Joseph Armstrong – Chief Superintendent of the Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Departments

One of the most important people in Swindon’s history not buried in Radnor Street Cemetery is Joseph Armstrong.

Joseph Armstrong’s funeral was described as a spectacle seldom seen, with ‘the whole town and neighbourhood showing every possible honour to the memory of the deceased.’

Image published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

The railway works closed for the day and an estimated 6,000 people lined the streets between Armstrong’s home at Newburn House, through Rodbourne and to the church of St. Mark’s.

During the first week of June 1877 Joseph Armstrong had left Swindon for a short holiday. He was suffering from heart disease and exhaustion exacerbated by his heavy workload. He died on June 5 at Matlock Bath.

Joseph Armstrong was born in 1816 in Bewcastle, Cumberland. Throughout his railway career he worked for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the Hull and Selby Railway, the London and Brighton Railway and the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway before arriving in Swindon in 1864. He was appointed the second only Chief Superintendent of the GWR Locomotive, Carriage and Wagon Works succeeding Daniel Gooch where he was responsible for the construction of all new engines, carriages and wagons and in charge of 12,900 employees.

A non-conformist, Joseph Armstrong was a staunch supporter of the need for a burial ground where non conformists could bury their loved ones according to their own beliefs and without the strictures of the established church. Sadly, at the time of his death just such a cemetery was still the subject of rancorous debate. It would be another four years before Radnor Street Cemetery was opened.

The strength of feeling at the time of Armstrong’s death is conveyed in the following extract from the editorial written by William Morris, published in the Swindon Advertiser.

Today an elaborate Grade II listed monument stands on the Armstrong family grave in St. Mark’s churchyard.

And this brings us to the lesson of Mr Armstrong’s death, and of the work and duty it has thrown upon us. We believe it was his desire to secure for others that liberty of religious thought which he enjoyed himself. And that this end might be secured he had taken an active interest in obtaining for the large and populous parish of Swindon that burial accommodation which the religious liberty of the subject demands should be provided for every parish, and the proposition to provide which for Swindon has been met and opposed by so many wretched subterfuges. We may treat with proper contempt the wretched work of bedaubing tombs and harrowing widowed hearts; but, as we have said we cannot afford to submit to such obstructions to our progress, to such evidences or the existence among us of a dogmatic priestly rule, altogether out of accord with the spirit of the age in which we live. This, then, is a work Mr Armstrong has left us to do – to provide a cemetery without priestly rule – a place of interment where we may bury our dead without the danger of having our feelings outraged by some impertinent and officious interloper who, by bell and book, would consign us to eternal punishment if we dared dispute his authority.

The Swindon Advertiser Saturday, June 16^th, 1877

Extract from the editorial – written by William Morris

and a letter to which he refers in this lengthy editorial.

To the Editor of the Swindon Advertiser

Sir – Will you kindly allow me a space in your paper to lay before the people of Swindon the facts of a case upon which I think they should give judgment.

On Wednesday in Whitsun-week, (as you announced in your paper), a man named Benjamin Browning, of New Swindon, died suddenly, and his remains were interred at St. Mark’s on the following Sunday. His widow caused a tombstone to be erected to his memory, and underneath the usual inscription were placed the Latin initials R.I.P. Requiescat in pace or “May he rest in peace.” The Rev. George Campbell, vicar of St. Mark’s, seeming to consider these initials illegitimate, had them effaced with a covering of cement, and now in their stead there is a patch of a different shade to the stone.

I respectfully ask you, Sir, and the people of Swindon, if this is fair or Christian in a burial ground which, if it is not a public one, is the only one in the town for all denominations. And I ask also if the Rev. George Campbell has acted legally in defacing the property of another person?

There is something so simple, so sweet, and so impressive in the sentence for which those initials stand, that I think none could dislike it but those (if there be such a class of People) who do not wish the departed to rest in peace.

I am, Sir, yours respectfully,

James O’Connell,

23, Taunton-street, New Swindon, June 12^th.

The Dickson dynasty

Andrew James Campbell Dickson left his home in Fife, Scotland for a new job and a new life in New Swindon. By 1861 he was living at 37 Taunton Street. He could hardly have imagined this move would establish a Swindon railway dynasty that would last for more than 100 years.

