The Old Town Autumn Fayre took place on September 9 in Christ Church and the Community Centre where I joined the Swindon Society team last weekend. The group had a display of Swindon images selected from their archive of more than 8,000 photographs, including a slideshow projected on a screen suspended above the nave altar.
It was while I was watching the slideshow that a photograph appeared of two girls taken in a cemetery or churchyard. By the style of the girls' dresses I guessed the photograph dated from the Edwardian period.
There was no description on the photograph and Andy wondered if it might have been taken in Holy Rood churchyard before the headstones were re-positioned around the perimeter wall. But there was something very familiar about the headstones where one of the girls stood and I thought the scene was possibly just a few yards from where we were standing in Christ Church.
With crowds gathered around the stalls in the churchyard it was difficult to get into the same position where the photographer had stood more than a hundred years ago. And something else confused me; the headstone for Clara Hartley, which stood in the foreground of the photo, wasn't there. In fact quite a few of the headstones pictured in the old photograph were missing. I convinced myself I must be mistaken and the photograph was obviously taken in a completely different churchyard.
All week long that image haunted me and yesterday I returned to Christ Church and had another look at the headstones.
Without all the stalls and visitors I was able to stand in the perfect position and now there was no doubt that this was the scene of the old black and white photograph and now I could study the names on the headstones where the girls were standing.
The girl on the right of the photograph is standing next to headstone dedicated to Sarah, daughter of John and Fanny Jefferies, who died September 1, 1864 aged 44.
The girl on the left of the photograph stands behind a small cross (sadly, now broken). This memorial is to two children, Frederick James Hall who died age 6 years in 1864 the son of William and Martha Hall and little Ethel Mary Hall who died age 19 months on May 24, 1890, the daughter of John Jefferies and Mary Hall.
To the left of the girl is a headstone dedicated to Mary, daughter of John and Fanny Jefferies who died on January 24, 1862 age 47.
A compelling conclusion at which to arrive is that these two girls are related to the people whose graves they stand next to, so let me explain who they all are.
Mary and Sarah Jefferies and Martha Hall were sisters, the daughters of John and Fanny Jefferies.
Mary and Sarah never married but Martha married William Hall with whom she is buried in a grave nearer the church. It is their son, Frederick James Hall who is buried beneath the cross. Ethel Mary Hall, the baby buried in the same grave, is the daughter of another son John Jefferies Hall and his wife Mary, so William and Martha's granddaughter.
Mary, Martha's sister, is buried in a neighbouring grave. This headstone has been removed and is now placed alongside the wall beneath the new Community Centre. The National Probate Calender (Index of Wills and Aministrations) states that Mary left effects valued under £200 and that Letters of Administration of the Personal estate were granted to John Jefferies of Swindon Baker and the Father of the Deceased.
The headstone to the right of the other girl is dedicated to Sarah Jefferies. She died on September 1, 1864 age 44 years at the Fairford Retreat, a private asylum where she had been admitted just a few weeks earlier on August 10.
These three sisters were the aunts of naturalist and novelist Richard Jefferies who was born at Coate Farm where his former home is now a thriving museum. Visit the website for information about the many events and activities that take place there.
It is seldom we are fortunate enough to discover old photographs of the churchyard and cemeteries we visit, so this one is a fantastic find. We wonder if any readers of this blog or followers of Radnor Street Cemetery have any photographs and stories they would like to share?
Our next and final walk of the season will take place at Radnor Street Cemetery on October 8, meet at the chapel for 2 pm. Over the winter months we will be planning events for next season. There will be fewer walks at Radnor Street Cemetery where we plan to include the occasional evening and Saturday walk. However, we will be extending our programme of walks to Christ Church, possibly Holy Rood and I will be conducting the occasional walk at St Mary's, Lydiard Park.
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It was while I was watching the slideshow that a photograph appeared of two girls taken in a cemetery or churchyard. By the style of the girls' dresses I guessed the photograph dated from the Edwardian period.
There was no description on the photograph and Andy wondered if it might have been taken in Holy Rood churchyard before the headstones were re-positioned around the perimeter wall. But there was something very familiar about the headstones where one of the girls stood and I thought the scene was possibly just a few yards from where we were standing in Christ Church.
With crowds gathered around the stalls in the churchyard it was difficult to get into the same position where the photographer had stood more than a hundred years ago. And something else confused me; the headstone for Clara Hartley, which stood in the foreground of the photo, wasn't there. In fact quite a few of the headstones pictured in the old photograph were missing. I convinced myself I must be mistaken and the photograph was obviously taken in a completely different churchyard.
All week long that image haunted me and yesterday I returned to Christ Church and had another look at the headstones.
Without all the stalls and visitors I was able to stand in the perfect position and now there was no doubt that this was the scene of the old black and white photograph and now I could study the names on the headstones where the girls were standing.
The girl on the right of the photograph is standing next to headstone dedicated to Sarah, daughter of John and Fanny Jefferies, who died September 1, 1864 aged 44.
The girl on the left of the photograph stands behind a small cross (sadly, now broken). This memorial is to two children, Frederick James Hall who died age 6 years in 1864 the son of William and Martha Hall and little Ethel Mary Hall who died age 19 months on May 24, 1890, the daughter of John Jefferies and Mary Hall.
To the left of the girl is a headstone dedicated to Mary, daughter of John and Fanny Jefferies who died on January 24, 1862 age 47.
A compelling conclusion at which to arrive is that these two girls are related to the people whose graves they stand next to, so let me explain who they all are.
Mary and Sarah Jefferies and Martha Hall were sisters, the daughters of John and Fanny Jefferies.
Mary and Sarah never married but Martha married William Hall with whom she is buried in a grave nearer the church. It is their son, Frederick James Hall who is buried beneath the cross. Ethel Mary Hall, the baby buried in the same grave, is the daughter of another son John Jefferies Hall and his wife Mary, so William and Martha's granddaughter.
Mary, Martha's sister, is buried in a neighbouring grave. This headstone has been removed and is now placed alongside the wall beneath the new Community Centre. The National Probate Calender (Index of Wills and Aministrations) states that Mary left effects valued under £200 and that Letters of Administration of the Personal estate were granted to John Jefferies of Swindon Baker and the Father of the Deceased.
The headstone to the right of the other girl is dedicated to Sarah Jefferies. She died on September 1, 1864 age 44 years at the Fairford Retreat, a private asylum where she had been admitted just a few weeks earlier on August 10.
These three sisters were the aunts of naturalist and novelist Richard Jefferies who was born at Coate Farm where his former home is now a thriving museum. Visit the website for information about the many events and activities that take place there.
It is seldom we are fortunate enough to discover old photographs of the churchyard and cemeteries we visit, so this one is a fantastic find. We wonder if any readers of this blog or followers of Radnor Street Cemetery have any photographs and stories they would like to share?
Our next and final walk of the season will take place at Radnor Street Cemetery on October 8, meet at the chapel for 2 pm. Over the winter months we will be planning events for next season. There will be fewer walks at Radnor Street Cemetery where we plan to include the occasional evening and Saturday walk. However, we will be extending our programme of walks to Christ Church, possibly Holy Rood and I will be conducting the occasional walk at St Mary's, Lydiard Park.
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| The same view today |
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| The grave of James Frederick and Ethel Mary Hall |
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| Mary Jefferies headstone |
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| Sarah Jefferies headstone |
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| William and Martha Hall (nee Jefferies) in old age |
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| Richard Jefferies |