A History of Preston
in Hertfordshire
Ellis Wray worked on a farm when he was ten -
He became a successful entrepreneur who also led a double life for ten years.
In 1852, Ellis’ father, Henry Wray, was born near Luton, Beds. in the village of Austage End, Kings Walden, Hertfordshire. He was the eldest son of Charles and Elizabeth Wray and was baptized at the local parish church on 5 December 1852.
Unlike his older sister, Margaret, Henry was poorly educated, being unable to sign
the marriage register. Perhaps he was sent to school late and set to work early as
were his younger brothers, Alfred and Arthur, who were educationally ‘backward’.
Henry’s father taught him the craft of hurdle-
On Christmas Day, 1874 at Kings Walden church, Henry (22) married a local girl Mary Ann Mardell. She was five years older than her husband and was the daughter of a farm labourer. The couple settled at Heath, Breachwood Green, Kings Walden and had five children.
In the 1890s, Henry and his family joined the drift from the countryside to the emerging
town of Luton. In 1901, they were living at 66 Lea Road -
Later, Henry lived with his son Ellis at 12 Tavistock Crescent, Luton. He died there, aged 79, on 14 February 1932. The cause of death was ‘epithelioma’ (a cancerous tumour) of the tongue. Sadly, Henry probably choked to death.
Ellis’ father, Henry Wray (1852 -
Ellis Wray was born at Breachwood Green, Kings Walden in early 1877. He had a basic education, leaving school at the age of 14 to work as a labourer. This was hardly surprising as during the harvest of 1887, when Ellis was ten years old, he was absent from school because he was working in the fields. The village school log book noted that, along with three other children, he was away ‘without any real reason, except working’. (16 Sept. 1887)
Ten years later, in 1901, Ellis had left his rural roots – he walked from his home to Luton and found work as an assistant pawnbroker at ‘Harmans’ which was situated at Park Street, Luton. This job called for a degree of literacy and numeracy. (See Addendum)
On 19 July 1904, Ellis married Katie Howard at the Ceylon Baptist Church, Luton. (Link to news report: Wedding) Five years later, on 4 February 1909, their only child, Winifred Kate, was prematurely born. She lived less than an hour. Ellis was later to say that his ambition was to have sons to carry on his business, but unfortunately Katie was unable to have more children.
Ellis’ early years
A dapper Ellis circa 1900
Ellis moved to ‘Butchers’ pawnbrokers at Bute Street, Luton -
In 1913, showing drive, determination and a developing business acumen, Ellis started
his own business -
Ellis’ shop at Castle Street Luton 1933. (From l to r) -
Ellis’ commercial strategy was a reflection of his poor, rural background. Luton
was the shopping magnet for the many farm labourers who lived in the surrounding
villages and Ellis offered working-
The shop’s windows were crammed with merchandise and every available position was
used to show stock. The shop front was adorned with goods, and merchandise overflowed
onto the pavement. At the start and end of the business day, it took almost an hour
to set-
The business expanded. Nos. 6 and then 8 Castle Street were added to the store and
with the extra space came extra lines – now Ellis sold jewellery, works of art, beds
and bedding, carpets and rugs, sewing machines, cameras, musical instruments and
umbrellas. Among their wares were also second-
As a small shopkeeper, Ellis was exempted from military service during The Great
War. However, possibly as a response to some adverse comments, he joined the Special
Constabulary (left). As an upholder of law and order, Ellis did not sympathize with
the post-
Ellis began to employ more staff. His right-
A double life
The success of his venture encouraged Ellis to open another shop at St Albans Road, Watford in the early 1920s. This enterprise also provided him with the opportunity to live a double life away from Luton. Ellis formed a relationship with Nora Isabel Moul who was 23 years his junior. Nora was born in 1901 at Gateshead, Co. Durham. She was the daughter of a ‘fireman stationary engine’ (or machine).
Nora had moved from the north-
The early 1930s were unsettling times in Ellis’ personal life. Firstly, his father, who was living with him, died on 14 February 1932. His second son was born a year later on 29 April 1933. Then, his wife, Katie, passed away on 11 July 1935. The following year, in 1936, Ellis married Nora at Watford. The family moved into a new house at Ludlow Avenue which was situated in a desirable part of Luton.