By 1871 Andrew was working as an Engine Driver. However, when he died in 1876 his occupation was given as Railway Clerk. In her book Railway Voices – Inside Swindon Works Dr. Rosa Matheson suggests “Whether Andrew had to give up as an ‘engine driver’ because of an accident is not actually known but it is a probable explanation. Records show that the GWR often found light work for long service, infirm or disabled firemen and engine drivers.” Andrew was buried in St. Mark’s churchyard.

Now we move on to trace the fortunes of his eldest son Matthew.

Born in Temple, Midlothian on February 11, 1857 Matthew was a wee boy when the family moved to Swindon. On official documents throughout his long life Matthew declares his birthplace as Scotland, but he could have had few memories of that place. However, there were many men of Scottish origin in the railway village in those early years; perhaps Scottish customs and traditions (and accents) were familiar to Matthew.

In 1872 fifteen year old Matthew began a 6 year apprenticeship in the Carriage Finishing Shop. His career would last an astonishing 52 years and in 1924 he was presented to King George V and Queen Mary when they made a visit of Swindon and the Works. A commemorative photograph was taken in which Matthew stands in the 3^rd row 4^th from the right.

Matthew married Kate Henley at the Wesleyan Chapel, The Planks on July 23, 1881. The couple lived at 76 Commercial Road where Matthew died in 1930 and Kate in 1939 and would remain the family home until 1968. Kate is captured there on the 1939 wartime census when she is described as ‘incapacitated.’ Living with her are her daughters Ellen 54, who is also described as incapacitated and Florence 49 who is unemployed. How on earth did these women survive?

Matthew died on February 9, 1930 and was buried in grave plot C89 with his mother-in-law Elizabeth Henley who died in 1898. He was joined by Kate in 1939 and their two daughters, Ellen Kate who died in 1968 and Florence May who died in 1973.

But the story does not end there …

John Kelynack – chief clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department

When John Kelynack retired from the position of chief clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department he received numerous presents; including a cheque from the GWR Enginemen’s and Firemen’s Mutual Assurance Sick & Superannuation Society and ‘a handsome barometer.’

Like so many of his generation John Kelynack appears to have had an inexhaustible enthusiasm for life, although perhaps his rather severe countenance in this press photograph might suggest otherwise.

His 47 year career with the GWR began when he was 16 years old and had taken him from working as a Time & Storekeeper at Penzance station to that of chief clerk in the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department with responsibility for more than 1,600 employees.

Among his other responsibilities across the years was vice president, trustee and hon treasurer of the Mechanics Institution along with chairman of the GWR Medical Fund and president of the GWR Staff Gleemen. He taught Evening Classes at Swindon College and was churchwarden at St Augustine’s Church in Rodbourne. He also worked for a whole list of other organisations mentioned in the obituary below.

John Kelynack was born February 1, 1877 in Penzance the son of a cabinet maker John Kelynack and his wife Mary. In 1905 he married Margaret Ethel Maud Hiscock at The Wesley Methodist Chapel in Bath Road, Swindon. The couple did not have any children.

Mr J. Kelynack Dies at 69

Former Chief Clerk to Swindon C.M.E.

Mr John Kelynack, who retired from the position of Chief Clerk of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department at Swindon Works in February, 1941, died at 38, Goddard avenue, Swindon in the early hours of this morning. He was 69 years of age.

Mr Kelynack, who was a native of Cornwall, joined the GWR on 27, November, 1893 at Penzance. Four years later, (15 March, 1897) he was transferred to Swindon as a clerk in the Mileage and Accounts Section. In the evenings he took advantage of the night classes provided by the Education authority to gain a good grounding in accountancy under the late Mr Walter Johnson, chartered accountant.

Promotion Steps

Subsequently he went to the London School of Economics for further study in accountancy and office organisation and, after two years, returned as teacher to the Swindon night classes, where he was originally under Mr Johnson.

On 19 May, 1913, Mr Kelynack was appointed assistant to the clerk-in-charge, Locomotive Acccounts, and in March of the following year he became clerk-in-charge.

