Memory: TB Silcock and Thornton

Hi, I was born in Little Thornton in 1931.  My grandmother was TB Silcocks cook and my Grandfather his joiner.  TB bought Thornton Hall Farm on Woodhouse from the Braid Family, and Lodge Farm (Corner of Woodhouse & Lambs Rd) in 1926 from my Grandfathers family. I was born in the Old Lodge FarmHouse (on Hornbys Corner) I remember he was a rich man having several business's in Liverpool, Cattle Food etc., incidentally he also owned the Bone Mill on the river bank.

I have many memories and tales I was told by some of his workers, almost everyone worked for him on one or the other of his 3 farms or was on the staff of Arnfield house Silcocks in the 1920s.  Silcocks Cottages opposite Ascot hall, housed his gardeners and his Chauffeur Harry Caterall.

The white house on the corner of the back entrance to Thornton Hall used to be the Stable Block that's  

Gran and Grandad

Wedding Day photograph

where TB kept his Rolls Royce and a little Austin 7 which he used to drive locally.  He was a Gentleman never moved a worker out of a Tied cottage when they ceased work he would hire someone else and build a new house, he knew everyone a true Gent.