Barbara Clark nee Hood (1853-1932)

This is probably one of the oldest photographs I have in my collection. Here is my great grandmother, Barbara Clark, who was born in 1853 in Dunston on Tyneside. This portrait photograph was taken by P M Laws, a popular, well known and greatly respected local photographer whose studio was in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Considering its age, it is still in reasonable condition (my best guess is that this photograph is over 120 years old, being taken around 1890 when Barbara would be in her mid-late thirties). There is some staining and marks on the background, and the usual haze and sepia caused by ageing, but using Photoshop Elements I was able to carefully remove all of this. 

Original

Improved Original with a little sepia removed

I don't know much about Barbara, I wish I did, but looking carefully at the photograph, I see a mature woman, with staring eyes, someone not fully relaxed, taken in the usual unsmiling pose, required by photographers in those days. Perhaps this was the first time Barbara had been in a photographic studio, and was quite intimidated by the whole process of having her photograph taken by Mr P M Laws.  I have recently learnt from one of Barbara Clark's Great Grandaughters that "apparently Barbara saved a few pennies a week in a 'club' and once there was enough money the club member went to the photographers to have their photo taken."   

Barbara, like so many of her contemporaries, bore a large family, (by the time this photograph was taken Barbara could have already given birth to nine or ten of her twelve children).  She probably is not as old as she looks in this photograph, as having so many children would contributed to her looking older than she actually was. Her smart, simple dress more than likely was her 'Sunday best,' with the broach, necklace and wedding ring probably the only jewelry she owned.  

The clues to all this speculation are contained in the paperwork I have, such as my Grandma's birth certificate and wedding certificate, and family tree information. 

• In 1872 at the age of 19 Barbara married John Clark aged 21, both lived in Gateshead.     

• I know Barbara was unable to read or write, as in 1875, on my Grandma's birth certificate, it states "x the mark of Barbara Clark Mother - 14 Easton Street Gateshead."

• Margaret was Barbara's second child, the eldest daughter of twelve children.

• The birth certificate also revealed that Barbara and John, my great grandpa, was an Iron Puddler.  It is most likely that he would have been working for one of two companies in Gateshead - Hawks, Crawshay & Sons or John Abbot and Co.

• In 1839, Hawks employed around 800 men and boys. To give you an idea what a skilled tradesmen earned around this time (a Puddler was skilled) they received 22 shillings per week while labourers were paid 2 shillings per day. 

• Life in an Iron Works was hard. John Clark probably did 12 hours shifts - 6:00am to 6:00pm with a Saturday shift finishing at 4:00pm. Holidays were 2 days at Christmas and 2 half days at Easter and Whitsuntide. Some employers provided benefits for their employees such as schools and housing.  It is recorded that despite the hard work, low wages and long hours (typical of the period) that Hawks' men were apparently contented workers. 

 

• John Abbot and Company's works were situated at South Shore, Gateshead employing almost 2,000 men. They produced goods in iron, brass, pewter, and copper in all shapes and sizes.  Nearly 2,000 men and boys were employed. The rolling mill had 34 puddling and ball furnaces. 

• By 1910 both companies had gone out of business.                                       
• Puddling, as a trade, was a dangerous occupation, but was also seen as highly skilled, as it required physical strength, stamina and concentration. These skills were usually passed down from father to son; only the human eye and touch could separate out the solidifying decarburised metal. Having this skill was reflected in a higher rate of pay. Apparently few Puddlers lived past forty, but fortuitously John moved on, probably because the Iron Works had closed.  At the age of 28 John was still living in Gateshead, but by the next Census in 1891 John and Barbara were living in Winlaton.  John survived to a ripe old age, dying aged 82 in 1933.