The British Empire and its effect on Plymouth

Thomas Luscombe (1856 - 1931)

Thomas Luscombe was born on 13th of January 1856 at Collytown Sheepstor to his father Thomas Luscombe (born in Collytown, sheepstor) and his mother Elizabeth Luscombe (formerly Austin born in Meavey). He married Florence Kate who was born at Eggbuckland in 1861. At some point in the 1870s or 1880s his parents moved from Collytown to Lower Crabtree and to work as a general labourer. His father may well also have picked reeds at Marsh Mills for basketwork. This was a time of upheaval in the agricultural sector as mass produced grain from the American plains combined with cheap imported frozen meat from New Zealand, Australia and South America to drive down prices of agricultural goods.
According to the obituary published in the Western Morning News on May 30th 1931, Thomas Luscombe held the license to Laira for 45 years. He also was the foreman who electrified and converted the wide gauge to narrow gauge on the Stonehouse tramway. Furthermore he was the Manager of Works that oversaw the construction of Victoria Wharf at Cattedown. In addition he and his wife Florence Kate Luscombe had had 12 children. Three of whom died in childbirth and of course Percy was killed on the Western Front in 1918.

Percy Luscombe Article | Empire in Your Backyard: Plymouth Article