Thatches family

Family property and personal records

This deposit concerns the Thatcher family of Frome, Somerset, Hammersmith and Harrow. It came to the Archives from the Hendon Air Force Museum which has retained material relating to Alfred Thatcher's period of training as a 2nd. Air Mechanic with the Royal Flying Corps and his subsequent service with the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front, 1917-1919.

The family originated in Frome and owned property there as well as in Kensington and Hammersmith. It is difficult to ascertain a precise date for Silas' move to Kensington, although the account book (ACC/1352/003) implies that he carried on a business of carpenter and builder there from at least 1879. In 1881 he purchased a house in Cobbold Road, Hammersmith (ACC/1382/007). He retired, and eventually died in Frome (ACC/1382/015 and 016). Albert, Silas's son, seems to have been brought up and educated in London. As a boy of fourteen he went into business with his father; (ACC/1382/003) contains references to paying a weekly wage of 4s. to 'Bertie'.

He started teaching with the School board for London on 8 Jan 1894 (ACC/1382/036) and continued with the London County Council until his retirement in 1925 at the age of sixty (ACC/1382/029).

The family continued to live at 22 Lime Grove, Hammersmith, purchased in 1899 (ACC/1382/034), until Albert's death in 1934. At this date his son Alfred, with his wife Lily whom he married in 1927 (ACC/1382/046) moved to 6 Oxleay Road, Harrow. Albert's widow Elizabeth seems to have then moved to Acton (ACC/1382/047)