KNOLLE PARK (continued)

Meanwhile, Thomas Foster (1791-1836) was first mentioned in Gore in 1818 as an attorney, living at 17 Newington with his father, John Foster Sen. the architect (c.1759-1827) and Richard Foster. By 1828 (after his father had died) he was at 21 St Anne St., and in 1829 he had come to Little Woolton with an office in 8 Exchange Alley. In 1832 he was appointed Town Clerk of Liverpool, in 1834 he was living at "Rose Mount" Little Woolton (Hennet's map of 1830 shows this name roughly in the area of Knolle Park and Bennison's map of 1835 names Thomas Foster here). Thomas died 11 Sept. 1836 and in 1837 Sarah Foster is shown at "Rose Mount" Woolton, in 1839 she is shown as Mrs Thos. Foster, "Rose Mount" and by 1841 she is at "Woolton House", Little Woolton though she is missing from the census that year. In 1843 she is still at "Woolton House" in addition to the "Misses Foster, ladies boarding school" - the only reference to this school. The Tithe Map & Schedule of 1848 record Sarah Foster as owner occupier of the house, outbuildings, pleasure grounds & lawn, over 18 acres in all, with what we know as "Knolle Park Mews" described as "farm buildings & yard". But again Mrs Foster is missing from the 1851 census - possibly a butler was living in the house - though she still appears here in Gore until 1853.

In 1857 William Moon (c.1801-1873) merchant, was at Belmont House, Belmont Rd. West Derby but by c.1860 he is at "Woolton Hill House" Woolton. The 1861 census shows he was a widower aged 60, a Brazil merchant born in Garstang. Also there was his younger bachelor son Henry at 31 a merchants clerk born in Brazil and there were 6 servants including a butler, ladies' maid & a dairymaid, and his tombstone at St Peters reveals that his wife had died in February aged 49. Wm Moon was a magistrate in 1871 by which time he had remarried. He remained at the house he called "Woolton Hill Hall" until his death in August 1873.

In 1874 John Stock (c.1804-1883) a retired merchant, had bought the house and in 1881 he is shown as a widower, born in Liverpool, a retired cotton broker and living with him was his 88 year old mother-in-law, his son James H. Stock - at 25 a student at law, and ten servants. John Stock died in 1883 & the Rates Book for 1885 shows James H. Stock as owner and occupier of "The Knoll".

continued . . .