UPDATE of the Past News 9th December 1882

Catch up on the full story of last weeks NEWS...........

*Bakewell Workhouse -

Christmas Day –

The Christmas day treat was well loved by all of the inmates of Bakewell Union Workhouse.  A thank you was passed on to the Board of Guardians at the fortnightly meeting at the beginning of January.  Mr and Mrs Waters the master and his wife were especially praised for their great interest in ensuring that those in their charge were comfortable.  The inmates were waited on by a Mrs Balston and her sister and the sister of Mrs Waters also helped in the days activities.  The meat was carved by the clerk Mr Fidler.  The inmates were given entertainment in the evening.  The only Guardian to attend was Mr Thornhill. 

Edwin Waters, the Master -

The Workhouse master was Mr Edwin Waters not Walters as stated in last week’s news.  It appears that his application to become master of a workhouse in London did not prove successful as he and his wife were still working at Bakewell for some months afterwards.  Edwin had not been at Bakewell Workhouse long as his predecessor Mr Edward Cunningham had passed away after a long illness on 18^th July 1881.  Mr Cunningham was said to have been very popular with the inmates even though he was strict with his discipline.  In contrast to those whom he reigned over, Mr Cunningham had quite a large amount of money, his probate records the sum of £1,717 6s. 

Back to Edwin Waters, he was born in Dover in 1842, the son of William and Mary Waters.  Edwin was a Staff Sergeant of the 2^nd Battalion Scots Fusilier Guards in 1871 residing at Chelsea Barracks.  His was married to Elizabeth Gray whom he had married on 3^rd December 1870 at Trinity Church, Upper Chelsea.  Sadly Elizabeth died a few years later in 1873.

Edwin enlisted on 2^nd February 1861, aged 18 years old.  His birthplace was St James, Dover and he was a sailor, 5ft 7 ½ inches high.  Edwin rose through the ranks being promoted to; Corporal on 9^th November 1864, Sergeant 7^th November 1868, Hospital Steward 21^st February 1872 and finally Colour Sergeant 1^st July 1881.  He was discharged on 28^th February 1882, his place of intended residence was Bakewell which as we know he was already employed as Bakewell Workhouse Master at this time.  Edwin’s military background and the excellent reference “that of a very good and efficient non-commissioned officer, zealous in the performance of all his duties, trustworthy and sober” would have been just what the Guardians of Bakewell Union were looking for in a master at Bakewell Union Workhouse.

 By the time Edwin arrived at Bakewell he had remarried; in 1874 Edwin married Eleanor Hillyard at St George Hanover Square, London.  Edwin already had a son named Ernest Edwin born in 1872 at St George Hanover Square, London the son of Elizabeth.  At the time of Elizabeth’s death in 1873 there is also a birth and death registered of a female unnamed Waters child, indicating that Elizabeth may well have died from complications in childbirth.  Edwin would have been left a single parent to care for 1 year old Ernest. 

 At the beginning of June 1883 Edwin Waters wrote a letter to the Board of Guardians explaining that he had been offered the position of Master at the Fir Vale Workhouse in Sheffield.  He and his wife would work one months notice.   They are praised in an article in February 1884 for their work at Fir Vale Workhouse.  The workhouse was said to be spread over a large area, which was as large as the whole of Bakewell Village.  The Christmas dinner of 1883 was taken by 1,800 inmates, apparently “demolished a trifle over a ton of Christmas pudding”. 

By 1901 and aged 58 years old, Edwin and his wife Eleanor have retired from the workhouse life and are living at 133 Melfort Road, Croyden.  They have one servant girl named Elizabeth Hill.  Things were soon to change again for Edwin when in 1902 his wife of 28 years passed away, she was 57 years old. 

Edwin passed away on 9^th December 1909 at Devonshire.  His probate record states that he resided at Denewood, Pressland Road, Sidmouth.  He was a retired poor law officer and left £283 12s 6d.  Edwin had not been sat alone however since the death of his wife Eleanor in 1902, as the money was bequeathed to an Elizabeth Jane Waters, widow.  Edwin married Elizabeth Jane Hill in 1906 at Totnes, Devon. 

Ernest Edwin the son of Edwin and Elizabeth Gray became a Captain in the Indian Medical Service.  He married a girl who was born in Madras India named Isabel.  In 1901 the couple are visiting a Surgeon named Mr Powel at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.  He died on 30^th September 1938 and left his estate of £38614 19s 7d to his widow Isabel. 

Workhouse Scandal -

The incident regarding Fanny Goodwin was first reported at the end of October, when the appearance of “a very diminutive little individual – a baby” was the topic on all of Bakewell after the mother “stoutly declines to disclose the paternity”. 

Fanny Goodwin was mid 30’s and already had a son named Henry.  She was an inmate at Bakewell Workhouse in 1881 when the census was taken.    The baby born in 1882 was named Florence.  Fanny is described on the census as unmarried and a general servant. 

