, etc.

Alfred George Day

Newsagent of Hemel Hempstead

Postcards published c1912-1930

  

Alfred George Day (1878-1946) was born in Wiltshire and moved to Hemel Hempstead with his parents in about 1883, spending the rest of his life in the town. At the age of 12 he was employed as a newspaper boy (presumably delivering newspapers). In 1901 he was described as a printer's manager, in 1903 and 1911 as a newspaper manager, and as in 1909 as a journalist. Assuming that these jobs were with the same employer, this suggests that he might have worked on the Hemel Hempstead Gazette, working to Edgar Needham. (Can anyone confirm this?)

In late 1911 or early 1912 he took on the newsagent's shop in the High Street, Hemel Hempstead, previously run by Charles William Floyd, and by 1915 was publishing post cards in the "George Day's Series". He is last listed in the shop in 1929, but may have been associated with the Newsagents & Stationery Supply Co. Ltd. which was there in 1933 and relocated to Marlowes by 1937.

Timeline
date   source   data
1878   FreeBMD   Birth of Alfred George Day registered at Pewsey, Wilts
1881   Census   With parents James Day (upholsterer) and Mary Ann Day and siblings, in Pewsey, Wiltshire.
1881   FreeBMD   Birth of Ada Mary Day (Alfred's sister) registered in Pewsey, Wiltshire
1884   FreeBMD   Birth of Elsie May Day (Alfred's sister) registered in Hemel Hempstead
1890   Directory   William Floyd listed as newsagent at 34 High Street, Hemel Hempstead. The shop had been (1866) previously occupied by a draper, Benjamin Thomas Parris (listed 1886) who by 1890 had relocated to 21 High Street. The shop was next door to the White Hart Public House.
1891   Census   Alfred (12) was employed as a newspaper boy, and was living in the family home, 20 Church Street, Hemel Hempstead. His father was Charles J Day (39, ) employed as an upholsterer and the birthplaces of his siblings suggests the family moved from Pewsey to Hemel Hempstead between 1882 and 1885
1901   Census   Alfred  (23) was employed as a printer's manager, and was living in the family home, 9 Herbert Street, Hemel Hempstead. His father was Charles J Day (49, ) employed as an upholsterer.
1903   Marriage   Alfred George Day, newspaper manager of 9 Herbert Street, and son of Charles James Day, cabinet maker, married Ellen Smith, of Alma Road, daughter of John Smith deceased, Chief Traffick Inspector on the London & North Western Railway,  in St Pauls Church, Hemel Hempstead on 14th December.
1904   Directory   Charles William Floyd, newsagent & stationer, 34 High Street, Hemel Hempstead. (Kelly's Directory of Printers, etc.)
1909   Register   Harold Hamilton George Day, son of Alfred George Day, journalist, of Crescent Road, Hemel Hempstead, and his wife Ellen was baptised at St Paul's on 27th January.
1911   Census   Charles William Floyd (53, widower, born Hemel Hempstead) was a newsagent and stationer at 34 High Street, Hemel Hempstead, assisted by his daughter Phyllis Jane Flloyd (25, born Hemel Hempstead).
1911   Census   Alfred George Day (33, born Pewsey, Wiltshire), his wife Ellen Day (33, born Chester, Cheshire), and son Harold Hamilton George Day (2, born Hemel Hempstead) were living at Clareford,25 Crescent Road, Hemel Hempstead. He was described as a Newspaper Manager

1912

1914

   Directory   George Day, fancy repository & news agent, 34 High Street, Hemel Hempstead. Listed at Crescent Road under Private Residents.
??   Auction  
 

Illustration (apparently post card) from Worthpoint  online auction catalogue. Date unknown.

Tell me if you know of any other George Day post cards so that I can add details to make this time line more complete.
1914   Gazette   Walter Hemley and Walter Spurr were taken before the Children's Court for stealing sweets from Alfred George Day's shop and sentenced to be thrashed. A newspaper boy, Ivor Clinton (who presumably delivered papers for Alfred Day) gave evidence.  [details]
1914   London Gunners   My mother (in The London Gunners) said the Locke newspapers were purchased from George Day's shop. Alfred George Day was also a councillor of the North Ward of Hemel Hempstead during the war and there are a number of references to his council and community activities in the book.
1915  
Gadebridge Army Camp, Hemel Hempstead - post card in George Day's Series

ß "The Hutments" Work on building the Army Camp at Gadebridge waw well underway by November 1914 and it was in use by April 1915.

 

 

 These three cards, all in the "George Day's Series" have been produced in different way on different backs

 

 

â "The New Bridge" built to link the camp to the town was built in 1915

The New Bridge over the Rived Gade at Hemel Hempstead - 1915 - post card in George Day's Series

 The New Bridge over the Rived Gade at Hemel Hempstead - 1915 - post card in George Day's Series
1917 1922   Directory   George listed as newsagent at 34 High Street, and as a councillor for the North Ward.
By 1919  

St Mary, Parich Church, Hemel Hempstead - post card by George Day
from Worthpoint  online auction catalogue, posted 1919 postcard with same lettering so probably produced at the same time.
1929   Directory   George listed as newsagent at 34 High Street, and as a councillor for the Hemel Hempstead Ward.
1933   Directory   The Newsagents & Stationery Supply Co. Ltd. now listed at 34 High Street, Hemel Hempstead. George not listed. This company had moved to 21 Marlowes by 1937 (phone Boxmoor 458)
1946   Probate   Alfred George Day of 33 Alexandra-road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, died 29 March 1946. Administration London 14 June to Ellen Day, widow. Effects £817 2s 9d.
June 2014   Page created