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.

Samuel Johnson Pocock – butcher

The re-imagined story …

Mother liked to favour Mr Pocock with all her butchery requirements. She said he knew a thing or two about beef, which you would rather hope so, as a butcher and a farmer, but my sister thought there was more to it than that.

My sister believed that Mother might be ‘sweet’ on Mr. Pocock.

“He does have very twinkly eyes – for a butcher,” she added.

My brother and I looked up from the copy of the newspaper we were perusing at the kitchen table.

“Father passed away several years ago and Mr Pocock is also a widowed gentleman. There would be nothing inappropriate in a ‘friendship’ developing.” said my sister. “And as the eldest I think you should suggest that she invite him to Sunday lunch,” she declared.

“Yes,” my brother piped up. “I think you should take the bull by the horns.”

I remember mother being very upset when Mr Pocock passed away. Perhaps my sister was right after all.

The facts …

Death of Mr S.J. Pocock

Swindon has lost a well-known resident by the death of Mr. Samuel Johnson Pocock, who passed away at his residence, 17, Wood Street, on Saturday night.

Mr Pocock, who was 68 years of age, came of a well-known family of farmers in West Wilts, and more than half a century of his life was spent in that part of the country. In 1900 he came from Melksham to Swindon, and in conjunction with is son, Mr Percy Pocock, took over the old-established purveying business of Keylock & Co. The deceased was acknowledged to be one of the best judges of cattle in the district, and his services as an adjudicator were greatly in request at the Christmas shows. He was the first president of the Swindon Master Butchers’ Association.

Some six months ago Mr. Pocock’s health showed signs of failing, and it became necessary for him to go to London to undergo an operation. This proved so far successful that the patient experienced considerable relief and was able to return to Swindon. He did not, however, resume business pursuits, but for a while took up his residence with some friends at Corsham. Eventually he came back to Swindon, and it has for some time been apparent that his life could not be prolonged. He finally took to his bed about a fortnight since.

Mr Pocock, whose wife pre-deceased him 14 years ago, leaves a son and a daughter.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, February 9, 1917.

Burial Registers

Samuel Johnson Pocock 68 years 17 Wood Street burial 7^th February 1917 grave plot E7508

He is buried with:-

Evelyn Mary Edwina Pocock 81 years died St Margaret’s Hospital, Stratton – home 72 Croft Road, Swindon. Burial 5^th November 1969.

Percy Johnson Pocock Butcher 48 years 17 Wood Street, burial 11^th October, 1925.

Ellen Pocock, wife of – Pocock 53 years 17 Wood Street, burial 29^th May 1902.

Elsie Annie Moody – Telephone & Telegraph Operator

The re-imagined story …

In the Spring of 1918 the Spanish flu began its insidious spread around the world, although we weren’t calling it that then – it was just influenza.

Transmitted by the movement of troops and exacerbated by malnourishment and poor hygiene somewhat surprisingly the virus preyed not upon the vulnerable young or the fragile elderly, but upon fit and healthy young adults. My friend Elsie took ill in October of that same year.

Elsie and I began work together in the Telephone and Telegraph Department in the Works on New Year’s Day 1912. We finished our training three weeks later and became qualified operators in the Engineers’ Office. We were both ambitious, but in point of fact there were few opportunities for promotion once inside the claustrophobic telephone exchange. I stayed there until I got married, and to be honest I wasn’t sorry to leave.

During two long years the Spanish flu killed an estimated 20-50 million people – 228,000 in Britain alone. Later it would be revealed that October 1918 would be the month with the highest mortality rate of the entire pandemic.

They published a little piece about Elsie in the Great Western Railway Staff Magazine. They said she passed away as a result of an attack of pneumonia following influenza.

The facts …

Elsie Annie Moody was born on March 25, 1896 the daughter of Caleb Charles Moody a painter labourer in the Carriage Works and his wife Ellen. Elsie was one of only two surviving children from their family of five.

UK Railway Employment Records 1833-1956

Elsie entered the GWR as a Telephone & Telegraph Learner on January 1, 1912. She completed her training on January 22 and worked as a qualified operator in the Engineers Office on a commencing salary of 4/- a week rising to 26/- shortly before her death.

