Episode Synopsis
William Roache, known as
Bill, is 80 years old.
His maternal grandparents were
Albert and Mary Zillah Waddicor. His mother was
Hester Vera Waddicor, known as
Essie.
Bill visited
Peggy, the widow of his cousin
Geoffrey, in Derbyshire, to look at some old photographs of the family. One of the photos showed Hester with her two older sisters,
Flo and May. There was a family story that May was a half-sister to Flo and Hester.
Zillah ran the Alton Towers Cafe.
Bill used to visit his grandparents Albert and Zillah at Alton Towers, when they lived in rooms in the mansion. He returned to Alton Towers to meet a local historian who showed him documents which showed that the cafe was actually a big restaurant. A licensing document showed that Zillah became the licensee in 1925, and in 1933 she also took on the Old Mill Buffet in Alton.
Bill visited the William Salt Library in Stafford and was shown his parents' marriage certificate -
William Vincent Roache married Hester Vera Waddicor in 1928. Hester's father Albert was described as a Gentleman on the marriage certificate.
The 1911 census shows Albert as the head of household, age 35, selling ices and temperance drinks, with wife Mary Zillah and daughters
Florence Isabel, and Hester age 10. Their address is 4 Princess Street, Blackpool.
Albert Waddicor and family in 1911
Alice and May Waddicor in 1911
Bill went to Blackpool to meet a local historian who showed him where the Waddicors' shop used to be, at 41 Central Parade. They then went to Blackpool Central Library to look at old street directories. The 1924 directory showed the Waddicors' shop at Central Parade. The 1898 directory listed Waddicor, herb beer maker, and the 1896 directory had Waddicor J, medical electrician.
A story from the local newspaper from 1894 stated that Albert Waddicor had been outside his father's shop and threw a marble at a sandwich man who assaulted Albert and broke the boy's leg.
Bill then looked at the 1881 census which showed
James Waddicor age 32, quarry man and grocer, living in Darwen, Lancashire, with his wife
Alice, 27, and son Albert, 5.
Waddicor family in 1881
Bill went to Blackpool Tower to meet another historian and find out about medical electricity.
They then looked at the 1891 census which shows James Waddicor age 42, phrenologist and medical electrician.
Waddicor family in 1891
In 1898 phrenologists and quack doctors were banned from the foreshore in Blackpool. A rate book from 1898 shows that James Waddicor owned property on Coop Street and York Street which he rented out.
James died in November 1904. He left an estate of £4,792. His will, which was written in 1901, left a trust with the income to go to Alice during her lifetime, then to Albert, but finally to his granddaughter
Lavinia Alice May Waddicor (May). Alice and Zillah were named as the executors and trustees.
Bill then looked at the family on the 1901 census. James and Alice have 4 year old May with them, listed as their daughter. (She is also listed as Alice's daughter on the 1911 census entry, which is signed by Alice.) Florence is with her parents Albert and Mary Z, while Bill's mother Hester, at 3 months old, is with Zillah's sister
Thomasina Stanier and her family in Leigh, Staffordshire.
James Waddicor in 1901
Albert Waddicor in 1901
Hester Waddicor in 1901 with the Staniers