| Description: |
A. was "mentally deficient" probably due to prolonged neglect during childhood. She was initially considered to be incapable of being trained for service and in May 1894 at the age of 16 was sent to learn hosiery knitting at the Knitting Institution for the Employment of Afflicted Girls in Croydon. Her father's employer paid her fees. In June 1897 she was in the "Cripples Home, Croydon" when it was taken over by the Waifs and Strays' Society. (This was presumably St Agnes' Home for Girls). She was described as "not a cripple. Brain not strong". She improved once she was in a residential home and made "a good servant". It was originally felt that she would not manage in a private home because of her "mental deficiency" although in March 1900 she was placed in service in Croydon. At some point in her life, probably around the time of the First World War, she spent ten years as a laundry maid at St Nicholas Orthopaedic Hospital and Special School, Pyrford, near Woking, Surrey. She later returned to domestic service. In 1941, at the end of her career in service, her employer and the Waifs and Strays' Society attempted to find her a retirement home with a charitable organization, but there was heavy pressure on charities at this time because of the War. A. went to stay temporarily with relations in Southall and her employer undertook to contact the local Charity Organization Society on her behalf should it later become necessary. |
