South Yorkshire Times, February 2nd, 1934
Boat Building Family
A Swinton Group
Here is a photograph of a group representing four generations of a Swinton family.
Mr. W. H. A. Houlton (82) father of Fishlake, Mab, Stainforth; Mr. R. F. Houlton, 54, son od 37, Highfields Road, Swinton; Mrs. Annie Birkhead (28) grand daughter of Moorside, Great Longston near Bakewell and Ellen Rosemary Birkhead great-grand-daughter (2 months).
Mr. Houlton sen. was born in Lincolnshire, but came to Swinton 43 years ago and lived there for eleven years before going to Stainforth. At Swinton he worked for Scholey’s the boat builders. Later Mr. Houlton began boat building at Thorne on his own account, and now, though living in retirement, occasionally assists his youngest son Mr. Charles Houlton, in the business.
Six years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Houlton celebrated their golden wedding. Mrs. Houlton died twelve months ago at the age of 80.
For the past 50 years Mr. Houlton has been on the Wesleyan local preachers’ plan, and is well known throughout the Doncaster circuit. Mr. Houlton jun. is a native of Burton Stather and was apprenticed to Scholey’s at Swinton. Later he served under this father at Doncaster, but owing to trade depression he has had to seek work elsewhere, and is now employed at Manvers Main Colliery. He also is closely associated with the Wesleyan Church. His daughter, Mrs. Birkhead was born at Stainforth.