Sight Loss and Sight Care
Stowuplanders have always had to travel outsiders the village for their sight care.
In 1910 William Ernest Tydeman of Stowmarket advertised that he was a qualified Ophthalmic Optician, the only one for 12 miles around. He was age 40 at the time, and qualifications for ophthalmic opticians had only been introduced at the end of the 19th century. His father George Tydeman was a certified optician, he could make and dispense prescription spectacles but was not qialified to scientifically test sight or examine eyes using an ophthalmoscope.
The Spectacle Makers Company is one of the oldest London Livery companies. It is still involved in the optical industry but no longer examines ophthalmic opticans, or as they are now know optometrists.
In 1864 a George Tydeman, silversmith, stood surety for a mortgage taken out by Spencer Freeman, surgeon from Mr John Freeman Cooper.
The Tydeman family came to Stowmarket from Needham Market and they were a very a large family. Very confusingly William seems to have a been a popular boys name in the family
By 1910 Tydeman’s was an established jewellers and clock and watch maker, at 10 Ipswich Stree.. The shop no longer stands on Stowmarket High Street, but other shops carry the name. During the 20th centuries members of the Tydeman family ran many varied businesses in Stowupland.
Today Stowmarket has several Opticians, one of which, Brown’s Opticians is in Denmark House, Bury Street. By the end of the nineteenth century one family of the Tydeman’s had made Denmark House their home, head of the household was a WIlliam Tydeman but at present it is unclear how this William is related to William Earnest the Ophthalmic Optician. In 1911 they are sellers of china, glass and hardware.
We do know that in 1911 William (b. 1857) an Elizabeth (b. 1852) and their son Percy(b 1888) are in 41 BuryStreet. They employed a 21 year-old servant, Isabella Scarlett. Isabella had been born in Saxham Street, her parents were George and Julia Scarlett who were to be the grandparents of Sidney Scarlett who would own Gyfords, The Tailors in Saxham Street.
Sight Loss
From the 1911 census we know of an Emma Pool(e) who had been blind since birth. She had been born in Thurston but by the 1871 census she is a pauper living in Stow Union Workhouse.
In 1881 she has a baby named Frederick Albert Poole. His birth place is given as Onehouse but mother and son are still in the Work House, Onehouse in 1891.
But by the 1911 census they are living on the Green with her married sister (Mrs Ellen Cooper) and her 19 year old son is in employment.
In 1934, 4 Stowupland residents were registered blind, at least one was a registered home worker, as a machine knitter.
