Little Mans Museum / Grapes Inn Furnace Ln

[Stuart0742]

Received by email

I'm researching my husband's family history and came across this 1910

photo which shows the pub where his Great Grandfather, James Ratheram

was born.

James' father, John Ratheram was a File Cutter and according to censuses

had apprentices and possibly other men working with him so I was

wondering if the museum depicted in the photo could be his old workshop.

His wife probably ran the pub. They lived here on Furnace Hill from

possibly 1830s to their deaths in late 1860s.

I would be grateful for any other information you may have - could the

contents of the museum have gone to any other museum do you think when

the buildings were closed/demolished?

Link to photo

Thanks.

Sheila Archer

[RichardB]

Somebody has been there before us ... hang on that's

[Edmund]

John Ratherham was doing very nicely and happy to spread his good fortune:

[Ponytail]

No. 74, The Grapes Inn, Furnace Hill with a sign for Little Man's Museum. 

s16176

 

Grapes Inn and Nos. 66, 68, and 70 Furnace Hill being demolished. 1829.u00727

Photographer: City Engineers Department. 

 

OS Map 1890. 294.8.11.

[Edmund]

The Little Man was Samuel Chapman, born at Trewonard, Cornwall and was "crippled from birth", which may explain his nickname . He was a showman during the 1880's which probably explains why he had a "museum" in his pub.  In 1891 he had the Cup Inn on Duke street.  He only married his wife Margaret Ann Markey in 1908 but they'd been together for 20 years -  their children Lydia Ann, William and Richard had all been born out of wedlock.  Samuel sold up his museum at the Grapes, in November 1918 and the following February the rest of the fixtures and fittings were sold (including buffalo horns).   He was buried on 25th August 1921 at City Road.