Fonthill College, abbey Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire ©Christine Gambles Fonthill College, abbey Road, Great Malvern, Worcestershire

Portland Place, Newbury - former home of Samuel Webb ©Christine Gambles Portland Place, Newbury - former home of Samuel Webb

Stanmore, Donnington Square, Newbury ©Christine Gambles Stanmore, Donnington Square, Newbury

Elizabeth Brooks Webb

1861-1944

Elizabeth was born in 1861 in Newbury she was the daughter of John & Susan Webb (nee Brooks) who were married in Newbury in 1856. Her father was a Grocer.

Elizabeth’s siblings were:

John Brooks 1857   Jessie Susannah 1858   Samuel 1859   Mary Annie 1863   Thomas 1864   Sarah 1866   Ellen Edith 1868   Florence Isabel 1870   Martha 1871   Frank Guthrie 1873   Hetty Katharine Rayer  1875

In 1871 Elizabeth was recorded living with her parents & siblings in Speenhamland (possibly Portland Place).  By 1881 she was working as a Governess at Fonthill College Abbey Road Great Malvern Worcestershire. (Fonthill College Abbey Road was a small boarding school for young ladies aged between about 11 and 17 years; it was in existence from about 1880 to 1912) Elizabeth’s sisters Mary Annie and Sarah were recorded as pupils at this college in the 1881 census.

By 1891 Elizabeth was the Principal of a School for Girls (in partnership with her sister Mary Annie) situated at Portland Place Newbury, the census for that year records 19 female scholars, 2 governesses and 2 servants at number 1 Portland Place, Elizabeth and her sisters Mary and Hetty were recorded living next door at number 2. She was still living at Portland Place in 1901 and again she was recorded in the 1901 census as a Principal of a School (Girls), her sister Ellen Edith was living with her at this time along with one servant.

The 1911 census records Elizabeth as a Ladies Companion to a Hannah White aged 78, living at 85 Park Road Bingley West Riding Yorkshire.

The1939 register records her living on her own means at Stanmore Donnington Square Newbury, her sister Ellen Edith was living with her at this time.

Elizabeth died aged 83 on the 6^th October 1944 she was laid to rest in the Newtown Road Cemetery on the 9^th October 1944.

Sources:as above