{"id":16522,"date":"2021-03-04T12:07:22","date_gmt":"2021-03-04T12:07:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghostofthedoll.co.uk\/tracingghosts\/?p=16522"},"modified":"2021-07-03T21:38:36","modified_gmt":"2021-07-03T21:38:36","slug":"thurston-burches-pumping-station-house-thundersley-essex-southend-waterworks-company","status":"publish","type":"southendwaterworks","link":"https:\/\/ghostofthedoll.co.uk\/tracingghosts\/southendwaterworks\/southend-waterworks-company\/thurston-burches-pumping-station-house-thundersley-essex-southend-waterworks-company\/","title":{"rendered":"THURSTON | Burches Pumping Station House, Thundersley, Essex | Southend Waterworks Company"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were three residential properties built in the early 1900’s by Southend Waterworks Company<\/strong> in Thundersley, Essex, which were associated with the reservoir and two pumping stations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pumping Station House<\/strong> (also called Pumping Station Cottage and Waterworks House) on Great Burches Lane was the property associated with Burches Pumping Station<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

THURSTON ~ c.1923-1926<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Aldred Arthur THURSTON <\/strong>an Engineer and family were most likely the third residents of Burches Pumping Station House<\/strong>, following on from the previous occupants Fountain Benjamin LEDGER<\/strong><\/a> and family in 1923<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aldred Arthur THURSTON<\/strong> married\u00a0Mahala Agnes Mary DUNNETT<\/strong> in 1919<\/strong> in Suffolk and had four children. Their first child was born in Suffolk, the next two in Thundersley, Essex and the last in Sussex.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. G A Thurston<\/strong> (1921-1996)<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. A C Thurston<\/strong> (1923-1989)<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. J M Thurston<\/strong> (1925-2015)<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. P R Thurston <\/strong>(1930-2020)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Aldred<\/strong> was 20 when war broke out in 1914<\/strong>, and enlisted as a Private into the 4th Suffolk Regiment four weeks later on 29th Aug 1914 along with his brother Cyril who was 19. Both Aldred and his brother worked for Richard Garrett & Sons, manufacturer of agricultural machinery, steam engines and trolleybuses based in Leiston, Suffolk (Aldred as an Engineer and Cyril as a Clerk). Aldred served in France and Belgium between 4th Nov 1914 and 30th Mar 1916 as a Scout and Signaller, and in Feb 1916<\/strong> was injured by a shell which damaged his left eye. On returning to England after his injury he was transferred to working Reserve and returned to Richard Garrett & Sons from Apr 2016. He was discharged on 14th Dec 1918 and married Mahala the following year.<\/p>\n

    The electoral register records Aldred and Mahala living at “Pumping Station, Great Burches Road, Thundersley, Essex<\/strong>” between 1924-1926<\/strong>, after which they moved to Sussex. The family were living at Shoreham-By-Sea, Sussex when the 1939 register was taken, where Aldred was still working as an Engineer (unfortunately no industry sector was noted). Aldred died only a few years later in 1947<\/strong> age 53, and Mahala died in 1977 age 85.<\/p>\n

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    Aldred’s Parents<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    Aldred Arthur THURSTON<\/strong> was born 21st Jan 1894<\/strong> in Ipswich, Suffolk and was the first of four children born to Arthur Herbert THURSTON<\/strong> and Mahala Emma BIRCH<\/strong>. Arthur and Mahala married 11 Feb 1893<\/strong> in Ipswich when they were both about 27. The name “Aldred” was Mahala’s mothers maiden name, who died four months after they married.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Aldred Arthur Thurston<\/strong> (1894-1947) Engineer<\/em><\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Cyril Walter Thurston<\/strong> (1895-1965) Engineering Clerk<\/span><\/li>\n
    3. Alan Victor Thurston (<\/strong>1897-1974) Company Secretary & Chief Accountant<\/span><\/li>\n
    4. Grace Florence Thurston<\/strong> (1898-1975) Bank Inspector’s Wife<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Arthur<\/strong> worked as a Clerk for many years, as had his father before him who had worked for the Abstract Office, Goods Station, Great Eastern Railway. In 1907<\/strong> Arthur left the firm of Messrs R & W Paul’s Ltd grain merchants of Ipswich, whom he had worked for for 23 years. Mahala<\/strong> was a Dress Maker. The family then moved from Ipswich to Leiston near the coast about 30 miles away, where in 1911<\/strong> Albert was working as an Engineer’s Clerk (most likely for Richard Garrett & Sons like his sons Aldred and Cyril).<\/p>\n\r\n\t\t