Miss Elsie Moody, of the Staff of the Swindon Works Telephone and Telegraph Office, passed away on October 23rd, 1918, as the result of an attack of pneumonia following influenza. Her cheery disposition had made her very popular with the staff.

Great Western Railway Magazine

Radnor Street Cemetery Burial Registers

Moody, Elsie Annie 22 years 19 Islington Street 28th Oct 1918 (burial) plot E7824.

Elsie’s parents were later buried with her in the same grave.

W.H. Read – local architect

The re-imagined story …

They began dismantling the Baptist Tabernacle as if it were a child’s construction kit. The classically designed building dominated the top end of town but not everyone was a big fan. Some said it was too posh for Swindon and that it didn’t sit well among the other red brick buildings in the town centre.

Gran was a Sunday School teacher at the Tabernacle and insisted we grandchildren attend. My sister and I were reluctant bible students. I’d have rather been up the Rec playing football with my mates and my sister was terrified the building would fall down about our ears. Any number of pictures and paintings would fail to cheer up that dank schoolroom and my sister was forever watching out for falling lumps of masonry.

Baptist Tabernacle

Demolition of the Baptist Tabernacle published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

And that’s what sounded the final death knell for the building. It wasn’t demolished by the Council as everyone has repeated for the last forty or more years, but by the Baptist church itself. The congregation was too small and the reduced income not enough to pay for the vast amount of repair work necessary.

Today it is difficult to imagine a magnificent, classically designed building with a colonnade of six Tuscan columns and a flight of stone steps the width of the building lording it over the shops in Regent Street.

I would have liked to have one last look around inside, for old times’ sake. I’d have liked to have stood in the pulpit, forbidden to us as children. Neither were we allowed to hang over the gallery to see who sat below us, we soon felt the warmth of Gran’s hand if we stood up in our seat.

Funnily enough my sister wouldn’t have stepped inside that building again if you paid her.

Baptist Tabernacle 2

The Baptist Tabernacle in its heyday – published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

The facts …

William Henry Read was a popular and prolific local architect whose commissions included the Victoria Hospital, the Anderson’s Almshouses in Cricklade Street and the Baptist Tabernacle.

He was born at Croft House, Swindon in 1850 the son of surveyor William Read and his wife Louisa and educated at Henry C. Lavander’s Grammar School in New Park Street, Devizes. The family later moved to 31 Wood Street and William Henry married Susannah Elizabeth Chandler, the girl who lived next door, in 1876.

The couple lived at Moravia, 10 Bath Road where they raised their family of four sons, William, Kenneth and Norman, and a daughter Grace.

William died at his Bath Road home on Sunday November 3, 1901. The announcement in the local press noted that ‘although a prominent townsman [he] took small part in local government.’

mortuary

William designed the chapel, mortuary building and caretakers lodge at Radnor Street Cemetery in 1881 where he was buried twenty years later. He must have liked how it all turned out! Susannah died on March 21, 1903 and is buried with her husband.

chapel in the snow

The best bits of the Baptist Tabernacle building materials were sold off. The portico was bought by artist Stanley Frost, the columns, bases and façade wall went elsewhere. People had big plans, which sadly never came to fruition. Then in 2006 Swindon Borough Council bought back the remains at a cost of £360,000 but so far their plans to incorporate them into a town centre regeneration project have failed to materialise and these remain in storage.

William Henry and Susannah Read

Down Your Way – Princes Street

photograph published courtesy to Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Building on Princes Street dated from about 1876. In Roadways published in 1979, Peter Sheldon and Richard Tomkins state that the name commemorates Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Demolition on the Victorian houses took place in the 1960s. Photograph taken during the 1960/70s redevelopment shows the Courts and in the distance the Police Station, since demolished as well.

Read about some of the residents below:

All photographs published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Stephen and Augusta Nicholas

Dabchick Thomas Sawyer

Albert and Elizabeth Beak – safe in the arms of Jesus

William Johnson – a little addicted to drink

The re-imagined story …

I should never have read the account of the inquest in the Adver. I knew there had been an accident, I knew he was dead, I didn’t need to know all the details or the extent of his injuries.

I’d only known him a few months but long enough. He was a lost soul. My mother always says I’m attracted to the poor little sods of this world.

