Exhibition: The History of Walton Hall

Reed

Basil Reed (1912-1940) was the son of Reverend Walter Livingstone Reed (1874-1941) and his wife Annie. Reverend Reed was rector of Walton during the 1930s from c.1932 until c.1940. 

Walter Livingstone Reed originated from Bishop Auckland, Durham and was the son of a schoolteacher named James Reed. In 1891 at the age of 16, Walter was working as a chemist’s apprentice but by 1901 he had joined the church and was recorded as a clergyman, along with his elder brother Alfred. By 1911 Walter was living in Norwich with his sister Alice. That same year he married Annie Young in the district of Christchurch, Hampshire. Their son Basil was born on 29 January 1912, and he was baptised by his father at Aslacton on the outskirts of Norwich, on 10 March of the same year.

The family appear next in the 1939 Electoral Register living at the Rectory in Walton. Walter was Rector of St Michael’s Church at this time. Basil Reed, aged 27, was described as an external student at London University. He was also described as ‘incapacitated’ suggesting a disability of some kind. Sadly, Basil died the following year on 20 July 1940 and was buried at Walton. The inscription on his headstone reads “In loving memory of Basil Reed”.

Reverend Walter Livingstone Reed died on 4 October 1941 aged 67 and at the time was the Rector at St Bartholomew’s Church in Holton, Oxfordshire. He and Annie were living at Holton Rectory. Probate was granted to Annie Reed, his widow and Edward Young (possibly her brother). Walter left an estate of £1659 12s 10d.

Scanlon

Pamela Mary Scanlon née Brailli (1924-1986) was born in Cardiff in 1924, the daughter of Joseph John and May Brailli (née Hilbourne). Her father Joseph was the son of a Ship Broker and he became a Ship and Coal Exporters Clerk. He served in World War I as a Lance Corporal with the Welsh Regiment and recieved the Silver War Badge in 1919. This was given to those who received an honourable discharge due to wounds or sickness from military service during WWI.  

Pamela married Michael Raymond Scanlon (1926-1998) in Windsor in 1951. It is not known when they moved to Walton but it is known that they lived in the Old Rectory and that Michael worked in London, in finance. Pamela died on 20 March 1986 and was buried at Walton. Michael died on 19 April 1998 and was buried with his late wife. It is likely that following Michael's death the original upright headstone to mark Pamela's grave was replaced with the flat stone which can be seen today and is shown on this page.