EM019 Fred Magnall

Fred Magnall was born in Burnley on the 27th August 1880 (VRI & RoB Burnley 1880 Q3 8e 241) to Thomas (FM021) and Sarah (FM022) nee Blakey. He was christened in Habergham Eaves on the 15th September 1880. In the 1881 Census Fred was 8 months old and living at 49 Cog Lane, Burnley with his parents and older brother William (EM018).

The 1891 Census shows that Fred was now aged 10, a scholar living at 198 Accrington Road with his parents, his older brother William (EM018) and his two younger sisters Minnie (EM199) and Mary Maude (EM224).

In 1901, at the time of the census Fred was still living with his parents at 198 Accrington Road. He was working as a cotton cloth looker.

We believe that Fred became a dairyman in Poulton-le-Fylde in the 1920s, possibly for his first cousin Joseph (FM040) who I think died in the Poulton-le-Fylde district in 1931. Fred developed TB and left farming. He had inherited £1,000 and with a loan of £1,500 from Massey's Brewery in Burnley he bought the Victoria Hotel in Kirkby Malham in West Yorkshire in 1927. Unfortunately business was poor and the debt became too big a burden. His wife hung herself in the wash house and Fred started to drink heavily until he became ill in 1928. He was looked after by his sister Mary Maud (EM224) who had married Sandy Broughton in 1919 (RoM Burnley 1919 Q3 8e 541) and by Emily Elizabeth Taylor who may have been Sandy's sister. Mary Maud moved from Burnley to look after him and Sandy used to cycle over at weekends from Burnley to spend time with his family. Fred died intestate in 1929 (RoD Settle 1929 Q4 9a 20) aged 48 leaving an outstanding debt of £1,628 to Masseys. The pub was signed over to Masseys in 1930 to clear the debt and Sandy and Mary Maud then took over the pub as brewery tenants.Sandy died in 1951 and Mary Maud continued to run the pub until 1954.

The following was published in the London Gazette:-

THE LONDON GAZETTE, 16 JULY, 1929. Page 4736 FRED MAGNALL, Deceased. Pursuant to Trustee Act, 1925. NOTICE is hereby given that creditors and others having claims against the estate of Fred Magnall, late of the Victoria Hotel. Kirkby Malham, Yorkshire, Innkeeper (formerly of 8, Gordon-terrace, Poulton le Fylde, Lancashire, Milk Vendor), deceased, who died on the 13th April, 1929, at the Victoria Hotel aforesaid, intestate, are hereby required to send particulars thereof, in writing, to (us, the undersigned, Nowell Meller & Nowell, the Solicitors to the administrators, on or before the 30th day of September, 1929, after which date the administrators will proceed to distribute the estate of the said Fred Magnall, having regard only to the claims of which notice shall then have been received by us.—Dated the 12th day of July, 1929. NOWELL MELLER and NOWELL, 11, Har- (143) greaves-street, Burnley, Solicitors.

The Victoria used to be run by David Tippey who now lives in a cottage converted from one of the outbuildings. He is working on the history and people of the townships of Kirkby Malham and Hanlith and would welcome contact with anyone who might be able to contribute to his research. He can be contacted at davidtippey@kirkbymalham.info and his website is well worth visiting. Many thanks to David for providing some of the information shown above.

Return to my home page