The Railway Hotel in Kirkby was the scene of a shocking theft in 1866 when a hearse driver returning from a funeral stopped off and helped himself to the landlord’s cigars whilst buying some ale.
Although Kirkby as a new town has only developed after the 2nd World War, there had been farms in the area for many centuries and when the Liverpool & Bolton railway was opened in 1848, a station was opened there. The Railway Hotel opened a few years afterwards and became a favourite stop for travellers using both trains and roads.
One such traveller was Samuel Smith in 1866, who was described in the Liverpool Mercury as a ‘mourning coach driver’ employed by Mr Brumby of Collingwood Street in Kirkdale. On 17th October that year he took a funeral party to Bickerstaffe and stopped at the Railway on the way back to Liverpool. Whilst they were having their refreshments the proprietor, 40 year old Austin Peppin, noticed Smith admiring a cigar box that belonged to him.
After the party had left Peppin noticed that the cigar box was missing and headed straight to Kirkdale and the office of Mr Brumby. A search of the hearse which Smith had been driving recovered the box and he was arrested. The following day he appeared in court and admitted the theft, leading to magistrates Mr Moon and Mr Heald sentencing him to two months imprisonment.
This was not the first time Mr Brumby’s employees had caused him trouble that year. The previous month one of his drivers was overtaking another hearse in Kirkdale Road and mounted the kerb, running over and killing a twenty month old boy. In May an employee had stolen seven shillings from the office.
Austin Peppin, who had a wife and eight children, also enjoyed a distinguished career as a Conservative politician and Secretary of the Liverpool & district Farmers Association. He did run into some trouble in 1885 though when he lost his gold rimmed spectacles,leading to hm placing an advert in the Liverpool Mercury offering 10 shillings for their reward.
Austin Peppin says
Fascinating input on my great-great grandfather and namesake Austin Peppin. A great addition to my family history. He must have been quite a character. Would there be more historical reports on him? Would he have been on a local council (your comment that he was a conservative politician). I have been hoping for a photo of him, but maybe it was too early for that. I was born in Stretford but now living in St Louis, USA. Sorry to say I am a Man U fan! Born half mile from Old Trafford!
Best regards,
Austin Peppin
Steven Horton says
Yes there are some more news reports of him in the Liverpool Mercury up to the 1880s (about 15 in all), do you want me to email you the screenshots?
Austin Peppin says
Yes I would like to have the links. Very much appreciated.
Regards,
Austin