GEORGE MARTIN AND RICHARD TOWNLEY, BUILDERS, DALTON

The records consist mainly of receipts and bills from various building material suppliers including the brick works in Barrow, William Gradwell and other local builders, Burlington Slate Works and a tile manufacturer in Warrington. Three wage books survive, together with an account book and plans for houses in Dalton and Martin.

Records deposited by Mr and Mrs K Preston on 12 May 1981.

George Martin and Richard Townley established a building business in Dalton in 1872. In 1876 the firm occupied no.5 Hall Street. The 1881 census says that George Martin employed two men and one boy but does not mention Richard Townley. A few bills for 1882 bear only George Martin's name and the 1886 directory shows that the two men had separate firms. Martin was still in Hall Street but Townley had moved to Station Road.

George Martin was born in 1843 in Hawkshead, the son of John and Elizabeth. His father was a hooper. In 1867 he was involved in the building trade in Kirkby Ireleth with a William Martin, possibly a relation. He and his wife, Mary, had two daughters according to the 1881 census: Theodosia was born in 1873 and Margaret in 1878. In 1912 Theodosia is described as a music teacher, living with her father in Hall Street. The year book for the following year mentions neither of them.