The New family memorial at Christ Church

In June 2018 the small team at Swindon Suffragette organised a festival to celebrate the centenary of the enfranchisement of (some) women and the contribution to the cause made by Swindon born suffragette Edith New. Women who were over the age of 30 and met a property qualification were granted the vote, however it would be another 10 years before women received electoral equality with men.

Edith moved to Polperro in Cornwall after her retirement from teaching. Her sister Ellen also bought a property in the village. Edith moved in with her sister after she rented out her cottage to a family who had been bombed out of London during WWII. Ellen died in December 1949 and Edith in January 1951. They are buried together in the cemetery just outside Polperro village.

The grave of Edith New and her sister Ellen

This impressive obelisk monument is the New family memorial in Christ Church churchyard. Remembered on this memorial are Edith’s parents and three of her siblings.

The New family memorial

Frederic James New was a clerk in the railway village. He married first Sarah Sophia Ball in 1870 and they had one child Frances Jane born the following year. Sarah died either in childbirth or shortly after and was buried in this family plot.

Frederic and several other members of the New family were Freemasons and it is likely the bereaved family received some help from that organisation. Frances won a place at the Royal Masonic Institution for Girls in Battersea. She died on October 27, 1889 and was buried with her mother.

Meanwhile, in 1872 Frederic married Isabella Frampton. They had five children, including Ellen, Frederick and Edith. Sadly, a daughter Annie Isabella died in 1876 aged 5 months and a son, Henry James Earnshaw died on February 6, 1879. These two babies are also buried here.

On February 19, 1878 Frederick was walking along the railway track to meet with his friend who lived at Toothill when he was struck by a train and killed. The inscription on this memorial indicates it was paid for by his colleagues in the GWR.

We know that Isabella never remarried and raised her three surviving children alone. She taught music to private pupils at her home and she had a property that she rented out. We know that she was supportive of Edith’s work in the campaign for women’s suffrage and that Edith came back to Swindon to recuperate at the family home in Lethbridge Road after one of her prison sentences.

The last person remembered on this memorial is Isabella. The inscription reads:

Her ways are ways of

Pleasantness and all

Her paths are peace.

The amazing Alley family

During some 20 years of research at Radnor Street cemetery I have discovered some fascinating family stories. Among my favourites is that of the Alley family who I’ve featured at various times on cemetery walks.

George Richman Alley and his brother Frederick were both born in Trowbridge and eventually made their way to Swindon and jobs in the Works.

This is the story of George (pictured below) with his wife Emma on the occasion of their youngest daughter’s wedding at the Baptist Tabernacle in 1911.

The family moved to Swindon in the 1870s when they lived first at 3 Carfax Street and then at 8 Merton Street. The couple had a son George who pursued a career in the navy and 8 daughters (Annie died just after her 1^st birthday).

The bride in the photograph, Eva Ross Alley, married George Babington on March 1, 1911 at the Baptist Tabernacle. The couple managed a draper’s shop at 92 Victoria (next to her sisters’ millinery business). Eva died in 1978 aged 92.

Ethel Gertrude Alley worked as a milliner with her sister Amelia. Another active member of the Baptist church, Ethel married Wilfred Hewer, a tailor. They later ran the Oddfellows’ Arms in Cricklade Street. Ethel died in 1958 aged 74.

Flora Elizabeth Alley was a teacher until she married William Harold Hall. The couple had two children and lived in Country Road. Flora died in 1974 aged 93.

Amelia Annie Alley was the only sister not to marry. She worked as a milliner at 90 Victoria Road and was also a member of the Baptist Church. She died in 1973 aged 94.

Mabel Alley married Thomas Charles Harding. In 1960 she was awarded the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service as sub postmistress at Westcott Place Sub Post Office for 50 years. She died in Cheriton Nursing Home in 1965 aged 88. Her daughter Vera is the little bridesmaid in the photo.

Maud Richman Alley was a dressmaker. She married Henry J. Lewis in her 40s and lived in Chippenham. She died in 1963 aged 93.

My interest in the Alley family began when I discovered the story of eldest daughter Emma Louisa who trained as a tailor, married Walter Lloyd Hull and moved to Bournemouth. Emma (known within the family as Lousia) took an active role in the Votes for Women campaign in the early 20^th century. She joined the Women’s Freedom League formed in 1907 by Teresa Billington-Greig and Charlotte Despard in a break away organisation from the Pankhurst led Women’s Social and Political Union.

Emma was arrested several times, once with several other women who all gave their name as Smith or Smythe. On another occasion she was among a group of women who cheered the magistrate from the dock in appreciation of the way he had dealt with their case.

She returned to Swindon after the death of her husband in 1947 and gave talks to local women’s groups about her involvement with the suffrage campaign. She wore a badge carrying an engraving of Holloway prison. Other suffragette souvenirs she had included a Votes for Women banner and a cocoa mug and a salt pot smuggled out of Holloway gaol!

Emma eventually returned to Bournemouth where she continued to tell her story. She died on July 24, 1967 aged 100 years old.

