The Goodliffe Family of Nottingham

Arnold Goodliffe - Provision Merchant Arnold was born on 23 May 1807 in the family home of Lambley Lodge near Belton in the County of Rutland.  We know a lot about Arnold's life as his son Thomas convinced Arnold to write down his recollections of family, business and other information. By some chance, this story has been preserved and a typescript copy was given to Elizabeth Higgins (daughter of another Arnold Goodliffe) who has preserved the story. A copy of Arnold's history, entitled "A Family History" is provided here.

Arnold grew up on the family farm, but in May 1823  the family received a letter from his brother William asking if one of the family could come to Nottingham for a fortnight to be of assistance in his shop. Arnold was chosen, so:

Arnold worked in his brother's provision shop as general errand boy, liked Nottingham and decided to stay. About 1825 William  took a shut-up shop in Bridlesmith Gate and began business as a Provision Merchant. 

In October 1826 Arnold attended a tea-meeting for teachers and friends of the Sunday School. It being Goose Fair, Arnold was delayed at the shop, but on arrival at the meeting he was introduced to two young ladies and was asked if he would accompany them home as they lived a good distance off. This he did, discovering their names were Misses Anna and Eliza Speed. As Arnold recalls "I found it pleasant to walk and talk with Miss Anna, and by the next Goose Fair we had insensibly got into that stage of feeling peculiar to that age which after the usual little quarrels of lovers, ended in our being married Oct 2nd 1830." Memoirs p35-36

Arnold Goodliffe's Family

Arnold and Ann had 7 children. There is more information about each of them by following the link with their name:

In the 1841 census, the family is living at Bridlesmith Gate:

By the time of the 1851 census, Arnold and Ann were residing at Bridlesmith Gate. Their family had grown to:

In the 1861 census, the family had moved to Lenton Rd, The Park and consisted of

By the 1871 census, still at Lenton Rd:

It is interesting to note that on the 1871 census, the next door neighbour was John Manning, Mayor of Nottingham.

The family in later life

Helen Elizabeth Goodliffe died in 1872. She is buried in Nottingham General Cemetery.

In the 1881 census Arnold and Anna were at 5 Waverley Villas. 

Arnold died there (5 Clarendon Rd on the death certificate) on May 16th 1888 aged 81 and is buried with daughter  Helen. His cause of death is Chronic Gastritis, exhaustion, senile debility. His Obituary was published in the Nottingham Daily Express, Thursday May 17, 1888.

In the 1891 census, Annie was living at 5 Clarendon Rd with a servant (Elizabeth Palin(28)), although Whites 1894 Directory of Nottingham lists Anna at Waverley Villas, 5 Waverley Mount.

Annie died on December 25th 1895 aged 88 and is buried with daughter Helen and husband Arnold at Nottingham General Cemetery.

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Last updated: 21/11/2009