Alfred Oxley was born in Altrincham in 1879. The 1881 census indicates he was living with his grandparents, John and Mary at 8, Albert Street, Altrincham. In 1901 he was lodging at 7 Chapel Street and was employed as a railway porter. That same year he married Mary Frances De Courcey and in the years that followed, the growing family moved into 20 Chapel Street with Alfred now working as a general labourer.