Albert Yarwood

Born 1868 in Legh Street, Earlestown, Newton Le Willows to Francis (Wagon Maker) and Alice (nee Pownall), the 1871 Census finds the family living in Wincham, Cheshire. By the time of the next Census Albert was 13 and the address 28 School Road, Wharton (Parish of Over). Eight years later, now an engineer by profession, he married Mary Anne Moore (born 1871, Wincham) at St John's, Over.

We move on another eight years for the next sighting, the birth of son Fred in 1897 on Piel Island near Barrow in Furness. On the birth certificate Albert's profession is shown as Saltworks Manager, an appointment no doubt due to skills learned in the Cheshire saltfields. Quite how long he held this position is unclear but the Saltworks did not turn out to be a long term success.

When the Saltworks foundered, Albert and Mary Ann moved to Barrow and had three more children, Ellen (1900), Harold (1901) and Mabel (1903) all born at 13 St Andrews Street. The baptism records show Albert's occupation as storekeeper then labourer. The family moved to Thornton sometime after 1903 where Albert was employed at the Alkali Works (later ICI). They also had an Ironmongers' shop near the windmill.

At Fred's wedding to Esther in 1922 Albert would have been 54 and was described on the certificate as a labourer. The 1924, 1929 and 1934 (the latter posthumous) editions of the Thornton Cleveleys Trade and Street Guide have Albert Yarwood, Hardware Dealer, Mill Terrace (89 Fleetwood Road).

Albert died in 1933 at the age of 65 and is buried in Thornton cemetery. Auntie Violet recalls, "It was Grandma who ran the Ironmongers shop. Their living room was behind the shop and there were rooms upstairs. I don't remember Albert having anything to do with the shop, he was employed at the Alkali Works. I know Grandma used to go to the Works gate on pay day to get some money off him, or he would spend it all in the pub on the way home. Granddad always wore a bowler hat on a Sunday just like in the photograph (above). As children we were always frightened of him, he was deaf so he shouted."