Bradder Street . The Builder .

With grateful thanks to Angie Roche for the Photograph and further information of the family who helped make Mansfield a great place to live.

This piece of Mansfield History is just too good to miss.

George Bradder, an ordinary man, born in Mansfield on the 16th of February 1834.

Marriage and the USA

George married Miss Sarah Wilson, also of Mansfield in the early 1850’s. It is not certain whether the couple were married here in England, or in the United States of America for it was also in the early 1850’s that the couple emigrated to the U.S.A.

George was a Stonemason Builder, and like many others before him, decided they would stand a better chance of having a better life in the States.

The couple settled in Brooklyn, New York where very little of their life in Brooklyn is known. It does appear as a family they did very well, for George’s work brought riches and life style which far exceeded the life he had in England, so much so that his brother Alfred also emigrated to America in 1870.

Whilst living in the States, George and Sarah had six children, (The family picture above was taken in America) and bears the resemblance of a well off family. George paid quite a few visits to England during the family life he enjoyed whilst living in the United States.

Bradder Building Company

Not sure whether the trips to England were for business or pleasure, I suspect it was business, for George and his family moved back to Mansfield in the late 1870’s. Whether it was the green green grass of home that George and his family longed for, or whether it was the old hometown , we shall never know. He founded his family Building Company during the 1870’s. in Mansfield. It must have been at this time that George built the street that was named after him, Bradder Street. Over 100 years later, the street has gone, but his name is carried on as Bradder Way.

It would be proper to add that Alfred did not return to Mansfield but remained in the States with his family.

Arlington House

It may have been the American connection, for George built a larger house for his family at the bottom of Bradder Street, giving it the name of Arlington House. It was a large house with a large garden, a large greenhouse, and a large vestibule at the front. This was something ordinary folk had not seen before.

Grocers Shop

The Bradder family appeared on the 1881 census, and many of his family joined the family building firm, that is apart from Clifford, the eldest. Clifford took over the shop at the bottom of Bradder Street as a Grocer at number 1 Bradder Street. There were two shops on Bradder Street, one at the top of the street number 83, and one at the bottom of the street number 1. The grocery shop that Clifford had was the bottom shop number 1. Which was exactly across the road from Arlington House.

George Bradder lived in Mansfield and lived on the street he built for quite a few years. He was a stone mason /builder. His work brought him many riches, and when he died in 1911, he left £16,547- 19s -9d quite a large sum of money in 1911..

Houses in Mansfield

It is quite possible The Bradder Building Company built many of the streets of our town Mansfield for there are many of his type of the older houses that still stand today. They bear a remarkable likeness to Bradder Street’s 2 up 2down, and 3up 3down houses. Whether it was the fashion, cost or the style of housing for the industrial area of Mansfield, I don’t know, but the terraced houses of the day seemed to be all built from the same set of plans. The bay windowed types of terrace house, all had the bay windows fitted with a wall built in front of the bays.  Plus all the houses had back to back  facing rear doors that formed a small back yard. Could it be that the Bradder Building Company were responsible for building many of the houses in Mansfield for the pit workers growing communities ???  It is believed that he also built Clifford Street in the Nottingham Road area..

Having been born and lived on Bradder Street, I know my Mothers family had lived on the street for many years, also very probable that my Grandfather, and Grandmother on my mothers side knew the Bradder family, for they lived on the street long before I was born. My Grandmother died at quite an early age, and so my Grandfather moved to Lord Street, and my Mother took over the tenancy of the house, with my Father where they brought up their children.

Tragedy

All was not milk and honey for the Bradder family, for as they say, money does not always bring you happiness. It happened whilst George and Sarah were enjoying their grandchildren, it is not certain if one of George’s children got married and was living on either Bradder Street or Victoria Terrace in the Brickyard – I have found out since that the man that owned the Brickyard was a man named Tomlinson, and the brickyard was known as Tomlinson’s Brickyard. It was then that tragedy struck the Bradder family for George and Sarah’s grandchild, who was only 4 years old, drowned in the brickyard pond. I don’t think they ever got over the loss and grief of losing a family member.

It was said that the child was drowned just 50 yards from where he lived. The brickyard pond has been notorious for the lives it has claimed. What a blessing it was when in the 1940’s the decision was made to fill it in.

