Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Daniel Mardle

View full burial details

Unmarked grave Daniel Mardle (1829-1900) Mardell/Mardall. (In later documents Daniel and his family spell their surname Mardle, so this has been used throughout). His father was an agricultural labourer.

Daniel entered domestic service and in 1851 was the footman in the household of Robert Dering and his family at Lockleys, Welwyn. No other male staff were employed inside, so Daniel would have had more responsibility than many footmen in larger households where there was a butler and valet.

In 1856 Daniel married Jane Turner in Stepney. She was born in Sunninghill, Berkshire, so it is likely that she too was in domestic service.

Their first child, Sarah Jane, was born in Berkhamsted in 1856, followed by Mary in 1858 and Henry (1861). It is likely that Daniel was already employed in 1856 as a footman at Haresfoot, Berkhamsted, the home of Lt Colonel Robert Smith Dorrien who had been born at nearby Ashlyns House. Again, Daniel was the only male servant. At the time of the 1861 census Jane, Sarah, Mary and baby William Henry were living in Grubs Lane (now Chesham Road) while Daniel lived in Haresfoot.

Sadly, little William Henry died in 1863.

The 1871 census records Daniel, now the butler at Haresfoot, living with Jane and their children Mary, Thomas (1863), Fanny (1866), Alice (1868) and Arthur (1871) in Grubs Lane.

The life of a butler could be fraught with dangers: “Mardell [sic] was in the billiards room when a paraffin lamp crashed down onto the table. He tried to blow out to the flames, thereby setting his whiskers on fire. The whiskers were his pride and joy, and their value was recognised by the insurance company. Not only was Colonel Smith Dorrien’s billiards table replaced, but the butler was given £5 compensation for the partial destruction of his whiskers!” (“Beorcham”: In and around Berkhamsted. The Berkhamsted Review, November 1984).

George was born in 1874, followed by Edith (1876) and Edward (1878).

The Colonel died in 1879 and Daniel remained as his widow’s butler. The 1881 census records that the family had moved to a cottage in Haresfoot Park where they were recorded in 1891.

Daniel died December 1900 at the Park, Haresfoot, aged 71.

Jane died in September 1923.

 Daughter Sarah Jane lies in this cemetery and two of his sons, who followed him into domestic service, are buried in this cemetery – Arthur in Plot 935 and Thomas.