Girls in the Home 1901 Part Two
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
Girls in the Home 1901 Part One
Sarah Page, 16, Inmate, in training, born Woburn Sands
Sarah was 14 years old, daughter of Emma Page of Woburn Sands. She was considered for admission 26 June 1900. Miss Pain of Woburn Sands had written to Mrs Kirby wishing to place her in the Home. Her mother lives in the village and does not bear a good character and the girl is quite beyond her management. It was decided that she should be received. On 14 August 1900 Mrs Kirby said Sarah objected very much to coming into the Home and her mother, although she had signed the agreement, now seemed to encourage Sarah in her disinclination. Miss Pain was afraid that Sarah would not stay if she came and felt that more real good might be done if the younger sister could be taken from the bad influences by which she was surrounded. The Committee decided unanimously that this should be allowed. On 28 Aug 1900 had been brought by Miss Pain on the 18th. On 9 October 1900 Miss Boston complained of the new girl from Woburn Sands who was so rough and dirty both in habits and speech and quite unfit to be with little girls who have hitherto been trained by Mrs Irons.
Joyce M Parker, 15, Inmate, in training {kitchen girl), born Seaforth, Lancs
Joyce was 15 in May 1900, and from Birmingham . She was proposed for admission on 25 May 1900 by the Soldiers & Sailors Help Society. Joyce was the daughter of Staff Sergeant Parker of the 5th Dragoon Guards who had died of typhoid during the siege of Ladysmith, leaving a widow & 8 children. The children were at army school at Simla. The family were shipped to England and arrived penniless & friendless. The whole family bear an excellent character and Joyce is described by the County Secretary Mrs Edmunds, Greyfriars, Edgbaston, Birmingham as a nice bright girl and very anxious to learn. Mrs Hemsley asked to make the arrangements for her to come.
On 24 June 1901 she was to go to Mrs Adam Taylor to assist in the kitchen for a time. However, on 26 August 1901 she was given notice by Mrs Adam who found her very slow and apathetic and did not take much interest in her work. It was decided she was to come back to the Home for further training. She then on 8 October 1901 was to go to Miss Rogers on 9th Oct, her wages £8 to begin with. It was noted on 28 October 1902 Joyce was leaving her situation to go home to her mother.
Evelyn Landon,15, Inmate, in training (general), born Cambridge [aka Eva [Evelyn] Lauder]
Eva Lauder, was 13 years old, and living at Short lane, Barton Road, Cambridge. She was considered for admission 26 July 1898 recommended by Cambridge Association for Care of Girls. Her father was a cork cutter, promised to pay for her but if he failed to do so the Association would provide the money. The mother was dead, the child neglected and wild but sharp. Eva was admitted 9 August 1898, to go to Woburn Sands. She appeared to be intelligent. On 23 Aug 1898 it was noted that Eva had been sent to the home at Woburn Sands to go on with her education. On 22 Aug 1899 she was at Woburn Sands School and under the care of a Doctor on account of her eyes. Miss Boston told the Committee that Eva was very delicate and she did not think she would ever make a servant. She suggested that it would be desirable to look for a home for Eva where she might be trained for some special work. On 26 September 1899 Eva was due to go to the Infirmary on the 27th Sept 1899 for an operation on her glands. Miss Boston had written to inform her father of this but had received no reply. The Secretary was to write to the Committee of the Cambridge Association for the Care of Girls and tell them of the operation and of her great delicacy. Also to say that she would not be fit for domestic service on account of her weak eyesight and want of health and that the Committee thought it desirable that the Cambridgeshire Association should place her in an Industrial Home where she would be taught basket work. By 24 October 1899 Eva had undergone the operation and was going on well, she was due to leave the infirmary on 28 October1899, Dr Harvey Goldsmith was to see her again about her eyes. Mrs Alexander spoke of an Industrial Home at Nottingham as being a suitable one for her. On 14 November 1899 Eva was sent back to Woburn Sands. However, 28 November 1899 she was again feeling pain in the glands in her neck. The Secretary was to write to Mrs Dale telling her that if Eva did not begin to grow stronger it would be best for the Cambridge Association to place her for a time in a seaside home. For the present she should remain where she is. On 13 March 1900 her eyesight was again causing concern. Mrs Irons at Woburn Sands had written saying one eye needed constant attention in order to save the other. Dr Harvey Goldsmith to see her again. On 27 March 1900 Eva had come from Woburn Sands to the County Hospital. She was under the care of Dr Harvey Goldsmith who had found it necessary for the preservation of her sight to remove the blind eye. This operation had been most successfully performed and all inflammatory symptoms had disappeared and the sight had already improved. On 10 April 1900 the Committee received a letter from her father expressing his gratitude for the kind interest in his daughter. On 8 May 1900 it was again decided she would not be fit for domestic service on account of her eyesight. The Secretary was asked to write to the Cambridge Association asking them to find a Home for her where she will be taught a trade which she can pursue even should she lose the sight of the remaining eye. By 26 June 1900 her eyesight had improved and it was thought it best to keep her in the Home. A few months later on 9 October 1900 her eye was again requiring attention. On 12 February 1901 Eva had gone to work for Mrs Close, as a day girl, at 2/6 a week, returning at 3pm each afternoon. By 26 February 1901 Mrs Close had written to say she was very happy with Eva and wished her to remain as a servant either as day girl if convenient, or as indoor servant if there should not be room for her to sleep at the Home. On 7 May 1901 the Committee agreed that Eva should go as a servant to a friend of Miss Bostons; a Miss Tearle in Tavistock Street who was a dressmaker and with whom Eva would have a quiet home. It had been found necessary that she should have a new glass eye, and Mr Haig had given her a note for the Infirmary. 24 June 1901 Mrs Close had requested that when Maud was ready for service she would like to exchange Eva Lauder for her. Her family arrangements had altered and she would like to have a more capable servant than Eva can be with her deficient sight. Yet by 23 July 1901 Eva was again to go to Mrs Close as indoor servant. Mrs Close said she found Eva so useful and helpful with the baby that it compensated for other defects. Sadly on 26 November 1901 Eva had met with an accident to her artificial eye, and was obliged to have a new one. Miss Boston was to write to her father and ask him to bear part of the expense, the Home funds to supply any deficiency in the amount. 13 May 1902 Miss Stansfield had engaged Eva for her mother Mrs Stansfield at Hampstead and took her there on the 10th, wages £9 to be increased to £10. On 26 July 1904 Eva had written to say that her holidays were beginning and asked that she might spend a few days at the Home – leave was given.