Comments about this page

  • Greetings all,
    My Name is Ross Bradder, I live in Nashville Tennessee but I was born in South Africa in 1971. My father is Alan Bradder who was born in Brighton, England, to Jack and Edna (nee Frost) Bradder. Grampa Jack had a brother Roy Bradder, and as I understand it their father was John Reginald Bradder, and his father was Joseph Bradder, who was born in Mansfield in 1858. I am trying to find out if Joseph was related to George Bradder, possibly a brother, a cousin, I just don’t know?
    Any help with the history of the Bradder family in Mansfield prior to George may be helpful in solving this mystery? Thank you

    By Ross Bradder (31/10/2023)
  • My name is William Edward Bradder Jr.
    Born in Vermont 1954, Currently live in Maine
    Employed as an Ind. Eng.
    My Father was William Edward Bradder Sr.
    Born in 1926 – Died 1988
    Worked in wood and forest industry in Vermont
    My Grandfather was Wilbur Edward Bradder
    Born 1899 – Died 1971
    Worked for state of Vermont as head of Forestry
    My Great Grandfather was William E Bradder
    Born 1860 – 1909
    Worked for a typewriter Mfg. out of State of N.J.
    My Great Great Grandfather was George The Builder.
    Thank you Alan Curtis for this article

    By Bill Bradder Jr. (27/01/2022)
  • My Mother was born in 1918, at 1 Bradder St.
    Her parents took over the shop from her father`s sister.
    Ada Donaldson ( Nuttall )
    The Donaldson`s were there in 1911, they moved to The Four Ways Public House in Mansfield Woodhouse?

    By Kathleen Hawkins (16/08/2019)
  • Hi Paul, is your father Jack?  if so I am your cousin Karen, Reg’s daughter

     

     

     

    By karen young (30/12/2016)
  • Hi just reading through the lists on here as 

    I was looking for the History of my house. I live in Clifford House which is now Murray Street in Mansfield the Clifford Street access to the house was closed off in the 80’s I think. Just thought you might like to know the house is still here.

    By Sylvia Wharmby (27/12/2016)
  • Most of the names mentioned above crop up in my family tree George Bradder was my great great great great uncle. I would love to hear from other decendents / relatives and does anyone know of any old photos of Bradder Street?

    By paul bradder (12/12/2016)
  • My family name is Bradder, my grandfather was called Reginald Gordon and my father, Reginald Gordon Bradder still lives in Mansfield, I do not know the family tree to know if or how we may be related.  If you have any information I would love to hear from you

    By karen young (18/10/2016)
  • I am the eldest daughter of Reuben and Muriel Cooke(maiden name Bradder) My mother was the daughter of George Bradder, grand-daughter of Clifford and great grand-daughter of George. She like many of the Bradder family was born in USA but lived all but the first 4 years in England most in Mansfield. George Bradder is listed as builder in Mansfield in the census of 1881, 91 1901 and 1911 but he travelled by ship to USA at least 4 times in his 60s presumably to visit family. Prior to 1911, when his address was Arlington House, he lived in various houses in the Nottingham Road area including Clifford House Talbot Street so I assume his firm built many of the streets in that area.

    By Judith Williams (12/04/2016)
  •  

    Hi, the first Bradder born in Mansfield as far as I can trace is Dolly daughter of Edward in 1791. 

    Yes Ann Bramwell born in Mansfield in 1828 died in 1864. She and Alfred had 5 children. The name Bradder was originally Bradow.

    By Liz White (08/03/2015)
  • Elizabeth do you refer to Ann Bramwell, who was Alfred Bradder’s first wife? I’m also related to Ann. She would have been my 2nd cousin 4 times removed.

    By Angela Bramwell (28/01/2015)
  • I am descendant of Alfred Bradder by his first wife. Alfred died in USA..cause given was eating oysters. One of his sons did some of the monuments in Lehi cemetery as he was Mormon.

    By Elizabeth White (27/01/2015)
  • How exciting to see all of this about the Bradder family. I too am a descendant Of George Bradder. My Mother, Mildred Parsons was his grand daughter and sister to Muriel and Ron Parsons. She moved to the US after marrying my father Eric Gustavson during the war. I have this photo in my home and was told the story of his accomplishments as a master builder and of the sad tale of the child that drown in the pond! Fascinating to see all of you connected with them!

    By Lori Taylor (25/11/2014)
  • Thankyou for posting all this information on the Bradder family. I am told George Bradder is my great great great grandfather. I believe he had a granddaughter called Muriel Parsons who lived on St Catherine’s Street in 1930/40s. She lived there with her husband Alfred Platt and their two daughters Carolyn and Ann (Carolyn is my grandma). I had googled Bradder Street but could only find Bradder Way so had wondered if they were linked.

    By Helen Bull (22/11/2014)
  • I too am descended from Ann Holland Bradder and George Wells via their son John Malachi Wells who was my great grandfather. Small world, isn’t it?

    By John (17/03/2014)
  • Just moving away from who lived where, and the descendants of past residents, it has crossed my mind on more than one occasion as to whether George Bradder built all the houses that were built on the street.The top 14 houses, 11 on the odd side, and 3 on the even side, were built with bays and a protective brick wall in front. At the rear, they didn’t have the outside loo, or coalhouse at the top of the yard. The toilet was attached to the scullery, and the coalhouse was attached to the end of the house on the backyard. Just because of this, it was often referred to as the posh end.

    By alan curtis (09/03/2014)
  • Alfred Bradder married Sarah Tunnicliffe and went to USA where he died of eating oysters. Apparently she wasn’t very good to children of his first marriage. Arthur a son from his first marriage was involved with the Mormons and is responsible for some of the monuments in Lehi. Edward 1761 – 1828 is the first connection to Mansfield.

