The Fox Family
On the 16th April 1898, at Taylors Solicitors in Sheffield, Eliza Vickers of Dronfield sold the "Croft", a piece of land used for grazing, to three brothers, Fred, Tom, and Harry Fox. The land sold was 1480 square yards, each brother paid twenty shillings plus two shillings to stamp the deeds. They built three dwellings called "West View" (on Hillfoot Road) and "Vera and Doris" cottages on Butts Hill. Martin, (widower) the father of the brothers was a stone mason and helped them to construct the properties. All four men had at sometime worked on the Totley Tunnel and in 1891 records show they all lived in Totley Bents with their grandmother Mary.
The building work was funded by Mr William Franklin, gentleman of Burngreave. In 1899 records show that £270 was lent plus interest of four pounds and ten shillings per annum. All the properties had and still have stunning views over the moors.
Harry Fox with his wife Edith in the grounds of Doris Cottage
The 1901 census shows Tom and family living with his father, Martin, in West View. Vera cottage is uninhabited. Doris cottage had a family called the Beaumonts living there with a seven year old girl called Doris, perhaps this was the reason for the naming of the cottage. There is no information or records to suggest the naming of Vera Cottage. Ten years later the census report shows West View occupied by Fred, his wife and four children in a three bedroom house. Vera cottage was occupied by Tom, his wife and five children in a two bedroom cottage.
Edith Fox at Doris Cottage, 1928
Living in Doris cottage - also two bedrooms - was Harry, his wife and three daughters, the youngest was Edith age one, who most people today would remember as Edie.
Some years later, Fred's two sons, William Martin and Albert ran a Chip Shop from what is now the garage of West View. They were known locally as "Whale O" and "Chippy" as they used whale oil to fry the chips. We cannot be sure when this venture closed.
Tragedy hit Fred's family in 1934 when his grandson, John Martin Fox, aged 2 years 6 months drowned in just a few inches of water after falling into an excavated hole on Hillfoot Road, his brother Arthur was 6 months old at the time. He still lives in Totley.
Edie Fox, youngest daughter of Harry, was born in Doris cottage and lived there for over 90 years until she went to live in a nursing home in Eyam close to her niece Ann Barrett (nee Ridley). Prior to this Edie never had any central heating in her home, no fridge, and no television for many years. She had worked at Totley Hall in service, never married and died in 2005 aged 95. She will be fondly remembered. Doris Cottage was sold in 2003 for £170,000.
Edith Fox with daughter Edie and niece Ann Barrett. Photo taken during WWII when Edie was wearing the Voluntary Service uniform.
There is far more information about the Fox brothers and their descendents. If any one is related to Fred, Tom and Harry Fox and would like to do some "Fox Hunting" let the Totley Independent know and we will be pleased to help – there is a lot more family information and photographs available.
Martin Campion
February 2010