In a previous blog post, we met ‘water baby’ Gladys Charlotte Simonds, a little girl who attended the children’s carnival and fancy dress ball at Reading town hall, on a winter’s evening in January 1892. The photograph album commemorating the event provides us with a glimpse of many Reading children at that time (document reference: D/EX1792/1). So, what of the other children who attended?
Another young girl, Muriel Kathleen Sydenham, aged 8, was dressed as a fairy whilst her older sister Winifred, 17, wore the rather more grand outfit of ‘Britannia’.
Newspaper reports in the album reveal that their father Joseph was a Chief Steward at the ball. Winifred led the procession, followed by Muriel, with Winifred having the honour of sitting beside the Mayor and Mayoress of Reading.
Muriel Sydenham was born on 15th January 1884 to parents Joseph Edward and Alice Sarah Sydenham. Her parents had married in the parish church of Reading St Giles on 8th September 1870.
In the 1871 census, Joseph, a ‘master jeweller’, and his wife, Alice, were resident at 55 Minster street, with two apprentices. The address of the business itself was Bracher & Sydenham, Minster street, Reading (image courtesy of Reading Library).
A thriving business, Messrs Bracher & Sydenham produced silverware for VIPs visiting Huntley and Palmer’s biscuit factory. They were also later on jewellers to King Edward VII (image: D/EX1638/70 - Events in Reading and Neighbourhood 1904-5-6. Illustrated souvenir produced by the Reading Standard).
Also in 1871, Joseph notably co-founded and became first secretary of the newly formed Reading Football Club. A full history of the club can be found on the Reading Football Club website.
By the time of the 1881 census the family were living at Norbiton House and Joseph and Alice now had two children - Edward and Winifred. Their final child, Muriel, was to come along three years later. Muriel was baptised in the parish of Reading St Mary on 2nd March 1884 (document reference: D/P98/1/26).
In 1891 the family were living at 26 Bath Road and had a governess and housemaid – Muriel was aged 7 and her elder sister Winifred was 15.
Tragedy was to strike the family four years later when Alice passed away at the age of 49. Young Muriel was only 11.
In 1900, local newspapers reveal that 16 year old Muriel was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her sister Winifred to Henry Thompson on 11th September at the church of Reading St Mary’s (image courtesy of Reading Libraries. Berkshire Chronicle, 15th September 1900.)
The marriage register for St Mary’s reveals that both Muriel and her father were the witnesses.
In 1901 Muriel was still living at 26 Bath Road, Reading, with her widowed father and three servants. By the time of the 1911 census, they had moved to Wakehurst, Southcote Road West, Reading. Muriel was aged 27, single, with no occupation. The house is described as having ten rooms.
Sadly, on 3rd May 1913, Muriel, Winifred and Edward lost their father. He was laid to rest at Reading Cemetery. The Berkshire Chronicle reported on his will (image courtesy of Reading Libraries. Berkshire Chronicle, 18th July 1913.)
Now living alone, little did Muriel know that the following year her world was about to change completely with the outbreak of the First World War...