This week I made my first visit to Radnor Street Cemetery since lockdown. Swindon Borough Council are mid way through mowing the cemetery so one half was neat and tidy while the other half was wild and windswept, both equally lovely. And the cemetery volunteers were out, despite the frequent, heavy showers, keeping the area around the Commonwealth War Graves pristine.
After more than ten years of research at the cemetery, I had never before seen this headstone, dumped in one of the cemetery's periphery verges.
In Loving Memory of Bessie Symons the beloved wife of Albert Sparkes died April 23rd 1920 aged 53 years. The rest of the inscription is difficult to read. The headstone was not far from its original site on plot E8516, removed for who knows what reason.
The Sparkes family were well know Swindon butchers at the turn of the 20th century. Frederick Sparkes had a shop at 47 Regent Street while his cousin Albert's shop was at 60 Fleet Street.
The census returns reveal a large household living over the Fleet Street shop in 1911. Albert and Bessie with their three daughters - Gladys Delia Albert 19, a student teacher, Elsie Muriel Bessie 17, still at school part time while working as a book keeper for her father's business and nine year old Dorothy Irene Audrey, still at school.
George Howard, a butcher's apprentice, Ernest Salter, an assistant in the shop and May Beard, butcher's book keeper, all lodged with the family along with Winifred Hunt, a domestic servant. The property comprised nine rooms, not including the scullery, warehouse, shop and office, so quite a squeeze to accommodate eight adults and a child.
According to the headstone and burial registers Bessie died at her home at 15 Okus Road, Swindon on April 23, 1920 aged 53 and was buried four days later on April 27. However, confusingly the entry in England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Will and Administrations) 1858-1995 states that she died on 19 May 1919 and that administration was awarded to 'Albert Sparkes butcher' on 30 December 1926 when her effects were valued at £45 2s 6d.
Bessie was buried in plot E8516 with her husband Albert who died in 1937 and their daughter Gladys Delia Alberta who died in 1970. Is it possible the headstone was never replaced on the grave after the burial of Gladys?
And then I came across the Sparkes family tree published on the Ancestry website by philipacore and some fab photos.
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Frederick Sparkes butcher's shop, 47 Regent Street published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
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Bessie and youngest daughter Dorothy Irene Audrey Sparkes
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Gladys Delia Alberta Sparkes
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Elsie Muriel Bessie Sparkes
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Dorothy Irene Audrey Sparkes
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Albert Sparkes (standing on right) Bessie (standing middle) Gladys Delia Alberta (seated left) Elsie Muriel Bessie (seated right) Dorothy Irene Audrey (seated on ground).
published with thanks to philipacore.
After more than ten years of research at the cemetery, I had never before seen this headstone, dumped in one of the cemetery's periphery verges.
In Loving Memory of Bessie Symons the beloved wife of Albert Sparkes died April 23rd 1920 aged 53 years. The rest of the inscription is difficult to read. The headstone was not far from its original site on plot E8516, removed for who knows what reason.
The Sparkes family were well know Swindon butchers at the turn of the 20th century. Frederick Sparkes had a shop at 47 Regent Street while his cousin Albert's shop was at 60 Fleet Street.
The census returns reveal a large household living over the Fleet Street shop in 1911. Albert and Bessie with their three daughters - Gladys Delia Albert 19, a student teacher, Elsie Muriel Bessie 17, still at school part time while working as a book keeper for her father's business and nine year old Dorothy Irene Audrey, still at school.
George Howard, a butcher's apprentice, Ernest Salter, an assistant in the shop and May Beard, butcher's book keeper, all lodged with the family along with Winifred Hunt, a domestic servant. The property comprised nine rooms, not including the scullery, warehouse, shop and office, so quite a squeeze to accommodate eight adults and a child.
According to the headstone and burial registers Bessie died at her home at 15 Okus Road, Swindon on April 23, 1920 aged 53 and was buried four days later on April 27. However, confusingly the entry in England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Will and Administrations) 1858-1995 states that she died on 19 May 1919 and that administration was awarded to 'Albert Sparkes butcher' on 30 December 1926 when her effects were valued at £45 2s 6d.
Bessie was buried in plot E8516 with her husband Albert who died in 1937 and their daughter Gladys Delia Alberta who died in 1970. Is it possible the headstone was never replaced on the grave after the burial of Gladys?
And then I came across the Sparkes family tree published on the Ancestry website by philipacore and some fab photos.
Bessie's headstone in the verge close to her burial place
Frederick Sparkes butcher's shop, 47 Regent Street published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.
Bessie and youngest daughter Dorothy Irene Audrey Sparkes
Gladys Delia Alberta Sparkes
Elsie Muriel Bessie Sparkes
Dorothy Irene Audrey Sparkes
Albert Sparkes (standing on right) Bessie (standing middle) Gladys Delia Alberta (seated left) Elsie Muriel Bessie (seated right) Dorothy Irene Audrey (seated on ground).
published with thanks to philipacore.