Woburn Sands Cottage Home

In 1889 the Committee of the Bedfordshire Training Home for Girls decided to take a small home at Woburn Sands for the reception of seven children from 5 – 11 years, who would receive 'motherly care & attention from a Christian married woman'. The children in this home were educated at the village school, then they were transferred to the Bedford home for the last two years of their time

After much discussion over fixtures & fittings a new cottage at Aspley Heath built by Mr Whiting was taken from 15th May 1890. Sister Frances, who was Matron at the home when Miss Cossey was on holiday, was offered the Matronship of the Branch Home at Woburn Sands for a salary of £20. She accepted on 23 Sep 1890 and suggested a Miss Casserley as an assistant. However, disputes arose about the employment of a daily maid as well to do heavy housework and eventually Sister Frances declined the post.

On 24 Feb 1891 Mrs H Flanders, sister in law of Mrs Flanders the Head of Laundry at the Bedford home, was engaged to be Matron of the Branch Home at Woburn Sands.

22 Mar 1892 On orders of the Doctor Mrs H Flanders had to give up charge of the Home at Woburn Sands straight away. Committee members Mrs Kirby & Mrs Goldsmith had arranged for Mrs Irons of Wilstead, an old servant of Countess D'Albani, to go over and take charge of the Home temporarily. The Committee interviewed several candidates to take over as Matron on a permanent basis but then on 20 April 1892 Mr & Mrs Irons were interviewed and both much liked by the Committee. It was agreed to engage them for the Woburn Sands Home if their references were satisfactory. They were to receive £16 a year their board etc being found for them. Mr Irons undertook to see after the garden do anything that was needed in the house and look after the sanitary arrangements. Mrs Irons was to have entire management of the girls, teaching them household work, washing, cooking & needlework, she was to take them for regular exercise, and endeavour to train and influence them. Mr Irons was to attend to the garden, fetch water, mend shoes, keep the outside tidy and so all in his power to make the Home comfortable. The girls were to have meat once per day, and Mr & Mrs Irons twice if they wished for it. They were both to practice rigid abstinence in the home and attend the Established Church with the girls and give them daily Bible readings with prayers morning & evening. Mr Irons was to be allowed to find employment for himself out of the house providing he neglected none of the work he had undertaken.

On 27 Mar 1894 Mrs Irons wrote to the committee saying she was expecting a child in a few months time. They said she should arrange to be elsewhere for the confinement but if she was equal to the management of the home afterwards they would like to let her remain in charge. Mrs Langdon to be in charge in her absence.

11 Sep 1894 Mrs Irons returned to Woburn Sands and took over from Mrs Webb who had stood in for her.

25 July 1899 Mrs Irons, Matron at Woburn Sands was instructed to have a holiday as she had been very much out of health. Florence Bell was to go to Woburn Sands in her place.

1901 Census

Training Home, Narrow Path, Aspley Heath

Joseph Irons, Head, Married, 46, Domestic Gardener, born Wilstead

Elizabeth Irons, Wife, 46, Matron, born Buckden, Hunts

Eleanor G M Irons, Daughter, 6, born Wilstead

Charles J Irons, Son, 5, born Wilstead

Maud Taylor, Boarder, 15, Training for Service, born Eastcotts

Sarah A Fells, Boarder, 13, Training for Home, born Doncaster

Edith A Bartram, Boarder, 10, Training for Home, born Wilstead

Charlotte D Hibbert, Boarder, 10, Training for Home, born Bedford

Norah Stevens, Boarder, 10, Training for Home, born Bedford

Amy Cunnington, Boarder, 9, Training for Home, born Kempston

Ellen Waine, Boarder, 8, Training for Home, born Shrivenham, Berkshire

On 11th December 1906 the Committee composed a letter of dismissal to Mrs Irons at Woburn Sands which was to be sent to her before 1 January 1907 the reason given for her dismissal being the increasing age of her son.

On 22 Jan 1901 a reply from Mrs Irons was read to the Committee and transcribed in their minutes:

1 Jan 1907

Dear Madam,

Your letter we received this morning did not surprise us in the least as we could clearly forsee that other arrangements were being made by various things that have recently transpired. We know full well that our boy takes one room, at the same time we do not feel at all indebted to the Committee after all my husband has done and never received any payment, we have paid for all material for mending the children's boots which amounts to a fair sum during the 15 years he has been here.

