Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

There are several graves in St Michael’s Churchyard on which the inscriptions are clearly visible. Using the census from 1841-1911, the 1939 Register and parish registers of births, marriages and deaths, the following theme uncovers something of the lives of these parishioners who lie buried in the grounds of the church at Walton and brings them back to life as real people who lived and worked in Walton, mostly during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

 

Within the following pages you will meet bakers, farmers, electricians, gamekeepers, engine drivers, rectors, soldiers, gardeners, butchers, lace makers, straw plaiters and innkeepers.

 

Lucas

Thomas Lucas snr. (1767-1820) married Mary Norris (1765-1818) at Walton by licence on 25 July 1799. There are no census records available for the couple because they both died before 1841. It is not known what occupation Thomas held but he was probably a farmer. Their son Thomas was baptised at Walton on 19 October 1801. Two daughters followed, Elizabeth in 1803 and Anna Maria in 1808. Mary Lucas died in 1818 aged 53 and Thomas Lucas died two years later in 1820 also aged 53. Both were buried at Walton. Their ‘double’ headstone is in excellent condition in Walton churchyard and can be viewed at the top of this page.

 

Thomas Lucas jnr. (1801-1870) was living in Simpson in 1841 and was described as a farmer. His sister Elizabeth and a ten year old boy named George Lucas were recorded at the same house. George was Elizabeth’s illegitimate son, who was baptised at Simpson on 4 September 1831. In 1851 Thomas, Elizabeth and George were still living in Simpson. Thomas was a farmer of 50 acres and Elizabeth was described as a housekeeper. George, now a young man of 19, was working as a farm labourer and described as a ‘relative’ of Thomas Lucas. It seems that the family were still hiding the fact that he was Elizabeth’s illegitimate son. A sixteen year old servant named Hannah Murrey was also recorded at the home. Seven years later, in 1858, George and Hannah were married and eventually moved to London.

 

Sometime after 1851 Thomas Lucas also married although there is no marriage recorded online at Walton or in the wider area. His wife’s name was Mary. In 1861 Thomas, now aged in his late fifties, and Mary were living at Bishops Farm in Simpson. Thomas was described as a farmer of 480 acres employing 2 men and a boy. Their 15 year old servant named Mary Cambel was also recorded at the farm.

 

Thomas Lucas died on 1 May 1870 aged 69 and was buried at Walton on 6 May. His headstone, although badly damaged, still exists today close to that of his parents. 

 

Sipthorp

William Sipthorp (1753-1823) was born in Shenley in 1753 and married Elizabeth Norris (1763-1843) at Walton on 22 July 1790. They had at least two children – William (1791-1871) and John (1793-1833).

 

William was a Gamekeeper on the Walton estate. Proof of this exists in the form of entries in the Northampton Mercury dated 29 September 1810 and 21 September 1811. His name – written as William Sibthorpe Senior – appears in a list of those appointed annually as Gamekeepers. He was appointed Gamekeeper of Walton and Sympson (Simpson) by Charles Pinfold Esq. In the same paper dated 8 October 1814 and 19 September 1819 William’s son William Sipthorpe Junior was appointed Gamekeeper by Charles Pinfold.

 

William Snr. died in 1823 aged 70 and was buried at Walton. His son John died aged 40 in 1833. He is also buried at Walton and a touching poem on his grave reads:

“Pause friends and drop the silent tear

O’er one who to his friends was dear,

But human skill could not perlong (sic)

My stay on earth or shun the tomb.

No means to save was left untried

The blooming flower drooped and died.

Reader, prepare to follow me.

I in my prime was snatch’d away,

O may my friends with resignation say

God gave and has a right to take away”

 

Elizabeth Sipthorp died in 1843 aged 80 and was buried alongside her husband. The remaining member of the family, William (jnr.), a farmer of several hundred acres, married Susanna Hall in 1836 at Walton and settled his family in Simpson. He died in 1871 aged 80 but was not buried at Walton.

 

The two Sipthorp graves are now very overgrown and the inscriptions are barely visible. They were photographed in 1986. John Sipthorp's headstone was in much better condition then and an image of it may be viewed here.