SANDFIELD ROAD (continued)

Information gathered from the Deeds of Nos 28 & 29 shows that a plot of land about 2½ statute acres, once belonging to John Weston passed via Richard Rushton (though Thomas Rushton is shown as owner in 1840) to Ambrose Lace in 1853. Ambrose Lace was the solicitor son of Joshua Lace, solicitor of Liverpool was born at Throstle Nest, Belle Vale Rd., c.1793, built Beaconsfield - one of the biggest houses in L.W. (dem. 1950s) and died 1870. In 1853 Mr Lace had Nos 28 & 29 built on part of his new plot, and he sold a 100 year Lease for three lives to Alice Foxley at No.29, who had been living in Grange Lane in 1851; and Mrs Cross became his tenant at No.28. Foxleys lived at 29 for about 43 years, Eliza following her mother and like her a laundress; in 28, there being no long lease occupants came and went. Two years after Ambrose Lace had died the cottages were bought by Charles Kellock, ship-broker of Grange Lane who sold them to Agnes E. Robinson wife of H.J. Robinson of Aymestrey Court (q.v.). Before selling the houses in 1900 Mrs Robinson bought the remainder of the life interest of 100 years on 29 from Maria Heaford (the Foxley married daughter) for £35 enabling them to go unencumbered to Joseph Blundell of Rose Brow.

The story of No.30 is quite different; also built on part of Ambrose Lace's land, it is said to have been built for John Peters ('gardener' - 1861 Census). In the first Rates Book of 1868 it is shown as owned and occupied by William Peters, joiner, and he was still there in 1891 - today it is still owned and occupied by his descendant. We have no exact date for the building but it must have been almost simultaneous with 28 & 29. The standard of joinery work at No.30 is so noticeably higher than Nos. 28 & 29 that it is tempting to speculate that Wm Peters, the joiner, had a hand in building it (though a deed of 1900 says 'erected by P. Peters'!)

The 1861 Census shows 19 households in the 'Sandhole', many names are familiar & we interpret the stage of development thus: -

Nos 1, 2 & 3 were subdivided by their bricklayer corner, John Hunter, to make 5 dwellings (back to back, and two were '1 up, 1 down'.)
Nos 6 & 7 - also in Hunter ownership (of 1-7 only 1 1851 tenant.)
Nos 8 & 9 - the late Thomas Rodick's two houses, occupied.
Stable Block, also Rodick property, apparently now has 2 dwellings.
Nos 28 & 29 - Mr Lace has a new tenant at 28, Alice Foxley at 29.
No.30 - John Peters aged 70, wife Hannah, and 2 grandchildren.
Lower Sandhole - all three pairs of cottages fully occupied.

continued . . .