On Wednesday January 14, 1925 Sampson Birkby bought half an ounce of tobacco, a box of matches and half a pint of bitter at the Carpenter’s Arms, Gorse Hill.  At 2.30 pm he left the pub and was never seen alive again.

Five days later the Advertiser published an account of his disappearance.  Described as 62 years of age, 5ft 6ins tall with a pale complexion and a grey moustache, Sampson Birkby was a charge hand coach body maker at the GWR Works.

On the day of his disappearance he had returned home for lunch at 76 Dean Street where he lived with his wife Alice, his married daughter, son in law and young grandson.

Sampson called in at the Baker’s Arms near the GWR factor entrance on his way back to work.  Reminded that he would be late, he hurried out, but as was later revealed, he did not clock in, but instead walked to the Carpenter’s Arms at Gorse Hill.

Later that evening one of his workmates called in on Alice Birkby to tell her Sampson had not checked in for work.  The worried family immediately reported him missing.

Nearly four weeks later Sampson’s body was pulled out of the river at Buscot Weir by Samuel Kemble, a lock keeper employed by the Thames Conservancy at St. John’s Lock, Lechlade.

How did Sampson Birkby, described as being of a happy disposition and without any financial worries, end up drowned in the river at Lechlade?

Sampson was born in Hunslet, Yorkshire in 1862.  By 1891 he had moved to 47 Cambria Place, Swindon and a job in the railway works.  Ten years later he and Alice were living at 37 George Street with their two year old daughter Edith and 14 year old May Beswick, described as ‘adopted.’

Evidence suggested that Sampson, although not especially talkative, was a social man.  A member of the High Street Workingman’s Club, he was an enthusiastic amateur photographer and a keen fisherman.

Giving evidence at the inquest, his son in law, George Bridgeman told how Sampson had been suffering from giddy fits during which he staggered and fell if someone did not support him.

Mr A.P. Ross Ormiston, the Coroner for North Berkshire, supposed that finding himself late for work, Sampson had decided to catch the bus to Lechlade and plan the fishing trip he had previously discussed with his son in law.

Summing up, the Coroner suggested that Sampson had suffered one of these giddy fits whilst walking along the tow path and had fallen into the river.  He returned a verdict of ‘Found drowned’ and expressed his sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Houses on Dean Street

Sampson Birkby was buried on February 14, 1925 in grave plot D892. His wife Alice died just seven months later and was buried with him. The cremated remains of their son-in-law George were buried with them following his death in 1983 and their daughter Edith Annie when she died in 1986.