Thornton House

THORNTON HOUSE

These photographs together with the following request has been sent in by Richard Penney.

From some family history I researched in the 1980's I believe that my father's side (Penny) had some connections with the village of Pilton. Unfortunately none of the family that I am aware of still live in the area, having moved firstly to Exeter and then my own branch up to the North West of England.

My great grandfather was Gilbert Penny who was born on 28.1.1863 and died on 21.2.1949 was buried at Pilton Parish Church. In circa 1921 he built the house called Thornton House, Lower Road, Pilton . He was originally a carpenter by trade but joined the prison service, retiring from Exeter prison in 1921. His father was Edmund Penney. Edmund was born on 16.4.1826 and died on 31.8.1900. He was also buried at St. Johns, Pilton. He married Martha Moon on 29.5.1849 at Cowl Street Chapel, Shepton Mallet and is recorded as being a 'skilled bootmaker' working from a shack in his garden of a cottage called 'Nestor' in Bread Street, Pilton.

His father, and alas, that was as far as I could trace, was Edmund Penny. He was born 1801 and was married to Sarah. From the 1841 cencus he is recorded as a 'beer seller' living in the seventh house on Pike Lane in Pilton. The cencus did not show his parish of birth and there my 'tree' came to an end.

Some 20yrs on since I did my family history research, I still have memories of the last of the above being connected to a place called the Barrowstyle Inn but could never find anything conclusive. It would be lovely to hear if you had some knowledge or idea where I could perhaps start a new search or indeed if you know if the Penny's of Pilton are being researched by other's who may have been more successful than I.

Richard Penney

Penymynydd, Nr. Chester.

Please contact pilton.com via the CONTACT page if anyone can assist. All messages will be passed on.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHERS HAVE BEEN REPRODUCED WITHIN THE HISTORY SECTION

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