War had just started when the 1939 register was taken. It shows that the number of occupants living at Ladymoor Gate farm had continued to decline, from the nine in 1911 and the five in 1921, the house was now home to only three residents. 

William T Poyser,  born 1st March 1892, a married dairy farmer

Florie Poyser, born 19 August 1896, his wife, unpaid domestic duties,

William T Poyser, born 23rd February 1919, employed as a railway waggon inspector.

There was another change of occupation between 1891 and 1901. On census day 2nd April 1901 the Durbar family were living at Ladymoor Gate and William Durbar the husband and father was no longer relying solely on farming the land for a living. He was also working as a coal miner.

William Durbar, 37, farmer and coal miner (underground) born in Horton

Hannah Durbar,  his wife, 34 born Endon

Arthur Durbar, his son, 13

Daniel Durbar, his son, 12

Elizabeth Durbar, his daughter, 10

William Durbar, his son, 9

John Durbar, his son, 8

Ethel Durbar, his daughter, 4

Dorothy Durbar, his daughter 3

May Durbar, his daughter 11 months

Elizabeth G Knight, a cousin, 22 born Endon.

 Source:

1901 Census RG 13/2625/64 p13

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District: Blackwood and Crowborough

In 1891 William, 27, Hannah 24 and their children Arthur, Daniel and Elizabeth lived in Brown Edge (no address details). William was already working as a coal miner.

Hannah is likeky to be Hannah Smith whom William married late in 1886 in the district of Leek (Leek 1886 Q4 6b 433)

The Durber family (same family, slightly different spelling) was still living at Ladymoor Gate in 1911. William Durber now gave his occupation solely as a coal hewer and the only mention of the farm is through his 18 year old son, John. The size of the farm is not given.

William Durber, 47, collier, hewer, born in Norton (this is a change from Horton in 1901, almost certainly a transcription error on one or the other census entries.)

Hannah Durber, his wife, 44 born Endon. She had by now been married to William for 24 years and they had had 13 children, 11 still living and 2 had died.

Arthur Durber, his son, 23, now a collier, hewer, same as his father

Elizabeth Durber, his daughter, 20, working at home

William Durber, his son, 19, collier, loader

John Durber, his son, 18, working on the farm

Dorothy Durber, his daughter 13, at school

May Durber, his daughter 10, at school

Winnie Durber, his daughter 8, at school

Harry Durber, his son, 4 at school

Ann Durber, his daughter, 2

John and his younger siblings where born in the Parish of Horton, so almost certainly at Ladymoor Gate. The older children and Hannah were born in Endon and William was born in Norton.

Source: 1911 Census RG 14/Piece 16648/Schedule 47 Parish of Horton in Staffordshire, Registration District and sub-district: Leek

Two of the children, Daniel and Ethel, from the 1901 census are not listed with the family

Daniel Durbar, his son, now 22 although not listed in William's household does appear to be still at the same place:

A separate census return, giving the same Ladymoor Gate, Horton address and describing a house of 6 rooms was made by Daniel, aged 22, born Endon and working as a coal hewer. He was married to Mary A Durbar (nee Smith?) born Horton. They had been married for 2 years and had had one child, still living.

Source Class: RG14; Piece: 16648; Schedule Number: 48

Ethel Durbar, his daughter, now 15 is living in the household of Frederick Thursfield, 36 a farmer at Yew Tree Farm, Ridgway, Norton in the Moors as a general servant.

Source: Class: RG14; Piece: 16616; Schedule Number: 151 Registration district Leek and sub-disrict Norton

The Durber family was still living at Ladymoor Gate in 1921. Daniel Durber, William's son, is now the head of household. In 1911 he gave his occupationas  coal hewer but now he describes himself as a farmer working on his own account. The size of the farm is not given.

Daniel Durbar, 32 years and 9 months old, head of household, married, born Norton in the Moors, Staffordshire, farmer working on own account at home

Mary Alice Durber, his wife, 33 years and 8 months old, married, born Horton, Staffordshire, domestic duties at home

John William Durber, his son, 9 years and 10 months old, both parents alive, born Horton, Staffordshire, whole time at school

David Durber, his son, 8 years and 5 months old, both parents alive, born Horton, Staffordshire, whole time at school

Mary Ann Durber, his daughter, 5 years and 3 months old, both parents alive, born Horton, Staffordshire, whole time at school

The house had six rooms

Daniel Durber made the return.

Leek registration district 362, sub-district Leek 3, Ennumeration district 18, schedule 93.

Ladymoor Gate was still occupied by the Harrisons. From the census infomration

The Harrison family comprised:

Richard Harrison, 43 a farmer of 30 acres

Ann Harrison his wife, 37

Hannah M Harrison, his daughter 12

Charles R Harrison, his son, 9

Dorothy A Harrison, daughter - age not decipherable

 Source:

1891 Census RG 12/2186/178 page 12

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District: Blackwood and Crowborough

By 1881 the size of the farm had reduced further from the 46 acres in 1871 to 30 acres. the Shufflebothams had moved away and it was now occupied and farmed by the Harrison family.

The Harrison family comprised:

Richard Harrison, 32 a farmer of 30 acres born Endon

Ann Harrison his wife, 26 born Horton

Hannah May Harrison, his daughter 2, born Horton, possible at Ladymoor Gate

There was one servant

Charlotte Jane Johnson, 12 from Norton working as a domestic servant

It is possible that the new occupant is the Richard Harrison who had previously lived in nearby Crowborough. There is an entry in the 1871 census of a Richard Harrison, aged 22, living at Crowborough with his widowed mother Ann, aged 46, farmer of 17 acres, and his sister Mary aged 15. There is also an entry in the 1851 census for Richard Harrison, aged 2 (born Leek), son of Richard , 32, farmer of 130 acres (born Leek) and Ann. 26 (born Horton) living at Lane Head, which is also very close.  In 1851 Richard had a 5 year old sister Hanna.

Sources:

1881 Census RG 11/2740

Parish of Horton in Staffordshire

Enumeration District: Blackwood and Crowborough