On the amalgamation of the Locomotive with the Carriage and Wagon Accounts in 1917, he was appointed clerk in charge of the whole accounting staffs.

Next step in his promotion was to the office of Assistant Chief Clerk on 21 February, 1918, and on the death of Mr A.J.L. White in October, 1929, he reached the top rung of the ladder as Chief Clerk.

Throughout his career he was closely identified with the introduction of new and improved methods of railway accountancy. He was the moving figure behind the great changes that took place in the counting and office methods of the GWR Medical Fund Society, and also rendered valuable assistance in the revision of the Society’s rules.

Church Work

For 30 years Mr Kelynack worked hard for St. Augustine’s Church, and was the first warden appointed by the Vicar.

Other offices held by him during his career included trustee, vice-president and hon. treasurer of the GWR Medical Fund Society; hon. treasurer of the GWR Enginemen and Firemen’s Mutual Assurance Society, trustee and hon. treasurer of the GWR Mechanics’ Institute, Swindon, trustee of the GWR Sick Fund; vice-president and hon. auditor of the GWR (Swindon) Athletic Association; member of the committee of the GWR (London) Lecture and Debating Society, president of the GWR (Swindon) Accounts Staff Gleemen and the GWR (Swindon) Retired Workmen’s Association.

He was also chairman of directors of the Swindon Permanent Building Society, and a member of the Remembrance Lodge of Freemasons.

Mrs. Kelynack died several years ago.

Swindon Advertiser Monday July 22, 1946.

John Kelynack died in July 1946 aged 69 years. His burial took place on July 26 in grave plot C10, joining his wife who had died 12 years previously.

John Hulme Preece – a devoted Christian

John Hulme Preece was born on January 1, 1824 at Tenbury, Worcestershire, the son of a Baptist Minister. He married Eliza Sarah Whitmore in the December quarter of 1853 and by 1855 the couple were living in Swindon. The UK Railway Employment Records 1833-1956 state that John began work as a railway clerk in the Locomotive Department on February 2, 1855.

The couple joined the Independent Church, Victoria Street in 1861. This church was demolished in the 1960s for a road widening scheme.

John and Eliza lived first at Union Villa where Eliza ran a Seminary for Young Ladies. They later moved to 8 Gloucester Terrace which had a larger schoolroom and remained their home until John died in 1885 and Eliza in 1905.

In 1861 John was elected to the Council of the Mechanics’ Institution, the first clerk to be elected. Previously it was felt that only railwaymen would be able to appreciate the needs of those working on the shop floor. But John soon proved his worth and the following year was elected as Secretary of the Mechanics’ Institute, a role he fulfilled with energy and commitment until his death.

Trevor Cockbill makes many references to John in his definitive book about the Mechanics’ Institution – Finest Thing Out published in 1988. He describes him as being a quiet, gentle, studious man of a modest and retiring nature. A devoted Christian who was deeply interested in scholarship and education.

Swindon

The death is announced of Mr. John Hulme Preece, who has been for 26 years secretary of the New Swindon Mechanics’ Institute. Mr. Preece who was 61 years of age, was for about 30 years a clerk at the Great Western Railway Works.

Reading Mercury Saturday 29 August 1885.

The Funeral of the late Mr. John Hulme Preece, whose death on the previous Thursday evening we noticed in our last issue, took place on Monday afternoon, at the Cemetery, and afforded another instance, had it been necessary, of the very general respect in which the deceased was held. The coffin, which was conveyed to the cemetery without the customary pall on a portable bier, was completely covered with floral wreaths and offerings. In addition to the relations of the deceased, who had preceded the funeral cortege to the cemetery, there was a very large representation of the Council of the Mechanics’ Institute, and of the G.W.R. Clerks, to the number of over 150.

Extracts from he Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, August 22, 1885.

George Albert Hallard – Swindon Veteran of Industry

It was said that an apprenticeship served in the Great Western Railway Works was a passport to a job anywhere in the world. Some of the long past railway men might argue that it didn’t necessarily guarantee a job in the Swindon Works though! Skilled, newly qualified men went up a pay scale and the GWR only retained those where vacancies existed in specific shops.

