Slum Boy Jockey

This is the life story of a would-be jockey who was unlucky enough to reach adulthood just as the First World War broke out. If anyone reading the story is able to shed further light on the life of this person then contact Linda Elson at linda_elson@yahoo.co.uk

Archibald Roland Edgar Martin 13/10/1894 dies September 1970
1st wife Ella K Norwell 11/03/1890 dies 09/03/1943, 2nd wife Edith May Gidley 1894-1977
Archie was the 7th out of the 8 surviving children of William Henry and Emma Maria Martin
(Photo opposite is of Archie approx. 1896/8 sitting on his mother’s knee (Emma Maria Martin))

Little baby Archie was born in the heart of Leicester slums at 13 Grape Street, his parents having moved from 22 Causeway Lane, after 1891.  His grandparent's Henry and Emily Martin were living at 32 Church Gate running the Crown and Cushion public house with the help of Henry's family members whilst also working in the daytime at the family boot and shoe factory on Mansfield Street, opposite Sandacre Street and the Mansfield Head public house. Archie's father, William Henry Martin, was a shoe clicker at the boot and shoe factory, working with Archie's grandad. In 1878 Archie's grandad was in the bankruptcies court and, although we know he survived the financial scandal, we think this may have led to Henry Martin having to vacate 22 Causeway lane and leave the premises to his son and wife, William Henry and Emma Maria Martin, with their growing family (six children, Archie's elder siblings). Living conditions were horrendous, running water was supplied on shared outside taps between multiple properties and sanitation even worse, with shared outside toilets having to be emptied overnight by horse and carts, slopping the contents of the pans onto the courtyards, streets and pavements where children played in the day times.  Illness and death was a daily occurrence; food a luxury and food hygiene non-existent. Little Archie was not like his 3 other brothers and 4 sisters, he was little and weedy and didn't grow like his siblings.The only horses he would have seen would have been private carriages, and the horse drawn trams, which turned on Causeway Lane and East Bond Street, outside the Cherry Tree public house; Grape Street being less than a minutes' walk away. The Tramway stables were behind the Floral Halls and in front of the Stead and Simpson boot and shoe factory, between Mansfield Street and Belgrave Gate. Archie's granddad, Henry Martin's boot and shoe factory, was on Mansfield Street, so in Archie's very young life horses would have been an everyday day occurrence; no doubt he would have played in the streets under the watchful eyes of his big sisters, and he would have seen the stables of the poor, overworked animals who had an even worse life than the slums dwellers themselves.


Archie's other granddad, Henry John Hurdle, on his mother's side was born in Hazelbury Bryan Dorset 17/04/1831 and was brought up in Yeovil and, at the age of 25, he married Maria Hill, in 1857, his occupation on his marriage certificate is given as a Cheese Factor. Ten years later Henry John and Maria moved to Abbas Templecombe in Somerset. Archie's grandparents were now farmers of 72 acres and also cheese dealers. By 1873 the Newcastle Daily Journal reported that Henry John Hurdle is bankrupt, with articles in many newspapers confirming the story, including The Western Gazette, Southern Times and the Taunton Courier. Many court cases are held over a year and  Henry John Hurdle does not attend the hearings as his various creditors try to regain their losses  Council for the trustee asked for  committal for contempt of court of Henry John Hurdle, but as he had disappeared, and his wife Maria Hurdle thinks he has left the country, nothing can be done to detain him. By 1881 the entire Hurdle family and children have all fled from Hillfield, in Dorset, to Leicester with a new surname, Hill, and are found on 51/53/55 Wharf Street, Leicester where they ran a grocery and provision shop which, it is assumed, he set up with money owed to his family and creditors, including his bank, his mother and his brother in law. Archie had a cousin, Edward James Hurdle, who was only 4'10" at 15 years of age and was the son of Walter Samuel Hurdle (brother of his father Henry John Hurdle), so he was not the only family member to be a very short man.

