nellie marshall…. a remarkable lady!stbrewardhistory.co.uk/images/nellies-memories.pdf · was a...

Copyright © St Breward History Group 2012

Nellie Marshall…. a remarkable lady!


At the age of 82, Mrs Nellie Marshall of Wenford Cottage, St Breward, decided to write her life story.Some 19 pages of foolscap paper – spanning four generations.

All has been faithfully transcribed by her friends and relatives, and is recorded in the following pages.Nellie gives us a fascinating glimpse into times remembered.

An era when considerable determination was needed by young people to succeed.

Nellie Marshall certainly did

Wenford


I was born March 3rd 1900 inWadebridge, the youngest ofnine. My real name is MaryEllen, but I have always beencalled Nellie.

My Dad and Mother wereboth born in Lerryn, Motherwas called Elizabeth AnnSobey. She had one sisterand six brothers.

The eldest, Joshua, was aBaptist missionary and Iremember him coming tostay when I was very young.He asked if I would like to goback with him as they grew alot of bananas where he wasstationed.

I replied “I would if Daddy would go too!”

The other five brothers went to South Africa towards the endof the last century. They were all builders, Thomas, John,James, William and Richard. Their sister was called Emma.

Dad was John Daddow Cole, his sisters were Mary (calledPoll), Fannie, Ellen (Nell) and Jessie. His brothers wereEdwin and Charles.

One sister was a Schoolteacher, one was a Nurse, anotherwas a Lady’s Maid, and the other married a Fisherman.Edwin was a Shoemaker and Charles a School AttendanceOfficer with the London County Council.My Dad was a Signalman on the railway!

L-R: Nellie in 1918, with her sisters-in-law, Lily and Milly Rowe.

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Nellie’s Memories

The Marshall family at Hengar (now Wenford) Cottage1904

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My sister Emmie waswonderful to me andlooked after me like aMother. Nothing wastoo much trouble.

I can remember whenI had a toothache shewould hold me andcomfort me and singto me.

We were a happyfamily, but it musthave been a struggleas there wasn’t a bigwage coming in.Emmie and Fan usedto make the boys’shirts, and made tablecloths and pillowslips out of white flour bags – and no sewing machine …..all sewn by hand.We had good plain substantial food, but plenty of it.

My Mother died on May 2nd 1902, I was only two years old.My elder sister Emma (Emmie) helped to look after me fromwhen I was six months old. She was a wonderful person,and ‘kept house’ (aged 19) and with Dad looked after all thefamily when we lost our Mother.There were Sidney, Emma, Samuel, Fanny, Hedley, Wesley,Louie, Harry and me.

In 1904, Dad, Fan, Wesley and I went to Erith for a holiday.Dad being a railway employee took advantage of the freetravel passes, so he would take some of the family, and onthis occasion Dad and Wesley stayed with Aunt Poll andAunt Fan as they had retired. Fan and I stayed with AuntieNell, and her family made a big fuss of me. Uncle was a boatbuilder, and the yard was at the back of the house and howwell I remember it. They asked me my favourite hymn andI said ‘Praise ye the Lord’. It was sung in the Church in Erith.

When Grandmother Sobey died, Grandfather came to livewith us. He was the last one of the family to see Sidneywhen he went to see him off to South Africa. When Sidneyarrived out there, he received a cable to say that Grandfatherhad died. It wasn’t long after that we had word that Sidneyhad died of typhoid fever (aged 21). It was a terrible blow tothe family, as he hoped to get all the family out to SouthAfrica. He had already been to see about booking for mysister Fan to go out and keep house for him.

L-R: Edna Rowe, Fanny Cole,Marjorie Sincock, Emma & Louise Cole.

Front: Dorothy Sincock.SBHG 0327


running underneath the signal box and that caused Dad tohave rheumatic gout, and often he would have to be broughthome from work.

We had no idea what it wouldbe like at Wenford, so when wefound it was such a smallcottage we didn’t know whereto put all the furniture, as thehouse at Ottery had morerooms, and large ones at that!!

Wesley and Harry lived therefor a short time, but soon Harrywent to Wadebridge andbecame a baker. Wesley wentto Padstow to work in the HotelMetropole, but in 1913 he

decided to go to Canada andlodged with friends from Otterywho had emigrated.

My brother Hedley joined the Army, against Dad’s wishes,as he had bought all his carpentry tools for him to learn thattrade. Anyhow, when we first came to Wenford Emmie andmy brothers walked up to Churchtown, and found theschool I had to attend. When they told me what a long walkit was, I said ‘I won’t go’ but of course I did, but I didn’t like

After Mother died, we sometimes went to Plymouth to staywith Aunt Emma, and she told me later on, how I used tojust sit and look at her. I suppose she must have looked likeMother.

They lived in Stonehouse, where she had been left to bringup her family, as Uncle was in South Africa and didn’tsupport her. She had a very hard life and I often wonderwhat happened to her children, as after she died we neverheard anything of the family, the Snell’s.

We went to live in Ottery St Mary in 1907. I can rememberthe day my brother Harry fell off the iron bridge over theriver. He was shouting, “Nellie, Nellie!” and people thoughtI was in the river. But it was Harry, thankfully all hesuffered was a cut above his eye and getting wet.

There was a cave nearby, which was called ‘Pixies Parlour’and we used to go for walks and visit this place. Dad usedto tell me that on one particularly grassy spot that the Pixiescame and danced on it!

Our first Christmas in Ottery, the girls at school told methere was no Father Christmas! And I said “You oldDevonshire girls don’t know anything!”

We lived in Ottery until January 1911, when we moved toWenford. We left because there was a fresh water stream

Sisters Emmie, Nellie& Louie

Outside Wenford CottageSBHG 0333


had her hands full for a month! However, she was pleasedI had met someone from home, as she had lived in Londonfor many years and never met anyone from home.

Well, we had all three brothers in the Army. Hedley lost onelung through war service. Wesley had trench feet. Harrywas posted missing and it was seven weeks before wereceived word that he was a prisoner of war in Germany.

Emmie and I used to walk to St Tudy every Sunday morningto find out if there was any news of him, as you could collectletters from the Post Office on Sundays. One day a cardcame from him, and as soon as Em read it, she ran down therailway line to find Dad, and show it to him.

it as it was a ‘mixed’ school and at Ottery I went to a girl’sschool.

Our furniture came in a passengers’ luggage van, and an oldman who had seen it arrive said he wouldn’t mind a ride inthat nice train, because it wasjust a goods’ station atWenford. We soon got usedto the life there, and Emmieand I would show peoplewhere their goods were thatthey had come to collect.

After I left school, I went toBodmin as an apprenticedressmaker, which came inhandy in later years.

In 1919, Dad had influenza very bad, and they could send norelief, so Em and I did all the work. Afterwards the Railwayofficials gave me a free ticket to London for a month. Istayed with Uncle Charlie and Aunt Tilly. Fan came for aweekend too, and when we saw her off at PaddingtonStation, I recognised Henry Crowle, an old school friend, sowent off to speak to him. He was going home on leave, sohe told his St Breward relatives that he had seen Nellie Colein London. Auntie Tilly was quite anxious and asked Fan,“Does she know that man?” I reckon she began to think she

Wenford BridgeAt various times, a Pub, an Inn

and a PottterySBHG 0809

Wenford Bridge Terminus 1935“The farthest point from Waterloo”

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food. We had to go in for prayers every morning andevening and we were not allowed to sit on chairs, we had tosit on a form, so one day I went in and sat on a chair and theold lady said, “do not sit there!” I said, “my dress is clean”and just sat there!

Once a week they used to have the old cronies in for a prayermeeting. I was supposed to take the dog out, but the parlourmaid and I would tie it up, and we would go out for a littlewhile. They had a lovely rose garden, but we were neverallowed to pick any. One morning though, the parlour maidpicked a bunch very early before anyone was about, and shegave them to me to take to Fan, who I was going to meet inTorquay.

Wesley went back to Canada after serving in France, and hemarried Rose, my old school friend from Ottery. He never returned to England but Rose came after his deathand we have corresponded regularly.

Emmie married in 1919 to John Rich Rowe, and lived atPenvorda Cottages, so I stayed on and looked after Dad. Heretired in 1920 and for a while we lived with Em, and wewere there when Edna was born. Anyway, Dad got it intohis head that he was holding me back, and in June 1921 hemarried again, after being a widower for 19 years, and heand his new wife went to live at Lerryn Cottage, St Breward.

In June 1921 I left home for the very first time. It was a bigbreak for me leaving Dad and my sisters, Emmie who hadbrought me up and Louie, who lived at Helland Bridge. Fanwas away nursing. I went to Axminster as children’s maidwith the Talbot family.

Mrs. Talbot was one of the old Arundel family, and hereldest son took the title, Lord Arundel. I only stayed withthem for two years, as Mr. Talbot died, and they had to sellup and go to London to live. They were happy years and Istill hear from the daughter, they never forgot me, and shestill comes to see me when she is in Cornwall.

From there I went to Paignton, as a Useful Ladies Maid, andonly stayed six weeks! It was an awful place and not much

Penvorda Cottages - St BrewardSBHG 0402


We lost Bob during the war. He was in the Air Force andwas taken prisoner by the Japs. He was drowned whilebeing taken from one place to another. It was a dreadfulblow when we were told this sad news. He was such a goodlooking chap.

To return to my Dad. Louise used to walk from Helland andbring her children to see him, and Fan came home for the lasttwo weeks of his life and we looked after him.

Dad was a local preacher for many years, and walked milesto take up his appointments, and sometimes took a horseand trap to ride along in. One very misty night, he had noidea if he was on the right road, but the horse knew, and tohis delight, brought him home to Wenford. Emmie and Iwere very worried about him so we were pleased to see himsafe and sound. Dad was very fortunate as he and his familyhad been educated at Lostwithiel Grammar School, and thatwas rather wonderful in those days.

He was buried by my Mother at St Breock, following thefuneral service at the Wesleyan Chapel.

Just a few days after we lost him, I had word from Lerryn togo and look after my Auntie Annie. I looked after her untilher death in 1924. Em, Jack and Edna came out to stay, I hadall the affairs to settle up and the furniture to sell.

Well, my Dad was taken ill, and I was sent for. The old ladiessaid to me, “You can’t go and leave us like this” – but I toldthem my Dad meant more to me than they did and in June1923 I came home to look after Dad, as his wife was hopeless.He was delighted to see me home and kept saying, “I sentyou away from home”. I would say, “Never mind Dad, I’mwith you now”. I often went to Em’s at Penvorda to have asleep, and her and Edna would stay with Dad.

Hedley and his first wife, Vi, came to see Dad, and he was sodelighted to see their little son, Bob, as he was the only Coleat that time, but now there is Michael from the secondmarriage and he has a son Martin to carry on the Cole name.

Thomas Henry Marshall & wife Catherine with young AlbertNellie’s future In-Laws

MP 92


two housemaids, cook and kitchen maid, but the staff keptleaving. She was a lovely lady but took drugs. No one knewhow she got hold of them, but it was impossible to live withher long. They had their own car, but no one to drive it.Every time they went out they would hire a car fromHarrods. I used to go out with her a lot. She had such lovelyclothes and jewellery, but you had to watch out – or shewould say you had taken something.

In December 1924 she was going to stay in a castle over inItaly. I had given in my notice, but the Doctor said, “You go,you’ll never get another chance like it, but hang on to yourpassport and return ticket”, which I did.

We were to have stayed at Dover the night. Hotel allbooked, but she would go across that night. Her husbandhad to stay on as their luggage hadn’t come. They werestaying for a year. I had to take her on by train to Paris, andwe were met and taken to the Ritz Hotel. We stayed therethree nights. She sent for her Secretary to come and we allwent on the Rome Express to Rapallo. The Secretary told meto let her sleep as we were passing through the Alps.

Anyway, we got to the little fishing village of Porto Fino andI stayed for a few days. She did everything she could tomake me miss my train. She had already sent her Secretaryback in the morning – wouldn’t let us travel together. I hadto change three times on the night train.

I went back to Em andLouie for a while until Ifelt fit enough to go awayagain.

First I went for a monthwith a cousin of Mrs.Talbot’s at Goonvreawhile her companion wasin hospital. I had a lovelytime there. Then I went toa house in Constantine fora month to look after ababy. I could have stayedthere permanently, butdidn’t like it there.

I saw a job advertised inExmouth – stayed a week!The boy was a terror, andthe mother thought I wasgoing to do all thehousework! I said I had come as a children’s maid!

My next move was as a lady’s maid to Mrs. Morgan. I mether at a hotel in Exeter, and then we stayed in hotels inSidmouth and Budleigh Salterton, and on to her home inGreen Street, London. There was a butler, parlour maid and

Charles Henry MarshallNellie’s future husband

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I was the youngest and got it. I went there in February 1925.I was responsible for making and mending for 600.

We made all the men’s shirts, vests and pants and all thewomen’s dresses and underwear. Their best dresses weremade of navy blue serge. We made all the baby clothes forthe children in the Nursery and the nurses’ uniforms andaprons, also sheets and pillowcases. I had another personwith me and several of the inmates.

One old lady in particular was a wonderful machinist. HerFather had been a shoe manufacturer. She had broughtherself so low with drink!

Reached Paris and had to go from one station to another tocatch the boat train. I just got there as the train was about tomove off and a gentleman pulled me on. It was an awfulexperience as I didn’t know a word of French or Italian.

I got back to the house in London at midnight the day beforeChristmas Eve! Then, in the morning I left, and went to staywith the Talbots for two or three months until I got anotherjob.

My family didn’t know I had been out of England. I thinkthey must have thought I was mad, when I wrote and toldthem I’d been to Italy, and had stayed in an old castle on topof a hill, overlooking the sea, and I could see the liners, etc.,coming from Genoa. The servants were Italian and thegardener would give me oranges from the trees. Theycouldn’t understand why I didn’t speak their language. Thevillage was very quaint.

Mrs. Talbot was so kind to me, after the experience I hadendured while with Mrs. Morgan and she gave me lots ofsewing jobs to do, and I helped in any way I could to repaytheir hospitality.

I didn’t want to leave them, but I went for an interview toLeicester Workhouse for the post of seamstress and generalassistant. There were three of us after the job.

Nellie and Charlie watching the Sunday School dedication serviceRow, St Breward - Saturday 29 June 1957

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The older ones went to a Cottage Home. The Police,Receiving Officer Nurse and Ambulance man had to goacross fields to get them. The man had stolen the tent andthings – he went to prison. The Nurse said when they gotthere, one child had the butter and another a tin ofcondensed milk.

Well, I had to bath that lot – I started with the boy, he hadnever seen a bath before – he kicked and screamed, I was wetthrough. Anyhow, I got him into clean clothes and into aclean cot, gave him some milk and he soon settled down.Next I had the little girl and she was even worse than theboy, but I got her done, then there were the twins to bath –horrible dirty little things. We bathed them in a bowl on thetable. I’d just finished one when the Assistant Matron camein, so she said she would bathe the other one if I would seeto Mother, and wasn’t I glad.

In the Nursery there would be about 30 babes from 2 weeksto 3 years. Some evenings I used to relieve there, and itmeant bathing all that lot, and feeding them. They werelovely little things and I loved it over there.

One night I was going off duty at 10 p.m. and the NightNurse had seen her lying in the gutter and reported it toMatron. The Porter and other men went out and brought herin on a hand cart. It was so funny because she had a pair ofkippers in her hand, and there was the Night Nurse leading

Another person owned a lot of property in Southport andshe had to pay to live in the workhouse – no one would haveher, as she had been in so many drunken brawls. Her facewas all marked. Her cheque would come every month andshe would take herself out of the workhouse, spend it all ina few days, and be back in again.

Sometimes I had to be in the Receiving Ward while theNurse was on ambulance duty, and one night she broughtback a Mother and four children under 3 years.

The Congregation of De Lank Methodist ChapelSBHG 0334


The first stretcher case I had was a woman with veryadvanced TB. Poor thing only lived three days.

Another time I took in a verybig man – it was after 5 p.m.and the officer from the officeshould have gone. HoweverI went alone with this hugeman and he was so quiet andkept saying, “You will lookafter me, Nurse, won’t you?”When I got back, the Masterof the Workhouse asked mewho went with me – I said,“no-one.” There was quite afuss made about it as hecould have ‘gone’ for me.

Once we went to fetch a manfrom a terrible place. We hadto get him down on astretcher and half the stairswere missing. He was on anold bed, propped up withboxes and old coats covering him.

What terrible slums I went in – I certainly saw that side oflife.

the procession. Another time she was brought in anambulance to the Casual (Tramp) Ward, the Police with her,she kept saying ‘My ducky’ to me. I said, “Don’t talk to melike that, you dirty old woman”. She was filthy and I had tobath her.

I remember when one day I went to the Bishop StreetMethodist Church that I attended, and the girls were tellingme about this old dear. I said, “You didn’t have to bath her,I did”.

I was on duty in the sewing room from 8.30 to 4.30 everyother day, and then I would be on duty until 10 p.m. Oncewhen the Matron and Assistant Matron were out, I was incharge and I had to ask a young man when he was going tomarry his pregnant girl friend and he said, “My Motherwon’t let me”. Another time when they were both away atthe same time and Matron asked me to be in charge, I saidthat I couldn’t as she wouldn’t let me have her little basket,in which she carried all the keys. Anyhow, the Nurses gotthe basket for me, and what fun we had when we wentaround all the wards.

Sunday mornings duty was to sit in the big dining hall whenhusbands and wives met, and I hated it.

I used to do Ambulance work, and if ever I was on therealways seemed a lot to take to the Infirmary.

Nellie & Charlie1950s

SBHG 0325


They had very good food and there was the house part forworkers, and then the infirm block, and another where theywere well cared for by the nurses.

All the men lived in a separate block, but those who wereable, the men and women met for meals in the big DiningHall, and when they were short of staff I used to help out.When I was on duty in the evenings I would see to thewomen in the house, and get their supper, cocoa and breadand marg.

One night, one went for me, so I went to get help. She hadgot hold of a knife and I got my hands cut. We managed toget it away from her – she was really mad and we had to puther into a padded cell. I had to help put three in there whileI was employed there.The stairs in the main building were all stone and a longcorridor went from the main hall, right up to the Masters’and Matrons’ Residence and a fellow scrubbed it every day.He used to look in the sewing room and say, “Hello, ducky”.

One old lady ‘took herself out’ – she had nowhere to go butthey couldn’t stop her from discharging herself. She walkedup and down outside all day. Matron said if we could gether in without using force, to try. So when I was going to theNurses’ Home for tea I went outside and asked her if she’dhad any tea, she said no, so I asked her if she would like tocome inside and have tea with me – and she came.

The babies would be christened at the little church andMatron got me to hold two at one service. I said that I shouldlaugh, and so I did, as the poor little Curate was scared.Anyhow, she never asked me again, and I told her it wasvery wrong for me to promise what I couldn’t do.

Once a month I took awagonette of Mothers over toCountesthorpe to the CottageHomes to see their children.Then once, Matron asked meto take two children there. Iwent by train and it wasterrible having to leave themthere. The Superintendentwouldn’t let me take them tothe Nursery Home and theywere crying and shouting‘Nurse, Nurse.’ It was awful.

At the weekends there wouldbe as many as 200 tramps,men and a few women, I wasscared when I first had toadmit one, but she was aregular and knew moreabout it than I did!

Nellie, sitting with Charlieand a close friend from her

nursing days, Hilda JacksonSBHG 0387


slept. Another time we went to Prestatyn, 90 boys, 3 Sistersand 2 Scout Leaders. It was rain all the fortnight. We allwent to the Methodist Church on the Sunday and thecongregation couldn’t believe three or four of us were incharge. They were all well behaved.

Another time I had to take a boy to the Emigration Office inLiverpool. He was going to Canada the following week sohe had to see the Emigration Doctor. We had to wait so theyasked what would I do? So I said it would be nice for the boyto see a liner, so he sent us off to see one just about to sail forCanada and the people were all going on board.

Those who wished, could have a day out once a month.Lizzie Goss always came back having had plenty to drink,and when she shook hands we knew she had had a goodtime. She wouldn’t remember it in the morning.

At one time we made a lot of shrouds, and when I returnedto the room, one of the was dancing around in one!

I left Leicester in September 1928. The old girls were upset,and didn’t want me to go, but I had made up my mind to goas a Sister in the National Children’s Home.

The first House I lived in was Posnett House, Frodsham. Wehad 27 boys and we were three Sisters in charge. After atime I went to live in Charles Garret House with SisterMarion, we had 27 boys and 14 were over the age of 14, andthey came from all kinds of background. Sister Marion hada breakdown and the Sister who took her place was no goodat discipline. The boys told the Governor that if I could be incharge they would do all they could, but as I was still in greyuniform, I couldn’t – but in 1932 I was sent to Birminghamand was ordained at Harpenden in June 1932.

While at Frodsham I helped with the Cubs. Sister Evelynand I had 36 Cubs, 6 from each house. We had good timeswith them and took them to camp at Rhyl. During a stormour tent blew down and we sang outside the Scoutmaster’stent, “Fierce raged the tempest o’er the Camp”, while they

Thomas Henry “Granfer” Marshall at WenfordMP 91


and swimming pool and I always took them to the sewingroom last and we always kept a case to show them what eachgirl and boy took with them when they left. They had a verynice lot of new clothes. I used to let the boys choose theirsuit, shirt, tie and socks, and would say what I thoughtwould be best.

They had a good choir and used to go on tour for about threeweeks at a time, and they gave concerts at different places,and every year gave a lovely show in Birmingham TownHall. I always helped with dressing and seeing them onstage, and I went to several other places with them.

I remember so well when I was ordained with several othersat Harpenden. We all put on our new blue uniforms. It wasa moving service – very impressive. We each received ourbadge and a Bible. The service is similar to the ordination ofministers.

Every June we went into Birmingham town centre to selldaisies on Flag Day. It was sometimes very hot; we wereeach given 2/6 for our bus fare and lunch, then had our teain the Central Hall, where all the money was counted. Thebig boys would be there to come and change our tins whenthey got heavy.

In 1932 I went to Birmingham Central Hall when Rev. LukeWiseman introduced the New Methodist Hymn Book.

The engines were all in motion. We had a good look aroundthe engine room and bakery and everywhere we could. Itwas an experience for him. The liner was the Duchess ofYork. We often looked over liners when they were in dockwhen we went to Liverpool for the day.

I went to Birmingham to takeover the Sewing Room andhad several girls in theirteens. When I first wentthere they weren’t allowed totalk, so I said that when I wastheir age I couldn’t sit still,and not talk all day, anddidn’t expect anyone else todo such a thing. We hadsuch a happy time, the girlsused to tell me all their littlesecrets.

We used to get parties ofvisitors and Mr Markham,the Governor, used to ask meto take them around. Eachweek, one of the Houseswould be open to visitors –they were taken to see theworkshops, laundry, bakery

Nellie at the door with hergreat nieces Geraldine & Sharron

(daughters of Jack Marshall)SBHG 0386


Litten, but he was very nice and I only went back once toBirmingham to pick up my clothes.

The first place we lived was at St Day, Pat started schoolthere, and Bob had a job in Redruth. Later that year wemoved to Cotton Woods, Nanstallon. Hedley did some ofthe work for these people but I was expected to do thecleaning. It was a very lonely place.

Next move was to Lostwithiel where Hedley was a Stewardin the Conservative Club. After I had been with them threeand a half years, he decided to get married again, so I had tofind a job. It was terrible leaving Pat. Bob was in the AirForce. He joined in 1939 before the war started.

I used to teach in the Sunday School in the Home, but theGovernor said he would release me to go and help atKingstanding. There was a large new estate and a Hall wasbuilt to begin with, and then the Church and Sunday Schoolwere built.

We had 600 children in the Sunday School, and with the helpof a friend I had 50 teenaged girls in the Junior Guild. A lotcame from very poor backgrounds. When I walked that waywith my friends they would say, “You know all the littleurchins”. We had some good times there, though, and I usedto invite a few at a time to come to my room at the Home.They loved that.

We had a fine minister, the Rev. Kenneth Waights. He wasa good visitor and started a Men’s Fellowship on Sundaymornings. He would get about 100 there.

In 1937 my brother Hedley lost his wife. I went to Londonfor the funeral, and felt I had to give up the work I loved somuch and look after him and Bob and Pat.

The Principal of the Home, Rev. Litten, didn’t want me toleave, and offered me a house where they could come andlive with me, and enable me to stay in the Children’s Home,but my brother wanted to come to Cornwall. It was a verysad day when I went to Head Office at Highbury to see Rev.

Surveying a flood at Wenford Bridge - June 1957SBHG 0787


near to Bristol and Bath. There were troops stationed atShepton and we used to entertain them, and in return theywould come and fetch us so that we could go to the E.N.S.A.concerts, and bring us home again.

The first time the siren went in the night during the summer,we decided to bring the patients downstairs to sleep on theground floor, and the staff all found corners for our beds, butwe got tired of it and we went back to our rooms again.

In the sewing room I had different grades of women. Somemade rugs, some did sewing and one would be on thestocking machine. Several of them had got themselves introuble and were termed ‘moral defects’. Some used to beemployed at big houses as maids – waiting at dinner tables,etc. They would come back to us on their days off and wewould have to take them back in the evenings. It would bevery dark so we walked in twos.

I was on duty 7.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and would get the work allset out before breakfast. Every 4 weeks I had a longweekend off, from Friday until Sunday. I often went to staywith a friend at Weston-super-Mare. Her family had a bighouse in Bristol, and that was taken over by someorganisation, so they moved to Weston.

The day war was declared, my cousin Vyvian and his wifeConnie from South Africa visited Hedley and I. They hadcome over to combine business with pleasure and as Londonwas all blacked out they decided to come to Lostwithiel.

I always remember taking Vyvian to Lerryn to show himwhere his Father was born, and at that time there wereseveral people still living there who had gone to school withhis Father, and oh, how delighted he was to meet them andhear about their young days.

They went back to London, and went to South Africa Houseand were able to get a boat back. They had left their onlychild out there and were lucky to return so soon. OtherSouth Africans were staying in Lostwithiel, and they came tosee us, and Vyvian and Connie and they were very annoyedto think they had managed to return so quickly.

I used to go to Lerryn a lot as I knew several people there,and often took Pat to Par and Fowey and we went for longwalks around Lostwithiel, and when Bob came home onleave he asked if he could take her to the pictures at StAustell and took her out to tea. How proud they were to gooff together.

I went to Shepton Mallet to work in the Sewing Room atWest End House, it was a hospital for mental defectives. Thewar was on and we had many air raid warnings being so


her own, and when she knew I was home, Charlie had anawful life with her. The small-holding was left to him.

Anyhow, I wrote back to him and in his reply he asked if Iwould come home and discuss things, which I did inOctober 1943 and we decided to get married, but Charliewas so worried – he had no money as he had spenteverything on his sister and for 6 months while she was soill he didn’t go out of Wenford!

Well, I went backto Shepton Malletand handed in myresignation andMatron had quite asurprise.

She asked if it wasone of the soldiers– I said, “No – it issomeone I haveknown since 1911.”

We were married at Camelford Fore Street MethodistChurch on November 20th 1943.

At that time Charlie was working at the Naval Depot. Theyhad taken over the Clay Dries and kept a lot of suppliesthere. Quite a lot of people were employed there.

Sometimes I used to go to Bath, and then friends of minewould go with me to the Theatre afternoons in Bristol asthere were so many air raids night times.In September 1940, Fan, Nurse Jackson and I had a holidayin Paignton, and then I had a week home with Em atPenvorda Cottages, as I usually spent my holidays with her,Jack and Edna.

In February 1941, I had news that Emmie was Ill, but I gothome too late to see her. It was a terrible blow as she hadbeen like a mother to me.

In 1942, Fan and I went to Chichester and stayed with oldfriends of Fan. Then we went to Windsor for a week withMarjorie, who was employed at the Royal Dairy.

While we were there, the Duke of Kent was buried, and afew days after it was a National Day of Prayer.

Princess Marina wished to sit amongst the congregation inSt George’s Chapel, Windsor. We were able to attend as well.

In 1943, Fan and I had a holiday in Ilfracombe for almostthree weeks, and while we were there I had a letter fromCharlie Marshall to say that his sister had passed away in1942, and he was on his own. We always met when I camehome on holiday but Eva was so afraid she would be left on

Charlie Marshall at Wenford BridgeSBHG 0496


When he was well enough to come out of hospital we cameback to Wenford – Daphne stayed a night with me and shebaked pasties and a cake – we met Charlie when he got offthe bus.

Edna, Gordon and family used to come here quite a lot – itwas their second home, and Charlie made them verywelcome always. Daphne used to sit on his lap when shewas little and would combhis hair for hours. Trevorand Adrian loved playing inthe orchard, and we’ve hadscores of picnics out there bythe river.

They still visit me frequentlyfrom St Austell and StStephen, and now they areolder they feel very nostalgicabout my home and lovelysurroundings.

We have always been veryfriendly with the Cardewfamily at the Pottery, and wehave had some studentsstaying here.

It was quite a busy time for Charlie, as we had cows, pigsand poultry. He wasn’t the strongest as he had undergone aserious operation in 1921. After the Depot closed, Charliewent to work at De Lank Quarries on the saws, and then inthe canteen. When the canteen closed he was out of work.He wasn’t well and we had to give up the cows.

We had a nice holiday with Beatrice (Jackson) and EdwinWatson at Rattery on the Dartington Estate. Later I travelledwith Louie as she had been ill and couldn’t travel alone. Wewent by air out to Marjorie in Guernsey on a seven seaterplane. We had to be weighed before going on the plane atExeter Airport.

Another time Charlie went with me to Guernsey and we hada lovely holiday out with Marjorie and Harold. Their threechildren were at school then.

I think it was in 1958 that we went to Penvose Cottage tohelp Mrs Fanny Menhenick, as her husband was ill. Ourintentions were to stay a fortnight and we stayed ninemonths. While we were there Charlie was ill with hearttrouble and Doctor told him to ‘hoist the white flag’ as hewouldn’t be fit to work again.

It was a big blow. He had chronic bronchitis and his nerveswere bad so he went to St Lawrence Hospital, Bodmin, for afew weeks.

Nellie at Wenford CottageDecember 1976

(Note the Cardew jug in her handand the pots by the window)

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I am still able to go over to sell pottery and I meet such nicepeople. A lot them come every year and send me a lovelybouquet of flowers.

Ivan and Colleen McMeakin were married from here andhad the reception at the Pottery.

When Patricia, their eldest daughter, was born, I looked afterher when she was only a few days old, as Colleen had to goback into hospital. She was two years old when they wentback to their native Australia. I still hear from them.Patricia is now married with a boy and girl.

In 1947, some of my cousins came home from South Africa,I had never met before. Annie had the same colour hair asme, and we walk alike too. She went to South Africa withher parents at the end of the last century. She was born inSt Austell and remembered the China Clay wagons goingthrough the town.

There are houses in Alexandra Road that her Father andUncles built, also the Baptist Church in West Hill.

In 1972 I lost Charlie, and have lived on my own ever since.I have such caring nephews and nieces, great nephews andgreat nieces and great-great nephews and nieces. I had thephone put in as it’s nice when living alone.

Over the years I have had a lot of company with the studentsfrom the Pottery. They have spent many evenings with me– sometimes to watch the TV programmes, sometimes tochat, and all the folk at the Pottery are kind to me.

Nellie & friends at Wenford Pottery 1977

L-R: Student, Ara Cardew, Student, Mary Ellen (Nellie) Marshall,Sam Uhlick, Michael Cardew, Mariel Cardew, Alexander Cardew,

Dr Penton, Gaia Cardew, Brian (Barney) Nottle, Ute Cardew, Danlami Aliyu and Seth Cardew.

Michael Cardew bought the Wenford Inn in 1939 for £500, and con-verted it into a pottery, building his own kilns.

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This very interesting life story was written in 1982 by avery remarkable lady – my Aunt Nell.

What a memory and such an active brain, that evenafter suffering a severe stroke on September 24th, shecould recognise all those who visited her in Treliske andBodmin Hospitals, and we could understand what shewas saying to us.

On October 7th she passed peacefully away and isre-united with all her loved ones who have gone before.

A very sad loss to her family and friends - ‘Wenford’will never be quite the same again. It was home to somany people – always a welcome, and a cup of tea forher visitors.

She was like a Mother to me, and ‘Granny’ to ourchildren and the other young relatives.

Edna G TernouthApril 1983

When Charlie passed away he left a Will, in which it wasstated – I could sell the fields and use the interest from themoney if I needed to, which was a big thing – and with theaid of a grant I was able to have the water brought in, and abathroom, with indoor toilet and wash basin and bath,which is wonderful for me. We used to fetch all our drinkingwater from a well up on the St Tudy road. The students orthe Cardew family still fetch a pitcher of that well water forme. It is so nice to drink.

Now I have two nice young neighbours, Trevor and Sallyand their two children, they live up the hill and come to seeme most days and would do anything for me.

I must also mention Jack, Charlie’s nephew, and his wifePauline, and Geraldine, Sharron and Jeremy. They havebeen very kind to me. The children always come here a lot.The girls used to come to dinner and tea every Saturday, butnow they are both in employment – I miss them, but feelglad they are earning money for themselves.

I would like to add a few more details regarding the family.

I have 30 great nieces and nephews, and 49 great-greatnieces and nephews, and remember all their names and sendbirthday cards and Christmas cards to many of them.


The Cole Family

John Cole born 1782 and Margaret Bettinson born 1789

Samuel Cole baptised 1814 and Elizabeth Daddow baptised 1814

John Daddow Cole 1852-1923 and Elizabeth Sobey 1856-1902

Their Children

Sidney Sobey Cole born at Respryn 25th December 1882Emma Cole born at Burngullow 9th March 1883

Samuel Cole born Lerryn 21st January 1885Fanny Cole born at Bodmin 3rd January 1887

Hedley Cole born at Wadebridge 24th May 1889Wesley Cole born at Wadebridge 6th April 1891

Louise Cole born at Wadebridge 23rd February 1893Harry Cole born at Wadebridge 3rd November 1894

Mary Ellen (Nellie) Cole born at Wadebridge 3rd March 1900

Nellie married Charles Henry Marshall on 20th November 1943

nellie marshall…. a remarkable lady!stbrewardhistory.co.uk/images/nellies-memories.pdf · was a...

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