ADA ELIZABETH WOOLLACOTT

DEATH OF MRS. WOOLLACOTT

FORMER MATRON OF POOR LAW INSTITUTION

    We regret to record the death, which occurred suddenly on Saturday, of Mrs. Ada Elizabeth Woollacott, widow of Mr. William Woollacott, for nearly forty years Master of Newbury Poor Law Institution. Although she had been attended by a doctor for some time, her death came as a great shock to her many friends. She had attended a function on Friday evening, and went to bed apparently in her usual health. When her morning cup of tea was taken her the next day she was found dead in bed.

    Eldest daughter of the late Mr. W. Blight of Barnstaple, Mrs. Woollacott, who was in her 60th year, came to Newbury in 1908 when her husband took up his appointment as Master of the Institution. As Matron she combined strict disciplinary management with a kind and solicitous care of the inmates in her charge. In fact it was the timely influence that Mr. and Mrs. Woollacott brought to bear that made life at the "House on the Hill" run so smoothly and happily, and when Mrs. Woollacott went into retirement on her husband's death in October 1927, the inmates felt they had lost a good and kind friend. latterly she had been living at Falkland Road, Wash Common. She leaves two sons and two daughters.

    The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday), the first part of the service at the Northbrook-street Methodist Church, being conducted by the Rev. G. Glandfield, assisted by the Rev. J. Riach. The Rev. J.N. Blagden, vicar of Greenham, read the lesson....

The mourners were Mr. L. Woollacott, Mr. J.K. Woollacott (sons), Mrs. P. Prendergast, Mrs. H.W. Pemberton (daughters), Messrs. w.G. and L.G. Blight (brothers), Mrs. J.H. Chapple (sister), Rev. H.W. Pemberton, Mr.P. Prendergast (sons-in-law), Mrs. L.W. Woollacott (daughter-in-law), Mr. J.h. Chapple (brother-in-law), Miss A. Woollacott (niece), Miss S. Pocock.

Newbury Weekly News 29 March 1934

Mrs .P.  p. 57 Ch 6

Died 24 March 1934 Bk 1917 page 178 no. 11022 from 9 Falkland Road.

Also Geoffrey Stuart child of... born 29 Sept 1911 died 14 August 1912

Also William died 22 October 1927 aged 64

GRAVE OF THE MONTH

Ada Elizabeth Bright was born in Barnstaple, Devon in 1874. She married William Woollacott in 1900.
Ada came to Newbury in 1908 when William was employed as Master of Newbury Union Workhouse. They had five children, Geoffrey died before his first birthday in 1912 and is buried in NRC. In her role as Matron, she “combined strict disciplinary management with a kind and solicitous care of the inmates”
During the Woollacotts’ time the ‘House on The Hill’ was run “smoothly and happily”. They grew fresh vegetables for the inmates and entertainments were provided: magic lantern show; outings for tea and garden fetes and treats such as oranges, tea, tobacco, sugar, bound volumes of magazines. William died in 1927, Ada retired to a new semidetached house in Falkland Road, Wash Common. William was buried with Geoffrey, as was Ada in 1934.