Councillor Andrew James Critten JP MBE Mayor of Southwold 1921-23. 1929-30. 1936-37. 1940-45.
The Man Andrew James Critten was born on Christmas Eve 1879, a Wednesday, in Blything East Suffolk. Son of John Miller Critten a Journeyman and Boat Builder and Adelaide Jeanette nee Spink. He was christened on 1st February 1880 in Southwold and had one brother John Bradstock born in 1884. By 1881 the family were living at 21 East Cliffe Green, Southwold and in 1891 at Prior View House.
In 1901 aged 22, Andrew was working in a large drapery establishment and living at 5 Market Place, Norfolk and shown on the census as an Assistant with many other workers. During the second quarter of 1906 he married Ida Sophia Candler in Southwold and they had no children. Together in 1909, they formed the Southwold Homeknit Hosiery and Knitwear Company in Southwold and by 1911 were living at an undisclosed address in Northfield, with his mother Adelaide and brother John. In the census Andrew was listed as a Hosiery Manufacturer, and Ida as assisting in their business.
The company originally occupied the upper floor of New Hall, in the Marketplace and began with four staff and operating three small hand knitting machines. The company soon began recruiting apprentices and prided itself as a caring and paternalistic firm, pioneering equal pay for equal work. Apprentices would start at the age of 14 and provided with food, lodging and a wage. For that, they worked a five-day week from 8am to 6pm, plus Saturday mornings.
A year after its foundation, the business, by then known as Southwold Homeknit Hosiery Company was growing fast and had taken over both floors of the building it occupied. In 1914, after landing a big government contract to make underwear and socks for the troops, it moved to larger premises on the corner of Pier Avenue and Station Road and began to automate production. At its height, Homeknit employed about 100 people, many from surrounding villages. It made bonnets for local schoolgirls, stylish knitwear for Knightsbridge stores and, later, even silk jumpers for the Royal Princesses. The company it closed in the early 1960s.
In 1901 aged 22, Andrew was working in a large drapery establishment and living at 5 Market Place, Norfolk and shown on the census as an Assistant with many other workers. During the second quarter of 1906 he married Ida Sophia Candler in Southwold and they had no children. Together in 1909, they formed the Southwold Homeknit Hosiery and Knitwear Company in Southwold and by 1911 were living at an undisclosed address in Northfield, with his mother Adelaide and brother John. In the census Andrew was listed as a Hosiery Manufacturer, and Ida as assisting in their business.
The company originally occupied the upper floor of New Hall, in the Marketplace and began with four staff and operating three small hand knitting machines. The company soon began recruiting apprentices and prided itself as a caring and paternalistic firm, pioneering equal pay for equal work. Apprentices would start at the age of 14 and provided with food, lodging and a wage. For that, they worked a five-day week from 8am to 6pm, plus Saturday mornings.
A year after its foundation, the business, by then known as Southwold Homeknit Hosiery Company was growing fast and had taken over both floors of the building it occupied. In 1914, after landing a big government contract to make underwear and socks for the troops, it moved to larger premises on the corner of Pier Avenue and Station Road and began to automate production. At its height, Homeknit employed about 100 people, many from surrounding villages. It made bonnets for local schoolgirls, stylish knitwear for Knightsbridge stores and, later, even silk jumpers for the Royal Princesses. The company it closed in the early 1960s.
On 11th January 1912 Andrew was initiated into Martyn Lodge Freemasons, passing on 9th February and being raised on 8th March, becoming Grand Officer and Past Master.
Following the start of World War I aged 35, Andrew became a Special Constable serving during the war and being awarded the Long Service and good Conduct Medal with clasp ‘Great War 1914-18’. On 7th November 1917 he was also Commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant into the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Volunteer Regiment. He also became interested in local civic affairs and elected to Southwold Municipal Borough in about 1914. Becoming Mayor on four separate occasions – between 19 It was (and still is) a tradition at the opening of the Charter Fair in Southwold, for the mayor and councillors to take a ride on one of the fairground attractions.
Andrew continued serving in the Special Constabulary and promoted to Deputy Section Officer being awarded further long service clasps in 1929 and 1940. During his 1936-37 term of office as Mayor, he was also awarded the Coronation Medal 1937. He also became a Justice of the Peace.
Andrew and Ida lived in The Manor House, 65 High Street, Southwold and he continued his civic duties as Mayor throughout World War II, seemingly using his influence to drive civil defence matters in the Borough, as following the war in the London Gazette of 9th January 1946 he was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to Civil Defence.
Following the start of World War I aged 35, Andrew became a Special Constable serving during the war and being awarded the Long Service and good Conduct Medal with clasp ‘Great War 1914-18’. On 7th November 1917 he was also Commissioned as a Temporary 2nd Lieutenant into the 2nd Battalion Suffolk Volunteer Regiment. He also became interested in local civic affairs and elected to Southwold Municipal Borough in about 1914. Becoming Mayor on four separate occasions – between 19 It was (and still is) a tradition at the opening of the Charter Fair in Southwold, for the mayor and councillors to take a ride on one of the fairground attractions.
Andrew continued serving in the Special Constabulary and promoted to Deputy Section Officer being awarded further long service clasps in 1929 and 1940. During his 1936-37 term of office as Mayor, he was also awarded the Coronation Medal 1937. He also became a Justice of the Peace.
Andrew and Ida lived in The Manor House, 65 High Street, Southwold and he continued his civic duties as Mayor throughout World War II, seemingly using his influence to drive civil defence matters in the Borough, as following the war in the London Gazette of 9th January 1946 he was appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to Civil Defence.
