Lucy Dearnley
Nursing, Member St. John's Ambulance Brigade
Lucy Ann Wood was the first child born to James Henry and Nancy (also known as Nannie) Wood nee Mellor, from Holmfirth and Crossland respectively. They had married on 14th December 1872 at Buxton Road Chapel, Huddersfield. Lucy Ann was born 5th December 1873. They had two other children, Cecil Schofield Wood (1878) and Carmen Wood (1880).
In 1881 they lived at Back Springfield Street in Dewsbury. James was a woollen loom turner. By 1891 they had moved to Whitaker Street, Batley. James was described as a power loom turner, and Lucy Ann, now 17, was also working as a woollen weaver. Next door to the Woods was a family named Dearnley – though not Fred, who she would go on to marry – possibly a cousin of the family.
Lucy married Fred Dearnley in the third quarter of 1897 in Dewsbury. By 1901 they had moved to Keighley, where they would remain for the rest of their lives. They were living at 41 Fell Lane in 1901, and Fred was a schoolmaster. They had a one year old daughter Amy, born 22nd March 1900, and Lucy’s sister Carmen was living with them also.
The 1901 England Census shows the Dearnleys living at 41 Fell Lane
By 1911 Carmen had moved back to her parents’ home, and Lucy and Fred had moved to 14 Ashleigh Street. They had another daughter, Elsie, born 19th October 1902. Fred was still a schoolmaster, employed by Keighley Education Committee.
Lucy worked at Morton Banks as a member of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade in nursing, including night duties, from 1918 until May 1919.
By 1930 the family had moved to 78 Banks Lane in Riddlesden, and later to 8 Sunny Mount in Sandbeds, where Lucy and Fred would spend the remainder of their lives. The 1939 Register shows them living here, Fred now a retired schoolmaster and Lucy in unpaid domestic duties, as was the occupation of so many married women at that time.
Lucy died on 3rd March 1940, and Fred died in 1955 having remarried. Their daughter Amy married John Durkin in 1949, and Elsie married Norman Anderton in 1930.
Sources:
West Yorkshire, Non-Conformist Records, 1646-1985
England and Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England and Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
1881 England Census
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
1939 England and Wales Register
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
England and Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
