BAYCLIFF (continued):

Owners and Occupiers:

We see from the deeds of this house that conveyances were made in 1870 and 1872 between The Walton Park Co., and their mortgagees to Samuel Blain. Mr Blain is not in the L.W. census of 1871, but in March that year he wrote to the Board complaining of offensive sewage in the quarry (Parkwood Road) and we feel safe in saying that by 1872 he had moved from Grove Park and was living in the house. From the Minutes of L.W.L.B. we also feel that it is probable the sandstone for these two houses came from this, the township's quarry.

Samuel Blain of William Blain & Sons, one of the oldest firms in the Liverpool corn trade, was here until 1875 when he sold the house to James Thornely (c.1823-1898) solicitor and law clerk to the L.W.L.B. previously living at Browside, 4 Gateacre Brow. Mr Thornely had a strong Unitarian background - his wife Laura was the grand-daughter of William Roscoe - and the family were members of the Gateacre Chapel congregation. The 1881 census shows that he was 58 and born in Liverpool, his wife Laura was 52 born in Middlesex. Living with them were their children Thomas 26 B.A., L.L.M. born Sutton, Lancs., Beatrix 23 born in West Derby, Laura Roscoe 21, Martha Grace 19 both born in Great Crosby, James Lamport 15 student and William 11 both born in Gateacre, and three servants.

From the earliest Rates Book (1876) we see that Thornely's extent was just under 2 acres and his R.V. was £270, by 1881 the R.V. was £300. In 1885 and 1886 there were two conveyances from William Beckett Dennison and Exors to James Thornely - no doubt relating to Dennison's house, cottages and land bought by Mr Thornely. John Dennison had died 29.6.1865 leaving estate of under £20,000 and the last tenant of Dennison's house had been Joseph Stubbs who died 29.6.1885, leaving the way clear for settling up the estate. (It was Stubbs who first called this estate Dove Park). In 1887 Mr Thornely disposed of some of his newly acquired land to George Cope, by this time living in Church Road (at Reynolds Park). In 1886 Baycliff's R.V. unaccountably drops to £238 and it is not until 1889 that his recently purchased land is rated - R.V. £13 10s 0d.

continued . . .