By 1901 the family circumstances had changed for the better. A new public house and hotel had been built at 1 Uppingham Road and Archie's parents, William Henry and Emma Maria, and all the family moved into the new premises.  How they managed to get to this improved state is unknown, but no doubt Archie's grandparents Henry and Maria Martin, who were now running the Cherry Tree, 43 East Bond Street, with other Martin family members, had a huge influence on them obtaining the necessary finance. 'The Uppingham' at 1 Uppingham Road Leicester was one of the largest pubs in Leicester, having been newly built, and no doubt, some of Archie's grandfathers cash and business status helped. Archie, who was by now 6 years of age, still very small for his age and still very weedy. Both his parents were very busy. The Uppingham was situated at the end of the horse drawn trams terminus for Uppingham Road; working men would alight and rush into the pub, spend their wages, leaving their wives and family without food and money, and the children of the area suffered terribly and were poverty stricken. Archie's parents became wealthy and realised what was happening around them. Archie's mother started a soup kitchen for the women and children of the area. Both parents were busy, not only running the business and the charity kitchen but also bringing up eight children. Little Archie would have been sent to school, and at home would have been looked after by his sisters and the live in maid, along with 5 other live in staff. He often was naughty, and on one occasion, was found on one of the trams running up and down waving his mother's hair piece.

The horse drawn trams were replaced by the overhead electric trams which were extended down Uppingham Road. Archie's father now used his money in a farm at Beeby as an investment, although he knew nothing about farming, so it is believed his other grandfather, Henry Hill (Hurdle), was involved, but because of his previous court convictions and his disappearance from Wincaton, Somerset, he had to reinvent himself in Leicester. As a consequence, he chose to remain in the background of the farming business. Archie still had no connection with any horses.

By 1911 Archie's education would have finished, maybe as early as 1909. He is still on the census as living at home at 'The Uppingham', however he is now 16 years of age and his occupation is a farm student, but for who and where is not known. However, what is known is that when his brother, John Reginald married, his father's occupation on the marriage certificate is stated as a dairy farmer. There is no doubt that his father's (William Henry Martin) new found wealth and his grandfather's (Henry John Hurdle Hill) farming expertise had a very large influence on Archie's decision to become a farm student. We know Archie's father, William Henry Martin. travelled on a regular basis to Beeby, however it is not known if he owned a farm or if he had a financial interest either on his own or with business partners.
Leicester 1899 Ladies Leicester 1901 Lady Members badge Leicester 1923 Gents Leicester 1926 Ladies
Can the racing fraternity shed light on Archie’s racing life?
It is thought that Archie became a jockey between 1911 and the 1914-1918 War, and as his parents and grandparents were now all financially stable, they did not having enough funds to have the luxury of owning a race horse, or indeed mix within the racing circles. Archie would have been spotted by a wealthy farmer at Beeby, because he was a very tiny and slim man, and also he was the fun loving man up to the challenge of a race.  He liked a drink and would call in the pubs at Barkby, where he met the landlord's daughter, Ella K Norwell, 'The Brookside' Barkby.  It is most certain that he learned to ride and handle a horse after 1911, for he was a dare devil and would have loved to race. His nearest race track would have been Burton Lazars, near Melton Mowbray or Oadby, Leicestershire. It is also possible he raced at Uttoxeter, as one of the local farms (Archie's neighbour) was owned by Thomas Nuttall a very wealthy man and land owner of three farms who was born at Beeby but moved to Uttoxeter.

1913
Archie was at court in Oakham having witnessed a case of dangerous driving. At the time he was still living with his parents at the Uppingham Hotel and was driving a pony and trap when he was forced off the road by a dangerous motorist driving at 50mph.

1917
Archie was admitted to hospital on 3rd October 1917; he had suffered a gunshot wound to the left hand causing a fracture of metatarsals of two fingers and considerable matting of tendons. He was unable to clutch his fist and had very little power in his fingers, which became very septic.Although there was no bone or nerve damage. There is an earlier reference to a wound to the left leg as well. He spent several months in French hospitals and then back in England, his disability was not deemed to be permanent and the final assessment concluded he had a 5% disability. He was awarded £41 and 5 shillings as a lump sum disability payment.

