THOMAS CALOE

Thomas Caloe's story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Sileby on 1st March 1809, the son of William and Sarah Caloe. At an early age he migrated to Walsall to seek his fortune. In 1841 he is listed as a shopkeeper there and was married to Sarah, 13 years his senior. By the late 1840’s Thomas had established a very successful corn milling business and in 1849 he built the 4 storey 'Albion Flour Mill' next to Walsall Locks. His business went from strength to strength, employing 19 men by the early 1870s. His wife Sarah died in 1868 and he married to Eliza Reed in 1870; she was 24 years younger than him. Thomas returned to Sileby, his ‘home’ village in semi-retirement. In 1878 he had the house called Highbury built on Mountsorrel Lane, (originally called Mill Villa) and lived here until his death in 1896.

However, it was his great philanthropy and love for Sileby that Thomas should be remembered for. He was a man at the forefront of developing the fortunes of other villagers, and all at his own cost. His contribution to Sileby included (and not all listed here):

- he built the Wesleyan Chapel on High Street (now the Village Community Centre).
- he built the Working Men's Club, then called the Sileby and District Liberal Club.
- he built the Undenominational School (now Redlands).
- he built the first factory in Sileby for Cricks and Co. to help provide jobs for the working classes.
- he was a member of Sileby Burial Board and loaned the money to buy land for the new cemetery.
- he replaced the old paving on High Street.
- he provided an annual tea and entertainment for poor widows.
- he was a member of the Barrow Board of Guardians, District Sanitary Board, Liberal party and Wesleyan chapel, amongst others.

His works and great kindness are both still seen and felt today.