Harry Hamilton Woods – 10 Ironmonger Street

Harry Hamilton Woods was born in Stamford in 1895. His father, Joseph Hamilton Woods, was a Cabinet Maker who started in business at 30 Broad St but moved to these substantial premises early in the 20th Century. The property was built for an upholsterer in the 18th Century and probably had workshops at the back. The family had 12 rooms and employed a live-in domestic servant.

There were 5 children in the family although one sister died in her teens. The other 4 were all working in 1911. Harry was the youngest at 16 years and he was a solicitor’s clerk. Leonard his elder brother (21 years) was a Cabinet Maker like his father. Winifred the eldest child (25 years) was working as a clerk to an ironmonger and Eveline (19 years) was a pupil teacher.

Harry enlisted in 1915 and during the War became a 1st class Aircraftsmen in the RAF. He served in Salonika and Egypt and was not demobbed until after 1919.

In 1929 he married Elsie Tidd. They lived at 16 Casterton Road and had 2 daughters and a son but sadly he died in 1937 when they were still very young. Elsie died in 1968.