In Doing Time Inside – Apprenticeship and Training in GWR’s Swindon Works Dr. Rosa Matheson reproduces the regulations under which apprentices were employed in the GWR Carriage Works in Swindon in both 1892 and 1908. Apprentices were not taken on under 15 nor over 16½ years of age (later revised to 15½ and 17 years). All candidates had to complete a one month trial without wages before being accepted.

In 1892 a working day began at 6 am and finished at 5.30 pm with a 45 minute breakfast break and an hour for lunch. The daily rate for an apprentice in his first year was 10d. He was expected to ‘commence work punctually at 8 am and to make, as a rule, full time (54) hours during the week.’

One such apprentice was George Albert Hallard who began his months trial on February 20, 1879 aged 15.

George Albert Hallard was born in Bristol in 1864, the eldest of 8 children. His father George was an Erector, Engineer, Fitter and by 1881 the family were living at 38 Westcott Place, next to the Falcon Inn.

George Albert Hallard married Marcella Ellen Kirkham in 1889. At the time of the 1891 census the couple were living at 13 Conduit Street, Plumstead, London but by 1901 they had returned to Swindon and a home in Birch Street.

George Albert Hallard was one of 228 men who retired under the 66 year retirement age limit in 1931.

Mr G.A. Hallard, of 70, Jennings Street, chargeman fitter and turner in “W” Shop, worked in the GWR works for 38 years and was chargeman for about 27. He was apprenticed in the works and then obtained a position in London. He then returned to Swindon. Mr. Hallard’s father, who is 91 years of age, also worked in the works for many years.

Swindon Veterans of Industry – North Wilts Herald, Friday, January 2, 1931.

George Albert Hallard died aged 77 years in Ogbourne Hospital. His home address was 70 Jennings Street. His funeral took place on December 12, 1941 when he was buried in grave plot C745 with his wife Marcella who died in 1903.

W Shop where George Albert Hallard worked for more than 27 years. Image published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

Richard Dening and another Great Western family

I frequently take Radnor Street Cemetery visitors to the grave of Freda and Irene Dening. These two sisters enjoyed a long career in the Great Western Railway at a time when it was unusual for women so to do. I must admit that I have made little attempt to find out much about their father, until I came across a note of his retirement in the Great Western Railway Magazine.

Richard Dening was born on April 20, 1866 in Winsham, Somerset, the son of Nimrod Dening, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Sarah Anne. He married Alice Louie Hunt in 1890 and the couple began their married life together at Clarence Street, Townstal, Devon.

Richard entered employment in the GWR on July 28, 1891 and is recorded as being Assistant Foreman in Fitting No 3 Shop. The family can be found on the 1901 census living at 61 Hythe Road with their three children Henry 9, Freda 3 and 7 month old Irene.

You can read about Richard’s career below:

Mr R. Dening, who for over four years was foreman of Nos. 3, 15, 15A, 18 and 19D shops, carriage and wagon works, Swindon, has retired from the Company’s service. He was held in high esteem, and widespread regret was felt on his retirement. At a smoking concert at the Great Western Hotel on April 18, a large company assembled to pay tribute to Mr Dening’s popularity. Mr. C.J. Coleman presided, and several interesting presentations were made. These consisted of an armchair and a grandfather clock, together with a handbag for Mrs Dening, from the men in Nos. 3, 15, 15A, 18 and 19D shops, and a set of four woods from the foremen and clerical staff. Tributes to the interest which Mr. Dening had taken in the shops were paid by Mr. S.J. Owen (who made the presentation), and Messrs H. Burchell, W. Clements, A. Fleming, F. Spackman, W. Watts, W. Blanchard, W. Newman, G. Dunn, A.E. Carter, C Thompson, T. Greenwood, and C. Garrett.

Mr Dening entered the Company’s service in July 1891, and commenced work in No. 15 shop. In 1906, he was appointed assistant foreman, and became head foreman in September, 1926. For 21 years he had been connected with the GWR Locomotive and Carriage Department Foremen’s Association, having occupied the positions of auditor, assistant secretary, secretary, vice-president, and finally president. For ten years he was also a member of the GWR Sick Fund Society committee, being chairman for eight years, and a member of the revision committee appointed to deal with the society’s financial position. In connection with his association with the Sick Fund Society, Mr. Dening helped in the formation of a benefit societies’ council, of which he became the first president. He is greatly interested in bowls, and is a vice-president of one of the clubs in Swindon.

