The Watkin's family garden

From the original glass slide description published on The Lancashire Archives , this image shows the kitchen garden at Dane Bank.  

It depicts 59 year old Mr Alfred Watkin, seated with his wife Edith, who was two years younger. Their 23 year old daughter, Hester who is the youngest of their five children is leaning on the tree whilst Lucilla Hill, the governess is standing behind the bench.

Later in 1917, Hester married William Molesworth and lived at Foxley House on Higher Lane with a staff of seven.  A daughter, Gwendolen was born in 1919.

Alfred Watkin died in 1947 at the age of 89. Sadly, he had outlived not only his wife, but most of his children as well. Edith died in 1931 at the age of 70 and had been married for 46 years.

Their daughter Edith died in 1928 in Norfolk aged 42. Their sons, Alfred and Hugh survived the First World War.

Alfred died in Flintshire in 1938 aged 50

Hugh resigned his commission in 1928 and became a farmer in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In 1940 he re-joined the army dying unexpectedly while on active service in Kenya in 1943. He was 51.

Hester died in Tasmania in 1966, aged 70.

Alfred Watkin and his wife lived at Dane Bank for the rest of their lives and are  buried in St Mary's Churchyard.

Research by Mr Roger Hannam