HILLCLIFF Owners and Occupiers (continued):

1847-1881
Samuel Robert Healey (c.1813-1881) Accountant/share broker and one of the first members of the Liverpool Stock Exchange, came here in 1847. By 1851 he was 38, his wife Ann Mosley Healey 34, and their three daughters - the youngest aged 2 was born in Much Woolton - were here with 3 female servants, none local.

Samuel Healey shared with his younger brother Elkanah (see Gateacre Walk II) a devotion to the Wesleyan Methodist Church -inspired by their father's personal meeting with John Wesley in Rochdale - and were founder members of St James's Church, Woolton, built 1865-6 (architect C.O. Ellison). Samuel Healey's particular service was as District Treasurer to Foreign Missions. By 1861 Mr Healey was a widower and living with him were his 5 daughters, his son Samuel Ernest aged 8; 5 servants (born in Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man) and the Governess, Fanny Farrell aged 45 and born in Ireland.

In the 1867 Rates Book we find Healey as the owner and occupier of the house and gardens, R.V. £160, extent by this time just over 1½ acres - the extra acre probably added by Healey by purchase from the Marquess of Salisbury.

On the night of the 1871 census Mr Healey was not at home, the house was in the charge of the 2nd daughter Emily, with her younger sister and brother - by now a Merchants Clerk; and 5 servants, cook, housemaid and parlourmaid.

In 1881 we see that Mr Healey had married again - his wife Fanny, aged 65 and born in Ireland was, we suggest, the Governess we noted in 1861. With them was Emily; a married niece and her small daughter of 5 months, and 4 servants.

Mr Healey died on 17 April, 8 days after the census, and from his will we see his personal estate was £50,000.

In 1882 & 1885 the house was empty - belonging to the Executors of Samuel R. Healey.

1884-1889
James Bellhouse Gaskell (1848-1925) in 1884 a Cement Manufacturer, became owner and occupier that year. He was the second son of Holbrook Gaskell (1815-1909) of Woolton Wood; and had married Harriet May Mellard in 1880.

continued . . .