Bill Kilby’s Walton

Across the road is Walton House which was the family home of the Thompson-Royds. Laurel Farm - over the hill was farmed by the landlord of the pub Walter Westwood. Whilst he and his wife ran the pub the farmhouse was let as accommodation for nurses working at the Marguerite Hepton Orthopaedic Hospital (this was on the site where Woodlands Drive, Thorp Arch is now - see below). After Laurel Farm there was a Methodist Chapel on the road side which was demolished. A grass field ran up to “Blind Lane” - and in the 1960s the present bungalows were built. The last property on Hall Park Road was a smallholding where Dick Dearlove and his wife Bessie lived. Their small cottage and old buildings were knocked down and were replaced by Springfield, Red Syke, The Garth and later Park House. Across from the pub is Farm Close. This used to be a working farm owned by Dick Burniston. Since he passed away the buildings have developed into the present properties.

Across from Farm Close is the Old Hall where Mr & Mrs Warrington lived. Oliver Cromwell was “reputed” to have stayed there one night. The first house on the top road was the White House which was Thompson’s tailor’s employing around 6 people. The other houses towards the bus stop were residential properties. There was no bus shelter. Walton children caught the bus from here to go to Thorp Arch school costing one penny (in old money)! The Trading Estate and the Wealstun Prison were the Royal Ordnance Factory. The prison opened in 1960 and in those days was an Open Prison. We were able to employ prisoners close to their release to come and work as casual labour on the farm. The only properties then were the four houses - originally flat roofed and a row of single storey bungalows for prison staff on Grange Avenue.