A tale of gentlemen and old lace
Stories of Wilberforce Road people. Number 11 (and, curiously, Number 23)
In 1881 the occupier of No. 11 was Frank Lees and his family. Frank, then 53 years old, described his occupation as 'Gentleman'. In the household were his wife, Harriet, 4 years younger than him, one of their sons, also Frank, and an older, widowed relation, probably Frank senior's sister. Fortunately she had an income of her own, and Frank junior was working as a clerk, so Frank Snr could live as a 'Gentleman'. The family also had a servant of course, 22 year-old Jane Banks, a local girl.
In 1881 the occupier of No. 11 was Frank Lees and his family. Frank, then 53 years old, described his occupation as 'Gentleman'. In the household were his wife, Harriet, 4 years younger than him, one of their sons, also Frank, and an older, widowed relation, probably Frank senior's sister. Fortunately she had an income of her own, and Frank junior was working as a clerk, so Frank Snr could live as a 'Gentleman'. The family also had a servant of course, 22 year-old Jane Banks, a local girl.
Interestingly, a few doors down at No.23, lived another of Frank's
sons, John, who at the grand age of 25, also described his occupation as
'Gentleman'. How he achieved this status is not clear since his
household consisted of his wife, Selina, and four children under the age
of 5. No breadwinners there. Somehow they also accommodated a pair of
sisters who acted as servants.
John Lees didn't stay a gentleman long. In 1891 he was the licensee of the Tufnell Park Tavern. One of his sons, Walter was with him, but not his wife or the other three children. Selina and John had separated, it seems, and she was living in Walthamstow, as head of her own household with the other children.
John, like his father, Frank,had been born in Nottingham, centre of the Victorian lace trade. And in 1891, 63 year old Frank, still at No.11 with his wife, all the children gone, describes his occupation not as 'Gentleman' but as 'Retired Lace Manufacturer'.
In fact it seems that Frank in his older days liked to think of himself rather grandly. It turns out that in 1871 his occupation had been 'Racing and bookmakers agent' and his only association with lace had been as a child, helping his mother, who was a lacemaker in Nottingham.
Frank's family story was typical of many in the later part of the nineteenth century - a family from another part of the UK, where industry was in decline, heading to the promising new suburbs of London, like Wilberforce Road, looking for a comfortable retirement and new opportunities for their children.
Frank was still living in No.11 in 1901, with his wife, a servant and a 4 year old grand daughter. There is no record of him after 1904.
John Lees didn't stay a gentleman long. In 1891 he was the licensee of the Tufnell Park Tavern. One of his sons, Walter was with him, but not his wife or the other three children. Selina and John had separated, it seems, and she was living in Walthamstow, as head of her own household with the other children.
John, like his father, Frank,had been born in Nottingham, centre of the Victorian lace trade. And in 1891, 63 year old Frank, still at No.11 with his wife, all the children gone, describes his occupation not as 'Gentleman' but as 'Retired Lace Manufacturer'.
In fact it seems that Frank in his older days liked to think of himself rather grandly. It turns out that in 1871 his occupation had been 'Racing and bookmakers agent' and his only association with lace had been as a child, helping his mother, who was a lacemaker in Nottingham.
Frank's family story was typical of many in the later part of the nineteenth century - a family from another part of the UK, where industry was in decline, heading to the promising new suburbs of London, like Wilberforce Road, looking for a comfortable retirement and new opportunities for their children.
Frank was still living in No.11 in 1901, with his wife, a servant and a 4 year old grand daughter. There is no record of him after 1904.
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