George Peet was the son of George and Betty Peet who were the tenants at the Queens Head, Moor Street. Joiner/Builder George Peet and wife Jane (daughter of Richard Mawdesley of the Famous Ormskirk Gingerbread) took over the Cottage (58 Moor Street) after their 1845 marriage and the the large area behind it became the wood yard for the business. The adjacent building, which was likely used as a silk weaving factory from the 1732 Workhouse build, became the Peet workshop where amongst many products they made coffins. The entrance to his yard was probably marked for many years by the gate posts with gas lanterns on top, a small trace of which has remained.
George Peet's building and joinery business at 58 Moor Street was very successful, in the early 1870s he was employing nine men and six boys, including his son Richard as an apprentice. In December 1876 George Peet passed away aged 58 leaving Richard to take over the business. Richard announced his intention to continue his father's legacy in a newspaper advert later the same month. The Peet family were well connected in the town, two of Richard's brothers were also in business, George as an ironmonger and James as a grocer. In 1877 Richard married Mary Jane Dorset, daughter of long serving and well respected Superintendent of Police, Edward Dorset.
Richard Peet left Ormskirk after selling his business, including 58 Moor Street, to his partner Richard Chisnall, a joiner and builder born in Haydock who had moved to Ormskirk in the early 1870s and built a strong reputation as a Master Carpenter and Joiner. His brother Thomas Chisnall moved to Ormskirk with him and they were soon winning contracts to work for the Local Board and in particular the contract to build the new St Anne's Social Hall at Town End in 1907. Thomas Chisnall's grandson was C.S.M. Harold Chisnall, 9th King’s Liverpool Regiment, MM, DCM, Russian Order of St George 4th Class. Chisnall was probably amongst the most decorated men from the town in WWI. The Russian Order of St George is the highest purely Military Russian medal, established by Catherine the great and awarded during WWI by Tsar Nicholas II to soldiers from allied forces. Harold is listed on the 1st Ormskirk Scouts Memorial at their Wigan Road HQ as 'Also Served', he remained with the Army after WW1 and served with the 6th King's Liverpool Regiment based at Kirkdale.
