HIlda Louisa Newman (1888 to 1979) wrote in her diary:
My mothers' mother had twelve children. Eight girls and four boys. Her mothers' name was Sylvia and her fathers' William Halford Fell. He had a very successful business with a factory for making gilt frames at Newmarsh Road, London, and he and G randma had a very beautiful house where they brought up all their children, at Upper Clapton. Grandma was a very good manager having two good maids to help her, and a needlewoman to do the mending and sewing for her large family. They kept a Brough am and Trap. She did a lot of social work and gave lovely dinner parties. Grandpa was on what was called, I think, The Board of works, which is now the London County Council, and even went to the Lord Mayors' Banquet on Show night in the time of e lecting the new Lord Mayor. My rnother going with them too. Their holiday times as the children grew older were spent in a furnished house at Sidmouth Devon, taking the maid and the little groom with the trap (Tom).
My Grandpas' children were very well educated. The Girls going to the Misses Bussies a famous school for girls at that time, and mentioned one afternoon on T.V. All the girls played the piano beautifully. Grandpa expected them to play to him in th e evenings. There were two pianos in the large drawing room and duets were played. The girls grew up and one and all were married.
Grandpa retired fairly early and they had a very nice comfortable home at Anwell, I think on the Herts. and Cambridge border. They had a cow and made their own butter as well. Tom the groom was older then, but went with then to manage the gardens e tc. Many of my Aunts were married from there, including my mother and father. The church was through a field path, so the Brides had to walk to the Church at Great Anwell. The vicar was Rev. Parnett.
After a while Grandma and Grandpa moved to Knebworth, to a very nice house there and took a very great interest in Church affairs and Sunday School. There they built a Church Hall and the Sunday School which was started by then was able to use it w hen it was finished. I was born in 1888, and was Christened in the Church at Knebworth. I was taken there for the ceremony.
Well after a while the Grandparents moved to New Barnet. My youngest Aunt, named Edith, had married, going to live with then there. After they had been there for sometime, other Aunts had houses there, and we finally moved from Tottenham to a house called Dunster Villa at New Barnet, and everyone spent many happy times together. and went to lovely parties at different houses.
Christening
Christened at St Leonards Church, Shoreditch, Middlesex, England
Marriage
Occupation on marriage certificate Guilder. Home address was Belle View Place.
Marriage
Married at St Pauls Parish Church, Islington, Middlesex, England
Marriage
Occupation on marriage certificate Guilder. Home address was Belle View Place.
Marriage
Married at St Pauls Parish Church, Islington, Middlesex, England
Census
Also had workshops at 12, 13 and 14 Wood Street (probably Albion Works, Wenlock Street)
Census
Was a Master Carver and Gilder employing 60 workers. Was on the Metropolitan Board of Works
Census
Living with wife, daughter Edith and her husband Richard E Smith
Census
Living with wife, daughter Edith and her husband Richard Smith and their son Gordon.
Barlow Family Tree
28
-6 years
