BROWSIDE (continued)

Thomas, a Deputy Lieutenant of the County & Magistrate married again c.1820 Judith, daughter of Robert Preston, Brandy merchant, of Lower House, West Derby and between 1821 - 1833 they had 8 children. We have a copy of his portrait owned by Alan Rodick of Salcombe, a descendant and Gateacre Society member and a bust and memorial tablet by J.A.P. McBride (1819-1890) is in the Chapel where he was a warden for 7 years. Apart from Browside Mr Rodick owned land off Quarry Street in Woolton where Rodick Street is today.

The grounds of Browside then extended over Dale Mews, Dale Cottage, Browside Cottage and 8 & 9 Sandfield Road - the last three built by him for stabling, coach houses and probably groom and gardener. The house, originally smaller, was called Kendal Cottage - alterations and additions came later as his family grew, more land being acquired from the garden of No.6.

During his time in Gateacre he appears to have retained a house 'Beachwood' near Arnside, Westmorland and there he died in 1855 but was buried at Gateacre Chapel. Browside remained in the family ownership until soon after 1875 when Nos.4, 6 & 8 Gateacre Brow were bought by the Chapel Trustees with money from the sale of 'The Nook' and land in Halewood Road to the Cheshire Lines Railway Committee.

The next family to occupy No.4 who called it Browside were the Thornelys who coming originally from Godley, Cheshire, called themselves the 'Godley Thornelys' with the inevitable reflection of un-Godley-ness of all other Thornelys. This family were also strong Unitarians, James Thornely (1822-1898) had among his forebears names such as Seddon, Heywood and Mather while his wife Laura was the grand-daughter of THE William Roscoe and related to the Laces and Ambroses.

James Thornely was a solicitor in Oriel Chambers, Water Street (Listed Grade I) and Law Clerk to the Little Woolton Local Board whose meetings, previously held in the Black Bull and discontinued owing to the re-facing of this building, were held in his office until 1882 when the new Board Room in the Gateacre Institute was ready for occupation. He and his wife had 8 children, the last two James Lamport (1865-1900) and William b.1869 being born at Browside. In 1870 Mr Thornely was renting land on Acrefield Road, which from size and ownership - Palethorpe & exor. of J.D. Rodick seems to be part of the site of Aymestrey Court (q.v.).

continued . . .