Mrs Peddle and me

The re-imagined story …

Life’s circumstances can create some unusual friendships. In the case of Mrs Peddle and me it was the death of our husbands.

We didn’t have a lot in common. Mrs Peddle had money and I didn’t. I had a houseful of children and she had none.

I don’t think she much enjoyed living in Swindon. She told me she was born in a village called Keinton Mandeville in Somerset and she was a country girl at heart. Her back garden was full of old fashioned country flowers like night scented stock and grandmother’s bonnet. My garden was always full of washing.

I’d never known anywhere other than Swindon. I’d been born in the railway village and lived there until I got married. My dad was a railwayman and so was his dad and just about all the boys I grew up with ended up working in the railway factory. My husband Fred was a steam hammerman.

I don’t know why Mr and Mrs Peddle moved to Swindon in the first place. Mr Peddle had worked as a house painter and decorator. Perhaps he looked at all those red brick terrace houses and thought there would be plenty of work for him, but of course everyone took care of their own properties in those days. Few of us had the money for an interior decorator. So like every other man in town, Mr Peddle found himself sucked into the railway works.

Mrs Peddle would come across to my house most afternoons. She seemed to enjoy the noise and chaos the children created and I was grateful for someone to hold the baby while I caught up with some household jobs.

Then afterwards we’d have a cup of tea and we’d talk. We’d talk about really personal stuff, things I’d never spoken to anyone else about. She told me why she’d never had any children and I told her why I had so many.

Before the year was out I married William, one of Fred’s friends, and moved into his house in Clifton Street. He had lost his wife around the same time Fred died. I needed a breadwinner and he needed a mother for his children. More kids! And we soon had one of our own together.

After that I only saw Mrs Peddle occasionally. The intimacy of those few months in 1911 was gone. I’m not sure that either of us wanted to be reminded about some of those confidences we shared.

It’s a funny old world. Death drew us together but life pulled us apart.

The facts …

Emily Jane Louisa was baptised on August 27, 1865 at the parish church in Keinton Mandeville, Somerset, the daughter of John Cox, a labourer and his wife Matilda. Emily worked as a dressmaker until her marriage to James Peddle in the September quarter of 1887.

At the time of the 1891 census James was recorded as living at No. 12 York Place, Swindon, where he worked as a painter and glazier. On census night 1891 Emily was staying with her widowed mother back home in Keinton. By 1901 James and Emily were living at 76 Radnor Street, their home for more than ten years. On the 1911 census James is described as a house painter employed by the railway company. James and Emily had been married for 23 years and had no children.

James died on August 4, 1911 and was buried in plot D1473 on August 9.

In 1916 Emily married widower John Parker, a carpenter who worked in the railway factory. His wife Eliza had died in December 1914. John and Emily lived at 33 Wellington Street.

It was a brief marriage as Emily died on November 15, 1919. She was buried on November 21 with her first husband James Peddle in plot D1473.

John Parker outlived Emily by more than 30 years. He died on November 17, 1952 and was buried with his first wife Eliza in plot D1302, not too far from James and Emily.

John and Eliza Parker share their grave with their grandson Alan Parker who died in 1931 aged 8 years old.

Image published courtesy of Robin Earle taken in the 1980s.

First caretaker – Charles Brown

Radnor Street entrance

The re-imagined story …

It’s a long trek back home from the market to Clifton Street. I usually walk up Deacon Street and cut through the cemetery. Of course, in the old days you weren’t allowed to and if Mr Brown caught us kids, we were in for a right telling off.

Mr Brown was the caretaker who lived in the lodge at the Radnor Street gates. He used to keep all the other gates locked so the only way in and out was past his front door.

Us kids used to climb the railings, but woe betide you if he caught you scratching the paintwork.

He and his team kept that cemetery in a beautiful condition. The grass edges were always neat and tidy and come Autumn the paths were all kept clear of leaves. We reckoned he polished the gravestones as well, they were so clean.

He was very proud of the place. Well, he’d been caretaker from the day it opened. Funny to think he’d known the cemetery in its empty state. Strange thing was he died on July 31, 1905 the anniversary of the date he began work in 1881.

People say he’ll be missed. I’m sure he will, but my generation will always remember him as the scary man who used to chase us out the cemetery.

cemetery-lodge-front-door-2

The facts …

With the opening of the cemetery imminent the Cemetery Committee advertised for a caretaker and sexton, at a Salary of £1 a Week, and House-Rent Free. The successful applicant was 44-year-old Charles Brown who in 1881 was working as a Coachman in Wroughton. Charles worked as caretaker for 24 years. He died at home in the Cemetery Lodge on July 31, 1905 and is buried in the cemetery in plot E8661.

