Clements Hall
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Clements Hall Local History Group

Exploring the Scarcroft, Clementhorpe, South Bank and Bishophill areas of York

Clements Hall Local History Group

Exploring the Scarcroft, Clementhorpe, South Bank and Bishophill areas of York

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Ada's story

 

Members of our Poverty Research Group have been researching the lives of some of the children who appeared in our report ‘York waifs and strays: from workhouse to boarding out, 1879-83’.  How were pauper children treated in the second half of 19th century Britain - by the State and private institutions, religious bodies, charities and individuals?

IMG_0213We found that the York Poor Law Union Board of Guardians initially boarded-out (fostered) 20 children from the York Workhouse on the Huntington Road. Ada Jane Simpson was one of these, fostered in 1882 to Jacob Potter, a railway labourer living at Haxby railway station cottages.

Kathleen Richardson - Ada's great-granddaughter – saw our report online, and made contact, to share what she knew about Ada, who died in Hexham in 1972, aged 97.

Four generations: Edith, Kathleen, Ada and Ethel at Hexham in 1952

In Ada's Story, Kathleen reveals a remarkable story of resilience. From an early loss of parents, and separation from her grandparents and siblings, Ada developed into a strong and determined woman. This is a story that plays out in Yorkshire and the North East - York, Cottingham, Leeds, Newcastle, Hetton-le-Hole, Grange Villa, Slaley, Corbridge and Hexham.

Much of Ada's life was in domestic service, including as a cook for the Southern family in Corbridge from 1939 to 1951. She had three children.

We hope to work with Kathleen to develop a fuller picture of Ada's life.