Laura Fitton
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Research by Marjorie Gregson
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Laura Fitton, nee May, was born in Oldham in 1874 to William May, a shoemaker, and his wife, Mary. In the 1891 census she was living in Oldham and working as a 'bobbin reeler'.
In 1898, in Preston, she married William Fitton, born 1868 in Shaw, Lancashire, to Richard Fitton, a cotton weaver, and his wife Ann. In 1911 William and Laura were living in Preston, at which time he was employed as the headteacher at the Parish Church School, Avenham Lane, Preston, a post he held from1900 -1928. Following his retirement they moved to 16 Avondale Road, St Annes on Sea, where they named their house 'Avenham'. During WW1 Laura wrote many poems for The Preston Herald under the pseudonym Aloysia Meredith. A sample verse of her writing reads:
“Night and death surround us,
Lift on high Thy light,
Let Thy sword be with us,
God defend the right.”
William wrote in the Lancashire Daily Post of 21 September 1929:
“The Inspirational Writings of ALOYSIA MEREDITH, Laura Fitton, will shortly be published in magazine form. Will those interested who have not given their names, write for information to W. Fitton, “Avenham”, Avondale Road, St. Annes."
William died in 1941. Laura died in Bushell’s Hospital, near Goosnargh, in 1960. Probate was granted to Harold May.
Laura Fitton donated 12 pencil sketches to the Collection on 24 November 1941 (the year of William's death). Only one, Seabirds, can be located at this time. Other titles recorded are:
Stand in an easy position, so
Thank you, that will do!
Ah! you will look better sitting, thus
You are being taken now - don't move, don't move
Nude man
Nude woman
Prize work
Hand and Scroll
Fruit
The Council Minutes stated that as it was wartime it was difficult to find accommodation for the sketches, so arrangements could be made for them to be hung in the Technical and Art School on a temporary basis. It is not known what happened to these sketches.
A watercolour, Bracken Harvest, 17 x 30 in (43 x 78 cm), Acc No 103, also painted by William, was donated on the same date. It is highly probable that this was also given by Mrs Fitton; records show it c/o Mrs Jackson, Heatherleigh, 128 Longridge Road, Preston.
REFERENCES
www.findmypast.co.uk/
www.freebmd.org.uk
www.amounderness.co.uk
www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk
Lancashire Daily Post
Preston Herald
In 1898, in Preston, she married William Fitton, born 1868 in Shaw, Lancashire, to Richard Fitton, a cotton weaver, and his wife Ann. In 1911 William and Laura were living in Preston, at which time he was employed as the headteacher at the Parish Church School, Avenham Lane, Preston, a post he held from1900 -1928. Following his retirement they moved to 16 Avondale Road, St Annes on Sea, where they named their house 'Avenham'. During WW1 Laura wrote many poems for The Preston Herald under the pseudonym Aloysia Meredith. A sample verse of her writing reads:
“Night and death surround us,
Lift on high Thy light,
Let Thy sword be with us,
God defend the right.”
William wrote in the Lancashire Daily Post of 21 September 1929:
“The Inspirational Writings of ALOYSIA MEREDITH, Laura Fitton, will shortly be published in magazine form. Will those interested who have not given their names, write for information to W. Fitton, “Avenham”, Avondale Road, St. Annes."
William died in 1941. Laura died in Bushell’s Hospital, near Goosnargh, in 1960. Probate was granted to Harold May.
Laura Fitton donated 12 pencil sketches to the Collection on 24 November 1941 (the year of William's death). Only one, Seabirds, can be located at this time. Other titles recorded are:
Stand in an easy position, so
Thank you, that will do!
Ah! you will look better sitting, thus
You are being taken now - don't move, don't move
Nude man
Nude woman
Prize work
Hand and Scroll
Fruit
The Council Minutes stated that as it was wartime it was difficult to find accommodation for the sketches, so arrangements could be made for them to be hung in the Technical and Art School on a temporary basis. It is not known what happened to these sketches.
A watercolour, Bracken Harvest, 17 x 30 in (43 x 78 cm), Acc No 103, also painted by William, was donated on the same date. It is highly probable that this was also given by Mrs Fitton; records show it c/o Mrs Jackson, Heatherleigh, 128 Longridge Road, Preston.
REFERENCES
www.findmypast.co.uk/
www.freebmd.org.uk
www.amounderness.co.uk
www.probatesearch.service.gov.uk
Lancashire Daily Post
Preston Herald
