Alfred Makepiece (né Popplewell) and family were the first tenants of 11 Coronation Street after it was built in 1902. The Makepieces were the largest family in Coronation Street and were comprised of Alfred, wife Ivy and their children Vi Makepiece, Frank Makepiece, Ralph Makepiece, Mary Makepiece and Lil Makepiece, with Will Makepiece and Susie Makepiece following in 1904 and 1906 respectively. They also had three other children who had died prior to 1902.
Alfred was raised in a parish after being abandoned his by father. He was taken in by Vera and Cody Makepiece of Bealer Street and began his working life as a chimney sweep at the docks. The Makepieces were allocated a house in Coronation Street as Alfred was an engineer at Hardcastle's Mill. Just after moving into No.11, Alfred discovered that his biological father was Ernest Popplewell, who lived two doors down. Alfred was keen to get to know him but Ernest wanted nothing to do with him and on his death in 1904, had ignored Alfred since their first meeting.
The Makepieces were a bad lot. Their children were tearaways, Ivy drank heavily and neglected the kids, and Alfred stole from the Corner Shop. He lived until 1908 when TB claimed his life.
- Alfred first appeared in Daran Little and Bill Hill's "Weatherfield Life", published in 1992. Other information is derived from Little's follow-up book, "Around the Coronation Street Houses".