It all started with William Edward Moorhouse, known as Ted, who was born in 1887 in Burley, Leeds. He was the 5th child of a family of six boys. His parents started the Moorhouse Jam†business with his mother preparing jam in their own kitchen. Ted started his working life in a jewellery business owned by the Fatorini†family who were cousins. He worked in their shop in Bolton. Ted underwent his training in optics at Manchester College of Technology. He joined the army after he qualified in 1912 and he was based at Becketts Park Army Hospital in Leeds. His army days didn’t take him very far away. However, he gained valuable optical experience at this hospital until he left the army in 1918. He often quoted this connection in his adverts. He then moved to Townville, Castleford and started the business in 1919 testing eyes in a terrace house at the back of the railway station in Cambridge Street, Castleford. Two years later in 1921, Ted moved into the first floor of no 127, Carlton Street which is now the HSBC building. (The Castleford practice has therefore been in Carlton Street, in one building or another for over 90 years, which, we believe, is longer than any other Castleford business). He was a keen advertiser of the business in the local press, always writing and creating the layout himself.
