A note contributed from New Zealand by Eva Mabel Dew’s son
William Dew, a miller, resided in Langford with his wife Jane and family from 1888 to 1905.
Initially they resided in an old farm cottage in Water Lane-now High Street. Their home was next to Albert Whiteman’s farm and opposite the Red Cow pub.
Nurse Grummitt apparently resided nearby. References to the Dews are included in the 1891 census. By the next census in 1901 Water Lane was then called Water End. Chapter 5 of Ralph Turner’s book Langford a Village Walk describes the locality in detail. About 1898 the Dews moved to Back Lane – now Station Road-and resided in one of the Mount Pleasant cottages next to the Merryweather family. The Dews had 11 children -a further four died in infancy.
One of the daughters Ada Janet Dew married James Selby, a fishmonger, at St Andrew’s Church Langford on 22 March 1902. The Rev C.C. Ewbank officiated.
In addition to working at the Langford Mill William Dew was a beer retailer in Langford. He was also a tradesman, shaping millstones and his services were called upon by adjacent mills. About 1905 after a severe flood the Langford Mill was temporarily out of commission and the Dew Family moved to the Twyford Mill near Banbury.
Eva Mabel Dew, who died in 1985, attended Langford School at the same time as a well-known person, Jack Cousins. Jack recalled how popular the Dew girls were with the local menfolk.