Nostalgia: From architects to bonny babies - Sleaford Museum’s Mark Bamford looks at early history of Westholme House

Kirk and Parry’s building/architecture firm prospered in the mid-19th century upon the marriage of Parry to Henrietta, Kirk’s daughter. In the 1860s, Kirk and Parry were the fifth largest building company in London.

Much of Sleaford’s architecture from the mid to late 19th century is as a result of this partnership.

Thomas Parry died in 1879, and his wife in 1882. The property was purchased by solicitor Henry Peake, a partner in the local law firm Peake, Snow and Peake, along with his son, Henry Arthur. After Henry’s death in 1886, his sons (George Herbert and Henry Arthur) successively occupied the house in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

It must have been during Henry Arthur’s residence that this charming photograph from the museum’s archive of the ‘baby drive’ was taken - definitely around the 1920s, judging by the fashionable cloche hats.

Was this a ‘bonny baby’ competition? Do any readers have any knowledge of the term ‘baby drive’? Or recognise a relative in the photograph? We would love to hear from you if you could throw any light on the occasion, the theme, or any of the smart ladies (or babies) in the photograph. You can contact Sleaford Museum by email: [email protected] or by phone on 07518 972016.