Nat Gould

Thomas Horobin 1855-1924

Tunstead in Edwardian Days (2)

Thomas Horobin was born in 1855 at Brierlow in Chelmorton parish in Derbyshire, the son of Thomas Horobin 1819-1905 of Longnor in Staffordshire and his wife née Martha Skidmore 1831-1872. He was baptised at Chelmorton on 23 December 1855.

In 1875 he married Elizabeth Bradbury. She was born in 1858 at Longnor in Staffordshire, the daughter of William Bradbury 1822-1867 of Edge Top Farm near Longnor village and his wife nee Sarah Ann Nadin 1820-1905. When the Census was taken in 1881, Sarah Horobin and her children were staying with her widowed mother at Edge Top Farm.

Tunstead Lime Works in 1932

Thomas Horobin and his wife Elizabeth née Bradbury lived at 4 Lower Tunstead, Wormhill in Derbyshire, and he was a joiner employed at the local lime works (1).

They had the following children:

Martha Ann Horobin. She was born on 31 December 1877 at Longnor, and was baptised on 12 September 1875 at Hartington in Derbyshire. On 18 April she was married to William Thomas Harrison of Fenton in Staffordshire, and died in 1933 aged 55 years.

Sarah Louisa Horobin. She was born on 3 February 1877 at Longnor. On 1 July 1897 she was married to Matthew William Dicken at Alstonefield in Staffordshire. He was born in 1858, the son of George Dicken. She died in 1979 aged 102 years.

William Edward Horobin. He was born in 1879 at Longnor. On 29 April 1907 he married Ann Elizabeth Gregory, born in 1882 at Crowdecote in Derbyshire, and baptised at Earl Sterndale on 1 February 1882. They lived in Crowdecote, and had a son George Edward Horobin born there in 1909. She was the daughter of Luke Gregory and his wife nee Martha Heathcote. Her father was a joiner and wheelwright. In 1901 she had been an apprentice dressmaker. William Edward Horobin was a blacksmith employed at a local lime works. He died in 1954 aged 75 years.

Benjamin Arthur Horobin. He was born in 1880 at Longnor. In 1901 he was unmarried and living with his parents at Tunstead, working as a general labourer in the lime works.
He went to Canada, and died there on or after 22 January 1922 (3).

Signature on the 1911 Census Return

Ada Louisa Elizabeth Ann Horobin. She was born in 1891 at Tunstead in Wormhill parish. When the Census was taken in 1911 she was a cook in the household at The Wyelands in Buxton, Derbyshire. She was married to James Edwin Ogden on 1 April 1918 at Wormhill, and died in 1970 aged 80 years.

Their mother Elizabeth Horobin née Bradbury died in 1920 aged 62 years.

Her husband Thomas Horobin died on 5 July 1924 aged 67 years. His Will was proved on 17 October 1924 (4).

(1) Tunstead hamlet is now deserted, as the vast Tunstead quarry approaches the site. The lime works have long since been closed and the site cleared.
(2) A picture postcard issued by the Midland Railway in about 1905. Tunstead hamlet is in the top left-hand corner, and the lime works where Thomas Horobin would have been employed is just off the picture at railway level to the left. No trains have run on the railways shown since this London to Manchester mainline was closed in 1968.
(3) "HOROBIN Benjamin Arthur of the National Hotel Calgary Alberta Canada died on or since 22 January 1922 at some place unknown Administration Manchester 5 August [1930] to William Edward Horobin blacksmith. Effects £58 14s." England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1930) page 275.
William Edward Horobin was his brother. The delay in granting administration was perhaps due to a necessary wait for seven years for legally presuming death.
(4) "HOROBIN Thomas of Tunstead Wormhill Derbyshire died 5 July 1924 Probate London 17 October to John Clayton foreman. Effects £643 11s 6s." England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1924) page 235.
Larger images of the Tunstead views may be obtained by clicking on the pictures.