Death of Mr C. Brown. The death of Mr C. Brown, the caretaker at the Swindon Cemetery, took place on Monday afternoon. Deceased was born at Lambourne Berks 68 years ago, and after living at Burderop for some time, he removed to Swindon, and became the first caretaker of the Cemetery, being appointed just 24 years ago, his death occurring on the anniversary day. Deceased had been failing in health for the last twelvemonths, and went away a short time ago for the benefit of his health. He was taken seriously ill about a fortnight ago, and passed away on Monday, as already stated. Deceased was always most unobtrusive and courteous in the discharge of his duties – On Thursday afternoon, at 2.30, the mortal remains of the late Mr Brown were laid to rest in the Swindon Cemetery, over which he had had charge for so many years. The remains were enclosed in a polished elm coffin, with brass furniture, and the breast place bore the inscription: “Charles Brown, died July 31, 1905, aged 68 years.”

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser, Friday, August 4, 1905.

First impressions

The re-imagined story …

There was a lot of talk in the workshop about the new cemetery. We had a vested interest as undertakers, and wondered at the choice of location.

“Makes you wonder why the Local Board settled on that piece of land.”

“Must have been something to be made out of it for one of them.”

“It belonged to Mr. Hinton.”

“Enough said.”

“Which gate will be the usual entrance?”

The new cemetery was situated in the middle of Kingshill with an approach by four entrances at Dixon Street, Clifton Street, Radnor Street and Kent Road.

“I’m assuming it will be the Radnor Street one. That’s going to be quite a climb with a handbier.”

“Kent Road might be a better option.”

“Which ever way you approach from New Town there’s going to be a hill to climb.”

“Has anyone been to have a look?”

“It’s one big building site up there at the moment. There’s work going on in all the surrounding streets. I pity anyone who has to bury a loved one during the next few weeks.”

Little did we know we would be burying our own governor, Mr Edward Hemmings, just five days later.

The facts …

Edward Hemmings, a carpenter, joiner and undertaker, was born in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. He and his wife Eliza lived in London between 1851 and 1861 and moved to Fleet Street, Swindon in the mid-1860s.

By 1871 he had a business at 43 Fleet Street and ten years later they were living and working at 22A Fleet Street. This may have been the original property, renumbered as building work continued in that area.

Following her husband’s death Eliza placed an announcement in the Swindon Advertiser.

Mrs Hemmings, of 22, Fleet Street, New Swindon, begs to inform the inhabitants of Swindon and the neighbourhood that she intends carrying on the business of her late husband Edward Hemmings, Builder, Carpenter, and Undertaker, and trusts to meet with the same liberal support bestowed upon him during the past 15 years.

Six years later the following announcement appeared in the Swindon Advertiser.

22 Fleet St New Swindon

Fredk. Hemmings

Builder, carpenter, & Undertaker

Begs respectfully to inform the inhabitants of Swindon and neighbourhood that he intends carrying on the business of his later Brother Edward Hemmings, who preceded him as above so successfully for many years.

F.H. begs to remind them that the same earnest attention to business, and care in the execution of all orders entrusted to him, will be paid, and that there shall be nothing wanting on his part to give the same satisfaction as heretofore.

Funerals Economically Conducted.

Estimates given for all Work connected with the Building Trade.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday March 11, 1882.

Edward was buried in plot A137 on August 11, 1881, the fifth burial to take place in the new cemetery. He was buried in a public or pauper’s grave where he lay alone for more than twenty years. In 1904 a child by the name of Frank Batt was buried with him.

Whitworth Road Cemetery

When Alderman Edwin Jones formally opened the new cemetery at Whitworth Road in 1914 he made a gesture of remembrance, uniting the two cemeteries and Swindon’s history. He planted an oak sapling grown from an acorn dropped by ‘the magnificent oak tree which is such a prominent feature of the Radnor Street cemetery’ reported the Faringdon Advertiser.

Today the mature shrubs and trees in Radnor Street Cemetery create a green oasis in the town centre, but where is that magnificent oak tree?

We believe this is the oak tree, pictured at the beginning of the 20th century.

In 1881 the cemetery was laid out on a piece of managed woodland called Howse’s (previously Wibley’s) Coppice. Local historian Kevin Leakey has kindly shared his work on plotting the fields as they appeared on the Tithe Map in 1841.

Kevin explains that the land on which the cemetery was later laid out was part of tithe free land. You can read more about Howse’s Coppice here.

