At 8 pm yesterday evening the nation stood on its collective doorstep and clapped for the carers in the current corona virus crisis - particularly the doctors and nurses, but also all those who are still working to keep us fed and the country operating at some level.
So today I am giving a shout out to George House and his daughter Elizabeth who did their bit for the people of Swindon.
Their kerbstone grave is difficult to photograph as it has sunk a bit and the grass grows up around it.
George and Elizabeth House
George House was born at Wargrave, near Reading, Berks on June 24, 1817. He joined the GWR at Maidenhead when that section of the westward railway line from Paddington was under construction. He appears to have stayed with the GWR company and to have been engaged on the construction of the line as far as Swindon. By 1841 he was involved with building the first workshops for the new Swindon factory.
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So today I am giving a shout out to George House and his daughter Elizabeth who did their bit for the people of Swindon.
Their kerbstone grave is difficult to photograph as it has sunk a bit and the grass grows up around it.
George and Elizabeth House
George House was born at Wargrave, near Reading, Berks on June 24, 1817. He joined the GWR at Maidenhead when that section of the westward railway line from Paddington was under construction. He appears to have stayed with the GWR company and to have been engaged on the construction of the line as far as Swindon. By 1841 he was involved with building the first workshops for the new Swindon factory.
In total he served more than 50 years with the GWR. In 1890 he was presented with a ‘Tit-Bits Medal of Merit’ by Sir George Newnes MP to commemorate that at that time he was the second longest serving railway employee in the country. He was beaten by a Mr Richard Rocket of Leeds who was in first place but when Mr Rocket died before the end of the 19thcentury, George became the longest serving railwayman in the UK.
George and his wife Elizabeth moved into 4 Taunton Street before the street was numbered and George remained there until his death in 1902 some 56 years. They had seven children, all born in Swindon – George born in 1850; David 1851; James 1852; Charles 1854; Elizabeth 1857; Rebecca 1858 and Emma Jane in 1860.
George played a prominent part in the formation of the early Sick Fund and later in the Medical Fund formed in 1859.
He was elected as a member of the Council of the Mechanics Institution and involved himself with fund raising for the more vulnerable people in Swindon.
He organised the Juvenile or Children’s Fete held in the GWR Park and raised funds with collection boxes in the Works so that the children from the Workhouse were able to attend each year.
He also raised money for the adults at both the Stratton and Purton Workhouses to have a winter treat each year.
And as if all that wasn’t enough, George’s daughter Elizabeth went on to be a trailblazer as well.
The 1894 Local Government Act removed restrictive property, gender and status qualifications, enabling single and married women to vote and stand for election on the newly constituted urban and rural district councils. These reforms also extended to the Poor Law Board of Guardians.
Elections took place in December and when the board met for the first time on January 2, 1895 there were four newly elected women present – Elizabeth Williams, Maria Matthews, Elinor Buller and Elizabeth House.
Collectively the women made an incredible contribution to changes within Workhouse practice, turning their attentions in particular to the women and children inmates. Sometimes the changes these women made might seem insignificant but they are credited with reforming the harsh workhouse regime. It was discovered the younger women had no nightdresses – something that was immediately seen to; a mangle was bought for the laundry; the workhouse diet was improved; children were fostered out to families instead of living the institutional life of the workhouse.
Altogether three of these incredible women are buried in this cemetery.
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| George and Elizabeth House |
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| George and Elizabeth House |
