Tagged With: Mabel Harrison
Scraps that survive
Among my grandmother’s (Mabel Burnley nee Harrison) few surviving papers are some interesting items. There is a newspaper obituary of her father who died in 1933 and several letters about the business of clearing up his estate, but the oddest of all is a page from the Gomersal Book Society. This must date between 1904-1913 … Continue reading
Wealth gained and lost in two generations
My grandmother, Mabel Harrison, was brought up in a large villa, Parkhill, in West Hartlepool, County Durham. It had been built for her solicitor father, Matthew Harrison, in 1890. I do not know how many bedrooms the new house had, but there were seven children and a live-in cook/domestic. It looks imposing with a croquet … Continue reading
‘Romance’ and its consequences – children
Tracey wrote about births following very quickly on marriage. Surely this was the best way to encourage young men into wedlock? To be barren was a terrible misfortune – and until the 20th century large families were unavoidable. My 19th century married ancestors either had none or up to eight children – the former not … Continue reading
Genteel poverty in the 1960s
The wrinkled old lady lying in the hospital bed brightened up at the approach of two visitors, whom she recognised. ‘Matron’, the small bundle commanded, clicking her fingers, ‘bring these ladies tea and biscuits please’. Her visitors squirmed and shuffled their feet – here was a pauper, in the old workhouse, giving orders to a … Continue reading