Author Margaret Dowland
There were two two separate saddlers workshops in Southrepps one at Glebe Farm/House and the other on the High Street. We have records from 1845 from the census and trade directories.
| 1845 Whites | Christopher Woods |
| 1851 Census | Christopher Woods |
| 1856 | Christopher Woods |
| 1858 | Christopher Woods |
| 1871 Census | Robert Miller |
| 1881 Census | John Harrison |
| 1883 Kellys | John Harrison |
| 1891 Census | John Harrison, James Bartram |
| 1900 Kellys | John Harrison |
| 1901 Census | John Harrison, James Bartram |
| 1904 Kellys | John Harrison |
| 1911 Census | James Bartram |
| 1912 Kellys | John Harrison |
| 1922 Kellys | Frederick John Botwright |
| 1929 Kellys | Frederick John Botwright |
| 1933 Kellys | Frederick John Botwright |
| 1937 Kellys | Frederick John Botwright |
| 1939 Register | Frederick John Botwright |
Christopher Woods Born 1818 in Thurgaton Norfolk. In 1841 Christopher is listed as a Harness maker in Southrepps and married to Matilda by 1851 he was doing well enough to employ two apprentices William Bartram and Robert Miller. By 1861 he was a farmer of 200 acres employing five men and two boys. Their son James becomes a bankers clerk. He was widowed in 1865 and married Jane Stark in 1872. He died in Great Yarmouth in 1898.
Robert Miller Born Southrepps in 1832. In 1851 he was apprenticed to Christopher Woods aged 19. In 1852 he married Jane Hooker, by 1861 they are living and working as a harness maker in Skeyton. Jane having been born in Skeyton. In 1871 they had returned to Southrepps where Robert was now listed as a saddler. By 1881 they had moved to North Walsham. In 1891 things appear to have taken a turn for the worse as he is no longer listed as head of the household but as a lodger with Jane. He died in 1901 in Smallburgh.
John Harrison Born Castle Acre in 1853. In 1871 he was living at home with his parents and working as a harness maker. He married Margaret Martin in 1879 By 1881 he was living in Church Street, working as a harness maker and employing an apprentice who is not named. In 1891 he was a saddler and harness maker in Upper Street. Margaret died in 1892; in 1894 he married Adelaide Walker. By 1901 he was now living next to the Bates who we know lived at 10 High Street. In 1911 they are living at Pit Farm Southrepps but he was still listed as a harness maker. In 1921 they had moved with their two children to Pond Farm. He died in 1938.
James Bartram Born Southrepps in 1868. He was the son of William Bartram apprentice harness maker to Christopher Woods. In 1891 he is living with his parents in Church Street working as a saddler. He married Laura Hewitt in 1898 and by 1901 they were living in Upper Street and he was listed as harness maker. That remains the case in 1911, living with their surviving three children, one died in infancy. According to British Army records for their son William they were living in Glebe Farm in 1917. In 1921 he is still working as a saddler working from home. He died at Church Farm Southrepps in 1938.
Frederick John Botwright Born 1873 in Norwich. At the age of 18 (1891) he was lodging in Church Street and was a harness makers apprentice presumably to John Harrison. In 1901 he was living with his father-in-law William Baker, having married his daughter Amelia. They went on to have three children. In 1921 Fred was a journeyman saddler, living in Upper Street. It appears he took over the Saddlery business from John Harrison in 1922. The Kellys directories of 1933 and 1934 also list him as supplying motor car accessories. The 1939 register shows him as still working as a saddler. He died in 1941. Amelia died in 1973.