Person:John Watson (95)

1841 Census: Peckforton, CHESHIRE, 40, stone mason, Cheshire.

1851 Census: Peckforton, CHESHIRE, 53, master stone mason employing 3 men, Beeston (Cheshire).

1861 Census: Peckforton, CHESHIRE, 62, stone mason, Clotten?, Cheshire.

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/archive/index.php/t-29987.html    05-29-2004

The Elephant and Castle is at Peckforton and is now part of the National Trust property. John Watson also worked on several buildings and bridges in britain, and his statues which were said to have been carved at home, were done outside, where on dark nights his children stood around with candles so that he could see what he was doing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93173492@N00/1064270292/ It is amazing what passes for a garden ornament. The Elephant and Castle stands in the garden of Laundry Cottage in Peckforton. It was carved in the 1850s by John Watson, a stonemason who worked on Peckforton Castle. It is said that it stood in the garden of his cottage until it was demolished and was then moved to its present location. It is further suggested that the elephant was chosen as it featured on the family arms of the Corbetts, who owned Peckforton up to the 1620s.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckforton#Elephant_and_castle_carving Elephant and castle carving A red sandstone carving depicting an elephant bearing a castle stands in a garden on Stone House Lane in Peckforton village. It dates from around 1859 and is listed at grade II. It was carved by John or William Watson, a local stonemason then working on Peckforton Castle who also carved stone lions now at Spurstow and Tattenhall. The elephant and the castle are each carved from a single piece of stone, which derives from the same quarry as Peckforton Castle. The elephant has a tasseled saddle, supporting the castle which has three tiers, with a turreted gatehouse and a keep with turrets at the corner. Some of the castle windows are glazed. The original purpose of the carving is unclear. The device formed part of the crest of the Worshipful Company of Cutlers and is often associated with public houses, but there has never been a pub called The Elephant and the Castle in Peckforton. An elephant also appears in the arms of the Corbett family, local landowners before 1626. According to one source, the carving was originally intended as a beehive, although there is no evidence it has ever been used as one.