Mr Dening’s son and two daughters attained outstanding educational distinction in each winning the Brunel medal at the London School of Economics, Mr H.R. Dening secured the medal in 1920, and Misses F.E. and I.A. Dening in 1921 and 1922, respectively.

Great Western Railway Magazine

Richard Dening died aged 85 years in the Cheriton Nursing Home. He was buried on February 13, 1953 in grave plot D187. His wife Alice Louie Dening died at her home, 60 Goddard Avenue, aged 90 years. She was buried on March 18, 1958 with her husband. Their daughters Freda and Irene were buried with them. Irene died in 1982 and Freda in 1994.

Alfred Guess Cook – Swindon Veterans of Industry

In 1900 the Great Western Railway employed more than 12,000 people in the Swindon Works. It has to be said that most Swindon families were a Great Western family.

This is the story of the Cook family.

John Cook was born in Wootton Bassett. He married Emily Smith at Christ Church, Swindon in 1852. At the time of the 1861 they were living in Oxford with their four children. In 1871 John returned to Swindon and brought his family (5 sons and a daughter) back to a home at 22 Westcott Place where two more children were born.

John worked as a boilermaker and by 1881 all five sons were employed in the Works. George 23 was an engine fitter, Henry 21 and Walter 19 were both boilermakers like their father, Alfred was an engine fitter and even 14 year old Frank had begun a boilermaker’s apprenticeship.

Alfred Guess Cook was born in 1863 and baptised at St. Thomas’s Church, Oxford where the family lived at 71 Bridge Street, Osney Town. At the time of the 1871 census the family were still living in Oxford, although it seems likely John had already returned to Swindon and a job in the Works.

By 1911 Alfred 48, lived at 25 Westcott Place with his two sisters Alice 42, and Emily 37, and his youngest brother James Irving Cook 33, a locomotive engine erector.

Six brothers all employed in the GWR – a fact observed in the newspaper report of 1931 when 228 men retired under the compulsory retirement age. It would be interesting to work out how many years combined the members of the Cook family gave to the GWR. They could hardly have anticipated there would come a time when the mighty Works would be no more.

Mr A.G. Cook, chargeman fitter, of 25, Westcott place, worked in the GWR works for 55 years, and held the position of chargeman for 42½ years. During the past 23 years he has inspected and put into traffic about 16,000 locomotives and rail cars.

Swindon Veterans of Industry – North Wilts Herald, Friday, January 2, 1931.

Mr A.G. Cook, who retired from the Company’s service on December 24, was a chargeman erector in the locomotive works for over 42 years. He had been in the Company’s employment a total of 55 years. Mr Cook comes of a Great Western family; six of his brothers are, or have been, chargemen under the Company.

Great Western Railway Magazine 1931

Alfred died at his home in March 1934, aged 71 years old. He was buried in grave plot D242 where he was later joined by his brother James, who died in 1944 and his sister Emily who died in 1947.

Margaret Ridley Preston – fragrant memories

Margaret Ridley Farr was born on February 28, 1902 in Swindon, the only child of Frank George Farr, a coach body maker in the GWR Works, and his wife Elizabeth.

Margaret was baptised at St Mark’s Church on March 31, 1902 when the family lived at 8 Westcott Place and by the time of the 1911 census the Farr family were living at 51 Exeter Street, one of the company-built houses in the Railway Village, with Elizabeth’s brother and his little daughter.

In 1916 the UK Railway Employment Records reveal that 14-year-old Margaret was working as a temporary clerk in the Loco Department, possibly employed due to staff shortages during the First World War. She left on August 2, 1919 again, possibly as military personnel began to return after the end of the war, but by March of the following year she was once more employed as a clerk in the Loco Department where she remained for five years.

In 1927 Margaret married William Alfred Preston, who worked as a coach body builder in the Carriage and Wagon Works. The couple do not appear to have had children and in 1939 they were living at 31 Westmorland Road, a leafy road just off the town centre with Queens Park at one end and Groundwell Road at the other.

