When I began researching the Henderson family grave I suspected this might be a story that would run and run.
First there was the account of how James Henderson averted a train collision with Royalty on board the “Lord of the Isles” loco. Next came Noel’s story about the Musical Stones of Skiddaw. Today we have an account of James Henderson’s career upon his retirement complete with a photograph of the man himself!
Swindon. – On November 7 Mr James Henderson, who for the last twenty years has been an inspector attached to the Locomotive Running Department, retired from the service, and was made the recipient of a handsome testimonial, subscribed to by the officers and staff, and a large number of enginemen and firemen, throughout the system. Mr. Henderson joined the GW Railway as a fireman at Paddington in 1865, and acted in that capacity on the engine “Lord of the Isles,” which frequently worked royal trains between Windsor and Paddington. He quickly reached the position of driver, and from 1874 until his removal to Swindon as inspector was a familiar figure on express broad-gauge engines. Mr W.H. Waister, in making the presentation, which consisted of a solid silver cigar case and a purse of gold, stated that during the time Mr. Henderson had been inspector he had won the respect and esteem of all the staff. It is interesting to note that during the Olympic Regatta at Henley in August last Mr. Henderson was presented with a silver cup and an illuminated address by the Traffic Department staff in appreciation of his work there, he having taken charge of the locomotive arrangements during the Henley Regatta for a number of years.
When I begin my research I never know how much I can actually find out about any given person. This time I found an obituary, a career profile and several family photographs, although unfortunately none of Sarah Annie Witcomb.
Sarah Annie Witcomb was born in Trevethin, Monmouthshire in about 1863. She was the second of Alfred and Sarah Witcomb’s seven children. By 1864 the family had moved to Swindon and in 1871 they were living at 3 Brunel Street where Alfred worked as a Forgeman in the Works. By 1881 they had moved to 31 Carfax Street where they would remain for more than 35 years until Alfred’s death in 1916.
As you can read in the obituary, Sarah became a teacher and eventually moved away from Swindon. She was one of four siblings who all entered the teaching profession.
The Late Miss Witcomb – The remains of Miss Sarah A. Witcomb, eldest daughter of the late Mr Alfred Witcomb, were laid to rest in Swindon Cemetery on Wednesday. Miss Witcomb’s end came with unexpected suddenness. She felt very deeply the recent death of her father, and an attack of influenza, resulting in heart failure, caused her death. As a young teacher in Swindon, there are many who will remember her, from when a pupil teacher she worked under Mrs Watson at College Street School. After leaving Southlands Training College she worked for a few years at Peckham, leaving there to take up a headship at Barking, Essex. Here the last 26 years of her active life have been spent as head mistress of a girls’ school of over 500 scholars.
The first portion of the burial service was held in the Wesleyan Chapel, Faringdon Street of which in her early days the deceased had been a member. The Rev. John Hall and Mr Godber were the officiating ministers. As the mourners entered the building the hymn, “Now the labourer’s task is o’er,” was sung. The hymn during the service was “Rock of Ages,” and as the procession left the chapel “O Rest in the Lord” was played by the Organist (Mr. H.C. Reynolds). The committal at the graveside was impressively performed by the Rev. John Hall.
Amongst those who attended to pay a last tribute to Miss Witcomb were Mr. G. Jackson (Essex County Council), representing the Barking Education Committee, and Mr W. Weston, an old and esteemed associate in former Sunday School work in Swindon.
Extract from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, October 13, 1916.
Family historians on Ancestry have shared photographs of Alfred, Sarah and another daughter Mary Jane.
Alfred Witcomb
Sarah Witcomb
Mary Jane (teacher)
Alfred died in July 1916 aged 75 years and was buried in grave plot E8161. Sarah Anne died just three months later, aged 53 and was buried with her father. Alfred’s wife Sarah died in April 1918 aged 77 years and was buried with her husband and daughter.
A large number of people attended our last Radnor Street Cemetery walk as you can see from the photograph below. However, perhaps surprisingly, far fewer attended the walks we organised at St Marks several years ago.
Among those buried in the churchyard by the railway track are Engineer William Frederick Gooch the younger brother of Sir Daniel Gooch, employed as Manager at the Swindon GWR Works at the time of the 1861 census.
