James Edgar Kay was the son of John Kay. John was born c1833 in Hutton Rudby in North Yorkshire. He married Emma Light in 1856. In 1861 they were living at 37 Ada Street in Saltaire with John working as a plumber. By 1871 they were living at 64 George Street in Saltaire.

James, the youngest of six children, was born 1875 in Saltaire. In 1881 & 1901 the family were living at 21 George Street. By 1897 James was a plumber working for his father at 10 Bingley Road in Shipley. John died in 1901 and James carried on running the business.

James married Alice Mary Pickles in 1901. They had a daughter, Margaret, born 1910. By 1911 they were living and running the plumbing business at 54 Bingley Road in Shipley.

Alice Mary died in 1927; widowed James married Florence Spencer in 1928. Whilst the business continued to operate in Bingley Road, the family moved to Ilkley. James died in 1937, leaving his widow living at 6 Easby Drive in Ilkley. He left £21,377 3s 1d (worth £1.3 million in 2015) to her in his will.

[In 2006 – 54 Bingley Road became part of the Co-op grocers.]

 

Keighley, Joseph
c1854 – 17 December 1920

Joseph Keighley was the son of William Keighley. William was born 19 February 1819 in Idle. He married Elizabeth Rhodes, 28 September 1840, at St Wilfrid’s Calverley.

Joseph, the third of four children was born c1854 in Idle. In 1861 they were living in Idle with William working as a weaver.

Joseph married Maria Illingworth in 1875. They had five children, including Arthur Willie, who lost his life in WW1.

In 1881 they lived at 3 Amelia Street in Saltaire with Joseph was a woollen weaver.

Joseph's wife, Maria, died in 1885 (possibly when giving birth to their youngest child). Joseph married Ann Booth in 1889. In 1891,1901 and 1911 they lived at 6 Constance Street with Joseph working firstly as a plush dyer, then as a cloth fuller. By 1918 they had moved to 57 Titus Street.

Report from the Shipley Times 23 December 1920: -

An inquest was held at the Shipley Fire Station on Monday (20 December) by the District Coroner (Mr. E. W. Norris) on Joseph Keighley (66), mill labourer, of 57 Titus Street, Saltaire, whose body was recovered from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Hirst Lock, Saltaire, on Friday (17 December).

Ann Keighley, widow of deceased, stated that in 1919, consequent on losing two sons in the war her husband had become very depressed, and expressed the wish that he was dead. In June of that year he became melancholy that he was removed to Menston Asylum and had only come home on 20 November.

Witness, continuing, said her husband had appeared normal and had assured her she had no need to worry. On Saturday week the deceased had gone out to his son's house at 50 Eden Street, Manningham, and after having dinner had returned home, stating that his son had invited him to come to Manningham whenever he felt inclined. On Tuesday in last weeks deceased again set out to go to his son’s place at Manningham. At 3.30 in the afternoon, he had not returned, witness went to Manningham, and found that her husband had never reached his son's home. She than informed the police.

Charles Vanderstock, canal boat workman, of 34 Hill Street, Bingley, stated that he found the body of the deceased at 8.30 a.m. on Friday morning at Hirst Lock. Witness found he could not open the top gates of the locks and found the body between two gate ends.

Dr. Edgerley, Superintendent of Menston Asylum, stated that the deceased was admitted to the asylum suffering from melancholia in June 1919. His condition improved, then he had a relapse, but on the whole made steady progress, and when he was discharged by two members of the Menston Asylum Committee, on the recommendation of the medical superintendent, deceased had completely recovered from his depression.

The Coroner, summing up, remarked that deceased’s depression had apparently passed away when he was discharged from the asylum, and was quite satisfied that the asylum authorities were justified in allowing the man to return home. He was satisfied that the deceased’s wife had no idea her husband still retained suicidal tendencies. No blame was attached to anybody. It was possible that the renewal of old associations and the visit to his son's had brought about recurrence of his mental depression.

 

Eliza was the daughter of William Kendall. William was born 26 August 1798 in Idle. He married Mary Moreing 3 August 1819 at St Peters in Leeds.

Eliza was born 1845 in Idle, the youngest of nine children. The family lived in Idle with William working as a wool comber. In 1861 & 1871 Eliza was working as a weaver.

Eliza married Young Dewhirst 3 September 1876 at St Wilfrid, Calverley. From 1881 to around 1891 they lived at 21 Dove Street in Saltaire with Young working as a gas stoker and Eliza as a weaver.
In 1911 Eliza was boarding with her sister, Esther, at 22 Titus Street in Saltaire. Eliza died in February 1916 and she was buried 9 February 1916 at St Paul’s in Shipley.

 

Esther was the daughter of William Kendall. William was born 26 August 1798 in Idle. He married Mary Moreing 3 August 1819 at St Peters in Leeds.

Esther was born c1837 in Idle, the seventh of nine children. In 1841 the family were living in Idle with William working as a wool comber. In 1851 they were still in Idle with William working as a wool comber and Esther as a worsted rover.

Esther married John Crossland 28 November 1858 at St Wilfrid Calverley. They had four children; - William (b1863), Arthur (b1865), Kendall (b1867) and Sarah Ellen (b1869). In 1861 & 1871 they lived in Idle with John working as a stone mason. John died in 1873 aged just 34.

Widowed Esther married Richard Crossley, a violinist, 7 October 1876 at St Peter Leeds. They had one child – Walter (b1879). From 1881 to 1897 they lived at 29 Caroline Street (now two houses combined as one at 48 George Street) with Richard working as a weaver. In 1897 they moved to 52 George Street in Saltaire. Richard died in 1900.

From 1903 twice widowed Esther lived at 22 Titus Street in Saltaire. Her sister Eliza lived with her. Esther died 19 December 1915.

 

Kitching, Ernest William
1852 – 8 December 1902
also, Harriet Kitching, nee Stephens
1880 - 1893

Ernest William Kitching was the son of William Kitching. William was born c1823 in Bradford. He married Mary Rawlinson 30 August 1846 at St Peter’s in Lancaster. They had four children. In 1851 & 1861 they were living in Huddersfield where William was a plasterer.

Ernest, their second child, was born 1852 in Huddersfield. In 1871 he was an assistant schoolmaster living in a boarding house in Horton, Bradford. Ernest married Harriet Stephens in 1879 at Upton Upon Severn in Worcestershire. Harriet was born 1850 in Powick, Worcestershire. They had a son, Ernest Harold Stephens Kitching, born March 1881. He was baptised 17 April 1881 at St Michael’s Cottingley. In 1881 the family were living at 2 Albert Road (renumbered 3) in Saltaire where Ernest was a school master and Harriet, a school mistress. They had a female servant living with them.

Report from the Shipley Times 27 March 1886: -

Mrs. Kitching, the head mistress of the Albert Road Mixed School, left Shipley this (Friday) morning for Birmingham, where, with her husband, who, up to Christmas last, occupied the position of a master in the Boys' High School, they commence business in quite another line; but their departure has not been allowed to take place without recognition of their abilities and many good traits of character.

At the close of last week a few friends met at No. 2 Albert Road, and presented Mr and Mrs Kitching with a very pretty silver-mounted spirit-stand (bolding three decanters), upon which was a silver plate bearing the following inscription:—“ Presented to Mr and Mrs Kitching, on leaving Saltaire, by a few spirits proof in the bond of friendship.”

On Thursday, the teachers and scholars of the Albert Road Mixed School, —the latter, with very few exceptions out of so large a number, willingly responding to the request of the teachers for any subscription not exceeding sixpence—presented their beloved principal with a substantial mark of their respect and affectionate esteem, in the shape of a beautiful silver cake-basket, sugar bowl, sifter, &c., each piece bearing the monogram, “H.K.”

Miss Baldwin made the presentation, and Mrs Kitching, who was unable to say much to them, hoped God would bless them, and that they would grow up good men and women, and she would then feel repaid for her labours in Saltaire.

On the same day Mrs Titus Salt called at the schools to say “Good-bye ” to Mrs Kitching, and presented her with silver marmalade jar, with the inscription, “Mrs Titus Salt, Milner Field, to Mrs Kitching, with grateful remembrances of her good and valued work at Saltaire, and best wishes for her future.”

Mrs Kitching called at the school this morning and said “Good-bye” to the teachers with whom she has always worked so agreeably, harmoniously, and successfully, and to the children, many of whom have grown up, as it were, in her hands, and the scene was one which will not be readily forgotten, amply demonstrating that here, at any rate, there were other than the common bonds uniting teacher and scholar; and to all appearances, and for any good that would be done daring the remainder of the day, the school might almost well have been closed on Mrs Kitching's departure.

Mrs Kitching, who leaves Saltaire with the best wishes of a host of friends, was appointed headmistress of the Albert Road Mixed School in December, 1877, and the school was opened on the 4th of February, 1878, a school- in which boys and girls were to be taught together, exclusively by certificated female teachers. At that time there were only two or three schools in the United Kingdom conducted on the same principle, and not only the arrangement of the building, but the system of teaching was looked upon as being an experiment in educational work. How admirably it has answered is done in no small degree to the uncommon abilities and tact of Mrs Kitching, who has left the school with an excellent record, awarded at the last examination by H.M. Inspector.

In 1891 they were living in Harborne, a suburb of Birmingham where Ernest was a baker. They had three boarders living with them, all of whom were bakers.

Harriet died in 1893 and she was buried 26 October at St Peter’s churchyard in Harborne. In 1901 widower Ernest was a baker & confectioner living with his son and a servant housekeeper.

Ernest died 8 December 1902 at Winson Green Asylum in Birmingham. He was buried alongside his wife in Harborne. In his will he left £994 3s 11d (worth c£125,000 in 2020) to his son who was a tack manufacturer. He died in 1925.

 

Knott, Benjamin
18 March 1885 – 1942

Benjamin Knott the son of Thomas Knott. Thomas was born c1847 in Norfolk. He married Ann Myers, 17 December 1873. They had nine children. Thomas worked as a stone delver. In 1881 & 1891 the family were living in Idle.

Benjamin was born 18 March 1885. He was baptised, 12 July 1885, at Windhill Primitive Methodist church. By 1901 they were living 69 George Street with Benjamin working as a butcher’s messenger.

Thomas died 29 September 1905; he was buried in Nab Wood Cemetery, Shipley.
In 1911 Benjamin was a plasterer living with his widowed mother at 62 George Street. He married Annie Illingworth, 3rd Qtr 1911. They had a son, Thomas, born 8 March 1919, and a daughter Winifred, born 25 July 1921.

They lived at a number of different houses in Saltaire: -
1914 to 1915 – 19 Caroline Street
1918 – 46 Victoria Road
1919 to 1929 – 32 Victoria Road
1930 to 1931 – 3 Fern Place
1932 to after 1939 – 2 Fern place.

Report in the Shipley Times 27 January 1923: -
A receiving order has been made at the Bradford Court on the debtor’s own petition against Benjamin Knott, of 32 Victoria Road, Saltaire, carrying on business at Clifton Road, Shipley, as a plasterer and builder.

In the 1939 Register Benjamin was working as a plasterer in the building trade.
He died in 1942. He had a brother, Joe Samuel Knott, who sadly lost his life serving his country in WW1.