(Right) Ellis and Nora
Their new home was evidence that the business was flourishing. As a result, Ellis was able to send his new wife and children to the seaside for holidays twice a year even in wartime. He was also able to indulge himself in his main leisure interest – ‘smart cars’. He bought a selection including Singer (2), Humber (2) and a Sunbeam Talbot. His favourite model was an Alvis; maroon with cream wings. But this was replaced following an accident on the A1 which left the car overturned in a ditch and Nora needing treatment for broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Ellis and cars
Ellis continued working despite developing diabetes and suffering a heart attack in the 1950s. Nora persuaded him to retire to the Bournemouth suburb of Southbourne where he died following a final stroke on 6 December 1960. Because of his expressed wish, he was buried in Katie’s grave at Luton. Norah, who was considerably younger than Ellis, died at Exeter on 8 October 1987.
After Ellis’ death, the business in Luton continued as a limited concern with Nora as the Chairman and Percy Windmill as the Managing Director. In the 1960s, Percy’s son, Peter ran the business. The rented premises were later sold to the Trust House Forte group who then extended the adjacent Red Lion Hotel.
Ellis is remembered as a generous man – one who helped his siblings start a businesses,
acquire homes and who supported them when their children were being educated. He
also employed his brother in the shop. The incident involving his earlier employer
was uncharacteristic, as Ellis was a peaceable man. He received regular visits from
long-
Ellis -
Ellis at work 1950c
Despite his hopes, his sons did not follow Ellis into his business yet he was proud of their achievements – his elder son was awarded a BSc in aeronautical engineering at London University and was appointed as Chief Engineer of the East African Airlines. Ellis’ younger son is medically qualified and practised as a Consultant Anaesthetist.
(I am grateful to Gordon Wray for his help, information, photographs and encouragement in preparing this article.)
I was grateful to eagle-
‘One well-
It’s Castle Street, Luton, in September 1949 and Alec Guinness was in town to shoot
his latest film, Last Holiday. He played George Bird, an unmarried and unassuming
salesman who visits a physician for a routine check-
Bird, pictured above with Mrs Poole, played by Kay Walsh, accepts the doctor’s advice
to take his savings and enjoy himself in the little time left to him. He decides
to spend his last days in an up-
Guinness, who was to be knighted 10 years later, is pictured, second left, outside E. Wray’s store, which traded in Luton for 77 years between 1913 and 1990.
Wray’s, known as the working man’s clothier, carried stock that was large and varied. It took almost an hour at opening and closing to display or remove all the items that hung outside or stood on the pavement.
Ready-
The shop, which later moved to Upper George Street to make way for a Red Lion Hotel extension, also sold bedding, carpets, jewellery, musical instruments and cameras.’
This was the reaction of Ellis’ son, Gordon Wray, to the news story:
‘Terrific!
I do remember the episode of the filming in which the shop was used although I was not present at any time. I also believe that this lasted for several days and interfered with business but my father expressed the hope that it would prove to be a good advertisement.
I am very clear that he was promised compensation for loss of takings which, of course,
was not received. Perhaps the only compensation was to have his prejudices confirmed
about “those sort of people”. He was doubtful about the idea from the first and discussed
it at home where perhaps my mother persuaded him – she was an ardent film-
The then-
‘Thanks for forwarding the picture; it certainly brought back memories of that day all those years ago (I was just 17). I remember the film crew invading the shop, turning it upside down, and creating havoc (even more than was normal!).
Some passers-
Who would believe that such a picture could turn up after all this time – the film ‘The Last Holiday’ long ago passed into history. Perhaps I might look on the net and see if a dvd is available – it would be quite nice to have.
Steve Olsnam wrote: ‘I read with great interest the article on Ellis Wray. It brought
a tear to my old eye as I worked at 46 and 8 Castle Street from 1952 -
Addendum
Ellis was involved in this court case from April 1904 which sheds a little light onto his early occupation:
