Wilmer Bradford Wilmer – coal merchant

The re-imagined story …

I’m not sure about central heating – not that we’re going to be able to put ours on this winter! Personally, I don’t think you can beat an open fire. I can remember sitting in my nan’s house, all of us clustered around the coal fire, our faces red hot while up in the bedrooms the temperature was sub-zero. Nan often had ice on the inside of the bedroom windows, no double-glazing in those days.

I remember the coalman delivering by horse and cart. He used to stop outside our house and put a nosebag on the old horse. I never saw him clean, the coalman not the horse – infact I think the horse might have been cleaner.

Nan used to complain about the mess the coal fire created and I suppose we have to blame climate change on all that muck belching out into the atmosphere. She eventually invested in a two bar electric heater with a coal effect. All the warmth and none of the dirt, except she couldn’t afford to use that in the end. A bit like us with the central heating. We won’t be able to have ours on this winter.

The facts …

Death of Mr W.B. Wilmer

The death took place on Saturday at his residence, 96, Goddard Avenue, Swindon, of Mr. Wilmer Bradford Wilmer. The deceased, who was 59 years of age, came to Swindon from Paignton, Devon, 14 years ago, and started business as a coal merchant. For the scene of his operations Mr Wilmer chose a field at the end of St. Margaret’s Road, and commenced business in a small way. At this time Mr. Wilmer was a perfect stranger to the town, but by dint of hard work and careful trading he slowly but surely built up a sound and extensive business. It was not long before he was appointed agent for the Midland and South Western Junction Railway Company, whose lines his wharf adjoins and in this way he became one of the best known men in the town.

Mr Wilmer had been ailing for a considerable time, but his illness, due to an internal complaint, did not become serious until a month ago, and that it would have a fatal termination was not contemplated by his family until four days before his death.

The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Cemetery, where the burial service was conducted by the Rev. C.A. Mayall. The chief mourners were. Mr J.P. Wilmer (son), Mr and Mrs C. Love (sister and brother-in-law) Mr G. Ashworth, Mr. W. Beer, Mr. W.B. Armitage, and Mr E. Mackelden.

Mr Wilmer and family 96 Goddard Avenue, wish to thank all those friends who so kindly sent letters of sympathy during their sad bereavement.

Extract from North Wilts Herald, Friday, January 21, 1916.

Wilmer Bradford Wilmer was born in about 1857 the youngest son of Benjamin and Jane Wilmer. Benjamin was the publican at the Cross Keys Public House in Caxton, Cambs.

It would appear that the move to Swindon got off to a bit of a rocky start for Wilmer. In 1902 Wilmer was declared bankrupt with liabilities of over £1,000. He declared to the bankruptcy court that he was “absolutely without any estate, and admitted being a bankrupt before, in the year 1889.” – Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard Saturday 31st May 1902.

The family had arrived in Swindon sometime between 1891 and 1901 when Wilmer is recorded as a Stock Broker Agent living at 96 Goddard Avenue with his wife Jane and their two children, John P. 16 an architect’s apprentice and two year old Lilian. Their home in 1891 was in Batley, Yorks where Wilmer and Jane had married in the September quarter of 1883. He describes himself on the census of that year as “Living on own means.” They then spent some time in Paignton, Devon where daughter Lilian was born, before coming to Swindon.

Whatever had happened in Wilmer’s past, he soon managed to get his act together and established a business that would survive beyond his death and through several generations of the Wilmer family, until in 2015 when cousins Ken and John Wilmer made the difficult decision to sell the family business.

John told the Swindon Advertiser: “We were coming to the yard as toddlers but when we were teenagers we started helping out a bit more. Once we got our driving licences I think we were a bit more useful and we went all over the county delivering. Life was simpler back then,” he said.

Swindon Advertiser 20^th April 2015

George Barefoot – an investor in people

The re-imagined story …

I’ve lived in New Swindon all my life. I was born in my gran’s bedroom in Bristol Street and I’ve never known anywhere else. But I’m tired of the close-knit railway community where everyone knows everyone else’s business, and a life confined to the Works and the railway village. I’m weary of seeing the same faces day in, day out, I don’t want to marry a boilermaker or a fitter and live the same life my mum and my Gran have.

“But that’s the strength of this place,” said Gran. “It’s knowing Mrs so and so’s baby is poorly or that Mr whatsit needs help with his shopping.” Gran was settling in for a long session, I could sense it. I offered her a piece of cake.

“When me and your Gramps moved here, I thought we had made the biggest mistake of our lives. All that was here was the Works and the company houses and that was it. No market, no shops, no church even, nothing.”

She took a sip of her tea.

“Is there any sugar in this?”

Two spoons, Gran.

“Your Gramps wanted to move out of London. He thought the kids would have a better future here. He thought living in the country would be healthy.” She shook her head sadly.

“The company houses looked nice enough from the outside but the railway village was worse than any East End slum. That first winter we lived here there was an outbreak of typhus. Six children died in Bristol Street. We were fortunate.”

She twisted the wedding ring on her gnarled finger, worn thin by hard toil.

Did you ever consider moving back to London?

“It wasn’t that easy and your Gramps had a good job in the Works here. He kept telling me we’d stick it out a bit longer, give it a chance, he’d say.”

So, what persuaded you to stick it out?

“Your grandfather and the men he worked with, they made the difference. Men like George Barefoot, elected on to the Mechanics’ Institute Council. Those men were investors; investors in people, they weren’t interested in share prices and profit. They wanted to protect their families and improve their standard of living. They wanted health care in a time when people didn’t call out the doctor because they couldn’t afford to. They were good men and they made the difference.”

“I’m glad your Gramps and George Barefoot gave New Swindon a chance.”

Gran spooned out the sugar from the bottom of her cup.

“Is there anymore tea in that pot? And make sure you put some sugar in this time.”

The facts …

George Barefoot was born in Maidenhead in 1828. He married Margaret Elizabeth Williams, a dressmaker, at Holy Rood on December 23, 1848. George was transferred to Gloucester where on November 12, 1865 three of the couple’s children, John James, William Alfred and Mary Ellen, were christened at St James’s Church, Gloucester. The family’s address is given as Front Terrace. By 1869 the family had returned to Swindon.

That same year George Barefoot was elected on to the Mechanics’ Institute Council with 166 votes. The following year he was re-elected with an increased number of votes, topping the poll with 281. Election results continue to show his presence on the Council and in 1873 he is recorded as ‘George Barefoot Locomotive Department K shop 296 votes.‘

George Barefoot died at the age of 86 years. He was buried on February 26, 1914 in Radnor Street Cemetery in plot E7936

Death of Mr George Barefoot

The death took place on Saturday, at the residence of his son-in-law, Mr F. Edge, “Inglewood,” Deacon Street, Swindon, of Mr George Barefoot. The deceased gentleman who was very well known in Swindon, was born at Maidenhead in 1828, and commenced his working career as an office boy at Paddington Station. In 1847 he came to Swindon, being then at the age of 19, and was transferred for a few years to Gloucester, and finally returned to Swindon.

It is interesting to note that he was married at the old Parish Church by the then Vicar (the Rev. H.G. Baily), and he has, therefore, watched Swindon grow from what were practically two large villages into the large and enterprising town it is to-day.

He was a chargeman in the GWR Works for over 30 years, and he won the esteem and respect of all who knew him. In recognition of his faithful services the company granted him a pension on his retirement, and he went to live with his son-in-law and daughter.

He was always a prominent Conservative, and the late Sir Daniel Gooch used to speak of George Barefoot as his staunchest supporter in the Works. He had been a regular attendant at St. Mark’s Church.

A few weeks ago Mr. Barefoot had a stroke, and took to his bed, the end coming peacefully on Saturday. He leaves five children to mourn his death.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, February 27, 1914.

A Swindon Time Capsule

In 2018 the Swindon Heritage team in partnership with Mike Attwell and Local Studies, Swindon Central Library (supported by funding from the HLF) produced an *award winning book entitled A Swindon Time Capsule: Working Class Life 1899-1984.

The book came about following a donation to the Swindon collection made by Mike Attwell when he cleared his family home following the death of his mother Audrey.

Audrey was the daughter of Jack Dixon, a second generation Swindonian whose grandparents George and Mary Hemsley and Francis and Martha Dixon migrated from the North East of England between the years 1840-1850.

George Hemsley worked as a fitter and turner and Francis Dixon as a boilermaker who with their wives were pioneer residents in the new railway town. Both men were active members of the New Swindon society, George was a member of the Liberal & Radical Association and co-founder of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society. For more about George’s life see.

Francis Stephenson Dixon married Martha Charlton at the church of St. Andrew, Newcastle on May 21, 1843. By the time of the 1851 census they were living in Taunton Street with their two children, John 7 and 11 months old Ann.

And like so many of the early railway settlers in Swindon, members of the Hemsley and Dixon families found their final resting place in Radnor Street Cemetery. Francis died at his home, 10 Faringdon Street, on January 2, 1884 aged 63. The cause of death is recorded as cardiac disease. He was buried on January 3 in plot D8283 where his wife Martha followed him the following year.

The Dixon-Attwell family, apparently threw nothing away. As a result ordinary ephemera such as clothing catalogues and dance cards have survived along with apprenticeship indentures and military service records and provide a unique example of everyday life from 1899-1984. A selection from this vast collection can be viewed here.

*In 2019 a Swindon Time Capsule won the Alan Ball award, which rewards local organisations for their work to promote and share local history. Copies of the book are available from the Library Shop.

George Hemsley – co-founder of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society.

The re-imagined story …

My mum had a fantastic memory. She never forgot a birthday or anniversary and she could remember her Co-operative Dividend Number until the day she died.

She used to shop in the Co-op in East Street and knew Mr Hemsley, the secretary, well. George Hemsley was a railwayman from Gateshead and an influential character in the early days of New Swindon.

I began my fitter’s apprenticeship on the same day as Mr Hemsley’s son William, but while I spent 50 years in the Works, William Thompson Hemsley went on to enjoy a very different career.

W T Hemsley

I was pretty good at sketching (I’d even considered a draughtsmen’s apprenticeship at one point) so when William told me he was starting drawing classes at the Mechanics’ Institute I decided to join him. I had no idea just how good he was though, and before too long he was actually teaching the drawing classes.

He began his scenic art career at the Mechanics’ and it was my proud boast that I helped him paint the theatre scenery on one occasion. I had little to do with the design, just followed instructions, but it was an interesting project to be involved in and something to tell the grandchildren.

William kept in touch with Swindon, even after he became famous. We used to meet up for a pint in the Cricketer’s when he came back to visit family.

George Hemsley died on November 12, 1888. My mum always mentioned him on the anniversary of his death. My mum had a fantastic memory.

ND: Looks as if taken in 1890s

George Hemsley with his daughter and an unidentified man

The facts …

George Hemsley, a fitter and turner was an early arrival at the GWR Works, Swindon.

George was born on January 17, 1822 in Gateshead the son of William and Anne Hemsley. At the time of the 1851 census George was living at Quarry Field, Gateshead with his wife Mary and their 10-month-old son William. George most probably worked at The Quarry Field Works, a marine, locomotive and general engineering firm established by John Coulthard & Son in 1840.

By 1861 George and Mary were living at 6 Westcott Place with their six children, four of whom had been born in Gateshead. John Robert Hemsley, was the first to be born in Swindon in around 1858 which places the Hemsley family’s move to Swindon sometime between 1854 and 1858.

Tracking the family through the census returns we find them at 22 Reading Street in 1871. William Thompson Hemsley has followed his father into the Works where he is a fitter and younger brother John Robert’s job description is boy in foundry.

George was also co-founder of the New Swindon Industrial Co-operative Society.

George died at his home 22 Reading Street on November 12, 1888 aged 66. He was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery and his funeral arrangements were performed by Richard Skerten, a carpenter and undertaker.

Mary remained in the family home following George’s death, living with her widowed daughter Mary J. Rollins and her two granddaughters, plus Frederick Birch, a Grocer’s Assistant who boarded with the family. Mary died on December 19, 1899 and is buried with George.

‘Mr Hemsley was a staunch supporter of the local Liberal and Radical Association, frequently appearing on the platform at public assemblies and often putting his signature to the Nomination Papers of Liberal candidates at Parliamentary elections. He played a prominent part in the election campaign of Mr B.F.C. Costello in 1886, when the latter gentleman was opposed from the right by a Liberal Unionist and from the radical wing of the party by the Independent Liberal Sir John Bennett.’

A Drift of Steam by Trevor Cockbill

George Hemsley’s name appears on a list of more than 130 who formed a local committee at New Swindon to secure the election of Daniel Gooch in May 1865.

Swindon Advertiser May 22, 1865

Hemsley George

9 March 1889 Personal Estate £558 18s 11d

The Will of George Hemsley late of 22 Reading-street New Swindon in the County of Wilts Engine Fitter and Turner who died 12 November 1888 at 22 Reading-street was proved at the Principal Registry by William Thompson Hemsley of 57 Belvedere-road Lambeth in the County of Surrey Scenic Artist the Son and William Simpson of 7 Bangor terrace Jennings street New Swindon Engine Fitter two of the Executors

Rake Daddy Rake

Probably W.T. Hemsley’s most celebrated local work was a painting of the Wiltshire Moonrakers that hung in the reading room at the Mechanics’ Institute for at least 35 years. This painting of Wiltshire yokels raking the pond to recover the contraband hidden there accompanied the Moonies Association when they met for their annual gathering in London.

Photographs published courtesy of Mike Attwell and Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Myra Nash – mother of STFC goalkeeper

Throughout history women are invariably identified by their father’s occupation and status, then their husband’s and eventually their children’s and such was the case of Myra Nash.

Born in 1867 Myra was one of Matthew Beasant’s large family of children. Myra was baptised at All Saints Church, Lydiard Millicent on October 6, 1867 and grew up at The Green, Lydiard Millicent. Matthew was a labourer in the GWR Works, making the four mile journey from his home in Lydiard Millicent to the railway factory in Swindon every day.

At the age of 13 she was already out at work, employed as a domestic servant for George Seward Prentice and his wife Eliza at Grove House, Lydiard Millicent. However, sometime after 1881 she moved into Swindon and a job as a domestic servant for the Nash family at their new confectionery business premises at 32 Bridge Street. It was obviously while working here that she fell in love with the eldest son Edmund William Nash whom she married at St. Mark’s Church on January 9, 1887.

By 1891, with the confectionery business doing well, Edmund had left his job in the Works to concentrate on the family business, and in the census of that year describes himself as a ‘sugar boiler.’ The couple have one child, Rose. By 1901 they had left 32 Regent Street and were living at 243 Cricklade Road where Edmund describes himself as a ‘confectioner.’ By now the couple have a second daughter, Winnifred, and despite having two children and a family business, the census enumerator does not see fit to record any occupation for Myra. At the time of the 1911 census the family are now living at 104 Cricklade Road, their long time home. Edmund describes himself once again as a ‘sugar boiler,’ the couple’s 19 year old daughter Winifred is employed as a Shop Assistant in the family’s confectionery business and now the couple have a young son, born in 1902 – Edward Montague Nash.

Edward Montague Nash (Teddy) went on to be a talented sportsman, playing county cricket for Wiltshire, but he is probably best remembered as Swindon Town F.C. goalkeeper. As a young footballer he played for Gorse Hill Boys and North End Albion before signing a youth contract with Swindon Town in 1916. He signed a professional contract in 1920, playing in the 1919/20 season until the 1929/30 season when he transferred to Brentford.

Teddy Nash pictured in his last season with Swindon Town F.C.

He even gets first mention when Myra’s death is reported in the North Wilts Herald, April 11, 1930.

Myra died aged 63, but despite a reasonably well documented life, we really know little about her.

Last week was Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK. Here we are trying to get to grips with removing the stigma and encouraging people to talk about their mental health, especially in the wake of the Covid pandemic, which has impacted so much on the mental wellbeing of both young and old.

When Myra died in 1930 there is a reference that she had seldom watched her son play of late ‘owing to nerves’ and I am left wondering what Myra’s story really was.

Death of Mrs Nash

Mother of Swindon Town’s Goalkeeper

“Teddy” Nash, the well known Swindon Town goalkeeper, has sustained a sad loss through the death on Sunday night, of his mother, Mrs Myra Nash.

Both the late Mrs Nash, and her husband, Mr Edmund William Nash, are well known in Swindon as tradespeople, and for the last 30 years have carried on a confection’s business at 104, Cricklade Street, Gorse Hill, Swindon. Mrs Nash was 63 years of age, and early last night appeared in the best of health.

She very seldom saw her son play for the Town of late owing to nerves.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, April 11, 1930.

Nash, Myra 63 years old 104 Cricklade Road, 9^th April, 1930 D61A

Samuel Gray – Lardy cakes

The re-imagined story …

You’ve never eaten a lardy cake, well I can tell you’re not from Swindon. Lardy cake was a childhood treat and then a mid morning staple when I worked at Comptons. You can still buy them in some places but the modern ones are nowhere near as nice as those baked by Grays, or perhaps that is just me being nostalgic. You’ve never eaten a lardy cake – well, I never.

Samuel Gray was born in the village of Shaw and baptised on October 19, 1879 at All Saints Church, Lydiard Millicent. Samuel was the eldest son of Samuel Gray, a labourer in the GWR Works, and his wife Harriet. The family lived in the Elms, Shaw at the time of the 1881 census.

Samuel married Harriet Ellen Pile in the March quarter of 1903. By the time of the 1911 census the family were living in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight where Samuel worked as a Baker. In 1916 the family returned to Swindon. Their son Cyril would tell Mark Child that his father was fearful that Germany would invade the island.

Three years later Samuel bought a small property at 9 Bridge Street for £500 where he established his bakery and the legendary lardy cakes (see Miss Lorna Dawes and a life ‘inside.’) In the 1940s Grays had seven shops employing 120 staff.

Harriett died at the Cheriton Nursing Home, Westlecot Road on December 4, 1947 and was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery in plot C4898. Samuel died on April 19, 1963 aged 83 and was buried with his wife.

Deaths

Gray. – April 19, 1963, at 9 Downs View Road, Swindon, Samuel Gray aged 83 years. Funeral Wednesday, April 24: service at Immanuel Congregational Church, Upham Road, at 3.15 p.m.; interment Radnor Street Cemetery. Flowers to Smith’s Funeral Chapels, Gordon Road. (Tel. 22023).

Freemason founder of Swindon bakery concern is buried

The funeral of a prominent Swindon baker, Mr. Samuel Gray (83), took place at Immanuel Congregational Church, Upham Road, Swindon, yesterday.

Mr. Gray, managing director of Grays (Swindon) Ltd., of Bridge Street, and the Downland Bakery Ltd., died at his home 9 Downs View Road, Swindon.

For many years a member of Westlecott Bowling Club and a former president of Swindon Master Bakers’ Federation, Mr Gray founded the bakery firm 44 years ago. Since then it has grown into a large family concern.

He was a Freemason and was Past Master of Pleydell Lodge, Past Master of the Swindon Keystone Lodge of Mark Master Masons, a member of Wiltshire Chapter and Preceptor of Chiseldon Freemasonry Class.

The service was conducted by the Minister at Immanuel Church, the Rev. F. Ross Brown and was followed by interment at Radnor Street cemetery, Swindon.

Mr and Mrs E. Gray, Mr and Mrs C. Gray, Mr and Mrs H. Gray and Mr and Mrs R. Gray (sons and daughters-in-law), Miss A. Pyle (sister-in-law), Miss A. Gray and Miss M. Gray (granddaughters) Mr J. Gray, Mr Robert Gray and Mr Richard Gray (grandsons)…

(A long list of mourners includes representatives from the various Lodges and numerous friends.)

Extract taken from The Swindon Advertiser, April, 1963.

Samuel’s son Cyril worked in his father’s bakery from the age of 13 and in the 1980s he was recorded as being the oldest working baker in Britain by the National Association of Master Bakers. In 2013 he gave his recipe for Gray’s famous lardy cake to Mark Child for publication in The Swindon Book where you can find it on page 145. As Cyril instructed – lardy cake is best eaten on the day it is made.

The recipe for the lardy cake is said to originate from Wiltshire although neighbouring West Country counties also lay claim. References to the lardy date back to the mid 19th century and as the name suggests is a lard based cake.

I have recently been contacted by Robert Gray, Samuel’s grandson, who has kindly sent me the following photographs of Samuel and (Harriett) Ellen.

Nash family – confectioners

The re-imagined story …

I used to love to go shopping. Perhaps ‘shopping’ isn’t quite the right word as I seldom had enough money to buy anything.

And I used to love McIlroys – didn’t everyone? They sold the most beautiful items and I don’t just mean ladies fashions. Mother and father bought us a silver plated canteen of cutlery as a wedding present from McIlroys. I still have it.

But do you know what my favourite shop was – Nash the confectioners, and not only when I was a child either. Sometimes I would call in when I was a grown up too, a young clerk in the Works, before I married and had children of my own. You don’t see sweet shops like that anymore, you don’t see sweets like that either, jars and jars of handmade confectionery.

It was a sad day when the last of the Nash family shops closed. Perhaps they couldn’t compete with the big manufacturers, the producers of those bags of gummy, plastic tasting sweets that tempt the children at the supermarket checkouts. Soulless places, those supermarkets. My granddaughter offered to take me to Asda Walmart on a shopping trip. Bah – that’s not a shopping trip, that’s a descent into Hades, I told her.

What I would give to take a walk down Regent Street again? Not the Regent Street of today but the old one, when ladies got dressed up to go down town. My first stop would be a wander around McIlroys and then a visit to Nash’s and a quarter of – now what would I choose, aniseed balls or pear drops, or maybe a bag of toffee, although my teeth are probably not up to that now. Happy days.

The facts …

William Nash was born on April 23, 1840 at Badbury the son of William and Jane Nash. His father died two months before William’s birth, leaving Jane to raise four young boys alone until she remarried in 1844. At the time of the 1851 census 11 year old William is living in Badbury with his mother, step-father William Jordan, his two brothers Thomas and George Nash and three half sisters Sarah, Ann and Emma Jordan.

William married at St. Mark’s Church on December 25, 1863. He was 23 and working as a labourer, his bride was 21 year old Elizabeth Hunt. The couple began their married life in London where their first child, Edmund William Nash was born. It seems likely that this is also where William saw the prospects of a career in the confectionery trade. Elizabeth’s brother and sister had both married into the Leach family, headed by Thomas Leach who had a confectionery business in Southwark.

On his return to Swindon William worked as a labourer in the railway works and Elizabeth as a mangler. In 1871 the couple lived at 2 Havelock Street with their growing family – Edmund 5, Clara 4, Thomas E. 2 and 8 month old Elizabeth M. It appears that the Nash couple were both prudent and focused, both working and saving to fulfil their ambition to open their confectionery business.

By the time of the 1881 census William had achieved this ambition. The family lived over their first shop at 32 Bridge Street. By then there were seven children, the youngest 4 month old Lily. Elizabeth’s sister Martha Hunt lived with the family working as an assistant in the shop.

And so the Nash empire expanded with shops at 64 and 65 Regent Street and 17 Regent Street as well as the original premises at 32 Bridge Street. Other family run shops opened at 104 Cricklade Road, 10 Wood Street, 32 Regent Circus and 167 Rodbourne Road, the last of the shops which eventually closed in the 1970s. The Nash family were famous for their award winning ice cream and also their bargain pack of assorted sweets – Penny Big Lots.

Death of Mr W. Nash – Mr W. Nash of Lypeatt House, Goddard Avenue, Swindon, died on October 29^th after a long and painful illness. He will be remembered by many, having been formerly in business as a sweet manufacturer. He married a daughter of the late Mr Thomas Hunt, of Broad Town, who was well known in Primitive Methodist circles. He leaves a widow, six daughters and two sons. The funeral took place on Monday November 4^th the cortege leaving Goddard Avenue at 3 o’clock for the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Prospect Place. The Rev. H. Pope Officiated at the chapel and also at the Cemetery.

The mourners were as follow: Mrs. Nash (widow), Mr E.W. Nash (son), Mrs W. Long, sen. (daughter), Mr F. Nash (son), Mrs W. Bizley, Mrs H. Henly, Mrs A. Dew (daughters), Mrs F. Hughes and Mrs G. Wilkins, Mr George Nash (brother), Mrs R. Tyler and Miss Winnie Nash (grand-daughters); Mrs W. Long, jun. (grand-son’s wife), Mr W. Long, sen., Mr W. Bizley, Mr H. J. Henly, Mr F. Hughes, Mr. A. Dew and Mr G. Wilkins (sons-in-law), Mrs Edmonds, Mrs Arthur Powell, Mrs Wiltshire and Mrs Jackman (Bath) nieces, Mr H. Hunt (Bath), (nephew), Mrs Marshall (Deptford), and Mrs Churchouse (Woolwich), (nieces), and Mr Frank Walton…

Mrs Nash and family wish to thank all kind friends for the kindness shown during the late Mr. Nash’s long illness and death; also for floral tributes sent.

extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, November 15, 1918.

William and Elizabeth Nash are buried together in plot E7604

Grateful thanks to Katie Brammer for sharing her family history research. Katie has been discovering the graves of her Nash family ancestors with the help of Radnor Street Cemetery volunteer Jon. This is the grave of William and Elizabeth Nash.

WANTED, a respectable GENERAL SERVANT, about 18, able to do plain cooking; sleeping out preferred; good character – Apply, Nash, Confectioner, Bridge Street, Swindon.

