Apart from Walton Hall and its world famous owner, the naturalist Charles Waterton what of the ordinary folk of Walton in the 19th century. In 1861 the population was 504 and contained 1,810 acres.
The village itself boasted a blacksmith and shopkeeper by the name of Richard Ambler, a plumber called John Backhouse, seven farmers, four shopkeepers, a joiner, shoemaker, lock-keeper, woodman, beer retailer, a butcher and tailor.
The Spurr family were very well known in Walton and surrounding areas as butchers and farmers and had a butchers shop for many years.
The Denton family were also well known as tailors to the gentry and their premises were just off Shay Lane. Mr James Augustus Erskine lived in Grove House, Mr John Marsden Esq. lived in Walton House; Mr Edward Thornhill Simpson lived in Refuse House and Charles Waterton Esq. at Walton.
And so we come full circle to a pleasant village surrounded by fields, 3½ miles from Wakefield. A village with a rich and varied history, several very old buildings, some new housing, two schools, a library, village hall, public house, several shops two churches and a strong sense of community spirit.
