Agnes Ethel
Agnes Ethel Beardmore, Frank’s youngest sister, was born on June 28th 1884. Her twin sister Ada survived only ten weeks.
Her niece Margaret wrote of her: “She was the delicate one who was rather expected to die with her twin but who survived 33 years after the last of her brother and sisters”.
Agnes married Leonard Arrowsmith in April 1910. Leonard was born on June 15th 1889. Arrowsmiths was a firm making supplies for the pottery industry. They lived first at Wolstanton, then Pipegate, then Whitmore and finally at Swynnerton. They had two daughters: Mary (born 1913) and Kathleen (born March 16th 1915). Mary had three sons: Pat, Peter, Richard, and one daughter: Madelaine. Kathleen also had three sons: Nicholas, Jonathan and Francis.
The 1921 census found Leonard and Agnes at Lane Side, Knypersley, near Biddulph, with Mary (8), Kathleen (6) and two young servants. Leonard described himself as a manufacturer of stilts and spurs, the small clay supports used when firing pottery, with his works in Moorland Road, Burslem.
Agnes Ethel died on November 19th 1970. In old age she wrote a long letter to her nephew George Cedric Beardmore, full of memories of her grandfather George the iron founder, her father John, “the Iron Duke”, and her Grandfather Hancock, who walked from Stoke to Stafford and back before work to see the last public hanging. Read her letter, with the original pages.
Agnes Ethel Arrowsmith to George Cedric Beardmore
Agnes Ethel Arrowsmith (née Beardmore, 1884–1970), Frank’s youngest sister, wrote this letter in old age to her nephew George Cedric Beardmore, from The Brackens, Whitmore, near Newcastle-under-Lyme. It is undated. She remembers her grandfather George Beardmore, the iron founder, her father John, “the Iron Duke”, and her mother’s father, Grandfather Hancock. The photograph she enclosed, of a painting “with the doll”, came from the Rev. W. G. Beardmore of Highbury; it may be the painting the family knows as the “Beardmore Dwarf”. The Joan who had the painting was probably May’s daughter, Joan Marsden. Her abbreviations are kept; a few are filled out in square brackets.
Transcription
The Brackens
Whitmore
Nr Newcastle
Staffs
Dear Cedric.
I only know what I remember myself, not what I was told, if you understand me, I may have been told things by May in later years, (I think I was) but I have quite forgotten, for instance the 2 dwarfs’ names, but Joan may know about them as she has the painting of the enclosed photo (of painting) with the doll. I have only sent these photos to shew you, as these were from the Rev: W. G. Beardmore Highbury (cousin of John my father).
My grandfather George B. was an iron founder, and lived in the white house in Waterloo Road, & the foundry was behind, the house is not white now but McIntyre’s offices, next to their works, there may have been a blacksmith’s forge there as well but I never heard of it, he retired and went to live at Odd Rode. It was quite a large house with a lot of land, and was just the same when I passed not long ago.
[Here she draws a sketch map: the house, with the wood & stream and a field beside it, along the “main rd to Manchester”; “G.B.’s field” and the “Aqua D.” (aqueduct) beyond, and the way “to village”.]
I used to love the wood & stream stroll thro: singing Daisy Daisy etc: I was 11 yrs old when he died, & he is buried in St. Paul’s Church Yard, Dale Hall, Burslem. He made me pluck, empty & cook a fowl, before I was allowed to eat, since when I have never minded doing a fowl. I also did the supper of toasted cheese & apple sauce. All drinking water was carried from the field by the Aqua D[uct].
I do not suppose you want all this, but I am old, & like talking about old times.
He was a real old English gentleman, married twice no family by 2nd wife, I just remember her, there is a window in Odd R[ode] Church to his wife Carolin[e] (I don’t know which).
My father was a real character very generous, was always had by lame dogs, & lost a lot of money, very quick tempered but soon over. His nickname by his friends the Wood brothers etc & Enoch B[ennett]. was the Iron Duke. He lived in Waterloo Rd, house called Apsley, next door to Wellington House (Savages), & they said when he walked home he looked as if he had conquered B[urslem]. & was going for Hanley.
The Beardmores came from Northwood.
G’father Hancock was a potter at McIntyres, retired & lived at Alsager, he was born at Oak Hill, S[toke]-on-T[rent] there were 4 brothers all very tall & handsome. Grandfather H. walked from Stoke to Stafford & back before work, to see the last man to be publicly hanged! He & wife are buried at Barthomley Cheshire.
I am afraid that I am not a fount of real information, I will gladly answer questions if I can. Mrs W. G. Be— Highbury knew the B. family tree from A to Z, but I am afraid she is no use.
I was the youngest of 9 5 boys first then 4 girls 2 boys died of whooping cough, 1 still born girl, & my twin who lived 3 months, we were both christened at birth, but I am still fighting!
My G’father Beardmore was sworn in as a Special C[onstable]. when the Chartist riots were on, there was a “do” at the top of Swan Bank. Sorry about this ink, I do not know how it got on my hand & then on paper.
If I think of anything else I will write it down. Love to all.
A. E. A.