5 - The Shuttleworth Shoe Shop

Like the Gregory household, the Shuttleworths were a family of five unmarried siblings with a 17 year old live-in apprentice shoemaker named John McDoole.

The main occupation of the family was boot and shoe making, but just like the Gregorys, some of the female members of the family had their own occupations. Rosie and Elizabeth Shuttleworth worked as milliners making hats whilst sister Lucy worked as a weaver.

The shoemaking was left to John, the head of the household, and James, their brother, and the family were doing very well for themselves, able to buy good quality furniture for their house.

When a global recession hit in 1873, many businesses on Romiley Road struggled, and eventually failed. In September 1877 the family decided to sell all of their belongings and begin a completely new life in Blackpool.

John didn't see much of his retirement as he passed away in 1880, leaving his sisters to start a new business as boarding house keepers. The business did very well, allowing them to buy property outright, which would eventually be passed on to their niece Rose.

Meanwhile brother James had returned to Romiley after being taken to court for attacking his sister Elizabeth in 1879. He married Sarah Noblett and they had two daughters named Rose and Mary. Their son John James died in infancy in 1885.

James was a very troubled man who drank heavily and treated his family appallingly. He was repeatedly arrested for theft and other criminal behaviour, including breaking into the Co-op building. His wife escaped with their children and stayed with family but died aged 56. James was jailed for six months with hard labour then returned to Blackpool to live with his sisters. When his sisters predeceased him, James was not able to cope alone and was admitted to Parkside Mental Hospital.

You can find out more about the Shuttleworth family in the book "Residents of Romiley Road" which will be coming soon.