I’ve been exchanging emails with Clodagh Murphy, granddaughter of former Landermereite Lily Thompson! This is what Clodagh has to say – and some amazing family photos, published with her permission.
I have quite a connection to Landermere on my dads side of the family. Arthur Thompson married Louisa Young in 1901 and they lived in one of the Gull Cottages, but I’m not sure when they moved there (he was born somewhere near Thorpe Green in 1871). Arthur’s profession was a farm labourer according to the census (Farm labourer and Cowman), and their address was 1 Landermere.
Arthur and Louisa had 3 children, all born in Gull Cottages
- Sidney George Thompson in 1903
- William Thompson in 1905
- Lily Thompson in 1912
Arthur Thompson and family 
Sidney, William, Lily, Arthur and Louisa Thompson at Landermere 
Gull Cottages
Lily is my Grandmother. She owned a hairdressers shop in Thorpe village near where the Essex Homes shop is before she married Thomas Murphy in 1938. He was born in 1902 in Waterford, Ireland. He was in the merchant navy, but worked as a labourer in Thorpe. possibly at Landermere Hall. We have a photo of him with Charles Childs walking the dogs that belonged to Landermere Hall.
Lily’s hairdressers in Thorpe 
Thomas Murphy and Charles Childs
Charles Childs married Thomas Murphy’s older sister – Johanna Murphy, known as Nan in 1931. They lived at Killarney, Landermere Road. i remember my dad telling me that Nan worked at Landermere Hall, (or Thorpe Hall). I’m not sure how to check this record unless you have any old records of from Landermere Hall?
We are not sure how an Irishman ended up in Thorpe, but we think there may be a connection between him and Charles that bought him to Thorpe… still trying to figure that one out.
We have photos of Sidney and Hilda Faints wedding taken outside the Kings Head pub.
Charles Childs and Johanna (Nan) Murphy 
Charles and Nan’s wedding 
Sidney Thompson and Hilda Faint’s wedding
Lily and Thomas moved to Abbey Crescent, where they had 2 children, Sheila, and Anthony (my dad).
Louisa died in 1933, and by 1939, Arthur was living with Lily and Thomas in Abbey Crescent. Sidney is living at 2 Landermere on the 1939 register, and worked as a Cowman, as did his brother William, who was living in Golden Lane in 1939.
I’m curious if you know of any records of workers or life in general in Landermere, or if you know if they are at an archive somewhere, I’m assuming they worked at Landermere Hall, I do not know for definite.
I don’t yet know the answer to Clodagh’s question about an archive of Landermere Hall workers – anyone else?
Landermere Memories 
Hello Nellmead again. Just to add to the book, ‘Liz’, by my mother, Jean MacGibbon.
I forgot to tell you that she also wrote a personal biography of your great grandfather, Adrian Steven the often forgotten young brother of the more famous elder sisters. It’s called ‘There’s The Light House’ after the family holidays in St Ives, Cornwall. A not too long good read. Obviously Karen is a major figure in the account and The Kings Head too (as far as I can remember)..
Ah lovely, thanks Robert – another one to look out for! Cheers, Nell
I remember Tony murphy and his sister Sheila I went to junior school with tony I remember riding our bikes around the village . We lived in Landermere Road, my parents were Sidney and Vera Burrows. We lived in Thorpe until 1964 when we moved to Weeley. As kids we spent lots of time at Landermere bathing and generally messing around I also remember going duck shooting there with my Dad and uncle. fond memories.
Hello Mervyn, lovely to hear these memories. My dads cousin was Barry Thompson, he has similar memories with my dad.