    By Liz White (03/02/2014)
  • Hello Angela, yes my husband Nigel is descended from Ann Holland Bradder, via her youngest daughter, Ethel who was his grandmother, although she died before he was born, so he never knew her. In fact, being born in Bristol and brought up in Bath, he never knew he had any connections to Mansfield until we started looking into our family history. George Wells (b 27/11/1844) and Ann (b 28/10/1845) had 13 children, of whom I can name ten. Ann lived to the age of 84 and died in Ecclesfield in 1928. We have your Alfred and his large family in our tree, too. In fact I too have a connection with the Bradder family through that line, as Alfred’s grand-daughter, Mary Bowskill married Samuel Scott, nephew of my grt grt grandmother, Harriet and Edward Clay Bradder married Harriet’s sister Eliza. How very complicated!

    By Sally Branston (26/01/2014)
  • Hi Sally, you mention Ann Bradder, would that be Ann Holland Bradder? I have Ann in my family tree married to George Wells and they had approx. 13 children, 4 of which died young. My connection here is with Alfred Bradder b1827 he was brother to both George and Edward. He married Ann Bramwell, who was my 2nd cousin 4 x removed. I find the Bradder family so interesting. And with regards to Brooklyn Villas then yes I would say that was one of many houses built by the Bradders. A lot of the houses in that area, Gedling street, Talbot street and especially Clifford street, which connects the 2 streets mentioned, as it is named after Clifford George Bradder, son of George Bradder and Sarah Wilson. George spent some time in New York, and it’s my guess that Brooklyn Villas was named from his ventures in New York.

    By Angela Roche (23/01/2014)
  • Hello Sally and Paul, how nice it is to find people who have a connection with the history of Mansfield and the tales that have been written by folk who are lucky enough to remember. You are so right Sally, there is a message that has been passed on through George Bradder’s life in America. We have Arlington House, and as you say Brooklyn Villas. I’m sure that if we look up instead of down, we would find more buildings built by George Bradder and Company. Regards, Alan Curtis

    By alan curtis (22/01/2014)
  • Like Paul, I found this entry about the Bradders by accident, but how interesting! My husband is a descendant of Ann Bradder, born 1845, a daughter of Edward Bradder who was George’s older brother. He was thrilled to see the photograph as he knew nothing of his great-grandmother’s family until we started researching their history. I have found a marriage for George Bradder and Sarah Wilson in Riddings, Derbyshire in May 1855. Have you noticed the shop on Nottingham Road, more or less opposite Sainsbury’s? It’s a balloon shop and sandwich bar, and if you look up, you will see a plaque which reads Brooklyn Villas, 1883, GB. I think it’s a pretty safe bet that this is one of George’s houses.

    By Sally Branston (21/01/2014)
  •  I am descendant from female side of a brother of George Bradder who was also a stonemason and died in USA. I didn’t find out about this Mansfield connection till a few years back and never visited Bradder Street. I was born in Derbyshire and spent my childhood between Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

    By Elizabeth White (28/12/2013)
  • Wow I just found this site by pure chance I am a descendent of the Bradders from Mansfield and was amazed to find a street named after us so it has sparked an interest to find out more thank you very much.

    By Paul Bradder (28/12/2013)
  • A lovely story Alan. The little boy who drowned was Harry Millott, he was the son of Ada Bradder, middle daughter of George and Sarah Bradder. Although she married, her husband abandoned her and the 5 children, leaving Ada to bring up the children alone. Although I guess her parents gave her a lot of support. At the time of the drowning the Millott family were residing at Bradder street. According to the report in the Mansfield Reporter, Pc Hindley tried to save the boy but he had been found on his back in the pond and had been there for ten minutes before any rescue was attempted. It wasn’t long after little Harry’s death when Ada’s husband abandoned her and the children.

     It was reported in the The Mansfield Chronicle Jan 8, 1909 BIG AREARS OF MAINTENANCE Richard William Millott, a mason, formerly of Mansfield,was summoned by his wife for arrears of maintenance up till November 17th, 1908. An order was made by the Court on August 8th, 1908, granting Mrs Millott a separation, and ordering her husband to pay 15s a week towards her maintenance. Mrs Millott said that the arrears amounted to 123 pounds . Defendant should have paid 160 weeks @ 15s. a week, but he had only paid her 3pound 15s. Sergt. Dye said that he received Mr Millott into custody from the Metropolitan Police at Greenwich. Mr Millott had told him that he had been unable to pay because work had been so bad, and he not been able to earn enough money to keep himself. The defendant now repeated his statements. He added that he had been occasionally in a position to send some money, but did not do so as he knew he would be arrested because of the arrears if his address was known. He was ordered to pay or go to prison for 2 months. * I am led to believe he chose the latter.*

    By Angela Roche (12/09/2013)

Add a comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.