How old was the oak tree in 1914. A hundred years old, two hundred, who knows? Sadly, it does not survive in 2022, but looking through the images in our archive Andy recently came across this one, sent to us by Robin Earle. Taken sometime in the 1980s this photograph captures an oak tree, heavily pruned but still there. We can only assume it was later deemed unsafe and eventually felled.

Swindon’s new cemetery on the Whitworth Road, which has cost the Town Council £7,283, was formally opened by Alderman E. Jones (chairman of the Health Committee) on Saturday.

The Council have acquired 35 acres of land, and laid out ten acres for immediate provision, and upon this they have erected a chapel at a cost of £760, and a superintendent’s lodge will be built at a cost of £400.

After an inspection of the grounds already laid out with drives, fencing, rockeries and shrubs, the chapel was visited, and appreciation of the compactness and pleasant appearance of the building was expressed by the members of the Health Committee present. To commemorate the occasion a tree was planted by Alderman Jones – a 12 years old oak sapling which grew from an acorn dropped by the magnificent oak tree which is such a prominent feature of the Radnor Street cemetery. Alderman Jones, in an interesting speech, remarked that that week commenced his twenty-third year in connection with the work of the town, and in looking back upon that long period he was sorry to recollect how many had passed away with whom he had been associated in public office.

In 1881 Swindon commenced to utilise the Radnor Street interment ground, and since that time there had been 13,500 persons buried in that cemetery; 1,800 grave plots had been purchased; 1,200 monuments had been erected, and the area contained 7,000 glass wreaths. This cemetery had cost the town £10,000, but it was recognised by the Town Council some years ago that other provision would have to be made for the growing needs of the community.

Negotiations for this further accommodation were commenced in 1907, and out of several sites this one, which combined an advantage of situation and Local Government Board requirements, was selected. It was hoped that this portion would last at least 40 to 50 years.

The Faringdon Advertiser, Saturday, May 2, 1914.

Florence Villa

The re-imagined story…

My granddaughter is calling her new baby daughter Florence. I love it that all the old names are coming back into fashion.

Did you know that Florence Nightingale was named after the Italian city? I always wanted to travel to Florence; to walk the medieval roads and cross the Ponte Vecchio; to offer up a prayer inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore; to stand before Botticelli’s Birth of Venus in the Uffizi Gallery. Oh my! Such a romantic city. I was lucky to have a week in Weston every summer as my parents reminded me when my imagination got the better of me.

There wasn’t a lot of romance to be found growing up in post war Swindon. The closest I ever got to Florence was a house up the road from ours called Florence Villa. This was not an example of Renaissance architecture but a modest little red brick terrace property like all the others in Swindon Road. I used to wonder if the house was named in honour of a pilgrimage to that beautiful city, or maybe one that never came to fruition, like mine.

I later discovered it was the home of a senior official in the GWR Works, Mr William H. Ludgate, who had named his home in honour of his daughter Florence. Florence Ludgate lived in Florence Villa with her parents until her father died in 1921. By the time I grew interested in the house she was long gone but no one seemed to remember what had become of her.

I’ll suggest my granddaughter names her home after her new baby. Perhaps in years to come someone will speculate on the naming of a 21st century urban property. I wonder what our little Florence will achieve in her lifetime? What places will she visit? Perhaps she’ll fulfil my dream and visit her namesake city. More than anything I hope her story will live on, and that she will not be forgotten like Florence Ludgate.

The facts …

William Homan Ludgate was born in Fermoy, Ireland in 1833, the son of Robert Hooper Ludgate. He married Caroline Hill, the daughter of inn keeper George Hill, at St John the Baptist Church, Gloucester on December 2, 1857.

By the time of the 1861 census William and Caroline were living at 7, Bellwood Place, Swindon where Caroline’s sister Jane was staying with them.

The couple had two surviving children, William George born in 1864 and Florence born in 1873. According to the 1911 census Caroline states that a third child had been born and died by that date.

By 1891 the family were living at Florence Villa, Swindon Road, their home for more than thirty years.

Caroline died in 1918 and William in 1921. They are buried together in plot D401.

Swindon – The close of 1907 saw the retirement, after more than fifty-four years’ service, of one of the oldest Carriage and Wagon Department servants, in the person of Mr W.H. Ludgate , Chief Travelling Inspector. He started under the late Mr John Gibson, Paddington, at a time when there were no carriage or wagon shops at Swindon, the whole of the stock being purchased from private firms. Mr Ludgate was shortly after transferred to Gloucester, to inspect the stock purchased by the company, which came from the North loaded in wagons and had to be put on broad gauge frames at Gloucester.

