Thomas’ father, George Walker, was a brewer and liquor merchant but Thomas became a tanner and he married Katherine Lightfoot. Their son, also Thomas (1821-1871), succeeded him and following his death the land south of Hoole Road was acquired by Brabner & Court, Solicitors from Liverpool, who developed the properties we see today between Faulkner Street and Lightfoot Street.
Walker Street was built in 1881 from an opening in Lightfoot Street. Initially it only went as far as Pickering Street.
Thomas Walker was a Gentleman. He died at Rose Cottage, Gwersyllt, Gresford, Wrexham, Wales aged 74 yrs. He was buried on the 7th December 1857 in Overleigh Cemetery along with his daughter, Alice Broadbent, and her husband, James Broadbent.
Thomas Walker of Flookersbrook
…….. b: 20 Dec 1782
…….. c: 19 Jan 1783, St. John the Baptist, Chester
…….. m: 18 Jul 1805 (age 22)
…….. o: Tanner, St Peter
…….. o: 1857 (at death), Gentleman
…….. lived: 1805, St. Oswald Parish, St Peter
…….. lived: 1857 (at death) Gresford St., Gresford Parish
…….. d: 1 Dec. 1857, Rose Cottage,
……………..Gwersyllt, near Wrexham, North Wales (age 74)
…….. b: 7 Dec. 1857 Overleigh Cemetery, Chester
…….. grave ref: OLD02/1424 / #P1424
Cause of death: bronchitis, ascites (dropsy) and exhaustion
………….. Father: George Walker, Brewer
………….. Mother: Margaret Salmon
m1: Katharine Lightfoot
…….. c: 7 Dec 1784, St. Oswald’s Parish, Chester
…….. m: 16 Jul 1805, of Flookersbrook at
………………….St. Oswald’s Parish, Chester (age 20)
…….. d: 8 Dec 1840, Forest Street, Chester (age 56)
…….. b: 15 Dec 1840, St. Oswald’s Parish, Chester
………….. Father: John Lightfoot
………….. Mother: Mary Artingstall, widow (of John Artingstall)
m2: Ann Holmes, Rossett, Denbighshire, 26 Aug 1850,
…….. Parish Church of Gresford, Denbighshire
Marriage license for Thomas Walker and Catherine Lightfoot, 1805
Flookersbrook stands on the line of an ancient road which stretched from the fortress at Deva to Warrington and beyond. Flookersbrook has been cut off from Hoole Road which is now the main route into Chester and retains a quiet almost village atmosphere.
Note on Portrait
The Vandyke Studio, 157, Smithdown Road, Liverpool, (Wavertree). The photographer, and possibly the Proprietor/Owner, was Mr Christie. The premises were in a block of shops with flats above opposite Toxteth Park cemetery between Webster Road and Cranborne Road. Mr Christie died in the 1960’s and had been retired for many years.” The writer was unsure when the studio ceased to operate. (Noted at the bottom of the original of this portrait)