Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Arthur Wood

1854 –15/03/1860

Son of James and Fanny Wood; died age 6 years

Relatives

James Wood (151) — father

Fanny Wood — parent

• Melanie Hilton

Arthur Wood (1854-1860)

Arthur, the son of James and Fanny Wood, was baptised on 12 Nov 1854 at St Peter’s church. He died on the 15 March 1860. His parents are buried with him.

James Wood (151)

1806 –30/01/1861

Wire worker who set up Wood's Iron works

Relatives

James Wood (678) — son

Arthur Wood — son

Fanny Wood — wife

• Melanie Hilton

James Wood (c.1806-1861)

According to census returns James was born in Berkhamsted in 1806, although there are no records of his baptism there, nor in the surrounding parishes. He was brought up at Marlin Chapel Farm and, “in 1826 whilst living at Monk’s Cottage in the High Street, rented the yard from Berkhamsted School” where he set up as a wire worker. (B. van Heems, Berkhamsted Review, April 1999) The firm’s trade card states that Jas.Wood & Son, Iron Fence Makers, was established in 1827. This site was to remain the location for the family business and is still there as a garden centre. The iron-framed showroom, however, was lost to a fire in 1974.

James married Frances (Fanny) Norris on 2 November 1839, and gave his father’s name as James Wood. They were married at St Sepulchre, (also known as Holy Sepulchre/St Sepulchre without Newgate), the largest parish church in the City of London. His occupation was given as wire worker and he was resident at the Three Tuns public house in Smithfield at the time, presumably to establish residence. Fanny was a Berkhamsted girl, so why they were marrying in the City is a mystery, especially as James’s business in Berkhamsted was flourishing. “The day book for 1829 shows he dealt with Countess Bridgwater of Ashridge, Lady Cooper of Gadebridge Park and Lady Essex [of Cassiobury Park] to name but a few.” (B. van Heems)

Describing himself as ‘wire worker’ seems exceptionally modest, given that James’s business was producing a wide range of products including gates, candle snuffers, meat safes, rat traps, cork screws and sieves.

The census of June 1841 gives James’s occupation was iron founder. He and Fanny already had their first son, James, born 1841 in Berkhamsted.

From 1849 the firm’s records show that Lord Brownlow, who now owned Ashridge, was the most important client. The firm’s trade card shows not only fences – both fancy and utilitarian – but also tree guards, sheep troughs, espaliers and arches and garden seats.

In the March 1851 Census James’s occupation is given as iron fence maker. They now had three more children in addition to James – Henry (b.1844), Augustus (b.1846) and Ann (b.1848).

Another boy, Arthur, was born in 1854 (he died March 1860 and was buried with his parents) and the last child, William, in 1857. The gravestone for James and Fanny notes that they also sadly lost three children in infancy.

James died 30 January 1861 leaving Fanny a widow and still grieving for her son lost only nine months previously.

Fanny Wood

03/11/1815 –11/06/1887

Wife of James Wood

Relatives

James Wood (151) — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Fanny (Frances) Wood (née Norris) (1815-1887)

Fanny was born 3 November 1815 in Berkhamsted and baptised 21 Apr 1816 at St Peter’s. Her parents were George Norris (1794-1854), a whitesmith (that is, a smith who does finishing work on metals and also works with light metals, especially tin) and Charlotte (b. 1796) (née Grover). She was the oldest of their eight children and the sister of Martha, whose husband, William Hurst, is buried in Plot x48.

She married James Wood, a Berkhamsted-born wireworker, ten years her senior, at St Sepulchre in the City of London 2 November 1839. Why they married in London is unknown: one possibility is that Fanny may have been in service there.

By 1841 the census shows their first child, James, born that year. By 1851 there were four children James, Henry, Augustus and Ann.

Another boy, Arthur, was born in 1854 (he died March 1860 and was buried with his parents) and the last child, William, in 1857. Fanny and James’s gravestone also records the loss of three more children as infants.

James died on 30 January 1861 only nine months after the death of Arthur, leaving Fanny, a grieving widow, to carry on the business with her two elder sons as F. Wood & Son. In the census of April that year all three are listed as iron and wirework manufacturers.

Ten years later James has taken over, was married with two small children and was employing four men and two boys in the iron making business. Fanny, and her youngest son William, who was still at school, were living with James.

In April 1881 Fanny had moved away to live with her unmarried sister Elizabeth Norris, a dressmaker, on the High Street close to Raven’s Lane. Fanny is described in the Census as an annuitant. Also living with them was their eleven year old niece Annie Hurst, the orphaned child of their sister Martha Norris who had married William Hurst.

Fanny died 11^th June 1887.

Her son James and his wife are buried in plot 678.