He hadn’t yet told me what had gone wrong in his life, but something obviously had. At the inquest he was described as being a little addicted to drink. What a quaint expression. He drank for a reason and it wasn’t because he liked the taste of the beer.

He drank because he was lonely and sad and disappointed with how his life had turned out. When he wasn’t drunk he was angry and resentful but when he was drunk he was happy, or so he thought, but we both knew that wasn’t the case.

I tried to help. If we’d had longer together I might have made a difference, might have got to know the real man.

The facts …

The Fatal Accident Near Wootton Bassett

Inquest and Verdict

Mr W.E.N. Browne, Coroner, held an inquest at the Beaufort Inn, Wootton Bassett, on Saturday afternoon, on the body of William Johnson, who was killed by being knocked down by a train on the GWR near Wootton Bassett Station, the previous Thursday evening, as briefly reported in our last issue. Inspector Wheeler, of Chippenham, was present to watch the proceedings on behalf of the Great Western Railway Company. Mr T. Taylor was chosen foreman of the jury, who then proceeded to view the body, which was lying in an outhouse at the Beaufort Inn yard. The head and face was fearfully knocked about, and almost beyond recognition. The body had, however, been identified as that of William Johnson, 37 years of age, a native of Coventry, and for the past three years employed as a shop clerk in the GWR Works at Swindon. Deceased was a single man, living in lodgings at 41 Chester St., New Swindon. Deceased’s only brother, Thomas Johnson, who is also employed in the GWR Works and lives at Swindon, was present. Particulars as to the occurrence will be found in the following evidence:-

William Hyland, of Swindon, was the first witness called, and identified the body. He said deceased had worked with him in the same shop in the factory at Swindon- the carriage finishing shop. He last saw him alive on the previous Tuesday Morning at nine o’clock when they had a chat about the “Trip” and other matters. Deceased told him he was not going away this trip time; he had nothing whatever to do with the trip. Deceased has never appeared despondent, but was more of a lively, excitable nature, and much more so when he had beer. Deceased was addicted to drink a little. He had worked in the factory since 1888. Two years ago deceased had a fit in the Works and fell, receiving a blow in the head, which rendered him insensible, and he had to be carried out of the Works. Deceased had told him he had been abroad, having been in the army – the artillery. He was not married.

The next witness called was Matthew Henry Cameron, of Paddington, engine driver on the GWR. He said he was the driver of the express train leaving Bristol at 5.18 pm on the previous Thursday. This train usually ran to Swindon without stopping. When they got this side of Dauntsey on Thursday evening he did not see anyone on the line. The first intimation he received of anything being wrong was when they got close to the bridge about half a mile or so from Wootton Bassett Station. His mate blew the whistle, and he looked round to see what was the matter. The fireman then told him he thought a man had been knocked down by the engine. He immediately shut off the steam, pulled up the train as quickly as possible at Wootton Bassett station, and told the signalman to send someone back to the bridge, as he believed a man had been knocked down by the engine. He felt sure someone had been killed, as there were marks of blood and flesh on the engine. The train was going at a speed of fifty miles an hour. There was no level crossing near the spot where the man was knocked down, nor any public footpath. He believed the buffer plank of the engine must have struck the deceased.

View of the Skew Bridge, Wootton Bassett published courtesy of Roger Cornfoot

Frederick Albert Hurson, fireman, also of Paddington, said he was on the same engine with the last witness. When near the skew bridge at Wootton Bassett he saw a man come down the bank on the Wootton Bassett side of the bridge and stop just by the side of the rails. He (witness) blew the whistle, and the man turned for a moment and looked toward him (witness), and just when the engine was close upon him he made a sudden movement as if he was going to cross the line in front of the engine. He (witness) asked the driver to see if the man was got across, and he looked and replied, “No,” He (witness) then looked on the side of the train again, and saw flesh and blood all up the side of the engine. They then pulled up the train at Wootton Bassett station, and informed the signalman of what had happened.

