Arthur at age 21

Ernest Crane's 21st birthday
Congs Hall, Wigston 18th February 1935
L to R : Arthur, an unknown lady, Ernest Crane, Lilian

Lilian with her grandaughters,
Carole and Eileen c. 1943

Not much is known about Arthur’s earlier years, although it is likely he attended the Long street School, Wigston which is now the site of the Leicestershire Records Office.

It is unclear how Arthur and Lilian met, but family rumour has it that Arthur met her whilst working at her father’s factory. It is certain that Lilian worked there as her name is recorded in the Company’s piece work records deposited at the Leicestershire Records Office. Arthur’s is not which would seem to disprove the rumour.

My Father Ernest Lewin Crane was born 18th February 1914 at Oadby Road, Wigston. Arthur’s occupation on the birth certificate is given as ‘Boot Manufacturer’ which would seem to indicate an elevation in status.

At the outbreak of the first World War, Arthur seems poised to become a wealthy man. He did not fight in the war, being in a reserved occupation and seems to have done well supplying boots to the armed forces. Unsubstantiated family rumour has it that he added to this wealth by supplying market traders with goods via the factory’s back door. What is certain is that he acquired a substantial country estate known as 'Hemploe' across the Northamptonshire border in Welford.

After disposing of Hemploe around 1927, Arthur became a Licenced Victualler and was landlord of the Crown Inn at Great Glen in 1928 when my uncle James Edwin Crane was born at 33 Severn Street in Leicester.

At this time, evidence of a family scandal also emerges. Arthur had been involved with Alice Crick. There is evidence that Alice had worked in Charles Lewin’s hosiery factory as the wages records deposited in the Records Office include her name. If this is when they became involved, then the relationship must have gone on more many years. Alice is also reported to have worked as a cook at Hemploe. In 1928, she gave birth to a daughter, naming Arthur as the father.

At this point, things become a little fuzzier. We do know that after leaving the Crown Inn, he became landlord of the Rose and Crown at Kibworth.

The Rose and Clown, Kibworth c. 1933

At the time of his death on 28th June 1941, Arthur was living in a two up, two down end terrace cottage at 55 Narborough Road, Cosby with Lilian and Alice. The two women were the greatest of friends and lived together until my grandmother died on 7th June 1972. As a child I always knew her as Auntie Alice and never questioned that she was anything other than a blood relative.

Arthur died of uraemia and chronic hephritis at the age of only 51. In laymens terms, this would be described as kidney failure, which given his lifestyle probably means he drank himself to death. The death certificate describes him as an ‘Engineer’s Packer’. Lillian survived him by some 30 years, passing away on 7th June, 1972 due to old age and heart fiaulre. Alice died shortly afterwards.