Croasdell Family - Potted Histories

 

 

Walter

 

Walter Henry Croasdell
was born in Parton Whitehaven
on 16th November 1890.

 

 

 

Walter in his Pharmacy
In 1901 Walter was with his parents and brothers in Commodore Street, Whitehaven age 10, and in 1921 he was again with his parents and brother Ernest at Scotch Street, Whitehaven, a chemist's apprentice. He trained at Edinburgh University to become a pharmacist, gaining his MPS in 2 years rather than the normal 3 years, and spent most of his working life as a chemist, mainly as a pharmacist. The photo was probably taken at the Toller Lane, Bradford shop. One earlier chemist's shop he worked at was in Frizington. Before Edinburgh Walter is said to have spent a short spell as a teacher - possibly at a school in Hensingham.

 

from The Visitor 20/2/1963
He was a keen amateur astronomer and spent many hours star gazing, using a self constructed telescope. The photo is taken from an article in the Morecambe Visitor on 20th February 1963.

Please take a moment to see a little more of Grandpa Walter's history and his enthusiasm for star gazing

Walter and Maude
On 15th July 1916 Walter married Alice Maude Ellwood (known as Maude) at St John's church Hensingham. Their first home was at Holly Terrace, Hensingham where my father and his sister were born. During the 1920s work was difficult to find and the family moved to Liverpool, West Derby around 1924 and then to Birmingham at the end of 1927 for a year, before settling in Bradford. Strangely, both Walter and Maude have not been found so far in the 1921 census, either in England or Scotland. Their two children, Ray age 3 and Joyce age 1, appear to have been left at home at Holly Terrace in the care of their aunt, Maude's sister, Elizabeth Ellwood (Auntie Lizzie). Ray and Lizzie were also enumerated elsewhere at the same time, apparently staying with the Ellwood family in Station Road, Wigton.

 

 

Toller Lane Shop
The chemist shop in Toller Lane Bradford was home for several years before Walter and Maude moved to Lodges Grove, Morecambe in 1940. The 1939 Register shows the whole family, Walter, Maude, Raymond and Joyce living at 148 Toller Lane, Bradford, the house above the chemist's shop. Raymond was a Works Analytical Chemist working for Bradford Corporation and Joyce was a Warehouse Clerk, Furnishing Fabrics. Her surname was later changed to Roberts after her marriage. She was noted as having a First Aid post at Bradford Royal Infirmary. Also living with the family was Walter's father, John Croasdell, a retired engine fitter, and Maude's sister, Elizabeth Ellwood who was visiting from Morecambe. Lizzie's companion visitor was John (Jack) Naylor who also lived in Lizzie's Morecambe boarding house and was the widower of her old friend.

 

 

Grandpa worked for a time at the Co-op in Lancaster and also at the Lansil works at Torrisholme. Even after retirement he still enjoyed doing locum pharmacy work for local chemists including the one in Bare village.

In 1957 the couple moved to nearby Oak Avenue to a flat next door to their daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Albert Roberts and their family and they lived there until Walter died on 30th October 1974.

Gran continued to live in the flat for several more years but eventually moved to a residential home and then a nursing home where she died on 31st August 1994 in her 102nd year. Both funeral services were held at St Christopher's Bare where they had been regular worshippers and staunch supporters of church activities.

In contrast to their own ancestors but in line with the traditions of the early 20th century Walter and Maude had only two children