Who’s Who in the wedding photograph as provided by a family member

George Richman Alley died aged 84 at his home 8 Merton Street and was buried in grave plot D31A on December 1, 1925. His wife Emma died aged 87 at 12 Park Lane and was buried with him on October 24, 1932.

Our next guided cemetery walk is this Sunday, March 31. We meet at the chapel for 2 pm.

George Richman Alley and his family

And just when I thought I’d seen all the Alley family photos, along came two more.

George Richman Alley was born in Trowbridge in 1841, the son of Job Alley, a dyer. He moved to Southampton in around 1860 where he worked as a Coach Body Maker and in 1865 he married Emma Jane Ross, the daughter of a mariner. By 1881 they had moved to Swindon where George worked as a wheelwright body maker in the GWR Works. The couple lived first at 3 Carfax Street and then at 8 Merton Street where George died in 1925. Emma survived him by seven years.

George and Emma had one son, George pictured in the back row of this photograph, and seven daughters. Four of the daughters lived into their 90s and one reached her 100th birthday. Only one of the daughters left the Swindon area, of the other six, four went into business in the town.

Eldest daughter Emma trained in London as a ladies tailor before her marriage to Walter Lloyd Hull, a Bournemouth shopkeeper.

Following her husband’s death in 1947 Emma returned to live in Swindon. Then in her 80s she became a member of the Swindon Business and Professional Women’s Club and was active in many other organisations in the town, including the Richard Jefferies Society and the WEA.

In 1954 Emma gave a talk to the Women’s Club about her involvement with the suffrage campaign. when she had been an active member of the Women’s Freedom League and was arrested on several occasions and imprisoned. At these talks she was said to have worn a badge carrying an engraving of Holloway prison pinned to her dress. Other suffragette souvenirs she had were a cocoa mug and a salt pot smuggled out of Holloway and a Votes for Women banner.

Second daughter Maud, a dressmaker and upholsterer, married Henry John Lewis, a bootmaker and moved to Chippenham. Third daughter Mabel held the role of Postmistress at Westcott Place for more than 50 years and on the New Year’s Honours List of 1960 she was awarded the British Empire Medal in recognition of her service to the community.

Fourth daughter Amelia Ann, the only daughter to never marry had a milliners business at No. 90 Victoria Road which she ran with her sister Ethel (sixth daughter) until she married Wilfrid Hewer and together they ran the Oddfellows Arms in Cricklade Street. Fifth daughter Flora became a teacher. She married William Harold Hall and lived at 42 County Road.

Youngest daughter Eva pictured standing between her parents, married George Babington on March 1, 1911 at the Baptist Tabernacle. Eva and George ran a draper’s shop at 92 Victoria Road, next door to her sister Amelia’s millinery shop.

The following photograph was published following the death of George in 1925.

In reference to the death of Mr George Alley, of Swindon, the above photograph of members of the family is of interest from the fact that all were over 80 years of age. Left to right: Mr George Alley (85), Anna Alley (86), Louisa Alley (82), Martha Blatcher (84), and Fred Alley (80). Of the present living members the Misses Anna and Louisa Alley live at The Halve, Trowbridge, and Mr Fred Alley at 8 Merton Street, Swindon.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, December 4, 1925.

And so perhaps the reporter from the North Wilts Herald got a fact or two incorrect. With an exuberant and irrepressible family such as the Alley’s it’s easy to get confused.

The Late Mr G. Alley

A Well-Known Resident of Swindon

By the death of Mr George Richman Alley, of Merton Street, Swindon has lost one of its best-known residents. Deceased, who was 84, came to Swindon from Salisbury 51 years ago, when he entered the service of the Great Western in the Carriage Department. For nearly 25 years he was in charge of the road wagon department and he relinquished his position as foreman 18 years ago, when he entered upon a well-earned period of retirement. Had Mr Alley lived until Christmas he and his wife would have celebrated their diamond wedding, and a pathetic feature of his demise is that one of his daughters was at home at the time making preparations for the celebrations. Deceased leaves seven daughters, five of whom reside in Swindon, one in Bournemouth and one in Chippenham. His only son is a retired naval engineer, and lives in Suffolk. Deceased’s only brother, Mr Fred Alley, who is 80 years old, is the secretary of the GWR Retired Workmen’s Association. He celebrated his diamond wedding 12 months ago.

The funeral took place on Tuesday, a short service being previously held at the house. The coffin was followed to the graveside by deceased’s only son, his six sons-in-law, representatives of the Foreman’s Association and the Baptist Tabernacle.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, December 4, 1925.

George Richman Alley died aged 84 years at his home 8 Merton Street. His funeral took place in Radnor Street Cemetery on December 1, 1925. He was buried in grave plot D31A. Emma Jane Alley died aged 87 at 12 Park Lane and was buried with her husband on October 29, 1932.

My thanks, as always, to the lovely Alley ladies Di, Kay, Wendy and Christine for sharing their information and their photographs.