HORACE HORSCROFT
1844-1928
LUGGAGE LABELLER
Horace was born at 5 Rock Cottages in Tonbridge in 1844. His father being a carman, a deliveryman. By the
age of 17 Horace had worked briefly as a butcher but had taken to portering. On New Year’s Day in 1865 he
married Constance Munn Burr. They move to Hastings quite soon afterwards and have at least six children,
including twins William and Ann. They’ve settle into 114 Stonefield Road, Hastings and in 1891 and 1901
Horace is describing himself as a railway luggage labeller. In 1910 however it ‘leaked out’ that Horace was
being forced to retire, pensioned off. The local Observer newspaper described him as “one of the best known
employees at Hastings Station” and a “faithful railway servant, labelling luggage for 45 years”. He was 67
by now but “has never had any illness” and “judging by his present appearance he looks good for another
twenty years.” A few months later, in the station waiting room, Horace was being presented with a marble
clock engraved with ‘From a few old friends’. He lost his wife Constance in 1918. He lived until 1928, to
84, almost the 20 years he’d been ‘good for.’