Thomas Johnson, a clerk in the GWR Works, living at 17, Clifton Street, New Swindon, said deceased was his only brother, and was a single man. He last saw him alive on the previous Monday evening at Swindon. Deceased then appeared to be in his usual health, and was going to the Mechanics’ Institute to see the evening news. Deceased had formerly lived with him. He had no reason to suppose that deceased would commit suicide. He was very much surprised when he heard the previous night what had occurred. He had no idea whatever that deceased came to Wootton Bassett the previous Thursday – he had never heard him speak of the place during the whole 2½ years he had been living at Swindon. He was not aware that deceased knew anyone at Wootton Bassett. – By the Coroner: He had not been altogether friendly with deceased lately. Deceased seemed to have a feeling of being jealous of his (witness’s) position in the Works. If he was at all despondent it was because he did not make such progress in the world as he would like to. Deceased was formerly in a good business as a watchmaker before he entered the army, and he might now have been in a comfortable position had he not been a little addicted to drink.

James Merrett, a labourer on the GWR, said he was working about a quarter of a mile from the scene of the occurrence on Thursday. He and a fellow workman saw the driver of the train shut the steam off, and after the train had passed they could see something lying on the four-foot way which ought not to be there. They went to examine it, and found it was the body of a man; he was quite dead. They sent for a doctor, and put the body on a trolley and took it to Wootton Bassett station. Witness added that he never saw any person on the line or inside the railway fence before the train came up. There was no public footpath near, but there was a path which was used by the packers working on the line, and at the entrance to it there was a notice board warning the public to keep off the line. – In reply to a juryman, witness said he found the body fifteen yards on the Wootton Bassett side of the bridge.

This concluded the evidence, and the Coroner briefly summed up, remarking that there was no evidence to show that deceased was temporarily insane at the time, or that he attempted to commit suicide.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Killed by a passing train.”

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, July 18, 1891

At the time of the 1891 census William was lodging at 41 Chester Street with William Lang, his wife Mary and their infant son. William’s age is recorded as 39 years, born in Coventry, his occupation was Stores Keeper.

William’s funeral took place on July 13, 1891 and was conducted from his brother’s home in Clifton Street. He is buried in a public grave, plot B1964, with five other unrelated people.

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.

An old photo of Henry Smith’s memorial which has recently been renovated and restored.

Thomas Barter – Victim of fatal accident in the Works

There are some obvious points raised in the following inquest; to establish that machinery and practises in the Works were not at fault and that proper medical attention was received by the victim.

But what I find astonishing is that a 55 year old man, already identified as having a weak heart, and who had previously suffered a rupture and was wearing a truss, was continuing to work as a smith in the Works.

The Fatal Accident in the GWR Works

Inquest This Morning

Mr W.E.N. Browne, County coroner, held and inquest this morning at the Clifton Hotel, New Swindon, on the body of Thomas Barter, a GWR employee, aged 55 years, and lately residing at 59, Radnor Street, Swindon. Deceased, who was a widower, was accidentally struck with a hammer by his mate, and two days after affair died through the injuries received.

Mr J. Gregory was chosen foreman of the jury. Mr. C.R. Pendock, Inspector of Factories, was in attendance.

Mr George Finch, son-in-law of deceased, was called, and said that the latter was a smith in the GWR Works. On Tuesday last he went home about mid-day, and the daughter told witness that he had complained of having had a blow. Later in the day, Dr. Maclean was sent for. Before going home deceased had called in at the Surgery, but a surgery doctor was not sent for afterwards. Witness saw deceased the evening of the next day, and he appeared to be gradually sinking.

By the Coroner: Witness had made no complaint about insufficient attention on the part of the surgery doctors.

By Inspector Pendock: Witness believed that deceased had suffered from a weak heart for some six months before the accident.

By a Juror: A Surgeon was at the Surgery when deceased called and attended to him.

William Berry, who was engaged with deceased in making crown bar ends, said he was striking side blows at the bar, and deceased was stood on his left. The bar happening to swerve witness missed the bar and struck the deceased in the lower part of the stomach. Deceased said he was hurt, but acknowledged to witness that it was a pure accident and not witness’s fault at all. Deceased worked for three-quarters of an hour after the accident, and then he put his coat on and said he was going out to see a doctor.

By the Inspector: Had you been long accustomed to the work?

Witness: Yes, sir. Six years. I have known the deceased for 15 years, and never known him to have a misword with anyone in the shop. He was the best man I ever worked with in my life.

