Horses to Horse Power: Sepia Saturday

Each week, Sepia Saturday, provides an opportunity for genealogy bloggers to share their family history through photographs.  

Sepia Saturday's latest prompt photograph features a 1920s lorry. My mind turned immediately to my cousin's Oldham family of Blackpool, Lancashire, who were carters and coalmen down three generations. The business  went from  using horses to horsepower  - and below is their first lorry purchased in 1921. 

The business was founded around 1890, by Joseph Prince Oldham (1856-1921) and steadily became prosperous.  In  1905 it moved to near North Station, Blackpool, Lancashire in a house with a large yard, hay loft, tack room. and stabling for around 7 horses.

 

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In the 1901 census Joseph Prince Oldham (below), son of William Oldham and Sarah Prince,  was described as a self-employed carter and coal merchant. Also in the  household were Joseph's  wife Mary Alice, his 20 year old son John William and three  young daughters, Sarah Alice, Edith and Beatrice, plus also mother-in-law Mary Ann Knowles. 

 

The Oldham family c.1910 - Back: Sarah and John William 

Front:  Father Joseph,  Beatrice, Edith  and mother Mary Alice. 
 

Joseph Prince Oldham with his granddaughter Elsie 

who later took over the business.

An accident at the coal sidings in the railway station resulted in Joseph being blinded and he died in 1921, with his will, signed with his "mark".

 

 Son John William Oldham on one of the carriages

 in the family business.

 Joseph's son, John William Oldham (1880-1939)

Shortly before his death Joseph had purchased the first vehicle (at the top of this page)   which was used alongside the horses and carts until the 1930's when two new vehicles were bought. 

 

Lorry c. 1936



This vehicle  was requisitioned during the Second World War by Governmentfor use by  the Fire Service. It was never returned.

John William Oldham married Mary Jane Bailey (my grandfather's first cousin)   in 1905 at St. John's Church, Blackpool.  The photograph below shows them standing, with seated John's sister Sarah who went onto marry George Butler (front left) who also worked in the family business.   Look at those hats!!

 

 

 The couple  faced tragedy with  when their youngest daughter Hilda  died aged 6 in 1915.  

Family photograph c.1909 with baby Hilda 

and older daughter Elsie. 

On the death in 1939 of John William Oldham,  his daughter Elsie (below) took the helm with her husband Arthur Stuart Smith and saw the business through the difficult wartime years, combining it with her own hairdressing concern as "Elise"  run from the family home.  

 

 

    

Elsie Oldham (1906-1989)  - my mother's second cousin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The coal merchant business was eventually sold around 1948 to another local firm, thus ending over 50 years of the family concern.   

 

Elsie's daughter Gloria atop one of the last horses.

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