The Swindon Advertiser, Friday, September 2, 1904.

Miss Lorna Dawes and a life ‘inside’.

Some years ago, I attended a talk about life ‘inside’ given by Miss Lorna Dawes at the Central Community Centre. The talk was hosted by The Railwaymen’s Association who had been meeting regularly following the closure of the Works in 1986 with guest speakers delivering talks about all things railway related. To those of you unfamiliar with Swindon railway jargon ‘inside’ refers to working in the railway works and it has to be said it was a rare occasion to hear a woman talking about such a subject. The only other woman I had ever heard give such a talk was social and railway historian, Dr Rosa Matheson.

Lorna sat at a table at the front of the hall and without the aid of any photos or slides or whizzy technical gizmos, spoke about her time in the Works. Lorna had a small sheaf of notes in front of her and thus armed she set about informing and entertaining her audience. Of course, she knew all the railwaymen present and exchanged quips and jokes with them during the course of her presentation.

I soon gave up trying to take my own notes and just sat back and listened to this amazing woman.

Lorna was born on March 23, 1931, the daughter of iron moulder Albert Edward G. Dawes and his wife Mona and lived all her life in Tydeman Street, Gorse Hill. She started work as a messenger in the Works in April 1945, aged 14 years old.

Lorna had taken lessons in shorthand while still at school and later attained a certificate for 120 words per minute at evening school. However, her first job as a messenger presented few opportunities to sit down and take notes. She had to quickly learn her way around the vast railway factory, which in the 1940s covered 326 acres. Walking through the tunnel to access all areas was obviously the bane of the lives of the young women where the sludge and filth ruined their stockings.

Most days included a trip to Grays [bakery] in Bridge Street for small lardy cakes for the office staff and to collect the milk and make the drinks to go with those lardies.

Then there was collecting the absences book from the tunnel entrance, delivering the bank bag to London Street, taking messages to Bristol Street, Park House and the laboratory housed in the old school.

She then went on to describe the staff office work, which involved everything from filing accident reports in Park House to duties in the Booking Office and collecting rent owed on the company houses.

She mentioned the double length typewriters used to type charts of salaried staff promotions and wrote: “I enjoyed manipulating lines of names into spaces.” She was also able to fix minor repairs on the typewriters until the mechanic came from Bristol.

Lorna participated in the busy social life of the Works, playing tennis and badminton, representing the offices in tournaments.

Lorna was one of the earliest and most enthusiastic subscribers to Swindon Heritage, a local history magazine published between 2013-2017 with which I was involved. I would have loved to have told her story in the magazine but Lorna wasn’t ready then.

It was with great sadness that I learned about her recent death and regret that I had not captured her memories.

And then I had the good fortune to exchange emails with Yvonne Neal, a member of the Swindon branch of the Wiltshire Family History Society. Yvonne had been in touch with Lorna’s brother and quite remarkably the notes from that talk survive.

The handwritten notes cover more than 11 pages and include not only the big events but the more personal ones too, those of Christmas’s in the offices, weddings, birthdays and babies.

And then she wrote: “My story was due a book “Tempus” pub. but interviewer left post. Didn’t get published.” Perhaps she felt so let down she wasn’t going to go through the performance again with me.

I wish I had had one more conversation with Lorna, to thank her for her support and enthusiasm during the publication of Swindon Heritage and to persuade her to tell her story again. I’ve done my best here.

Aerial view of Swindon Works taken in the 1950s.

Edith Gay Little and the wooden memorial

wooden grave

The re-imagined story …

He knew exactly what type of memorial he wanted for Edith, and he would make it himself.

He sketched it out on the table in the front room at 59 Station Road. A large cross, something that would stand proud and obvious.

In Memory of Edith Gay, the beloved wife of Edward Little. He practised the style of lettering he would use. He wanted something elegant. No, that was too ornate. He rejected his first attempt. The next was too difficult to read. Eventually he settled on a simple script, something Edith would have liked.

Would he leave a space for his own name to be added in the future? He decided not to. He couldn’t trust anyone else to choose the right script or to execute the work to a sufficiently high standard. This memorial was a symbol of his love. He didn’t want it spoilt by some ham fisted amateur.

He sat in the silent house; the late summer afternoon sunshine streamed through the window. He’d make a start now, he decided. He had a nice piece of seasoned timber in the shed.

Little

The facts …

I first discovered this memorial more than ten years ago and each spring when the guided walks resume, I always have difficulty finding this grave. And every year I wonder if it has managed to survive another winter, because this extremely unusual memorial is a wooden one.

It marks the grave of Edith Gay Little, a former nurse, who died on August 23, 1928 at the Great Western Railway Medical Fund Hospital.

Edith’s husband was Edward Little and I believe it was he who made this wooden memorial. Edward was employed as a bodymaker in the carriage and wagon works at the Midland & South Western Junction Railway at Cirencester. He was promoted to chargehand and eventually foreman and by 1923 was based in Swindon.

Edward was no stranger to Swindon as it was here that he married his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Bindon, at St Paul’s Church on August 21, 1897. Elizabeth died in 1909 aged 38 and was buried ‘under Coroner’s warrant’ in South Cerney where they were living at the time.

On September 22, 1911 Edward married for the second time. By now he was 41 and his bride Edith Gay Smith was 43. The couple married at Holy Trinity Church, Trowbridge.

Unfortunately, there are no known photographs of this memorial when it was new. How distinctive it must have looked, standing out against the surrounding white gravestones. I imagine Edward would have visited the grave regularly, polishing and treating the wood to preserve it.

It would appear that Edward had no children by either of his wives. He retired from the railway works in 1935 and continued to live at 59 Station Road, the home he had shared with Edith.

Sadly, he ended his days in Roundway, the psychiatric hospital in Devizes, where he died on March 17, 1953. Probate was proved at Oxford and his effects, valued at £2,369 16s 5d, were placed in the hands of Lloyds Bank.

He was buried with Edith. With no one left to come and polish the wooden memorial it now lies at the mercy of the elements.

This week Radnor Street Cemetery volunteers Kevin and Brian managed to locate and reveal the wooden grave. They even found a memorial plaque to Edward, the man who I believe was the maker of this unique and poignant memorial.

Little (2)

Henry Smith – undertaker and monumental mason

*advertisement published courtesy of A.E. Smith*

The re-imagined story …

My friend Albert Smith had his career planned well ahead. To be honest I suppose most of us boys did. We all knew we would follow our fathers into the Works, but Albert had a different career path. He was going to be an undertaker – death was big business in the 1880s.

“He’s a canny bloke, that Henry Smith,” my father said. He had worked alongside Albert’s father in the Carriage and Wagon Works before Mr Smith made undertaking his chosen profession. “Have you seen the size of that new cemetery they’re building on Kingshill? Perhaps it’s something you could be thinking about.”

I looked at him in horror. He laughed when he saw my expression.

“Don’t worry boy, I’ve already spoken for you.”

I don’t think I would have been cut out to be an undertaker, not like Albert. I think it’s more of a calling.

“Everyone dies, boy,” said my father. “Everyone dies.”

The facts …

A.E. Smith was founded around 1880 by Henry Smith a carpenter and joiner. The early premises were situated in Gordon Road, Swindon next to what is now the Princes Street car park.

At the time of the 1911 census Henry lived at 1 Clifton Street, close to the cemetery where he had spent so many hours. He died there on November 14, 1917. He left £3,072 17s 6d to be administered by his three sons. Albert Edward had taken over the funeral business while James Henry Smith was a railway official and Joseph William a railway storekeeper.

Henry was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on November 17^th. The service was conducted by Mr Spargo and naturally the funeral was performed by his son. Henry lies in plot D191.

In the mid 1960’s A.E. Smith & Son moved to their present site in Queens Drive, Swindon and these premises have been expanded and refurbished as the business continued to grow.

The business finally passed out of the Smith family in 1976 when it was acquired by Lodge Brothers, another family firm of funeral directors founded by James Lodge in 1780.

Death of Mr. H. Smith – Mr Henry Smith passed away on Wednesday at his residence in Clifton Street after being ill for a considerable time. He was 75 years of age. Mr. Smith was a very well known and highly respected resident, and was formerly a member of the New Swindon District Council and of the Town Council. He went to London when a young man, but returned to Swindon and obtained a position in the GWR Works. When he left the Works he commenced business on his own account as a carpenter and undertaker. He married the eldest daughter of the late Mr. James Sextone, of Burderop. Deceased leaves a sorrowing widow, with four sons and four daughters. The funeral will take place tomorrow (Saturday.)

North Wilts Herald, Friday, November 16, 1917.