In addition to his role in Homeknit, he was also Chairman of Fordux Mills, another local company that started primarily as a flock mill and diversified into making high-quality mattresses, divans, pillows and other accessories which were supplied to leading bed manufacturers. The company had mixed fortunes, going into voluntary liquidation twice - in 1928 and 1947. In the 1950s it was taken over by Its best known customer, Slumberland. When the factory closed in 1974 the building was converted into flats.
In later life Ida sadly became very ill and her niece Dorothy Yvonne Candler Hatton became her carer, giving up her own job to do so. Andrew declared in his will -
“I want to say how very much I have valued the companionship of my dear wife during the whole fifty odd years of our married life together. She has been my constant helpmate and has supported and inspired me in every possible way: I cannot find words to express how much I owe her”
Ida died in1959 and Andrew remained at The Manor House and died five years later on 20th May 1964 aged 84. .
In later life Ida sadly became very ill and her niece Dorothy Yvonne Candler Hatton became her carer, giving up her own job to do so. Andrew declared in his will -
“I want to say how very much I have valued the companionship of my dear wife during the whole fifty odd years of our married life together. She has been my constant helpmate and has supported and inspired me in every possible way: I cannot find words to express how much I owe her”
Ida died in1959 and Andrew remained at The Manor House and died five years later on 20th May 1964 aged 84. .
The medals awarded to Andrew James Critten were acquired from E-Bay on 1st May 2022. Simply being listed as ‘Pair of Medals on Ribbons & Bar 1937 Coronation & Long Service 1940 ,Very Good Condition’
They were being auctioned on a three-space medal brooch bar, with the first medal missing and only the Coronation Medal 1937 and a Special Constabulary Medal with three clasps remaining, this latter medal initially attracting interest.
The vendor was contacted and confirmed the name on the SCLSM as Andrews J Critten. The first task was to check the 1937 Coronation Medal roll, which confirmed that Andrew James Critten JP had been awarded the medal as Mayor of Southwold Borough. This immediately caused even more interest as Mayors form an integral part of this collection. It seemed likely that Andrew, not Andrews as engraved on the SCLSM, may have been awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, which was often the case, however, he was not listed.
A cursory search of the London Gazette revealed that Andrew Critten, lately Mayor of Southwold, had been appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for services to civil defence in the New Year’s honours list of 1946. This matched the slightly larger space on the original medal brooch that was missing and had been removed at some point.
Armed with this additional detail his name was searched on google, revealing an immediate hit on a portrait painting of Andrew as Mayor in full civic regalia. Contact with Southwold Town Council, the usual search of Ancestry.UK and find my will enabled a quite detailed biography to be compiled. Thanks also to the Southwold Town Clerk, who provided a black and white photograph of Andrew as Mayor and the picture of the Past Mayor’s name board from the council chamber.
An MBE of the correct vintage was acquired to reassemble a fine trio to a man who did so much for his local community in different ways.
The interesting conundrum is whether he is entitled to the Defence Medal? It is unlikely however, as ‘Services to Civil Defence’ probably means with his business providing clothing to soldiers, his commitment to civic and civil defence affairs as Mayor during most of World War II. The last clasp on his SCLSM is 1940 and had he been awarded a subsequent clasp it is likely he would have added this to the group as it would have been awarded before the MBE.
A fantastic find and as always with Mayor’s medals, a real bonus to acquire two very good quality pictures.
They were being auctioned on a three-space medal brooch bar, with the first medal missing and only the Coronation Medal 1937 and a Special Constabulary Medal with three clasps remaining, this latter medal initially attracting interest.
The vendor was contacted and confirmed the name on the SCLSM as Andrews J Critten. The first task was to check the 1937 Coronation Medal roll, which confirmed that Andrew James Critten JP had been awarded the medal as Mayor of Southwold Borough. This immediately caused even more interest as Mayors form an integral part of this collection. It seemed likely that Andrew, not Andrews as engraved on the SCLSM, may have been awarded the Silver Jubilee Medal 1935, which was often the case, however, he was not listed.
A cursory search of the London Gazette revealed that Andrew Critten, lately Mayor of Southwold, had been appointed as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, for services to civil defence in the New Year’s honours list of 1946. This matched the slightly larger space on the original medal brooch that was missing and had been removed at some point.
Armed with this additional detail his name was searched on google, revealing an immediate hit on a portrait painting of Andrew as Mayor in full civic regalia. Contact with Southwold Town Council, the usual search of Ancestry.UK and find my will enabled a quite detailed biography to be compiled. Thanks also to the Southwold Town Clerk, who provided a black and white photograph of Andrew as Mayor and the picture of the Past Mayor’s name board from the council chamber.
An MBE of the correct vintage was acquired to reassemble a fine trio to a man who did so much for his local community in different ways.
The interesting conundrum is whether he is entitled to the Defence Medal? It is unlikely however, as ‘Services to Civil Defence’ probably means with his business providing clothing to soldiers, his commitment to civic and civil defence affairs as Mayor during most of World War II. The last clasp on his SCLSM is 1940 and had he been awarded a subsequent clasp it is likely he would have added this to the group as it would have been awarded before the MBE.
A fantastic find and as always with Mayor’s medals, a real bonus to acquire two very good quality pictures.
Medal Details:
- Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire: Unnamed as awarded.
- Coronation Medal 1937: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: ANDREWS J.CRITTEN.
This page last updated 11 Jun 22
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