A hugely influential man in the early history of the Works and the Railway Village was Works Manager Minard C. Rea. who died in 1857. His memorial is published below.
And, probably most famously, is the memorial to Joseph Armstrong, Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Superintendent at the Great Western Railway 1864-1877.
The churchyard was closed to new burials in 1881 – after a mere 36 years it was already full. The new Swindon Cemetery on Kingshill, better known today as Radnor Street Cemetery, opened on August 6 that same year.
Poet Laureate John Betjeman was a big fan of St. Mark’s.
‘The parishioners of St Philip and St Jacob in Bristol entreated the Great Western to build a church for their workers; directors stumped up money, subscriptions were raised, land was presented and by 1845, St Mark’s church was built.
There it stands today close beside the line on the Bristol side of the station. A stone building, all spikes and prickles outside, designed by Gilbert Scott who was then a young man and who lived to build hundreds of rather dull copy-book churches all over Britain, and to build St Pancras Hotel, the Foreign Office in London and to restore many cathedrals.
One cannot call it a convenient site. Whistles and passing trains disturb the services, engine smoke blackens the leaves and tombstones, and eats into the carved stonework of the steeple. But it is a strong church and though it is not much to look at, it is for me the most loved church in England. For not carved stones nor screen and beautiful altars, nor lofty arcades nor gilded canopies, but the priests who minister and the people who worship make a church strong. If ever I feel England is Pagan, and that the poor old Church of England is tottering to its grave, I revisit St Mark’s, Swindon. That corrects the impression at once. A simple and definite faith is taught; St Mark’s and its daughter churches are crowded. Swindon, so ugly to look at to the eyes of the architectural student, glows golden as the New Jerusalem to eyes that look beyond the brick and stone…
Extracts published from First and Last Loves a collection of essays on architecture published in 1952.
With so many interesting stories to tell we were a little surprised that these walks did not prove more popular. Perhaps it is because Radnor Street Cemetery has an extra special place in the hearts and memories of 21st century Swindonians.
Photograph from our most recent guided cemetery walk at Radnor Street Cemetery
Despite the persistent rain of recent weeks the cemetery is boasting a profusion of primroses. You may like to read again the story of James Shopland whose grave is wreathed in the cheery little spring flower, whatever the weather.
James Shopland, a civil engineer, was born in Purton in 1873, the son of James Rew Shopland, also an engineer.
By 1900 James had moved to the Southampton area and on July 6, 1900 he was at the Southampton Sewage Works, although it was pointed out at the inquest that he had nothing to do with the works, but was assisting in the rescue.
Three labourers working in the press house at the Sewage Works had attempted to free a blockage in a lime vat, firstly by ramming a rod down from the top, which was the usual way of clearing it. However, when this didn’t work, one of them went down into the ejector chamber and tried to free the pipe by undoing it. They tried to remove the cap but this wouldn’t move either, so they proceeded to remove a flange from the bottom and then the upright pipe. This immediately set off a fast flow of sludge and released a smell that rendered the men semi-conscious.
Passing workmen attempted to rescue the three men who were all lying unconscious in the sludge. As a call went out for volunteers, James Shopland arrived on the scene. A witness at the inquest described how as Mr Shopland descended the ladder he saw him put his hand to his head.
At one point someone tried to stop any more men going into the chamber, declaring that at this rate there would soon be fifty dead at the bottom.
James was brought to the surface where artificial respiration was attempted, but he was already dead. At the subsequent post mortem the cause of death was found to be due to congestion of the lungs brought about by carbolic acid gas poising.
The jury at the inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death and commended the noble endeavour made by James Shopland and four others who had attempted to rescue the men.
James was 26 years old and had been married for just a year. He is buried in plot D100 with his wife Helena (Nellie) Elizabeth Shopland. Helena moved to Bournemouth where she lived with her widowed mother-in-law, but she eventually came back to Swindon. At the time of the 1911 census she was living at 159 Goddard Avenue with her sister Violet Blanche Brown. She died just a few weeks later, on June 16, 1911. Her funeral took place on June 20 and she is buried with her husband.
This grave always looks particularly beautiful at this time of year, although sadly my photographs don’t do it justice. This is the grave of Eliza Chirgwin and her husband Richard James Chirgwin, just by the Dixon Street cemetery gate, close to their former home at No. 27. I have long meant to research this couple and every year when the bluebells bloom I resolve yet again to see what I can find out about them, and there is a surprisingly extensive amount.
