In early 1859 Arthur John Lord (right) became the second son of Isaac and Sarah to be born after the move to Stokenchurch and whilst they were still living at Mallards Court. At the age of 10 Arthur was already at work as a Chair Polisher, probably in one of the growing number of chair factories in Stokenchurch at that time. By the age of 22 he had moved to High Wycombe and was living in Temple Street but by 1885 he had moved to Denmark Street and was now a Chairmaker, In the Spring of that year he married Ellen Collins (below right) who, at the time, was living in Millers Row, (left) High Wycombe.

Ellen was also born in 1859, not far from Stokenchurch, in the village of Bledlow Ridge. Her father Henry Collins was a Chair Turner. Her mother Lacy Collins (nee Stratford) was a Stokenchurch girl and at the age of 20 was shown on the 1841 census as an agricultural labourer. She married Henry in 1844 when she was 23. Henry died in 1869 when Ellen was just 10. In 1871 Ellen is recorded living with her mother

next door to The Boot public house in Bledlow Ridge. Lacey and Ellen are shown as laceworkers. Also still living at home is Ellen’s brother Abel, a chairworker. In later years Abel became well known as a chair bodger at Wheeler End. It is believed that Lacy Collins died soon after 1871 although, as yet, no record of her death has been found. Now an orphan, the story is told that Ellen had to walk 25 miles in one day to go and live with relatives in Southall, West London. There she worked as a servant and later, as a cook where,

apparently, they did not appreciate her style of cooking and, the story goes, her French employer told her that “Ellen, for the English you are a good cook but for the French you do not know the way”. How much of this anecdote is true we cannot be certain but we do know that by 1881 Ellen was employed as a general servant to the family of one John T Bowen, a chemist in Hampstead, North London.

Following their marriage in 1885 Arthur and Ellen lived at 22 Denmark Street. The 1891 census shows Ellen living there with Sidney aged 7 who, in later years, became known as one of the countries finest cabinet makers. Also there was Eunice aged 6, Arthur (junior) aged 3 and Francis aged 2 . Arthur (senior) is not shown so it is probable that, at the time of the census, he was away with the Bucks Militia of which he was known to be an active member. By 1898 the family, now happily including Arthur, and with the addition of Gilbert aged 6, William aged 5 and James aged 2 were living at 8 Vann Inn Yard, Wycombe. At some time during this year the youngest daughter Doris May was born.

The last two children, Leonard and Edward were born in 1900 and 1901 respectively. By this time the family had moved to 4 Mill Street, one of the many little streets of small terraced houses at the western end of the town.