We both wish to thank the Committee for allowing us such a long time to be looking for a new home we feel sure something will turn up for us to do.

A petition was also received, signed by many people in Woburn Sands, and stating as follows:

We, the undersigned, whilst not wishing to seem in anyway to be interfering, would wish to bring the following facts before the Committee, in the hope that they may see fit to still retain the services of Mr & Mrs Irons at Woburn Sands.

1) During their 15 year residence at the Home they have gained the respect of all classes to a very exceptional degree.

2) Their kindly and wise management of the little children under their care is a matter of common knowledge at Woburn Sands.

3) They give their charges real home life, treating them just as they do their own children. In fact, the kind family life in which the children are brought up, has impressed both residents and visitors at Woburn Sands.

4) The superintendents of the Sunday Schools, and the Head Teacher and teachers in the day schools say that the Home children are the best behaved and most regular and obedient children in the schools and they assign this to the training and good influence of Mr & Mrs Irons.

5) The bright, happy, and yet very respectful manner of the children is much commented on and tells of the good influences at work in the Home.

6) Both Mr & Mrs Irons are known here for their earnest and high minded Christian consistency.

We venture to put these facts before the Committee, observing that these facts are known to us from almost daily observation.

22 Jan 1907 Mrs Kinsey reminded the Committee that the reason Mr & Mrs Irons had been given notice was twofold – the age of their son, [he would have been 12 by this time] and that too much public money was being expended in supporting a family of four instead of only having the cost of one Matron. It was only on account of her good service that Mrs Irons had been retained so long as Matron. The Vicar of Woburn Sands came before the Committee and read the petition. He said Mrs Irons did not know of this petition.

25 Jan 1907 A special committee meeting regarding the Home at Woburn Sands including a history of the Home. It was decided to uphold their initial decision to dismiss Mrs Irons.

The move was very unpopular at Woburn Sands, with an article in the Oarish Magazine February 1907 stating that they felt the Committee had made a great mistake. Miss Lewis, who had been acting as Holiday Matron at Woburn Sands for some years had been offered the permanent position by the Committee but could not accept it as she had already found a permanent post.

The Committee advertised the post and on 26 Feb 1907 interviewed Miss Mary Gatt. She was 48, and the Committee noted that she had a quiet, pleasant appearance. Her salary was to be £25.

12 March 1907 decided that Mr & Mrs Irons should have a bonus of £15 as a parting gift.

On May 26th 1908 Miss Gatt gave a good report of the children at the Woburn Sands Branch home. The children were all well and improving in every way. One of them had taken a first prize at the day school and all had been successful in receiving rewards at the Sunday School. Mr Henry and other friends had commented on the excellent and improved behaviour of the little girls.

Miss Gatt, Matron of the Woburn home then asked the Committee for three weeks leave so she could visit her brother in America whom she had not seen for 30 years. She recommended a friend to be Matron in her absence, who had been matron of a Home at Leamington. The Committee were quite willing to accede to this request.

23rd June 1908 a letter was received from Miss Butlin accepting the post of temporary Matron at the Woburn Sands Home, and she promised to arrive in Woburn Sands not later that 10th July as Miss Gatt had to leave on the 13th.

Miss Gatt, Matron of the Woburn Sands Home became ill with pneumonia in April 1909, Miss Butlin was sent for to stand in for her, and took charge during her absence and during her convalescence.

1911 Census

Training Home, Narrow Path, Aspley Heath

Mary Sharp Gatt, Head, Single, 56, Matron, born Durham

Alfred Maldon, Servant, 14, Domestic Work, born Little Downham

Cissie Stokes, Servant, 14, Domestic Work, Bedford

Sarah Ann Weaver, 13, Pupil, born Manchester

Phyllis May Prosser, 12, Pupil, born Lambeth, London

Evelyn Peacock, 12, Pupil, born Bedford

Elsie May Brocket, 12, Pupil, born Bedford

Gladys Louisa Brace, 12, Pupil, born Bedford

Ellen Rose Turner, 12, Pupil, born Hampstead, London

Ivy Kathleen Smith, 8, Pupil, born Bedford

Lily Alice Prosser, 8, Pupil, born Lambeth, London