Richard James Chirgwin was born on September 20, 1850 at Phillack, Cornwall, the youngest child of George, an engineer, and his wife Honor. He married Eliza Callaway in 1873 and by the time of the 1881 census the couple were living at 19 Read Street where Richard James worked as an Engine Fitter in the GWR Works.
You can read more about Eliza and Richard in the obituaries published in the North Wilts Herald (see below) and if you should pass through the Dixon Street gate while the bluebells are in bloom you might like to pause awhile, as I usually do.
Death of Mrs R.J. Chirgwin – Mr Richard J. Chirgwin, J.P., of 27 Dixon Street, has suffered a great loss by the sudden death of his wife. The deceased lady was 77 years of age. She was about the house as usual on Wednesday, although her health had not been good of late. Early in the evening she went upstairs, intending to take a short rest, but she had a seizure, and before her husband, who was downstairs at the time, could reach her she had passed away. Dr. Lavery was fetched, but he could only pronounce life extinct. Both Mr and Mrs Chirgwin have been well known residents in Swindon for the past half a century, and they celebrated their golden wedding on December 23rd last. They are both natives of Cornwall, and came to Swindon 50 years ago. Mr. Chirgwin was for many years employed in the GWR Works but has been living in retirement for a number of years. There are two daughters. One is the wife of Mr Joseph Williams, who holds an appointment on the United Havana Railway in Cuba. The other daughter is Mrs. Anderson, wife of Mr Walter Anderson, Headmaster of Lethbridge Road Schools. The funeral will take place tomorrow.
North Wilts Herald, Friday, November 28, 1924.
A Swindon Social Worker
Death & Funeral of Mr R.J. Chirgwin, J.P.
Public Tributes
While on a visit to Exmouth, Mr Richard James Chirgwin of 2[7], Dixon Street, Swindon, passed away in his sleep, and the town has thus lost a devoted worker in social and religious causes. He had been in indifferent health for some time, and on medical advice had recently given up a number of his activities.
Mr Chirgwin was a native of Cornwall, but early went to live in South Wales, and after staying there six years came to Swindon in 1873, as an employee in the GWR Works. He gradually worked his way up, and at the time of his retirement four years ago was a leading foreman.
He was a very active Liberal, and had taken a prominent part in the work of the Party in Swindon and district for many years. He was a borough magistrate for a number of years, and was a very regular attendant at sittings of the Bench. Mr Chirgwin was well known in educational circles, and at one time was a tutor at the science classes before the Technical School was built. He was keenly interested in the work of the Workers’ Educational Association, and attended the meetings of the local branch until quite recently. He was also very fond of their summer rambles, and was a lover of long walks.
The deceased had occupied every position open to a layman in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He had been a local preacher for 55 years, and last year, in company with Messrs. T.B. Jefferies, W. Chilton, E. Ransome, J. Clark, J.P., and T. Hiscocks, he received a special certificate from the Connexional Local Preachers’ Association. He began preaching in Cornwall in 1871, and frequently occupied the pulpit while in Wales. In Swindon he did service as a fully-qualified local preacher until 1924, when, on medical advice, he had to give up some of his preaching work. He was local secretary for the Aged Local Preachers’ Fund for 30 years, and also held the office of President of the Free Church Council for a time.
Mrs Chirgwin pre-deceased her husband three years ago, just after they had celebrated their golden wedding.
At Swindon Borough Police Court on Monday the Chairman (Mr. W.E. Morse) said he had to record the passing away of a member of their bench, Mr R.J. Chirgwin, who, as long as he (Mr Morse) could remember, had been a well-known citizen of Swindon. Five-and-a-half years ago he was appointed a magistrate, and he was always very regular in his attendance and diligent in the duties he was called upon to perform. He (Mr Morse) thought it would be the desire of the justices and the Court that a letter of condolence be sent to the members of the family of deceased.
This was carried in silence, all in Court standing.
The Funeral
The funeral took place on Wednesday in the presence of a large company at the Faringdon Street Wesleyan Church by the Rev. H.B. Turner (Bath Road).
