Enoch Sharpe was born at Lttlethorpe in 1805 he married Ann Mortimer-Hill on the 27th December 1829 at Cosby parish Church (Littlethorpe was in Cosby Parish until 1937). The wedding was witnessed by Anns parents, John & Elizabeth. The next we hear of him is in the Leicester Mercury dated 7th July 1838, this reports him being sentenced to 3-months hard labour for stealing hay from Thomas Billson who at the time was farming at Old House Farm. Enoch was living in one the Littlethorpe yards at the rear of The Joiners Arms at the time of the 1851 census and working as a framework knitter (this would be from home. which would have been rented along with the frame). He was still here and still working at his frame at the time of the 1861 census as shown below. The 1871 census records no change in circumstance. Enoch was still working as a framework knitter at the time of his death in 1881.
The 1861 Census sheet for Littlethorpe showing Enoch Sharpe, his family and close neighbours.
In 1862 at various dates in The Leicester Journal and other local newspapers, Enoch’s house, those of four of his neighbours and Ann Biddles, Joiners Arms Inn were being offered for auction. Doubtless these were the framework knitters cottages behind the pub in The Square, and adjacent to Littlethorpe House, who were quite possibly the owners. Enoch and Ann had seven children between 1830 and 1849, the last born was Allen in 1849. Allen after he left school worked for his father as a carter.
The Leicester Chronicle dated the 30th April 1887 published this report about young Allen Sharpe.
Allens father, Allen senior carted stone with horse and cart from the local quarries, the most local for him being those at Huncote, Narborough,Enderby and Stony Stanton.
Young Allen (4/12/1873-1944) married Jane Lawson (1846-1913) in 1896 she came from Stony Stanton the site of another local quarry. How did they meet? did Jane work at the quarry, or perhaps they met when Allen was carting stone along the road, who knows?
Allen senior (1849-1930) made quite a success of his carting business and he must have got a boost in the 1890’s carrying stone for the building of The Great Central Railway which opened in 1898, the line ran through Whetstone, skirted Littlethorpe on Warwick Road before carrying on to Cosby, all local for Allen. So much so that it was in that period he bought Holly Farm in The Square. All this despite the fact that he could neither read nor write. He and the family moved out of Cuckoo Cottage to live at the farm, again he was assisted by Allen junior both in farming and general carting.
Allen Sharpe senior (1849-1930) pictured in the stack yard of Holly Farm, Littlethorpe.
.In the 1901 census Allen junior is living with wife Violet, daughters Clara and Hilda at 6 Princess Street, Narborough. Next door at No.7 was Joseph Sharpe aged 72 and his wife Joanna, 76. Also at No.7, but listed separately is Harry Sharpe 34, his wife Mary, also 34 and six children. Both Joseph and Harry are listed as heads of household so it can only be assumed that Harry and family were lodging with Joseph. The one we’re interested in, Allen at No.6 is still working as a stone carter for his father.
The 1911 census tells us that Allen junior is now at Littlethorpe and is employed as a waggoner presumably for Allen senior at Holly Farm. His address isn’t given, I would guess it was close to the farm at either Spring Gardens, The Square or The Narrows but he is the head of household. With him are wife Violet, daughters Clara (now working as a servant) and Dorothy aged 14 and 8 respectively, son Leslie born in 1906 and boarder Alred Beasley aged 41 and an elastic web weaver presumably at Burgess, Victoria Mills.
1930 Allen senior dies and son Allen Junior takes over the farm,the 1939 register shows him as a dairy farmer, he is now 73 and wife Violet 74, with them are Violet Ward aged 12 and Edward Ward aged 13, a chartered accountant, presumbably the younger Violets brother and both granchildren of Allen and Violet. Allen dies at 35 The Square (holly Farm?) on the 11th August1944. He is buried at Narborough cemetery and left £2955 16s 6d to wife Violet and son Leslie an agricultural worker in his will.
Son Leslie married Gertrude Warry in 1930. He worked for his father initially then after his death went to work for Danny Brew at Old House Farm, when this was sold he and wife Gerturude moved with Danny Brew to the Daventry area. Leslie died there in 1971.
Sources: Nev Duncan, Find my Past, 1939 register,
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