The Booth family of The White House, Loughborough Road, Coleorton
A few years ago we received a photo from a lady in the USA which she said showed her great great grandfather Richard Booth and family in front of “The White House” in Coleorton. She understood that he was a manager at a mine in Coleorton and asked if we had any information about the family or the house.
Judith, a member of our group, recalled this was the White House that stood on Loughborough Road opposite The George Inn. She remembers as a child in the 1950s playing there with the children of the Fairbrother family who lived in one half of the building, the other part being occupied by the Darby family. The house was later demolished to make way for a new building. At that time we were unable to find out much more. The census records of 1901 and 1911 didn’t show any Booth family in that location and we were confident that Richard was not a relation of Charles Booth the philanthropist of nearby Thringstone and Gracedieu.
Last month we were delighted to hear again from Sue who was planning a visit to the UK and wanted to see where her ancestors had lived. We met Sue and her husband at The George Inn. Judith looked again at the photo and the properties across the road and we could recognise the tree on the right of the photo, bigger now. Sue told us her family attended the Coleorton Baptist church and we took them to see the church on the Rowlands, now a house, where her ancestors had worshipped.
We had managed to do further research. Richard Booth had worked as a collier at Ibstock and Hugglescote, married Mary Ann Harris from Ashby and had a family. He must have shown ability and experience and was offered the job as “under-manager” at Coleorton No 3 mine, the Bug ‘n’ Wink. At age 62 Richard decided to retire from mining.
The Leicester Mail, 24th March, 1910
Midland Miners - Meeting of Official's Association.
A very interesting ceremony took place at the George Inn, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, on Wednesday evening, in connection with the Midland Mining Officials’ Association. Members from both the Coalville and the Gresley branches were present. A presentation was made to Mr. Richard Booth, of Coleorton, who has been acting under-manager at the Coleorton Colliery for upwards of 14 years, and who is leaving on April 1 to take up farming in Canada. Mr. John C. Burdett, of Swadlincote, the President of the Association, in making the presentation of a Thermos flask in aluminium, and inscribed “Presented to Mr. Richard Booth by the Midland Mining Officials’ Association, as a token of esteem, March, 1910” said he was sure those present were quite unanimous in their feelings towards Mr. Booth, who had been connected with it ever since its formation, over twenty years ago. He wished Mr. Booth, on behalf of himself and also for the members, much happiness, joy and prosperity, on leaving England.
On 1 April 1910 Richard, wife Mary and son Harris boarded The Virginian for the 17-day journey to Halifax, Canada to start a farming business. Middle son Dick stayed in England. He had married Agnes from Worthington and was living in Loughborough working as a clerk in an Electric Crane manufacturer. Oldest son Arthur stayed as a colliery clerk at Ibstock. He had wife Ellen and two young daughters.
In the photo Richard Booth is standing second left, wife Mary Ann standing with hands on hips, Arthur, looking very dapper, is lounging on the ground and Harris with a flat cap standing at the right of the picture.
Terry Ward, Judith Appleyard, Sandra Dillon
members of the Coleorton Heritage Group
July 2025