Death & Disease in Victorian Leeds
Death and Disease in Victorian Leeds On Saturday 1st September 2018 our guest speaker was Patrick Bourne. He is Assistant Community Curator at Abbey House Museum, Kirkstall, Leeds.
Like most other growing cities in 19th century Leeds there was a high death rate at a young age brought on by overcrowded housing conditions, bad sanitation and lack of personal hygiene. The most common diseases were cholera and typhoid. Patrick, with the aid of maps of Leeds, photos of back to back housing and the overcrowded yards of Quarry Hill area to the east of the city centre, showed how statistically this area was where high rates of the above diseases occurred.
The work of Dr. Robert Baker of Leeds , John Snow of London and Robert Koch in Germany, proved that cholera was a water borne disease caused by infected water. Periodic outbreaks of cholera in 1832 and 1848/9 prompted eventual legislation to empower the creation of fresh water from reservoirs at Fewston and Swinsty, the building of sewers and improvements in domestic sanitation. In the meantime those that could afford to moved to better housing provided in the suburbs in Park Square, Little Woodhouse and Headingly.
Patrick went onto describe how improved hospital treatment occurred with the new Infirmary on Great George Street opened in 1868, the provision of a House of Recovery on Vicar Lane and a dispensary on North Street. New cemeteries were opened once the local churchyards became full. These were at St George’s Field, Beckett Street and Lawnswood.
Patrick concluded his talk with a description of funeral arrangements. Black suits for men and fashionable outfits for women. Popular also were funeral jewellery, brooches, lockets and earrings, often made using jet from Whitby. The wealthy might have black horses pulling a glass covered hearse while the less well- off might have a bier pulled by hand! Patrick’s talk provided a huge wealth of information which was delivered at some pace but one which certainly had the attention of his audience.
Next meeting is October 6th 2018 when John Brown will talk on ‘Crime & Justice in 19th century.
One-name study: The Dowles of Romney Marsh
On Saturday 4th August 2018 our guest speaker was David Burgess. He is a representative for the Guild of One-Name Studies. He wanted to explain first the value and purpose of this organisation and then go onto reveal his connection with Romney Marsh in Kent.
With the Guild you can register the name you want to research which there may already have on record. The origins of a surname really got under way in the 13th and 14th century when it was becoming apparent that with a growing population and the need to prove who you were for inheritance purposes. David then went onto explain that surnames were taken from a number of sources such as occupation, place where you lived or taking the name of a male ancestor. Such a study could help with isolating a name and its variants and to share findings with others. After starting your research in the usual way such as use of IGI, Parish Records, census returns etc. you create a collection for analysis, synthesizing your findings and then submit your research to the Guild. You may help others and in return you can get feedback too. There are many benefits of joining the Guild from receiving a journal to making your research available world –wide.
David then went on to explain his connection with Romney Marsh. His father was from Kent and this entailed several trips to this county in order to access records that were not available online. Through his family tree he showed the link with the name Dowle. Apparently a swamp area in Romney was called a ‘dowle.’ He then went on to show how one or two members of his family tree had some status in the past. One became a mayor while another branch was local gentry and further information could be accessed via Pedigree Heraldic records. David has managed to breach the 16th century through parish records but access to archives at Canterbury Cathedral showed a link with the 15th century!
Next meeting is 1st September 2018 when Patrick Bourne will talk on ‘Death and Disease in Victorian Leeds.’