The Inspector: The work you were engaged on was nothing unusual?

Witness: No, Sir. We have made thousands of these same things.

The Inspector: Was the bar hanging by a chain at one end?

Witness: Yes, sir, and in a crane and block at the other.

The Inspector: Did the chain give way at all?

Witness: No sir.

David Jeans, another workmate of deceased, gave similar evidence, and added that he (witness) had gone to the foreman after the occurrence, and made him acquainted with the facts of the same. The foreman promptly ordered witness to take deceased to see a doctor, but deceased said he would go by himself. Witness saw deceased at his home on Wednesday. He was then too ill to speak much, but made witness understand it was all an accident. He said he had gone to the Surgery on the Tuesday, but witness could not gather whether or not deceased had seen a doctor there.

The Inspector: You don’t make any complaint of the appliances you use for this work?

Witness: No, sir, not at all. We have made thousands.

The Inspector: They are properly fitted to the work, and no blame attaches to the Company?

Witness: That is so.

Dr. Carew Webb, assistant to Dr. Maclean, said he was called in on Wednesday evening, and examined the deceased. There was a certain amount of tenderness on the lower side of the abdomen, but no marks of bruising, nor was there any swelling or anything to suggest any serious internal injury. Deceased had been previously ruptured, and at the time of the accident was wearing a truss. The hammer must hit the truss, or the accident might have proved fatal sooner than it did. Witness saw deceased on Thursday morning, and he seemed a little brighter then but on the way to the station later, witness was stopped and asked to go to the house. When he arrived there the man was dead. They told him at the house that deceased had vomited a great deal before he died. Having heard from Dr. Maclean that deceased had suffered from heart disease, witness gave it his opinion that the immediate cause of death was heart failure, due to a weak heart, and accelerated by the accident.

The Coroner then asked Dr. Gardner, of the GWR Surgery, if he wished to say anything, as it had got about the town that the deceased was neglected at the Surgery. Dr. Gardner said that he himself had seen the deceased, and ordered him to go home and keep to his bed, and that the doctor would call in the morning. The doctor did call, but found Dr. Maclean had been called in.

A verdict in accordance with Dr. Webb’s testimony was returned.

Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, August 19, 1899.

F Shop, GWR Works where Thomas Barter was employed published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

The Fatal Accident in the GWR Works

Funeral of the Deceased

A Large Gathering

The funeral of the poor unfortunate victim of the accident which occurred in the GWR Works last Tuesday took place on Saturday afternoon. Owing to the popularity of Mr. T. Barter amongst his shopmates, the funeral was largely attended, over 100 mourners following. The procession was formed at deceased’s late residence in Radnor Street, and wended its way to the Cemetery where the interment took place, the officiating clergyman being the Rev. J.W. Fish, of Stratton.

Deceased had been in the habit of attending the Clifton Street Primitive Methodist Chapel for many years, and was only recently appointed as one of the trustees of the new building fund.

The coffin was conveyed on a handbier, the bearers being Messrs. D. Jeanes, D. Hunt, Wm. Harvey, Alf Reece, Jas Welch and Thos Brett, all shop mates of the deceased.

The Swindon branch of the A.S.E. was represented by the Secretary (Mr B. Johnson). Deceased was a prominent member of this Society and was Secretary of the Superannuation Fund for this district.

Deceased’s only sister (Miss Barter) was unable to be present as she crossed to Ostend on the morning of deceased’s death.

Last evening a memorial service was held at the Clifton Street Chapel, when an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. J.W. Fish, who took for his text the following words “There is but a step between me and death.” The rev. gentleman dwelt upon deceased’s life in connection with their church, and also of the good feeling which existed between him and his fellow workers. The congregation joined in singing the special hymn “Sleep on beloved,” and Mrs Westmacott sang as a solo “We shall meet at the beautiful gate.”

No flowers were sent by special request.

Extracts from Swindon Advertiser, Monday, August 21, 1899.

Clifton Street Primitive Methodist Chapel published courtesy of Paul Williams

The funeral took place on August 19, 1899 when Thomas Barter was buried in grave plot D23.

