Willow Row Farm, Littleport

History of Willow Farm

1820s

Home of the Peacock family.

John Peacock

Elizabeth née Clarke, died in childbirth 1833 aged 35

Robert b 1824

William b 1827

Thomas b 1829

Elizabeth Clarke b 1833

John married Sarah Harradine July 1833 at Histon

Thomas was apprenticed to Robert Sayle in Cambridge c1835. After his apprenticeship he went to Allison & Co in Regent Street London but returned to Robert Sayle’s.

In 1851 Thomas and his brother William went to Paris. Thomas then travelled on to India. In December 1851 his father died after an accidental fall at Ten Mile Bank.

In India Thomas joined the firm of J & W Watson of Bombay, mercers. They provided the latest fashions in clothes for men and women, as well as jewellery, watches and perfumes. A few years later he moved on to Hong Kong and went into partnership with Robert Sayle to form the firm of Sayle, Peacock and Co at 50-52 Queen Street Central, Victoria, Hong Kong. In 1865 Thomas married Mary Johnston Worthington at Hong King cathedral and they moved on to Madras acting as a Commission Agent. In 1869 the two left Madras and returned to England.

(A Wonderful Man – The Story of Thomas Peacock and Hope Brothers by Maureen Scott 2023)

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1901 4th Willow Row Farm House

Michael Kerridge, 40, farmer, b Littleport

Eliza, 37, b Littleport

Frederick George, 14, b Littleport

Horace E, 12, b Littleport

Hannah E, 10, b Littleport

Mary E, 6, b Littleport

Elliott M, 4, b Littleport

Jessie M, 2, b Littleport

Alice Cooper, servant, 15, b Littleport

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1911

Michael Kerridge, 50, farmer, b Littleport

Eliza, 47, b Littleport

Horace, 22, working on farm, b Littleport

Mary, 16, dairy work, b Littleport

Elliott, 14, b Littleport

Jesse, 12, b Littleport

Elsie, 7, b Littleport

Gwendolen, 5, b Littleport

Frederick, visitor, 24, farm bailiff, b Littleport

Edith, daughter in law, 26, b London

James, grandson, 2, b Littleport

Leslie, grandson, 1, b Littleport

Annie Allerton, servant, 21, b Norfolk

In 1891 Michael Kerridge was at Black Horse Drove, Littleport.

In 1939 Horace Kerridge was living at Crouchmoor Farm, Littleport.

Edward Storey’s The Winter fens has an interview with Jack Kerridge. P.25 it notes that average farm-wages in 1912 were 15s a week.