Blacksmith Titts at the Poplars

This fabulous photograph of the Poplars by Futcher of Warminster is from the Feltham collection, and I’m wondering who are all these people. The women’s dress looks to be late Victorian, say around 1890, so perhaps this photo features Robert Morgan Titt, wearing the leather apron, before his death in 1898 at the age of 39. The photographer Fred Futcher’s business at 36 High Street, Warminster was definitely in operation in the late 1890s.

Morgan Titt was the last of the blacksmith Titts who carried on their business at the Poplars. His blacksmith great grandfather William Titt, 1744-1830 of Wylye was the first of the family to rent the premises. His son, also William, 1769-1851, inherited the business and carried it on and his sons followed in his trade, but by 1861 the business at the Poplars was being run by his youngest unmarried daughter Amelia, aided by her younger brother Henry c1821-1885. Amelia died in 1889 and that’s when her nephew Morgan Titt became the new proprietor. Morgan was Henry’s son.

Morgan’s early death marked the end of an era. He had married his cousin Ellen Titt in 1889 and they had no children that I am aware of. By the 1901 census the Poplars was uninhabited.

Many thanks to TH for supplying this fabulous photo.