PC Norman Harold Bullivant

Norman Harold Bullivant was born in Millom in Cumberland, which is in the south west corner of what is now Cumbria on 19th March 1895 and he was the seventh son of William and Patty (Martha) Bullivant. His father William originated from Rings End in Wisbech (Cambridgeshire) but the family had moved to Millom by the late 1880s where he worked in the Ironworks as a blast furnace labourer providing for his family.

1901 Census 13 Devonshire Road, Millom

When Norman was just 4 years old, his mother Patty died and within a few years of the 1901 census above William had moved the family back to Wisbech where he remarried. At 16 years Norman had left home and was working as a horseman down on a farm in Cambridgeshire.

1911 Census Moore's Farm, March, Cambridgeshire

However, as the start of WW1 approached, records show that Norman was living back up in the north west at a property called Brooklyn, Holyoake Terrace, Ulverston, which at that time was in Lancashire and he was working as an Electric Wireman at Vickers Louth Shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness.

1914 Advertisement

Army records reveal that he enlisted in the 4th Battalion, King's Own (Royal Lancaster) Regiment on 3rd April 1914, which was a unit of the Territorial Force with their HQ in Ulverston. This was four months before the war broke out, being mobilised for full wartime service on 5th August 1914.

He went on to serve in France between 1st May 1915 and 5th April 1917. On 7th July 1915 he was promoted to Corporal but was wounded in action on 30th March 1917 and returned to England shortly afterwards.

He was disembodied on demobilization on 16th March 1919 due to "suffering dizziness and exhaustion caused through exposure while serving in France".

In early 1918 Norman married Nellie Bewsher in Ulverston and following the end of war they settled down to family life. Nellie was born in Ulverston on 18 Nov 1893 to James Bewsher and Mary Harrison. On being discharged from the army in 1919 Norman was to initially work at the North Lonsdale Iron & Steel Co in Ulverston.

WW1 Medal Index Card

It was not uncommon after the end of WW1 for solders to join the police service and having experienced the regimented life of the army, this was a predictable vocation that Norman would later pursue.

He joined the Lancashire Constabulary on 6th October 1920 and was given a collar number of 458. Following training, he worked at a number of stations throughout his career, being posted to Trafford Park (30/12/1920-), Eccles (21/02/1921-), Elton (14/07/1921-), Peel (Kirkham) (28/08/1925-), Adlington (20/11/1927-) and finally Chorley (07/03/1933-).

1921 Census 15, Willan Road, Eccles (police constable)

Having initially been posted to the Bury division records show that he was transferred to Kirkham (Peel) on 30th August 1925, "for the benefit of wife and children's health". 

Norman and Nellie had three children, William (b.1920 in Ulverston) and Winifred (b.1921) and Stanley (b.1922) who were born in Bury. They were living at 104 Seymour Street, Chorley in 1936 but following the retirement and departure of Inspector Joseph Montgomery in the summer of that year they took over the tenancy at 54 Regent Road.

1936 Directory

The 1939 register shows they were then living at 54 Regent Road, Chorley and their eldest son William was still at home. Norman is recorded as working as a police constable at the time, which was for the Lancashire Constabulary.

1939 Register 54 Regent Road, Chorley

Norman retired from the force on 7th October 1946 at the age of 51 years, have achieved the rank of sergeant and served 21 years and a day in the Lancashire force.

In May of that year they had finally become the proud owners of the house, when they bought it from Paul Parkinson, and remained there until November 1963. They had lived here for well over 24 years at the time they sold the house to John and Rhoda Crook in 1963. 

The 1964 directory record below shows Norman living at the property but this was compiled in 1963 before the house sale went through.

1964 Directory 54 Regent Road, Chorley

Nellie died at the age of 74 years in Chorley in 1967 and Norman moved shortly afterwards to 37, Wheelton Lane, Farington. He passed away on 2nd November 1969.

1969 Probate record Norman H Bullivant

Normand and Nellie's son, William Cecil Bullivant remained living in Chorley until his own death in 1972.