top of page
In 1880, Miss Alice Houghton moved into the property. She was born in 1834 and by 1881, she was listed in the census as the Head of the property. At this stage, the property was still known as ‘Sandfield Park, The Tower’. She lived with her sister, Susan, her stepsister Pattie, a niece, Mary Smith, and a couple of servants. One wonders whether this was a rented agreement or whether she had purchased the property? It must have been a pretty penny if she had purchased the property without any support from a partner at the time.
Sandfield Tower (originally known as Sandfield Park, The Tower) was constructed for Joseph Edwards, a rich South American merchant. Little is known about Joseph Edwards or his trade, but he must have been a successful businessman to have commissioned the building as his private villa. Joseph Edwards passed away in Sandfield Tower in 1878 and the building stood empty for a couple of years. Working with historian Natalie Jones, I am indebted to her for helping me to uncover the background to some of the owners from her fantastic historical interest in West Derby.
In 1880, Miss Alice Houghton moved into the property. She was born in 1834 and by 1881, she was listed in the census as the Head of the property. At this stage, the property was still known as ‘Sandfield Park, The Tower’. She lived with her sister, Susan, her stepsister Pattie, a niece, Mary Smith, and a couple of servants. One wonders whether this was a rented agreement or whether she had purchased the property? It must have been a pretty penny if she had purchased the property without any support from a partner at the time.
William Nutter Kinsman, unconnected with Sandfield Tower at the time was born on the 29th July 1829 in Handsworth, Warwickshire. His occupation in 1851 was a Clerk in the Bank of England and by 1856, he was described as a Gentleman of Liverpool and was married in Manchester Cathedral to Eliza Pearson a spinster aged 23 of Yew Bank, Broughton.
In the 1861 census he was living in Derwent Road with his wife, Eliza, daughter Anne and son Albert. William and his first wife Eliza had three children, Anne (1857-1912), Albert (1860-1881) and William Pearson (1861-1942).
Sadly in 1861, his wife Eliza dies at the age of 27 in Salford and is buried in St Paul’s Church, Kersall.
In 1870 William was listed as Occupation Second Lieutenant Lancashire Artillery in Lancashire: 12th Lancashire Artillery Volunteer Corps - William Nutter Kinsman, gent. to be Second Lieutenant. On the 20th July 1881, Alice Houghton marries William Nutter Kinsman at St James West Derby and they are pictured on the left.
He moves in to Sandfield Tower to be with his wife. They live in Sandfield Tower for 9 years until his death on the 15th Dec 1890 where he died in Southport. Probate: The Will with a Codicil of William Nutter Kinsman late of Duke-street Southport in the County of Lancaster Gentleman who died 15 December 1890 at Duke-street was proved at Liverpool by William Pearson Kinsman of Wrekin-villas Lostock Park near Bolton in the said County Cotton Mill Manager the Son and Richard Charles Birch of 61 Broughton-lane Lower Broughton Manchester in the said County Surgeon the Executors. Personal Estate £243 2s.
Ralph Lyon Broadbent was born in 1839 and was listed as a Corn Merchant. He was in a partnership with Henry Jump and Sons at 11 Drury Lane, Liverpool. Before moving to Sandfield Tower, he was living at Holly Bank in Bankhill and his soon to be wife was living at Rose Bank in Derwent Square. They were married in 1884 at St Oswald's Church, Old Swan.
He moved into Sandfield Tower in 1891 and is listed on the census with his wife, Christina as well as four servants. He continued to live there until his death on the 23rd May 1900. Probate was to James Frederick Browne, a Merchant totalling £36,968. He is buried in a private vault at Anfield Cemetery.
Was Sandfield Tower then 'let' to a number of people for the next 30 years until it became vacant for the Fourth Church of Christ Scientist?
THE HISTORY OF SANDFIELD TOWER
bottom of page