Edward & Eliza Austwick - my paternal great, great grandparents,

A story documenting the social good work, Edward & Elizabeth Austwick were part of has already

been written, namely "Sent From God - The Romance of Queen Street Mission, Bolton, Lancashire" written by Rev C Davies Warren.  The journey to their calling is also worthy of writing, even though, as usual, I'm skimming the surface and have more questions than answers.

Edward, the son of John and Sarah Austwick of Ackworth, was born in Wakefield on 12 August 1832 and baptised at All Saints, Wakefield (28 March 1834). Edward initially followed in his father, John's footsteps as a Draper's Assistant.

On 21 October 1858 (age 26) Edward enlisted in the 84th Foot Regiment of the British Army serving in Ireland (& maybe Canada?).  Edward married Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Spedding (from High Leigh, Cheshire) at St Leonard's Church in Shoreditch on 30 June 1856 (I'd love to know why they married in Shoreditch, what took them there?  Military service?).

Eliza gave birth to John Edward (1857) and Sarah (1861) whilst the couple were located at the Infantry Barracks, Salford.  Mary Alice (b. 1864) was born while Edward and Eliza were on tour with the 84th Regiment in County Kildare.  In the Dublin Daily Express Corporal Austwick was regularly amongst the 'gentlemen wielding the willow' on the Civil Service Club cricket ground who "had their eye in and meant mischief, lots of work for the field, and runs plentiful".

On leaving the military Edward was positioned as a Police Officer Instructor in Bolton,  on 18 March 1871 an inspection of the Borough Police Force reported in the Bolton Chronicle, that "the force was a remarkably fine body of men".

Edward & Eliza's family grew further with the arrival of Lilias in 1871 and finally Beatrice Barlow in 1875, when Eliza was aged 43.

Edward Austwick returned to his original career, now as a 'Master Draper' on Market Street, alongside sparing "unstinting devotion" in representing the interests of the Queen Street Mission for over 25 years.  With a compassionate heart he rejoiced in the children rescued, homes changed and lives transformed.

We're curious as to why Beatrice (my father's grandmother) was christened Beatrice 'Barlow' Austwick?  Would it have been out of respect for George Clough Barlow, founder and benefactor of the above mentioned Queen Street Mission? 

George Clough Barlow Back Story -

Following the loss of their little girl (Lizzie, aged 4), Mr & Mrs George Clough Barlow "opened their hearts and home to the sadly deprived urchins of Bolton Streets".   The Queen Street Mission opened in 1873 in the old Brass Foundry on Queen St, known as "The Ragged School".  For 19 years George Clough Barlow laboured in the cause of the children of Bolton.  My Mum was fortunate enough to spot the book "Sent From God" on Amazon (if you wanted to/could pick up a copy, it makes enlightening reading of life in the 1880s), I wouldn't want to re quote too much, however, to set the scene:

"It was estimated that over 1,000 Bolton children were underfed, under clothed and insufficiently sheltered, their physical and moral wellbeing was sadly and seriously neglected.  Many of them were the frequent recipients of blows and curses, instead of kindness and love, not a few were sent out in the coldest weather to earn or beg money for themselves, or in some cases, for idle and drunken parents"

Sadly, it seems George Clough Barlow passed away before witnessing the epoch of the Queen Street Mission, however, Edward Austwick and other benefactors ensured the scheme was taken up "with much enthusiasm and energy".

The Queen Street Mission provided a large mission school with vigorous evangelistic temperance and rescue work among the poor and outcast, a 'ragged' school, a home for fallen or homeless girls, a seaside home in Lytham for cripples, free meals and clogs.

In May 1893 eight stones were laid at the new Queen Street Mission, which retained it's name at the new location on Central Street, by gentlemen, including my ancestor, Edward Austwick with eight commemorative silver trowels and eight mallets – one of these sets has been passed on to my Dad and is proudly displayed.  The last stone was laid by Edward Austwick, saying "he was some of the fruit of the work at Queen Street".  A Mr E Deakin said it was a 'red letter day' in the history of the mission, he considered the work be of 'true religion' and suggested that 80 more stones were laid by ladies of the Queen Street Mission.

Bolton Evening News, Monday 2 May 1893

Edward Austwick's stone at the Queen Street Mission
(there might be a joke in there for today's 'mission' but I'll not!)

On Tuesday 3rd December 2019 Dad & Mum took me to the exact location of Queen Street Mission (now home of Premier Beds!).  The owners kindly let us have a browse inside where we could summon up in our minds the smell of warm food, the noise of clogs & chatter and gain a sense of the sanctuary.  I tried to imagine the spiritual needs of poor and destitute being delivered from what remains of the upper loft floor.

The same day we returned to Heaton Cemetary at Overdale, Bolton where we located Edward Austwick's gravestone, literally a one row further on from James Wood's (see blog 10/10/2017)!

Regrettably, in my excitement, I took my photo of the gravestone before we subsequently cleaned it up!  Both sides of the gravestone are engraved with names, the sexton at the cemetery told us this is very unusual - somewhat indicative of our thrifty Yorkshire and Lancashire heritage!

Side one of the gravestone at Heaton Cemetary, Overdale, Bolton

Continuation on side 2 - the engraving a little more worn, but cleaner!

One of the eight silver trowels and mallets, alongside a necklace gifted to my grandmother, Edna Beatrice Moss