In 1887 Fanny is again causing scandal in the workhouse as another child was born to her with unknown paternity in the April of 1887.  Once again she was refusing to tell the Guardians who the father was, she was described as “astute lady remains as silent as ever respecting the parentage of her rather numerous progeny”.  She did give one answer “it’s an inmate who’s gone out and I want to go to”.   Fanny had been separated and constantly watched after her last incident of childbirth, she should not have been anywhere near the men.  But, on one occasion it was said that the man in question and Fanny were in the hospital as patients at the same time. 

The Guardians were discussing her at nearly all of their meetings; it seems she now had 4 children in the workhouse with her ranging up to 13 years old.  Only one had the father’s name known.  She was notoriously known as “silent Fanny”.  She did make the Guardians happy in January 1883 during the inquest into the father of Florence; she stated “her past conduct was not in the least connected with any of the paid officers of the Union”.  This was a great relief to the Guardians.

A few years on in 1891 and sadly life has not got much better for Fanny, she is still an inmate at the Bakewell Workhouse and there are two children listed with her Henry aged 13 years and Florence aged 9 years. 

Further still in 1901 and there is still a Fanny Goodwin living at Bakewell Workhouse, the age is slightly different but this is most probably the same Fanny who had such a notorious life within the Union Workhouse walls for around 20 years.  The Fanny that had caused all the scandal and had stuck staunchly to her principles and refused to name the father of baby Florence or her siblings – who was the father?, we may never know, Fanny would probably not want us to know either.

There is a death for a Fanny Goodwin in Bakewell aged 60 years old in 1910; this may well be “our” Fanny Goodwin.

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*Attempted suicide –

Mrs Thompson who attempted suicide by cutting her own throat was reported to be out of danger and doing well.

 

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Echoes of our past ~ NEWS...... 9th December 1882

 

 

Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS

What was in the local news this weekend in 1882?

MAIN NEWS –

 

*Bakewell Board of Guardians monthly meeting –

 

The meeting was officiated over by Lord Edward Cavendish.  Vice Chairmen G W Furniss and M Wood Esq’s, C Sorby Esq and twenty of the Bakewell Union Guardians.  The topics of discussion were -

 

Improvements in the house

 

The clothes drying area was “quite inadequate” to fulfil its role and it was suggested by the Committee that a wall be removed at the back of the house, in order to enlarge the present drying area.  The cost to the Union would be low as the land was not already in use.  It was also pointed out that the inmates would be able to provide the labour to dismantle the wall.

 

The Guardians agreed that the improvements be carried out.

 

Paupers Christmas Dinner

 

The Master of the Workhouse requested permission from the Guardians to furnish the inmates with their usual “extra” dinner on Christmas Day.  The request however was received with differing attitudes by the Guardians.

 

Mr Ward moved and Mr Garton seconded the request, but added that non-inmates should attend by ticket only.  Another Guardian stated that the extra Christmas meal was for inmates only.

 

Mr Harrison put forward a proposal that “there should be no Christmas dinner”.  He added that he “neither liked a feast nor a fast and a thing of that sort did neither rich nor poor people any good, and he thought it was a waste”.   The response from the Chairman to this suggestion was to ask Mr Harrison if he thought others would second this amendment.  To which Mr Harrison replied “I don’t know my Lord, they can please themselves”.

 

The result of the request that the poor of Bakewell and district who found themselves in such a sad state to be inmates in the Bakewell workhouse on Christmas Day should receive an extra Christmas meal was a resounding “yes” and Mr Harrison was on his own with his “scrooge” opinion on Christmas.

 

Sick Club dispute

 

An elderly man named David Skelton wrote to the Guardians for assistance in his claim for money from a sick club at Taddington, which he had paid into for 25 years.  Mr Skelton was suffering from rheumatics, but as the sick club would not pay him his dues he was forced to receive out-relief from the Union, which although he was “very thankful” for he thought he should receive his money from the sick club instead.

 

The case had been referred earlier to the County Court, but the sick club claimed that Mr Skelton was too old when he joined the club and was thus not entitled to any relief from them.  Mr Skelton could however prove that a man older than he was on joining was obtaining money from the club.

 

The committee heard how Mr Skelton was now living with his daughter and was described as a “tottering old man”.  It also transpired that Mr Skelton had been withdrawn from the club as he was found working whilst receiving sick pay.

 

The board decided that the issue was to complex and that is was best that they did interfere.

 

Previous items

 

The board heard how the suggestions made at an earlier meetingby Mr Basil Cane, the Poor Law Inspector  had all been achieved.  The porters lodge had been enlarged, there was now a receiving ward and the ventilation matters had been attended to.  Mr Cane thought that the alterations would “add to the comfort of the inmates” to which a round of applause was heard.

 

Scandal in the House

 

At the last meeting on 20^th November discussion was led involving an inmate named Fanny Goodwin.  The Committee had been left with instruction to discover the paternity of the child.  At this time the Committee had failed to achieve their objectives, due to the mother refusing to give the name of the father and also the “evasive and unwilling manner” of the inmates to give evidence.