Probably during the past forty years there has been no better-known man in wagon-building and private freighters’ circles than Mr Ludgate. Possessed of ability considerably above the average and of that invaluable personal asset, an equable temperament, he was eminently fitted for dealing with the many difficult questions arising in regard to the construction and maintenance of privateowners’ wagons, and it is owing in no small degree to his diplomatic methods that the various regulations of the Board of Trade and Railway Clearing House in regard to private owned stock have been successfully interpreted on the Great Western Railway.

Opportunity was taken of Mr Ludgate’s retirement to present him with a drawing room clock and cheque. In making the presentation Mr Churchward said it afforded him great satisfaction to be present at such a gathering to wish an old comrade goody-bye. He congratulated Mr Ludgate on his splendid record and announced that there were upwards of 600 subscribers to the testimonial.

Mr Ludgate has the best wishes of our readers for a happy retirement.

Great Western Railway Magazine 1908.

Ludgate, Caroline of Florence Villa Swindon Road Swindon Wiltshire (wife of William Homan Ludgate) died 7 February 1918 Probate London 20 March to Florence Ludgate Spinster Effects £2014 15s 2d.

Ludgate, William Homan of Florence Villa Swindon Road Swindon Wiltshire died 13 March 1921 Probate London 30 April to William George Ludgate engineer captain R.N. (retired) and Florence Ludgate Spinster Effects £8149 17s 10d.

Mr Ludgate had more than one string to his bow –

Gas Company Founder – The funeral of the late Mr William Henry [Homan] Ludgate of Florence Villa, Swindon Road, Swindon, one of the founders and for 43 years chairman of the Swindon United Gas Company, who died on Sunday, 13 March, at the ripe age of 87 years, took place on Friday in last week. The cortege left deceased’s late residence and proceeded to St Paul’s church where the first portion of the service was conducted by the Rev C.W. Jacob (Vicar) and Rev C. Averary Jones (Curate). The Vicar also officiated at the graveside in the cemetery, where deceased’s remains were laid to rest beside those of his late wife, who died three years ago. The chief mourners were Capt. W.G. Ludgate of Southsea (only son) Miss Florence Ludgate (only daughter) and Misses B. & E. Arkell, of Cheltenham (cousins). The Gas Company was represented by Mr A.G. White, Mr W. Harvie, Mr F.W. Adams, and Mrs J.S. Protheroe (directors). Mr E.G. Vince (Secretary) and Mr H.C. Shepherd. Mr Ernest Bishop represented the New Swindon Building Society, of which deceased was for many years Chairman, and there were also present Mr H.K. Noble, Mr Birks, Mr Jennings, and other old friends. There were numerous lovely wreaths and other floral tributes.

Faringdon Advertiser and Vale of the White Horse Gazette Saturday 26 March 1921.

Edwin Thomas Brittain – oldest foreman in the Works

The re-imagined story …

Gran loved a good funeral. She especially liked the ones held at St Mark’s where Canon Ponsonby officiated as he had such a lovely voice, she said. But she wasn’t adverse to attending services at one of the many non conformist churches or chapels across town, or even the little cemetery chapel itself.

And afterwards she would come round to our house and over a cup of tea she would recount the events.

Mr Brittain’s funeral ranked as one of the best she had attended, she told us. The list of mourners read like a Who’s Who of Swindon railway royalty, she said.

As a child I accepted Gran’s funeral fascination as just one of the funny things old people did. Most things about the elderly were pretty incomprehensible to the young. It wasn’t until Gran died that I began to understand.

Gran had been born at a time when death was very much a part of life. Before she was ten years old she had lost her own mother and several siblings. Today we tend to think people must have become used to all that death and dying. One child died and the next one born received their name. Perhaps people didn’t invest so much love in their children then as we do now. Of course once I had my own family I realised what a ridiculous notion that was and I came to understand the loss Gran continued to mourn throughout her life.

Mr Brittain’s funeral was one of the best she’d ever seen, Gran told us.

The facts …

Death of Mr E. Brittain – We regret to announce the death of Mr E. Brittain, which took place almost suddenly at his residence in Wellington-street, New Swindon, on Thursday morning. Deceased left his work as usual the previous night, and retired to rest in fairly good health, but died about 4.30 a.m. Mr Brittain was a very old employe of the GWR Co., and had been a foreman in the works for many years. He was a member of the Council of the Mechanics’ Institute, but was best known perhaps as chairman of the New Swindon Industrial Society; he presided at the last half-yearly meeting of the society held a few weeks since.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, June 29, 1895.

