Ada Topping:
Founder of Barton Grange
Ada Topping
1905
Ada was born in Preston to parents Alice and George Theobald. She was the eldest of five children.
1918
At the age of 13, Ada left school and managed to secure an administrative job in the local Food Office rather than joining most girls her age in manual labour.
1925
After some powerful persuasion on her part, Ada’s father George helped her open a greengrocers on Adelphi Street on her 20th birthday. It was her first taste of owning her own business and she loved it!
1951
The first guest checked into Barton Grange Hotel. With money tight, Ada did many of the jobs herself including washing the bed linen every day.
1945
Ever ambitious and determined, Ada set her heart on buying a run-down country manor house called Barton Grange to turn into a hotel. The auction house was busy and bidding competitive, but the couple managed to secure the winning bid of £6,450.
1928
One autumn evening at a local dance hall, Ada met a young market gardener from New Longton called Edward Topping. Six months later they were married. Their only son Eddie was born in 1932.
1952
Barton Grange hosted its first wedding reception. It was to be the first of more than 3000. Despite taking on a huge business venture with no experience and insufficient capital, Ada managed to make the hotel an amazing success story.
1956
Ada’s son Eddie took over the family market gardening business. He proved to have the same business acumen and drive as his mother. By the end of the year he doubled the turnover to £10,000.
1993
Ada passed away at the age of 88. When asked about the reason for the success of Barton Grange Garden Centre, Eddie would reply: “My mother. She had the determination and the drive to lay the all-important foundations.”
Ada Topping
|
1905
Ada was born in Preston to parents Alice and George Theobald. She was the eldest of five children.
|
|
1918
At the age of 13, Ada left school and managed to secure an administrative job in the local Food Office rather than joining most girls her age in manual labour.
|
|
1925
After some powerful persuasion on her part, Ada’s father George helped her open a greengrocers on Adelphi Street on her 20th birthday. It was her first taste of owning her own business and she loved it!
|
|
1928
One autumn evening at a local dance hall, Ada met a young market gardener from New Longton called Edward Topping. Six months later they were married. Their only son Eddie was born in 1932.
|
|
1945
Ever ambitious and determined, Ada set her heart on buying a run-down country manor house called Barton Grange to turn into a hotel. The auction house was busy and bidding competitive, but the couple managed to secure the winning bid of £6,450.
|
|
1951
The first guest checked into Barton Grange Hotel. With money tight, Ada did many of the jobs herself including washing the bed linen every day.
|
1952
Barton Grange hosted its first wedding reception. It was to be the first of more than 3000. Despite taking on a huge business venture with no experience and insufficient capital, Ada managed to make the hotel an amazing success story.
|
|
1956
Ada’s son Eddie took over the family market gardening business. He proved to have the same business acumen and drive as his mother. By the end of the year he doubled the turnover to £10,000.
|
|
1993
Ada passed away at the age of 88. When asked about the reason for the success of Barton Grange Garden Centre, Eddie would reply: “My mother. She had the determination and the drive to lay the all-important foundations.”
