- PENNY ELLIS -
THORALBY
THROUGH TIME
Willis Family
Thoralby Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights
Over 100 Years
Smithy and Wheelwrights Shop
The earliest evidence we have for a Blacksmiths in Thoralby is the will of John Matchell d. 1705, Thoralby, Blacksmith. He leaves “east Hallgarth … my House … shope or smiddy” firstly to his wife Maudlin and then to my son Robert.
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I do not know for certain where this smidy was in the village, but think it probable it was just round the corner from Hallgarth at what is now known as Wayside, below is a section of the Tithe map from 1840, house No. 181 is Hallgarth and building No. 131 where the arrow points to on the diagram below was the smidy.
Below: Wayside, Thoralby, 2013, former Blacksmith's and Wheelwright's Shop
The next evidence for a blacksmith in Thoralby is in the will of Francas Rider (1676-1859) of Newbiggin. The will dated 9th January, 1759 mentions his second son, Francis Rider (1716-1798), of Thoralby blacksmith, see below.
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I cannot be certain whether Francis Rider of Newbiggin, was a blacksmith, but think it probable. His son's death in 1798 meant the family blacksmith's business was left in his will to his son George Rider, but if son George thinks fit not to pay the thirty pounds... the dwelling and Blacksmiths Shop to son Robert Rider, see below.
The next evidence of the Thoralby village's blacksmith is the marriage of Francis Rider (1782-1861), son of Robert and Elizabeth of Thoralby to Eleanor Furnish (1785-1866), also of Thoralby, at Aysgarth Church, 16th July, 1816, see below.
Francis and his wife Eleanor and their first child Elizabeth, left Thoralby c. 1818 as their second child, Robert and third child Jane were born in Lancashire, where Francis continued his occupation as a blacksmith.
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The next evidence of a blacksmith is in the Trade Directory of 1823 Baines, when Willis John, blacksmith is listed. The Willis family appear to have been Blacksmiths in Thoralby for over 100 years and they and other smiths appear in the 1840 Tithe Award for Thoralby and subsequent Trade Directories and Census Returns.
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John Willis (1794-1875) at the time of the Tithe of 1840 and Census of 1841, John and his wife Eleanor and sons, Matthew 11, John 9 and James 6, were living at Grafton No.93 on the tithe (see below).
The blacksmith's shop No. 150 where the arrow points to on the above tithe map that the Willis family used in the 1840s was alongside the village shop in the centre of Thoralby, very convenient for passing trade, see the photograph below.
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Thoralby village shop and stables and blacksmiths shop, courtesy of G.V. & A. Sadler.
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This photograph of the grocer’s shop predates the building of the Reading Room in 1887. To the right of the shop, where the Reading Room now stands, were stables belonging to John Sadler, a solicitor and landowner living at High Green House. Behind the stables was the smithy of John Willis.
Below a 'close-up' of the smithy and horse being shoed, courtesy of G.V. & A. Sadler.