 

It was moved by Mr Senior and seconded by Mr Garton that the issue is resolved and no further investigation would take place.

 

Music for inmates

 

The Master of the workhouse requested a harmonium, so that it may be used at the services in the House.  An instrument could be bought for £15-£20 and the money would come from the collection which had been previously carried out to purchase books for the Workhouse.

 

Almost all present agreed with this request, the inmates would soon be listening to the beautiful music of the harmonium.

 

Not all the Guardians however saw the merits; Mr Harrison stated “it seems to me we are going to make the place uncommonly nice (laughter) so that everybody will want to come here”.

 

Final request from the Master

 

The meeting finished on a sad note, when the Master (Mr Walters) announced that he and his wife had applied for a position in London.  They would be paid £250 plus rations. Mr Walters requested that the Board would provide him with a character testimonial if required.

 

The Chairman and other members responded that although they would hope that they would not lose the service of Mr and Mrs Walters, they did appreciate that they would benefit from bettering their position and so would grant a testimonial if applied for.

 

OTHER ITEMS –

 

*Attempted suicide –

 

The wife of a Mr Thomspon an engine tenter of Danesmoor, Clay Cross was found having had her throat cut and the razor still being left in her throat.  The Thompson’s lived in a row of five cottages and their neighbour was a PC Thompson who had found Mrs Thompson.  At this time she is still alive but in a serious condition.  Mr Thompson the husband was at work that afternoon being employed by the Clay Cross Company.

 

*Emigration to Canada –

 

Due to the demand for labour in Canada assisted passage was being advertised at £3 each.  The trip would leave from Liverpool to Quebec.  The sought after occupations were; agriculturalists, agricultural labourers and female domestic servants.  For £4 passage general labourers and mechanics were also required. 

 

*Disorderly women –

 

Mary Clare and Esther Holmes both of Stonegravels were charged with being “common prostitutes” and behaving in a riotous manner in Knifesmith Gate on 2^nd December.  Mary Clare was sentenced to 6 weeks and Esther Holmes 5 week’s imprisonment.

 

MARRIAGES –

 

*Thomas Archer eldest son of Samuel Archer of Hilton Grange to Sarah Ann Parker eldest daughter of Francis Parker of “the Oldhams”, married on 20^th November at Youlegreave.

 

*George Anthony Hartland youngest son of Mr William Hartland of Woolhope, Herefordshire to Emily Rose Thompson of Derby, married on 14^th November at St Luke’s Church, Derby.

 

DEATHS -

 

*Michael Smith aged 55 years at Lings Row, North Wingfield

 

*Robert Henderson aged 5 months at Brickyard, Chesterfield

 

*Lizzie Walton Eyre aged 1 year at White Bank Cottage, Hasland

 

*Gertrude Slack aged 1 year at Knifesmith Gate, Chesterfield

 

*G Landgraf head artist for Derby Crown Porcelain died on 26^th November at Bamberg, Bavaria after a long illness he was 42 years old

 

*Isabella Rodgers daughter of Jacob and Emma Rodgers aged 2 years at Alfreton

 

*Joseph Collins aged 66 years at Cavendish Square, Newbold

 

*Henry Heathcote aged 49 years at Marsden Street, Chesterfield

 

WEATHER -

 

Snow was causing havoc over the North of Great Britain, “the great snow block now extends more or less over the entire North of Great Britain”.  Many trains were abandoned stuck in the snow.  The trains in between Sheffield and Manchester were all blocked in on Wednesday night and the passengers which stopped at Penistone arrived at Sheffield at 6am next morning. 

 

In North Derbyshire the snow had fallen  “with great violence”; not only the amount of snow but the gale that blew alongside.   All traffic was almost suspended.  The farmers at Taddington and Millers Dale had great difficulty in transporting their milk to the railway station and extra staff was kept on duty to clear the lines.  Buxton and Chapel-en-le-frith were both almost deserted as the snow fell and became blocked.

 

AND FINALLY…

 

The commercial aspect of Christmas was even evident back in 1882 –

 

The South Kensington Fine art Association were advertising “Grand Christmas Gifts” for sale.  Magnificent oil paintings for 2s 6d could be delivered all over England and would provide a “more useful and lasting Christmas and New Year’s present.

 

The Association was also selling Christmas and New Year’s cards with pictures taken from the original designs of the eminent English artists.  The cards included a prose or verse, written by “writers of great talent”.   Thirteen cards could be purchased for 1s and would be forwarded to the purchaser free of charge.

 

Local business man T P Wood was also aiming to flourish from the Christmas season.  He was selling Christmas Boxes for 22s which would include the following refreshments –

 

1 bottle Old Rum

1 bottle Old Irish Whiskey

1 bottle Cognac Brandy

1 bottle Crusted Port

1 bottle Pale Sherry

1 bottle Best London Gin

1 bottle Essence of Punch (which would make 2 bowls of punch)

 

After consuming the liquor, if you are able to safely find the shop then on returning the bottles and the case a refund of 2s would be given – who could resist such a bargain?