The Late Mr E.T. Brittain – We gave a brief account in our last Saturday’s issue of the sudden death of Mr E.T. Brittain of Wellington-street, New Swindon, the esteemed foreman of the R. Shop (Loco. Dept.) of the GWR Works.

Mr Brittain, who was 65 years of age, was well-known in New Swindon. For many years he occupied a seat on the Council of the Mechanics’ Institute, and for 17 years he was a director of the New Swindon Industrial Society, and during the last 12 years he ably filled the office of chairman. Deceased also took a great interest in political matters; he was a staunch Conservative, and at the time of his death was treasurer of the North Wilts Conservative Association.

His position in the GWR Works was unique, as he was the oldest foreman in the Works. He commenced as assistant foreman in the R. Shop, the principal fitting and machine shop, under the late Mr James Haydon. Upon that gentleman being appointed as Assistant Works Manager, Mr Brittain continued in the same capacity under Mr E.J. Davies. When some 20 years ago, Mr Davies obtained the appointment of the managership of the Engine Department of Messrs Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, Limited, Ipswich, Mr Brittain was appointed to the chief foremanship, a position which he held and worthily filled to the day of his death.

We understand that for many years nearly all the fitter, turner and erector apprentices received their early training under Mr Brittains’s management and we are sure that his lamented death will come as a great shock to engineers who have been trained under him, and who are to be found at most centres in the world where engineers are employed.

The funeral of deceased took place on Monday last, and was the occasion of a striking demonstration of respect on the part of the officials and workmen of the GWR and the various bodies with which deceased was connected, as well as the general public.

The funeral cortege left deceased’s late residence in Wellington-street at half-past four, and proceeded to St Mark’s Church, where the first portion of the service was conducted by the Vicar, the Hon. And Rev. Canon Ponsonby, who also read the concluding service at the graveside in the Cemetery.

There were five mourning carriages, and the chief mourners included deceased’s three sons and brother-in-law. Deceased being an old Volunteer, eight members of the New Swindon Companies attended as bearers. Nearly 400 persons followed the remains from the church to the graveside, and the route was lined with spectators, besides which a vast crowd assembled in the Cemetery. Some idea of the extent of the procession may be gathered when we state that it extended from the Cemetery entrance throughout the whole length of Radnor-street.

The coffin was covered with an immense number of beautiful wreaths and crosses and other floral offerings. Amongst the mourners, besides deceased’s relatives, we noticed Mr. D.E. Marsh (Loco. Dept.), Mr J. Fordyce Stevenson (district engineer), Mr F.C. Kent (district estate agent), Mr Webb (representing Mr Carlton), Messrs. T.B. Watson, A. Adams, W.H. Ludgate, E.L. Pugh, Theo Wright, R.B. Pattison, W. Mole, W. Hunt, T. Veness, W.H. Lawson, J. Ireland, T. Stone, T. Money, H. Green, G.M. Butterworth, R. Baker, A. Nash, W. Booth, W. Harvie, R. Affleck, H.J. Southwell, F. Tegg, W. Sewell, D. White, J.D.R. Phillips, T. Spencer, H. Morris, R. Chirgwin, H. Wright, L. Dyer, H. Andrews, J. Christelow, E.Y. Westlake, E. Harvie, R. Hogarth, W. Morrison, R.N. Sutcliffe, E. Burns, W. Clark, J.S. Protheroe, W.J. Greenwood, C. Fox, T.C. Morgan etc. etc. The funeral arrangements were satisfactorily carried out by Mr H. Smith. Mrs Brittain and family desire to thank the many kind friends for the expressions of condolence and sympathy in their recent bereavement.

The Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, July 6, 1895.

Edwin Thomas Brittain was born in the parish of St Pancras on November 21, 1829, the eldest son of Henry James Brittain, an undertaker, and his wife Charlotte.

He married Louisa Elizabeth Hooker at Trinity Church, St Marylebone on January 11, 1852 and the couple soon moved to Wolverton in Buckinghamshire where Edwin was employed at the London & North Western engine works. Their son Thomas is born in Wolverton but by 1853 the family have moved to Swindon.

Edwin Thomas Brittain entered the GWR Service on July 26, 1853 working as a Fitter in the Loco factory. He was made Assistant Foreman on October 7,1865 and Foreman on January 12, 1867.

At the time of the 1861 census he was living at No 6 King Street with Louisa and their five children. The couple had nine children in all, moving to Wellington Street where they lived at No 18 and No. 39 at various times over the next twenty year period.

Edwin died at his home at 39 Wellington Street on June 27, 1895. He left effects to the value of £181 5s 2d. Louisa survived him by eighteen years and is buried here with him.