1918
Archie's British army records show he was in the Leicestershire Regiment 3rd Battalion.WO363/32974 and at some stage in the war the 6th Battalion; he was 23 years of age.
According to tales passed down from the family, Archie did not like army life, he was bullied and made fun of by his army companions and he couldn't wait for the War to end.

Archie was discharged 4th April 1918 due to injury suffered in Action. He was awarded the Silver War Badge, given to soldiers discharged honourably.

1922
Archie returns to farming and is found at Beeby House Farm at Beeby. Archie is now aged 28 years of age. It is not known why Archie does not settle after he returns from the war, or why he chose to go to London, but Archie liked a drink. Before he left for London he went to visit his sister, May Robinson. She had married about 1912 and at the time had no children, but dotted on her little black Scottie dog. Archie offered to walk the little dog, so off he went to the pub tying her up outside at the front door with the intension of just having one pint; but one pint lead to another and another until closing time, when Archie left by the back door. He was staying with his sister and it was the following morning when the dog was discovered missing. Archie received a huge telling off and was immediately sent to back to the pub to recover the little dog who was still sitting where she had been left. It is not known if Archie did any more racing, but most certainly his dog walking days for his sister were over.

1925
Archie and Ella marry in Wandsworth London. Archie is now 31 years of age and Ella 35 years of age
Ella was the daughter of the landlord of 'The Brookside Inn' at Barkby, Leicester which was a very short distance from Beeby House Farm.

1928
Archie and Ella are the licensed victuallers of the King Richard 111 Highcross Street, Leicester and they continued to run the pub until at least 1936. Archie's father, William Henry Martin, died on 5th Feb 1928; however he must have used his influence before his death with the breweries, for Archie and Ella to be able to run the busy and popular central town pub as managers. Archie's niece, Joyce Perry, can remember being taken to see them despite children not being allowed in bars, so her mother Archie's sister May Robinson would sit out of sight behind the bar in the private rooms. May would order a port, the popular drink of the day, and Joyce as a very young child would delight in dipping her finger in the port, meaning she acquired a taste for it which lasted her a lifetime. Archie and Ella never bothered to send his family any personal Christmas gifts, and each year the family received a box of Christmas crackers from them. However Ella would often give Joyce and Maureen a 6d to spend on sweets when they went shopping with their mother May Robinson to Evington Road.

May Robinson with her little black Scottie dog

1939
Archie and wife Ella are living at 8 Marsh Lane, Harrow, Middlesex where he is an unemployed licensed Victualler.Tthey have no children and there are four other adults living in the house with them. Archie is 45 years of age and Ella 49 years of age. Archie's niece, Joyce Robinson, remembers being taken as a child with her mother May Robinson and sister Maureen Robinson on the train from London Road train station to London St Pancras and having a taxi ride to Archie and Ella's house. She can remember it was a large terrace with a big bay window at the front; it is understood that they owned the property, it is thought the other adults at the premises were his boarding tenants.

1943
Ella dies and is buried at Barkby, while some time after this Archie returns to live in London. He remarries later in life, to his house keeper Edith May Gidley.


1965/1967
In his later years Archie 's pride and joy was his Daimler car. However, because of his height he frightened his sister May Robinson when he gave her a ride, as he could only peer over the steering wheel and she was convinced he could not see properly and thought he would have an accident.
Archie came on a visit to Leicester with his house keeper in his Daimler car to meet Maureen Lochhead (Robinson) with her husband Gill and two daughters Susan and Judith and takes them to the Bell Hotel for a meal.


1970
Archie dies Sept 1970 in Brent Middlesex

Archie in his later years

Photo of Archie taken with his brother John Reginald Martin
Date of photo unknown

Article written by, and shown courtesy of, Linda Elson (Leicester) GB great niece of Archie Martin and granddaughter of May Robinson and researched by Peter Martin of Canada great nephew to Archie Martin and grandson of John Reginald Martin . Archie May and Reggie being Martin brother and sisters.