Annie M Crawley, 14, Inmate, in training, born Bedford
Annie was only 10 years old, and living in All Hallows Lane, Bedford when she was considered for admission by the Committee on 22 September 1896. Her father [John Crawley] was addicted to drink, her home considered 'most wretched'. The child was not strong but with sufficient food and proper care they thought she might become so. It was agreed that she should go to the Woburn Sands home. Mrs Goldsmith undertook to provide the outfit and monthly payments. Annie was admitted to Woburn Sands Sept 1896. On 13 June 1899 she transferred to the Bedford Home.
By 26 November 1901 Annie had gone to Miss Simmons as between maid for a month. A permanent engagement was to be found for her. On 6 January 1902 Annie was considered possibly suitable for a position as general servant with Mrs Waldy of Wootton. By 28 October 1902 she was reportedly leaving her situation at Wootton, her mistress could not speak well of her. Mrs Goldsmith promised to see her grandmother and ask her to take Annie until another place could be found for her. By 11 November 1902 Miss Boston had heard very sad accounts of Annie's conduct. The Committee asked her to try to induce her to go to Miss Giddings at Manchester. However by 25 November 1902 Annie had gone back to her former situation until Christmas. Again on 31 March 1903 Miss Boston gave bad accounts of Annie and promised to write asking if she could be received into a Home of the Salvation Army. On 21 April 1903 Annie had been back in the Bedford Home for a few days and came before the Committee to be spoken to with regard to her behaviour in her last situation. She consented to sign an agreement to enter one of the Homes of the Salvation Army. On 28 April 1903 the Committee decided as she could be received into a Salvation Army Home they would keep her for the present as she is useful in cleaning. She left again, and on 24 April 1906 was reported to have left her place and to be looking for another. By 1911 she had married Charles Jones of Ravensden, a farm labourer.
Edith [Emily] Palmer, 13, Inmate, in training, born Stafford
Edith was aged 13 years old in March 1901 and was from Bedford. On 8 January 1901 it was reported to the Committee that a young boy had taken his little sister to Mrs Goldsmith asking if she could be received at the Home. He was left to support the family, the mother was dead and the father through distress of mind at the loss of his wife had taken to drink and deserted his children. The brother thought he could pay the fee out of his earnings. The child was a bright little thing. Mrs Goldsmith consulted Mrs Kirby and they decided it was a suitable case so the girl was brought to the Home. Her grandparents lived in Bedford. On 22 January 1901 Mrs Goldsmith had seen her brother and he said he wished to be responsible for the payment. By 12 February 1901 her brother had paid the monthly fees for her and had got a situation in London, and would continue to send the money from there. On 11 November 1902 the Committee decided the brother should be exempt from payment as Edith was now doing work in the laundry which earns money. On 31 March 1903 her father was determined to have her at home and said he would pay any money due - £3 altogether. By 21 April 1903 Mr Palmer had taken her home and paid £1 of the £4 owed – the remainder he promised in instalments of 15/- per month.
Amy J Lane, 13, Inmate, in training, born Ravensthorpe, Yorks
On 27 November 1900 the Bedford Training Home Committee received an application from Miss Ensor, Lady Superintendent St Saviours Home, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, for the admission of a young girl to be trained in domestic service generally. Amy was aged 13, a very intelligent nice girl who had most respectable poor parents. She had been in service as a nursemaid for more than a year but had to leave having been accused of setting fire to a hay rick but not sent to prison. No one can imagine why she did so as she has always been such a good girl and her late mistress gave her an excellent character. She attended the National School for 8 years and the school mistress says she was one of the most obedient girls she had. Miss Ensor agreed to pay the fees if the Committee would decide to receive her. This they did and arranged she should come 10th Dec 1900. On 11 December 1900 Miss Boston reported that she thought her a nice girl.
On 8 Jan 1901 Miss Boston the Matron spoke of her as being so good and pure minded and such a nice girl in every way she thought she was quite unfit to be in a Home of this kind. The Committee decided to send her to Woburn Sands to act as the servant therein place of Maud Taylor, and Mrs C Bell would inform the Superintendent of St Saviours of this. It was decided 22 January 1901 Amy was to work in the laundry for 6 weeks then take Maud Taylors place as servant at Woburn Sands. By 24 September 1901 her mother had written to say she would like to have her home at the end of her years training in November. The Committee thought that as she is a nice girl they would like her to return after a holiday for further training, free of charge as she would now be able to do useful work as a return for what she received. On 8 October 1901 Miss Ensor had written asking if Amy could go straight from the Home to a situation in November. By 22 October 1901 her mother had found her a situation.