Girls in the Home 1901 Part One
1901 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
Grace Lincoln, Visitor, 18, General Servant, Bedford
The Girls:
Gertrude Lincoln, 19, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Bedford
Gertrude was aged 14 years when nominated for admission to the Bedford Training Home by Miss Fitzpatrick on 25 June 1895. She was admitted December 17 1895. On 31 Dec 1895 it was noted that she was very useful and was better educated than was supposed, so she was to stay in the Bedford Home rather than go to the cottage home at Woburn Sands. On 8 March 1898 it was mentioned by Mrs Kirby that Gertrude was going into the laundry but as she was only 15 she thought it would be wiser not to begin regular wages at first, but for a few months to let her feel she was repaying in some measure the training she had received, besides she was having a nice outfit and should not require clothes for some time. The Committee agreed but said Gertrude should get 1/6 a month pocket money. On 22 November 1898 she was given permission to visit her mother very occasionally on a Sunday. She was still living at the Home in 1901. She married Walter Horrell, a brewers horsekeeper, in 1907. When Mrs Flanders, Head of the Laundry at the home became ill in 1908 Gertrude came back to work for 3 days per week to help the Matron. She was living at 34 Palmerston Street, Bedford in 1911.
Lilian M Le Gros, 18, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Jersey
Lilian was aged 13 years and was from Jersey She was considered for admission on 8 September 1896. The Committee heard that she was in St Thomas' Refuge, Jersey. Her parents were very poor, the mother a cripple. The girl was 13, strong, a good worker, able to wash and mend, but headstrong & unruly. She arrived at the Bedford Training Home in September 1896 and was on 22 September reported to be behaving well. It was noted on 12 April 1898 that her time would be up in September when she would be 16. Her mother would be written to ask if she wished her to remain in the Home to train in laundry work. By 26 April 1898 a letter had been received from her mother in which she expressed her satisfaction it gave her and her father that Lily could be kept in the Home. Both parents seemed evidently relieved that they would have no further trouble with their child. However, by 14 February 1899 complaints had been made about her behaviour. Lilian wished to leave the Home but was considered too young to do so. Mrs Hemsley was asked to speak to her and tell her that her mother will not have her at home and that she is too young to be sent to service, and that she must earn a good character in the Home before a situation can be found for her. It was reported on 26 Aug 1899 that she was now a good laundry worker but very tiresome and discontented. Lilian came to the Committee and said she wished to leave the home if only to go out as a general servant. Mrs Alexander told her that if she left at present it would be to be sent back straight away to Jersey, but if she remained until she was 18 and earned a good character she could then obtain a respectable situation with good wages. She was told to think it over. Lilian did so, and on 10 Oct 1899 decided she wished to stay another year. Her mother had written very strongly saying she would not receive her at home, and that by Jersey law girls were not of age until they are twenty. On 28 November 1899 Lilian was reportedly being troublesome again, yet by 12 December 1899 doing better. On 10 July 1900 Miss Dodgin had been over from Jersey and had expressed much pleasure in the improvement of Lily.
May B Cooling, 17, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Lambeth, London
May was aged 15 years old and residing at a home for Waifs & Strays in Hemel Hempstead. The Committee considered her for admission on 22 November 1898. She reportedly had good points but was sometimes inclined to be rather wild and not strictly truthful but could be touched by kindness. It was agreed on 29 November 1898 she would be trained as laundry maid. When she arrived on 14 Mar 1899 Matron complained that she had been sent from the Waifs & Strays poorly provided with boots. May made good progress though, 13 February 1900 she was said to be so bright and has got on so well in the laundry that it was felt she ought soon to be receiving wages. On 2 April 1901 May was made monitress of the dormitory and allowed to sleep in the cubicle. On 25 February 1902 May gave notice that she wanted to leave and return to her mother; this was accepted with regret as she had the best of characters and was most useful in the laundry. However by 9 June 1903 the Committee had heard unsatisfactory accounts of her, seemed to be in low water and getting into debt.
Lizzie Mourant, 16, Inmate, Learning laundry work, born Jersey
Lizzie was 15 years old and was from Jersey. She was considered for admission 14 February 1899. Miss Dodgin had written to Miss Boston from Jersey, asking for Elizabeth Mourant, 15 years old to be admitted. She was illegitimate but did not know it. Her mother had given her, when a baby, into the care of an old sea captain and his wife named Le Gros. The wife died and the old man surrounded the child with evil influence. The mother had married a poor man and had a large family. She took the child away from Captain le Gros at the age of 13 and she was placed in an orphanage in Jersey, where she has been for the last two years. The Matron would have liked to keep her as she is a manageable girl and very useful in the laundry especially as an ironer, but it was against their rules to keep a girl over 15 years old. Miss Dodgin was anxious she should come to England as to be out of the way of Captain Le Gros and of her own aunts, who were not good women. Miss Dodgin offered to pay £1 but could not pay anything more. The Committee decided it was a case to be helped if possible. The Secretary was to write for further particulars and if the reply was satisfactory they would waive the payment of the £1 but Miss Dodgin must provide the outfit and the fares and be responsible for the return fare in case the child had to be sent back,. The Committee were to be free to send the child elsewhere if they thought fit. It was decided on 28 Feb 1899 Elizabeth was to learn laundry work, housework, needlework, reading & writing. She was admitted 22 March 1899. The matron of the orphanage had spoken very satisfactorily of her conduct and said she was very child like for her age & not likely to talk in any way that would harm the other girls. On 10 July 1900 Miss Dodgin had been over from Jersey and had expressed much pleasure in the improvement of Elizabeth.
On 12 Nov 1901 Elizabeth was to go on the 21st to Mrs Barton, Lansdowne Road at £8 per year to begin with. She stated on 22 April 1902 that she wished to leave her situation. It was decided Miss Boston should give notice. On 13 May 1902 Mrs Hemsley had engaged her for her sister Mrs Spackman. On 26 Aug 1902 the Committee received a letter from Miss Dodgin expressing concern over Lizzie. As Lizzie had been seen in company with young soldiers, Miss Boston was asked to see her present Mistress and ask that the girl might be kept under more control. 9 Sep 1902 Miss Bell was requested by the Committee to see Miss Spackman and tell her that Lizzie and Florence Runham had often been seen in company of soldiers. On 28 Oct 1902 it was reported that she was leaving her situation on 22 Nov 1902. On 11 November 1902 Miss Boston was to take her to see Mrs Rawnsley who wished to engage a servant for her son's vicarage in London to be under a Cook Housekeeper. 25 November 1902 to go to the Vicarage on 4th Dec, in the meantime she was with an Aunt in London. By 13 Jan 1903 Lizzie had given notice to Mrs Rawnsley, who was to write to the Aunts in London asking them to find her another situation. 12 January 1904 the Committee heard there were unsatisfactory accounts of Lizzie Mourant who has been placed in a Penitentiary in Jersey by the Mayor, who had taken her away from the old man who has such a bad influence over her.
Marian Warren, 17, Inmate, in training, born Wisbech
Maria was 15 years old in August 1900, and from Market Street, Wisbech, Cambridge. On 13 November 1900 Mrs Schofield of the Society for the Care of Friendless Girls, Wisbech wrote asking for her admission to be trained in the laundry. The father was dead and the mother had no control over her. She was tall for her age and strong – there was nothing against her character excepting that she was very untruthful. The Society thought that as she was strong and anxious to learn, she might soon be able to earn money for the Home and that possibly they could remit the usual fee. It was decided that in any case the fees must be paid for the first 6 months and that afterwards it would depend upon her usefulness whether the whole or part of the fees for the remainder of the year would have to be paid. On 27 Nov 1900 Maria was sent to the laundry.
A few months later, on 8 January 1901 Miss Boston complained that Maria was not suitable for the Home; her conversation was quite unfit for other girls to hear and she was very rebellious and rude to Mrs Flanders. It was decided that she must leave the Home and that she ought to be sent to a much stricter one where she would be with older girls. By 22 January 1901 it was arranged with Mrs Schofield that she would go to St Katharines Sisterhood, at Fulham. Her case was again discussed and Miss Boston gave a better account of her and seemed to have become reluctant to part with her. Maria had expressed her sorrow at her bad behaviour and said she was wishful to try to be a better girl. The Committee decided to give her a longer trial. She stayed at the Home, and on 21 May 1901 went to the Cottage Home at Woburn Sands for a change, she having been ill with quinsey [tonsillitis]. On 23 July 1901 she had gone home on account of her throat.
Florence Runham, 15, Inmate, in training, born Biggleswade
Florence was 15 years old and from Biggleswade, admitted June 1900 to the Home at the request of Mrs Sutcliffe. She was in a situation in Bedford and had been brought before the Magistrate for setting fire to several things in her bedroom. Her parents lived at Biggleswade and were very respectable[the 1891 census records them as William George Runham, 33, a house painter, and his wife Mary Ann Runham, living in Potton Road, Biggleswade]; so the Committee were glad to save her from being sent to prison as she does not appear to be a bad girl. If desirable she is to stay with her father during Miss Bostons absence. After a month in the Home on 26 June 1900 she was reported to be satisfactory so far, quiet and obedient and of much use in the laundry.
However, by 18 December 1900 it was noted that she had slight epileptic fits. Mrs Alexander mentioned to the Committee what was thought to be a preparation of valerian, obtainable from Dresden, from a certain nunnery which was a most wonderful cure for epilepsy. By 8 January 1901 Florence had reportedly had been very rebellious during Christmas the previous year and was spoken to before the Committee. She was ill on 23 May 1901 and Mrs Hemsley was to give her an infirmary ticket when the time came for her to go there. By 24 June 1901 Mrs Runham had taken Florence home, and had been able to procure her work with herself in a private laundry. On 9 September 1902 Miss Bell was requested by the Committee to see Miss Spackman and tell her that Lizzie Mourant and Florence Runham had often been seen in company of soldiers.
The 1911 Census shows Florence as a cook/Domestic in the Pendle household in Hampstead.
Alice M Flack, 15, Inmate, in training, born Cambridge
Alice was 14 years old and admitted from Cambridge Association for the Care of Girls on 23 January 1900 , to remain two years. She was wishful to come and seemed a nice girl and strong. Her father, Alfred Flack, lives in Cambridge but beyond signing the agreement takes no responsibility – that rests with the Cambridge Association. Her first month did not go well, on 13 February 1900 the Committee heard she found the work very hard and cried bitterly. On 8 January 1901 Maud was spoken to before the Committee as she had been very rebellious during Xmas the previous year. On 26 Feb 1901 Miss Boston reported Maud had become very thin and it was decided a certain medicine should be given to ascertain whether she is suffering from worms. On 23 April 1901 she was to go to Woburn Sands. On 28 Jan 1902 she was 16 and as she seemed to have no taste for laundry work, she was to be tried in the housework and kitchen for a month. On 25 February 1902 Maud came before the Committee having completed a months trial at kitchen work, and had decided she preferred laundry work. It was arranged with Mrs Flanders that she would go back to the laundry and receive a small wage of £5. However, by 11 March 1902 she had not been doing well in the laundry and it was decided she must not receive wages until she improved. By 27 May 1902 Miss Boston was to try to find a situation for her as 2nd or 3rd laundry maid. On 10 June 1902 Maud came before the Committee to be told that she was to go the next day to a situation. This has been found for her through Mrs Massey, at the Hon Mrs Dalgety's, Lockerly Hall, Romsey, Hants. She was to be 4th laundry maid wages to begin with £10. By 24 June 1902 Maud had written and seemed content with her situation. However, by 25 Nov 1902 she was reported as leaving Lockesly Hall as her mistress had decided to give up the laundry. As they were willing to find her a situation it was decided they should do so. The Committee heard by 9 December 1902 a situation had been found for her in the establishment of Earl Brownlow in Berkshire as 3rd laundrymaid – wages £14. When the Committee next heard of her 10 February 1903 she was now with Miss Giddings in Manchester until a place as 3rd laundry maid could be found for her. The Cambridge Association was very anxious to have her kept away from Cambridge. However, by 17 March 1903 unsatisfactory accounts of her had been received and it was suggested Miss Giddings should be asked about placing her in a Salvation Army Home. By 31 March 1903 Miss Boston had heard from Miss Giddings that Maud was behaving very badly in regard to cabmen, omnibus guards etc, always trying to attract their notice. The Secretary promised to write to Mrs McLean asking if they could take any steps to place her elsewhere. On 21 April 1903 the Secretary promised to write to her ask if she would sign an agreement to enter a Salvation Army Home. Prior to 28 June 1904 Mrs McLean had been to see Mrs Kirby who had suggested to the Cambridge Association for the Care of Girls the advisability of placing Maud in a Salvation Army Home, she was very uncontrollable and so flighty in conduct.