The Rev W. Kelson (Superintendent Minister of the Swindon Wesleyan Circuit) conducted the service, being assisted by the Rev. W.B. Turner (Bath road), the Rev Montague Ashdown and Pastor Stocking.
The Hymns sung were “O God, the Rock of Ages,” and “Who fathoms the Eternal Thought.”
Voluntaries on the organ were played by Mr. Cassell.
Mr Kelson said when he first came to Swindon he and Mr Chirgwin were comparative strangers, but he had been able to enter into Mr Chirgwin’s life from the very first. Mr. Chirgwin had attained the most worthy objects in life. He was a man – a man after the type of the Supreme Man whom he came to know in his early years.
His religion was not merely an emotional one. It occupied all his heart, and also his mind. One could not wish to come into contact with a better character. His heart was warmed with the love of Christ, and his intellect had passed into his religion as well as his soul. He was not afraid to die.
His was a life of social and religious activity. There were a great many in Swindon who could speak of him with the highest appreciation of his services and all had a great esteem for him. His religion was comprehensive, a life embracing thing. They did not mourn for the life which had just been taken from them. Mr Chirgwin was a man who passed worthily through life: his end was peaceful, and his latter days were serene, which was fitting for one who took such an interest in life until the last.
Mr. Kelson referred to Mr Chirgwin’s debating powers, and added that although he regarded life seriously, he had learnt to smile at life’s troubles.
Not only the church with which he was so closely associated but also the town of Swindon would be greatly the poorer by his death.
The interment took place at the Swindon cemetery, the chief mourners being: Mr and Mrs Joseph Williams (son-in-law and daughter), Mr and Mrs Walter Anderson (son-in-law and daughter), Mr Kenneth Anderson, Miss D. Gibbs, Mrs C. Clack (niece), Mr and Mrs Ronald Clack, and Miss L. Symons (niece).
When James John was born in Bristol in 1857 he shared the family surname Green. His parents, James Henry Green and Sarah Kettle Cummings, had married at St. James, Bristol on December 25, 1856. In 1861 they were still living in Bristol, still under the name of Green but sometime after this they adopted the name Brown and so far I haven’t been able to discover why.
Their eldest son James John Green/Brown led an equally colourful life. He had three wives (not all at the same time) and 9 children.
In 1879 he married Annie Russell the first of his three wives and by 1881 they were living with the Brown family at 13 Holbrook Street, Swindon where James worked as a Hair Carder.
By 1891 he had set up in business as a Furniture Dealer at 8 Station Road where the couple were living with their five children Annie 9, Charles 8, Nellie 6, Mabel 4 and three year old Archibald. It is here that Annie sadly died in 1899 aged 37 years and the couple’s daughter Nellie in 1906 aged 21.
In 1900 James John married Emma Harrison who died in 1903. His third wife was Elizabeth Nutman whom he married in 1908. She died in 1920. Neither of these two wives appear to be buried in Radnor Street Cemetery.
In 1911 James John Brown was the licensed victualler at the Bell Hotel in Old Town. In 1915 he was a candidate in the local elections where he represented Queens Ward.
James John Brown died on November 27, 1921 at the Duchess of Sutherland Public House in Hornsey, London where his son was the landlord. His home address was given as The Burlington, 8 Buenos Ayres, Margate.
His body was returned to Swindon where he was buried Radnor Street Cemetery in grave plot D40. He is buried with his first wife Annie and their daughter Nellie. The grave is marked by an obelisk memorial. All things Egyptian were popular in the 19th century and remained so into the 20th. The Egyptian obelisk is a symbol of eternal life and resurrection and represents the sun god Ra. Perhaps James John Brown was hoping to have a go at continuing his colourful life!
Many thanks to everyone who joined us for the first of this season’s walks. The weather was kind and the rain held off.
We were joined by members of the Menham family as Andy spoke about Swindon Town football legend Bob Menham. Kevin followed by telling us of the military career of his son Reginald Menham and reading a poignant letter taken from Mark Sutton‘s book Tell Them of Us.
There were lots of fascinating conversations as visitors shared their family history stories with us. It was lovely to meet Clare and I hope you found your family grave. I look forward to receiving your information and photographs to publish here.
Our next walk will take place on Sunday April 28. Meet at the chapel for 2 pm.
Radnor Street Cemetery 