The pig on the chapel

People who attend our walks do so for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is to visit the cemetery they remember from childhood when they accompanied a parent to visit a family grave. Some join us because they’ve only just discovered there is a cemetery in the centre of town. Then some years ago a visitor joined us to see if the pig on the chapel still survived. The pig (although I think it is probably a boar) is a gargoyle on the east facing wall and remains in good condition, as you can see here.

The same visitor then cast her eye around the lush, summer cemetery and mentioned that one of the grasses dated back to ‘the time of the dinosaurs.’

Now I’m no horticulturalist, but Andy and Noel were able to identify the grass as the horsetail. The RHS website describes the horsetail as ‘an invasive deep rooted weed with fast growing rhizomes (underground stems) that quickly send up dense stands of foliage.’

The fir tree like plants can grow up to 60 cm (2ft) tall with roots as deep as 2m (7ft) making them difficult to dig out. Fortunately there are no such triffid like examples in the cemetery and before too long the grass cutters will be out to cut them down and minimise the spread. But what about the claim that the horsetail dates back to the time of the dinosaurs.

Apparently ancient civilizations used the horsetail to stop bleeding and heal wounds. Although the plant is believed to have medicinal properties there is not sufficient research to confirm that it is safe and effective for human use.

And then, trawling through weed related pages on the internet I came across a ‘prehistoric’ reference on a Wikipedia page.

‘Equisetum is a ‘living fossil’ the only living genus of the entire subclass Equisetidae, which for over 100 million years was much more diverse and dominated the understorey of late Paleozoic forests.’

So our visitor was right. I learn something new every day spent in the cemetery.

The Pitt and Osman family – a life in service

Today few occupations can guarantee a job for life but in the 19th century it was quite different. In 1871 there were 1.4 million women in domestic service – 6.5% of the total female population. One in three girls between the ages of 15-20 worked as kitchen maids and housemaids – and one record breaking Swindon family notched up an incredible combined service of over 160 years extending across three generations.

In 1818 James and Elizabeth Pitt moved to their new home, one of three stone built tied cottages in Mannington Lane. An agricultural labourer, James was first employed by tenant farmer Richard Dore King at Mannington Farm and later by Richard Strange who in 1835 signed a 12-year lease on the 237-acre farm.

The Pitt couple had five daughters, Eliza, Leah, Jane, Mary Ann and Martha, all baptised at St. Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze and of whom four were destined for employment at Mannington Farm.

Eldest daughter Eliza worked as a ‘house servant’ for over 24 years. In the 1860s the going rate for a housemaid was £14 per year, all found, the hours were long and the work hard. Leah served the Strange family at Mannington Farm for just two years due to her untimely death at the age of just 18. She died on October 26, 1841 in Cricklade where she was then working in service. The cause of her death was given as ‘Visitation of God.’

Third daughter Jane put in an impressive 24 years’ service at Mannington Farm. She began work in 1839, first as a house servant then after her marriage to groom Thomas Osman in 1859, as a dairymaid. Fourth daughter Martha also began her working life as a house servant at Mannington. By 1871 she had been promoted to Lady’s Maid to Richard Strange’s daughter Julia.

Elizabeth Pitt died in 1871 and her husband James in 1882. An elaborate and expensive memorial, probably erected by their appreciative employer, marks their grave in the churchyard at St. Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze.

Julia Strange took over the running of the farm after her father’s death and by 1891 there was a whole host of Pitt descendants employed in the household, including Martha aged 52 and Jane Osman’s two daughters, 21 year old Julia who is a housemaid and Louisa 28, cook. The Mannington Farm tenancy changed hands in the late 1890s ending over seventy years of Pitt/Osman family service to the Strange family.

Julia Strange moved to Didcot. She died at Acland Home, Oxford in 1911 and was buried with her parents in Radnor Street Cemetery in a grave spanning three plots.

Jane Osman died aged 73 at her home, Mannington Cottage, in 1899 by which time the ancient churchyard at St. Mary’s was closed. Her husband Thomas died in 1909 and her sister Martha Pitt in 1909. All three are buried in Radnor Street Cemetery, close to the Strange family grave, neighbours in death as in life.

The Strange family grave

James and Elizabeth’s grave in the churchyard at St. Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze.