Christmas 1899

MY
Christmas

Diary, 1899.

Found by chance, lying forgotten in the depths of the archives of Goole Museum,
this delightful little book provides us with a fascinating insight into one local family’s
Christmas in 1899.

We hear first-hand details of how a Victorian Christmas was celebrated in the
household of Hook Hall … of benevolent acts such as the distribution of shawls to
the poor of Hook, of the Church Coffee Supper and Jumble Sale, of shooting parties
in the grounds of the Hall and of a trip to the dentist in Goole by two of the six chil-
dren who had come to spend Christmas with their Aunty Lucy and Uncle Will.

Research has shown that all of the characters mentioned within this diary were real
people, often with fascinating and memorable lives – sadly long since forgotten.

So, join us as we step back in time and take a peep at this family as they prepare to
celebrate Christmas at Hook Hall, 112 years ago.

Brief details of some of the people mentioned in the diary:

The six nippers:
These were the children of Captain (later to become Major, 10th Royal Hussars) Arthur Edward Poole
(1850-1930, born Letwell, Yorkshire, son of Rev. Thomas and Mary Brown Poole) and his late wife
Mary Dunbar Smith (1863-1895, born Lucknow, India, daughter of James Dunbar Smith):
• Florence Mary Mildred Poole, born about 1882, Lucknow, India;
• Maude Gertrude Eleanor Poole, born about 1884, Lucknow, India;
• Thomas Frederick Alexander Poole, born about 1885, Shorncliffe, Kent; By 1901, Thomas was

attending The Forest School, Walthamstow. He went on to serve in India and died in Derby-
shire in 1944.
• Beatrice Margaret Isabel Poole (Bea), born about 1887, Hounslow, Middlesex;
• Hugh Edward Algernon Poole, born about 1889, York, Yorkshire. By 1901, Hugh was a stu-
dent at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, popularly known as The Bluecoat School. He served in the
11th Hussars in WWI and sadly died of his wounds on 2nd June 1915.
• Anthony A.J. Poole (Little Tony), born about 1893, India. He became a Captain in the RAF ,
and by 1921, was working as a planter in Tanganyika. He died in 1955 in Gloucestershire.
• Evelyn Poole (the littlest nipper), born about 1894, Cahri Co., Tipperary, Ireland

(It is possible that Thomas was the “absent” son that Christmas and that Hugh was the nipper nick-
named “Dick”)

Nurse: This was probably Julia Davies, born about 1867 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
The Parson: Uncle Will and Aunty Lucy:
The Reverend William and Mrs Harriet Booth. Rev. Booth was Vicar of Hook from 1879 – 1911. He
and his wife lived at Hook Hall, which was the Vicarage at that time.
William Booth married Lucy Harriet Poole, sister of Arthur Edward Poole, in 1898.
Paddy Grayburn:
Lionel “Paddy” Grayburn served as a volunteer with the Yeomanry in the Boer War.
Clerk:
James Lees was the organist at Hook Church for over thirty years. He lived in Rose Cottage and
made clay pipes in his workshop which was situated opposite the school.
Father Prowde:
This is likely to be Robert Prowde, who was Vicar of Rawcliffe, Yorkshire.
Mrs Jebb:
It seems likely that this may be Emma Louisa Jebb, wife of Henry Gladwin Jebb, Clerk in Holy Orders
and Justice of the Peace, living in Firbeck, Yorkshire.
Miss Buckle:
Lucy Elizabeth Buckle was born about 1808 in York and died at Howden in 1901, aged 93. Miss
Buckle lived at The Chestnuts in Howden.
Mr Turton:
Thomas C. Turton practised as a dentist in the Boothferry Road, Goole for many years.

Mistress Crow; Rosey; Lily:
It is possible that these may be Mrs Rosa Crow and her daughters, Rosa and Lilian, who lived with
their father, Philip and brother, Frederick, in Howden.
Martha:
This was probably Martha Lound, Housemaid, born c. 1872, Firbeck cum Letwell, Nottinghamshire.
The Cook:
This may have been Emma Brown, born about 1874 in Firbeck cum Letwell, Nottinghamshire.
Mr Tong:
Charles Tong was the Head Teacher of the National School at Hook. He joined the school in 1890,
on the retirement of Mr Greenwood, and remained in post until August 1929.

Locations: Goole
Howden
Hook Hall, Goole The Chestnuts
Hook Church Hook School
Mad Dog Lane
Rawcliffe
Howdendyke Ferry

HOOK HALL GOOLE

































HOOK CHURCH









THE REV. R. PROWDE









“LOOK OUT !”









GOOLE







AUNT LUCY AND UNCLE WILL





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