Bedford Training Home for Girls 1901 to 1912
Excerpts from the Minute Books of Bedford Training Home for Girls
12 Nov 1901 Miss Boston to receive £35 per annum.
Maud Burton 27 May 1902 her mother had died and Maud was very anxious something should be done for her sister who had been living with her mother and 'step father' The Committee promised to see what could be done.
24 June 1902 Mrs Duncan was appointed to work in the laundry for two days per week. Mrs Flanders spoke of her good work and felt proud to have taught her.
24 Feb 1903 Clara Smith gave notice to leave as she was getting married. Mrs Burton Alexander resigned as President as she was too ill to continue. The Committee discussed the possibility of moving the Woburn Sands Home to a cottage at Flitwick.
17 Mar 1903 Lady Isabella Whitbread had consented to become President.
31 March 1903 need to build a new Home at Bedford. G Skillett appointed to the Laundry.
27 July 1903 Miss Boston gave six weeks notice that she wanted to resign the post of Matron. Miss Bell came before the Committee to apply for the post. It was decided to try her for 6 months at a salary of £25 per annum, to increase annually up to a certain limit. Maud Burton came in to give notice for Aug 29th 1903. As she had been 17 years in the Home it was felt a change might be good for her. Miss Boston said she proposed to take her with her as it was her intention to start a Rescue Home & Laundry in Howbury Street in Bedford in partnership with Miss Gittings of Manchester. The Committee received an intimation that L Rogers and I Bolton would also go with Miss Boston. This would be hard upon Mrs Flanders to be deprived of so many of those who have been trained by her. The Committee decided to advertise in the Beds Times.
1901 census Girls Home Tavistock Place, Bedford
Sarah J Boston, Head, 48, Matron in Charge, born Bedford
Florence A Bell, Assistant, 24, Assistant Training Matron, born Bedford
Louisa L Brace, 37, Head Laundry Maid, born Goldington
Maud Burton, 27, Second Laundry Maid, born Bethnal Green
Clara Smith, 23, Third Laundry Maid, born Shefford
Gertrude Lincoln, 19, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Bedford
Lilian M Le Gros, 18, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Jersey
May B Cooling, 17, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Lambeth, London
Lizzie Mourant, 16, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Jersey
Marian Warren, 17, Inmate, in training, born Wisbech
Florence Runham, 15, Inmate, in training, born Biggleswade
Alice M Flack, 15, Inmate, in training, born Cambridge
Sarah Page, 16, Inmate, in training, born Woburn Sands
Joyce M Parker, 15, Inmate, in training {kitchen girl), born Seaforth, Lancs
Evelyn Landon,15, Inmate, in training (general), born Cambridge
Annie M Crawley, 14, Inmate, in training, born Bedford
Edith E Palmer, 13, Inmate, in training, born Stafford
Amy J Lane, 13, Inmate, in training, born Ravensthorpe, Yorks
Grace Lincoln, Visitor, 18, General Servant, Bedford
1904 annual report – 'In the two homes there are at present 35 inmates, 11 at the Woburn Sands branch and 23 in the Bedford Home, including the Matron, 4 laundry assistants (formerly girls in the home). 17 girls are now in training. The payment required for each Bedford girl is £1.10s a year, for those from other places £6.10s yearly. The Committee were almost entirely reliant on the earnings from the laundry.
Mr G Palmer taught the girls singing on the Sol-fa system.
Laundry Matron Louisa Brace has been in her post for 17 years.
28 Jan 1908 Lady Isabella Whitbread resigned as President. Lady Ampthill was proposed as new President. On February 25th Lady Ampthill had accepted the Presidency and wanted to visit the home at Easter.
12 May 1908 The cost of Insurance for the two Homes in the Guardian Office amounted to £3.16.4.
Mrs Flanders, Head of the Laundry at the Bedford Home, was ill and unable to work, the Matron was supervising the laundry in her place.
On 14th July keen to appoint new Trustees, the Committee had retrieved the Trust Deed of the House in Tavistock Street from Messrs Sharman & Trethewy and it was deposited with Messrs Barnards Bank.
At the same meeting Mrs Flanders was reported better but still in bed, it was thought advisable that she should have a holiday before returning to work. The Committee were also to ask if Miss Butlin (presently stand in Matron at Woburn Sands) could cover the leave of the Matron & Louisa when Miss Gatt returned to the Woburn Sands Home.
28 July 1908 Dr Perram quite approved of Mrs Flanders going to Hunstanton and all the arrangements had been made for her to go at the Committees expense.
Miss Butlin accepted the request for her to be temporary Matron at the Bedford home during Miss Bells absence. She was to arrive on the 29th August.
The Laundry at the Home was inspected by HM Inspector of Factories in October 1908. In November the same year ladders were procured as a means of escape should there be a fire at the Home, and fire extinguishers were also purchased. Further fire precautions were added in January and February 1909, including an iron staircase.
In January 1909 it was suggested that Park Road North would be a suitable situation in which to build a new Home. Mr Kinsey reported to the Committee meeting in March that land north of Gladstone Street cost 3d and 7d per foot.
At a meeting on 25th May 1909 new Trustees were appointed: Mr C E Kaye, Mr W L Fitzpatrick, Rev C Hemsley, Mr R E Prothero, Dr Birks, Mr Nelson Tebbs, Rev W H Davis, Dr H Goldsmith. Mr R H Kinsey & Mr Owen Carpenter remained as Trustees.
In June 1909 the Committee looked at a plan of a piece of ground at Park Road North with a view to it being a site for a new Home to be built. The plot was more than twice the size of the present premises and would enable the Committee to enlarge their laundry business and greatly increase the profits. They proposed to buy the land for not more than £500. Purchase of the land was completed by January 1910. The Home was to be expanded to house 24 girls, with an Under Matron for the laundry, Miss Bell to concentrate on training the girls in housework.
As Miss Butlin was unavailable for holiday cover the Committee sought a stand in Matron for the Woburn Sands and Bedford Homes, a Miss Green from Kent accepting the job.
1911 Census, Girls Home, Tavistock Place, Bedford
Florence Annie Bell, Matron, 34, Single, Matron, born Bedford
Louisa Brace, Laundry Maid, 48, Single, Laundry Maid, born Goldington
Ethel Jane Norman, Laundry Maid, 23, Single, Laundry Maid, born Jersey
Dorothy Hibbert, 20, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born Bedford
Lily Brown, 20, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born Bedford
Emily Cole, 20, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born London
Lucy Ward,--, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born St Albans
Ellen Waine, 17, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born Shrivenham
Rosanna Shales, 17, Laundry Maid, Single, Laundry Maid, born Jersey
Gladys Death, Girl in Training, 17, Training for Domestic Service, born Edwardston, Suffolk
Marian Handley, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born Sedburgh, Yorks
Daisy Clarke, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born London
Gertrude Borrell, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born Bedford
Charlotte, Clark, Girl in Training, 14, Training for Domestic Service, born Bedford
Annie Blackley, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born London
Gertrude Blackett, Girl in Training, 17, Training for Domestic Service, born Bedford
Ruth Hilda Bruce, Girl in Training, 17, Training for Domestic Service, born Gt Staughton
Mary Jane Dean, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born Haynes
Beatrice Stokes, Girl in Training, 15, Training for Domestic Service, born London
Edith Fanny Hodgins, Girl in Training, 16, Training for Domestic Service, born Watford
Kate Soames, Girl in Training, 17, Training for Domestic Service, born Northampton
Florence Meakin, Girl in Training, 14, Training for Domestic Service, born Irthlingborough
Amelia Le Coq, Girl in Training, 16, Training for Domestic Service, born Jersey.
In 1912 plans were drawn up for a new home and laundry at Park Road North (later 1 Hill Rise) Bedford. [ref. BorBP5461]
Mrs Flanders died aged 72 29 Aug 1917
Future of the Home discussed throughout. 28 October 1930 offered to St Alban's Diocesan Rescue Work Association.
Bedford Record 30 April 1957 obituary for Mrs Florence Annie Huckle nee Bell died 20 April 1957 former head of Girls' Training Home.