Mabel Watson.  Nee Mabel Edge Born 1898

My grandma Mabel Edge was born in Manchester on a glorious fine spring day “Primrose Day” April 1898 spring flowers were in bloom.Her parents Lillian Florence and Arthur were overjoyed with their firstborn.

Mabel was born into a wealthy family her mother Lillian one of the Carr’s family The Carr’s owned a confectionary business in Bury Lancashire.

Her Father a very successful businessman the owner of Arthur Edge Mineral waters.  A cinema owner and landlord of many houses in greater Manchester and a well respected member of Longsight Methodist Church.

Business was very busy during the summer months. Mabel remembered as a five year old a special holiday treat to a visit to her Grandfather at Colwyn Bay.

They left Longsight in a pony and trap for the very long journey to Wales.
After stopping part way on the journey grandma went to feed the horse unfortunately the horse was startled by something and kicked grandma on the leg.
A local hotelier rushed out at shouted “Oh my this is a bad do she needs to go to hospital”.   Shelter and first aid was given by the hotelier and after long rest they managed to carry on their journey to Grandpa’s.

 

From a very early age Mabel grew up with the soft drink trade she lived on Stockport road longsight. With her Mother and Father and a housekeeper.
Mabel enjoyed her school days and had many friends one of her best friend
Came from Bess of the Barn in North Manchester.
During her days at school grandma became interested in music played the piano.
Enjoyed singing and became quite an accomplished painter in watercolours.

The business used horses and wagons to supply the shops with mineral waters.
Grandma loved the horses.
Years passed and in her late teens a handsome and charming man walked into her life a company representative with a good family background.
Mabel rebelled against family talk. Perhaps he was married.
It was Victorian Britain attitudes were very different then.
Grandma became pregnant the family was in disgrace it was decided to send her away to Timperley with Mother Florence.
After all the scandal it is rumoured the father left Manchester to start a new life in America.

Autumn 1918 grandma gave birth a healthy boy. My Dad.
His birth certificate includes his date of birth 3rd of October 1918 born 27 Heyes Lane Timperley,  With the name Arthur, his mother Mabel Edge of no occupation,
And witnessed by Mabels dad also called Arthur Edge of 27 Heyes Lane, registered the fifth of October 1918, the registrar was signed by Thomas Pritchard. The fathers name left blank.

 

Gradually life became normal and Arthur was accepted by Mabel’s mum and dad.
As years passed a close bond formed between the young Arthur and his grandfather an heir to the mineral water business.
The family never talked about Arthur’s father all records erased.

The family Bible has the name cut out Dads
Army record book has his fathers name removed.
I would love to know more it’s a great shame a part of history lost in time.
Not even knowing my Grandfathers name.
Any questions when dad and grandma were alive caused them a lot of embarrassment a subject never talked about.

Mabel’s dad had a few close friends The Harrison’s and the Astles.

Slowly Mabel began to regain her social life she became friends with Kathleen Astle’s and the Astles family she joined Timperley Methodist Church. Joined the sewing meeting and the taught at the Timperley Methodist Sunday school.
And played tennis twice a week at Heyes Lane Tennis Club.

Arthur met Vera Horsfield my mum at Sunday School at Timperley Methodist.
They fell in love Arthur married and moved to Park drive.

War broke out dad joined the TA.
Mabel joined WRVS to help the war effort. They moved to 26 Westwood Ave Timperley. The business had to close down during the war.

One evening they were sitting in the lounge the Germans were sending bombers over to destroy munician factories at Trafford Park.
One plane missed his target and aimed for the railway at the end of Westwood Ave he missed again and the bomb fell on the house next door.
The Edge family survived but it was too much for Mabel’s dad he died sometime afterwards.

Years passed Mabel met an interesting Widower Harry Watson a keen member of the church they fell in love and and were married sometime later.

They married and bought a house on Acresfield road.
Harry a great character and a good talker had a very high position in British Telecom a union leader and strong beliefs in the church.
Harry had a daughter Ruth by his first marriage.
Unfortunately Ruth’s husband was killed during war time flying with the RAF.
Ruth Barkley was expecting a baby at the time.
Ruth gave birth to Roger Barkley times were hard bringing a child up on her own.
Mabel’s grandmother moved to a house closeby  “Korma”. Moss Lane Timperley she spent many happy years with her housekeeper Mrs Saville as years passed
They both became rather frail.

 

Grandma’s big old house 26 Westwood Avenue they use to live at became vacant
Harry suggested why don’t we all live together in the very big house.
Grandma Mabel Watson, Harry Watson, Ruth and Roger, Granny Florence Edge.

They spent many happy years together.