Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Thomas Allsop

31/01/1869 –21/08/1951

Mechanical engineer who worked at John Dickinson's paper mill in Apsley

Relatives

Edith Timson Allsop (1044) — wife

Thomas Allsop — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 1044 Thomas Allsop (1869-1951)

Thomas was born 31 January 1869 in Hemel Hempstead, the seventh child of Thomas and Alice Allsop. Thomas snr. was an engine fitter born in Derby, Alice was a local girl. At the time of the 1871 census Thomas’s younger brother John had just been born and the family were living in Frogmore End.

Ten years later they had moved to Two Waters and Thomas snr. was an engine fitter at the John Dickinson paper works in Apsley. Lena, Harry and Alice had been added to the family.

Thomas followed in his father’s career footsteps and in 1891, aged 22, he had left home and was lodging in St Stephen’s Road, Stratford le Bow. His occupation was given as “gun factory fitter”.

By March 1901 Thomas was living with his parents again at 87, Apsley End, Hemel Hempstead. Younger brother Harry and sister Alice were also still at home and Thomas, as well as his father and brother, was described as a mechanical engineer.

On 17 November 1909 he married Edith Timson Meek, a draper’s assistant fifteen years his junior, at Berkhamsted. Their twins Edward Thomas and Gwyneth were born in September 1910.

The 1911 census shows that Thomas was working as an engineer’s fitter for John Dickinson, the paper manufacturer, in Apsley Mills, Hemel Hempstead, as his father had been. He and Edith lived at “Berkleigh”, Manor Estate, Apsley.

At some point the family appears to have moved to Surrey where twins Joan and Betty were born in 1913.

By the time of the 1921 census the family was back in Hertfordshire and living at 156, High Street, Berkhamsted, Edith’s childhood home. Thomas was described as an out-of-work engine fitter, his last employer given as Messrs Morgan & Co, Motor Works. Also living with them and the four young children was Thomas’s brother Harry, also an engine fitter and, like Thomas, unemployed. He had been working at Vauxhall Motor Works. Life must have been tough, but Edith was manging her own retail hardware shop which must have kept the family afloat.

In 1939 they had moved to Cumberland House, Elm Grove, which Edith was running as a lodging house. Thomas had retired and his brother Harry, still unemployed, remained living with them.

Edith died 26 March 1946 aged 62 and is buried here.

Edward survived her until 21 August 1951 when he died at Margate General Hospital aged 82. His home address was given in probate as 16, Old Bricketwood, Watford and he left legacies to his children Thomas Edward, Gwyneth and Joan.

Edith Timson Allsop (1044)

18/03/1884 –23/03/1946

Wife of Thomas Allsop; shopkeeper and later boarding house keeper

Relatives

Thomas Allsop — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot 1044 Edith Timson Allsop (née Meek) (1884-1946)

Edith was born 18 March 1884 in Berkhamsted, the daughter of Edward Meek, a wood turner and his wife Eliza Cook (née Timson). She was the seventh of eight children and the family lived at 156, High Street.

In 1901 Edith was 17 and working as a draper’s assistant along with her elder sister Lilian.

On 17 November 1909 she married Thomas Allsop, fifteen years her senior, in Berkhamsted. Their twins Edward Thomas and Gwyneth were born in September 1910.

Thomas worked as an engineer’s fitter for John Dickinson, the paper manufacturer, in Apsley Mills, Hemel Hempstead and in 1911 they were living at “Berkleigh”, Manor Estate, Apsley.

At some point the family appears to have moved to Surrey where twins Joan and Betty were born in 1913.

By the time of the 1921 census the family was living at 156, High Street, Berkhamsted, Edith’s childhood home. Thomas was described as an out-of-work engine fitter, his last employer given as Messrs Morgan & Co, Motor Works. Also living with them and the four young children was Thomas’s brother Harry, also an engine fitter and, like Thomas, unemployed. He had been working at Vauxhall Motor Works. Life would have been tough, but Edith was manging her own retail hardware shop which must have kept the family afloat.

In 1939 they had moved to Cumberland House, Elm Grove, which Edith was running as a lodging house. Two elementary school teachers were in residence. Thomas Allsop had now retired and Harry Allsop, still unemployed, was still living with them.

Edith died 26 March 1946 aged 62. Thomas survived her until 1951 and is buried here with her.