George Jolliffe's Shop  -  Front Street

With thanks to Robin Jolliffe for providing the information:

​

George is the Great Grandfather to Robin, Graham & Martin, all residents of Portesham.

George was born in Possum in 1856, one of eight children of James and Hannah Jolliffe (nee Bartlett).

James was described in the 1881 census as a shopkeeper, but he was previously a carrier running a weekly wagon to Weymouth and Bridport.

George also helped run the carrier business but he is listed in the subsequent census  as a Dairyman, Grocer, Coalman and by 1901, also a shopkeeper.

He married Susan Hodder in 1857 and they had four children, Lily, Sidney, Ethel and Leonard (Robin's 

grandfather).

The shop, at No 22 Front Street, was built around 1850 and George was the tennant from 1908.

Whilst he concentrated on farming (see below), Ethel, his youngest daughter, ran the shop, which was a typical village general store selling a wide range of goods.

Tragically Ethel died of tuberculosis in 1921, aged only 33. Her sister, Lily, also died of the same illness two years later. The shop then closed and sadly never reopened.

Robin still has a few artefacts from the shop, the hooks used in the window displays and weights used in the shop.

Both George and Susan died in February 1931, just three weeks apart, and are buried in Possum cemetery.

​

​