Sometimes the story I set out to research becomes a different one altogether…
I was first drawn to the attractive and unusual design of this small headstone, which marks the grave of George and Annie Hanks and their daughter Dorothy Daisy Elsie Westwood.
Dorothy Westwood died on February 3, 1937 and was buried in grave plot B3083. George Hanks was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, a fraternal organisation supporting worthy causes. The organisation known today as Moose International meets at the Moose Hall, Eastcott Road. He died at his home 2 Shelley Street and was buried alongside his daughter on August 22, 1938 in grave plot B3084. George’s wife Annie survived him by 25 years. She died aged 92 in Guildford but was buried here with George and their daughter on August 19, 1963 in grave plot B3084.
But these weren’t the first people to be buried in this double plot B3083/4. Like so many plots in the cemetery, this was originally a public grave – a plot for those unable to afford the purchase of their own grave.
Plot B3083 was first the grave of Ellen Little who died aged 63 at her home, 47 Cambria Bridge Road and was buried on March 25, 1909.
Plot B3084 was first the grave of Robert and Georgina Wallbridge.
Robert Wallbridge married Georgina Tryphena Eliza Woodward at Christ Church on August 5, 1903. He was 24 years old, a hairdresser who lived at The Fountain Inn, Devizes Road at the time of his wedding. Georgina was 25, the daughter of George Woodward, a joiner, and lived at 9 Newport Street.
A daughter Irene May was born the following year and another, Vera Maude in 1906. The young family lived first at 181 Rodbourne Road and later at 9 Prospect Hill. But family life was cut short when Robert died in the spring of 1909. He was 29 years old. He was buried here in plot B3084.
At the time of the 1911 census Georgina was living at 9 Prospect Hill where she worked as a Beer House Keeper. Living with her were her two daughters, Irene 6 and Vera 5 and her brother Arthur 20, a cycle maker.
Just two years later Georgina died aged 35 years old. She was buried with Robert in plot B3084 on March 5, 1913.
But what happened to the two little orphaned girls then aged 7 and 9 years old.
I discovered the two sisters on the 1939 census living at 1 Kinnoull Mansions, Rowhill Road, Hackney. Vera was working as a ‘Book Keeping Typist.’ Irene’s details have been redacted. It appears that neither sisters married but their whereabouts between 1913 and 1939 is still to be discovered. The sisters returned to the Swindon area. Irene’s death was registered in February 1985 and Vera died February 9, 1987 at 2 Foundry Rise, Chiseldon.
Sometimes the story I set out to research becomes a different one altogether…
Radnor Street Cemetery 