Then just when I thought I had it all nicely sorted out, Margaret’s grave presented a bit of a mystery. The cemetery burial registers reveal that Margaret died in the Victoria Hospital and that her funeral took place on November 17, when she was buried in plot C293. According to the registers this is a public plot and Margaret is buried with four other unrelated people. It is very unusual to have a headstone erected on a public grave and not something that routinely happens in Radnor Street Cemetery. And then I noticed that the neighbouring plot number C292, is that of the Preston family. The first burial in this plot took place in 1896 and was that of Ina Preston, the first wife of Alfred Ernest Preston (William Alfred’s father). His second wife (William Alfred’s mother) Maud Ellen Veal was buried in 1937 and Alfred Ernest himself in 1952. The last burial to take place was that of Irene Helen Preston (William Alfred’s sister) in 1962.

It would appear that William installed the stylish headstone with the sentimental inscription on his parents’ grave?

Fragrant Memories of my dear wife Margaret Ridley [Peggy] Preston who passed to the higher life Nov 14^th 1951 Aged 49 years.

William died in 1969 and does not appear to be buried in the cemetery.

Horace Lett Golby – Tell Them of Us

Horace Lett Golby was born on April 18, 1887 the youngest of five children. He grew up living at various addresses in Gorse Hill where his father James worked as a house painter. As a 15 year old boy he began a 6 year carpentry apprenticeship in the GWR Works.

On April 5, 1915 he married Ethel Florence Phillip at the parish church in Seend, Wiltshire, the bride’s home parish. He was 28 and she was 25. Their daughter Dorothy Mary was born on January 22, 1916 and later baptised in the church where her parents had married.

Most of Horace’s military records are lost. All we know is that he served as an Air Mechanic 2nd Class in the Royal Flying Corps, the precursor of the RAF. He died on March 30, 1918 at the Military Isolation Hospital in Aldershot. The Army Registers of Soldier’s Effects reveal he left £7 8s 6d to his widow.

We know nothing about his military service, nor about the kind of man he was. What were his hobbies, did he play football or cricket, did he like gardening? A life sacrificed in war, but still remembered 105 years later.

Horace was buried on April 3, 1918. He shares a grave with his mother Mary who died in December 1913 and his father who died in 1939.

The Dadge family

As you will see the front of the headstone with all the family details on it is gradually coming away. This is caused by frost getting into the stone and you will see many headstones like this in the cemetery. Sometimes the whole front comes away in one sheet.

Fortunately there were enough details left on this one to allow me to piece together the family history.

Elizabeth Mary Dadge was born in 1871 the daughter of William Dadge, a smith’s striker, and his wife Martha.

From 1881 to at least 1901 the family lived at No 3 Brunel Street, a town centre street that has long since vanished. For most of that time William had his brothers Albert and George lodging with the family. As young men they worked as iron dressers in the Works, then labourers until in 1901 Albert, then aged 41, was working as a storekeepers assistant. William meanwhile worked as a striker into his 60s.

Sadly, little is known about Elizabeth who died very young. As an unmarried young woman we can safely assume she didn’t die in childbirth, but without ordering her death certificate her cause of death is unknown. Next on the headstone is her sister Jane who died four years later at the age of 26, again unmarried.

The last name on the headstone is William George Dadge the girls’ brother. At 15 years old he followed his father into the railway works to begin a 6½ year boilermaker’s apprenticeship. However the UK Railway Employment Records show that he absconded in January 1888.

I can’t find him on the 1891 census records. This may be due to a transcription error. Perhaps he called himself George. That and a spelling mistake would make it very difficult to find him.

Anyway, by 1901 he is back home with his parents living at No 3 Brunel Street where he is working as a joiner. In 1905 he married Agnes Brown and by the time of the 1911 census they were living with their baby daughter Winifred on the Hursley Park estate, Winchester where William was employed as estate carpenter.

In the last years of his life William was back in Swindon living at 74 William Street. He died on January 21, 1936.

I don’t think this stone will weather many more winters, but with the use of the cemetery records and online genealogy sites, the family will not be lost.