Walter Tittensor

• Born                      1818
• Baptism                25 December 1818
• Died                       10 November 1901 at 6 St Chad’s Place, Stafford

Walter Tittensor, the eldest son of James Tittensor, plumber, and his wife, Harriet was born in Stafford and baptized on 25 December 1818 at St Mary's church, Stafford. Walter married Myra Palmer on 22nd January 1844 at Stafford Registry Office at which time he was described as a schoolmaster residing at Tipping Street, Stafford. By 1851 he had moved to Manchester Street, Oldham and was still at this address in 1868.  On both the 1851 and 1861 census returns he is described as an architect, although details of his training have yet to be found. His known commissions were all gained in the period 1851-1856.  His entry in the 1868 Architects Engineers & Building Trades Directory reads: TITTENSOR Walter, Manchester St, Oldham. His works comprise the Oldham Corporation Baths, and the rebuilding of the Oldham Working Men's Hall; the Extension and Facade of the Oldham Victoria Market, & the enlarging & remodelling of the Saddleworth Union Workhouse; fireproof & other cotton & saw mills; church, schools, parsonage, villa & other domestic architecture.

About 1870 Walter Tittensor gave up independent practice in Oldham andd moved to Manchester for reasons which have yet to be fully explained. Records show that his illegitimate son, Walter Tittenson Harrison Gordon was born on 14 October 1870 in Boston, Massachusetts. The mother of his child is given as Catherine Gordon, presumably the same Catherine Gordon who was recorded as an 18 year-old servant girl in the Tittensor household in the 1861 census. By 1871 the family had moved to Moss Side, Manchester where his wife, Myra died the following year. In both the 1871 and 1881 census returns, he is described as an architect’s assistant or clerk, suggesting paid employment rather than independent practice.  In 1875 he regularised his personal affairs by marrying Catherine Gordon at Chorlton Registry Office on 29th November 1875; his residence at the time being given as 9 Lorne Street, Moss Side, Manchester. By 1881 census he was living at George Street, Moss Side, Manchester with wife Catherine and son Walter Harrison Tittensor, later moving to 11 St Bees Street. Trade directories of the late 1890s again list him as an architect, albeit now in his eighties. Following the death of Catherine in 1900 he moved back to Stafford. The 1901 census records him, aged 82, living on his own means with his (grand) niece Ellen Maria Dickenson, aged 22 at St Chad's Place, where he died later that year.

Address
1895-1899 : Walter Tittensor, architect, 11, St Bees Street, Moss Side (Manchester Trades)

Residence
1844 : Tipping Street, Stafford
1851-1861 : Manchester Street Oldham (census)
(1870 : 2055 Harrison Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts USA the birthplace of his son?)
1875-1876 : 9 Lorne Street, Warwick Street, Greenheys
1881 : George Street Moss Side, Manchester
1883 : Walter Titterstall (sic) architect, 64 Crossfield Street, Moss Side
1886 : Walter Tittensor, architect, 31 Buckingham Street, Moss Side
1900 :11 St Bees Street Moss Side
1901 : St Chad’s Street, Stafford

Married (1)         Myra Palmer on 22 January 1844 at Stafford Registry Office
Married (2)         Catharine Gordon 29 November 1875 at Chorlton Registry Office