Emmeline Elsie Fenby

Born 1889, died 1963
Nurse at Mitford and Launditch Union Workhouse, 1926

Researched by Elizabeth Steele

Emmeline Elsie Fenby (nee Ward) was born at Hinckley, Leicestershire on 21 March 1889. Her parents were Thomas Ambrose Ward and Lucy Clifford Ward and they had married in 1888. She was baptised at Hinckley on 5 May 1889.

The 1891 census records Emmeline, aged 2, living with her parents at 12 Druid Street, Hinckley, Leicestershire. Her father, Thomas is head of the household and a Rotary Hand. It is impossible to decipher what is written as her mother’s occupation.

By the census of 1901, the family is living at the Dog and Gunn, Thurlastion, Hinckley. Thomas is now an innkeeper; Emmeline’s mother is an employee in framework knitting. Emmeline is aged 12. The 1911 census still finds the family living at the Dog and Gunn, Thurlaston, Hinckley. Thomas has an additional occupation of hosier as well as being the innkeeper, Lucy is assisting in business and Emmeline, aged 22, is a Fore women in Griswold knitting.

Ten years later on the 1921 census, Emmeline is living at the home of a Mrs Jayne, The Quarry, Oswestry. She is now 32, single and a sick nurse employed by The Burton Nursing Institution, Burton on Trent. Her place of work is listed as “Variable sent out to assist cases of illness”.

From entries on the UK & Ireland, Nursing Registers, 1898-1968, and the UK Midwives Roll, 1904-1959, it is possible to trace Emmeline’s career change from a forewoman on knitting machines to a qualified nurse and midwife. She trained at Tamworth Hospital between 1915 and 1918. When she came to Gressenhall in 1926 she appeared on the Midwives Roll for that year. The entries on the Nursing registers confirm her place and dates of training and show her as being in 1928 at 34, Upper Bond Street, Hinckley; 1931, Union House, Park Lane, Wakefield; 1934, Cottage Home, East Farndon, Market Harborough; 1937, 117, Dunton Street, Woodgate, Leicester and 1940, 10 John Street, Chilvers Coton, Nuneaton.

Emmeline had married Henry (Harry) Fenby in April 1926, just prior to her coming to Gressenhall, where they were both to be employed. They were both appointed on 12 April 1926 to commence work on 13 May 1926 as nurse and porter respectively, Emmeline on a starting wage of £40 per annum with Harry at £45 per annum. Together, they spent a very short time at Gressenhall, however. They both tendered their resignations in a letter to the Board of Guardians dated 16 August 1926, asking to be released on the 31 August 1926. Unfortunately, no details exist as to why they tendered their resignations or where they went directly after leaving Gressenhall.

The 1939 Register lists Harry and Emmeline together with a son, Sydney Ernest, born 9 May 1930, living at 10 John Street, Nuneaton. Harry’s occupation is as a male nurse and Emmeline’s is as unpaid domestic duties.

Emmeline dies on 19 November 1963 at the Western General Hospital, Kingston-Upon-Hull, she was a widow at the time of death. Probate was granted to her son, Sydney Ernest Fenby, a hairdresser, on 9 January 1964. Her estate was valued at £1328.