Celia Bell 1902
The original sampler size is: 11 inches wide x 15 inches high.
This sampler has many of the common characteristics of a later Redwork Bristol (1890 - 1900). There is more spacing between the alphabet lines and the motifs. Not every inch of cloth was filled on samplers that were stitched closer to 1900. As the girls acquired additional motifs to stitch, the selection presented on the later samplers became more varied. This 1902 sampler features older and newer motifs.
What is unusual in this sampler is that Celia stitched her what might have been her teacher's name - Miss Doman. The initials in the sampler represent her family members. Celia was 10 years old when she entered the orphanage. Another unusual thing Celia did was to work a little top stitched edge over the Hen stitched edge of the sampler. We are beginning to see more samplers from this time period with a bonus decorative edge that was stitched or tatted.
This sampler is in a private collection. The image shown on this website is used with permission.
Orphan Story
Thomas Edward Bell aged 21, a railway clerk for the NER married Sarah Jane Coates aged 17 in Sunderland 1881. They had five children.
Ernest b. 1882
Audrey b. 13 January 1884
Celia b. 9 April 1886
Hilda b. 19 December 1887
Rhoda b. 1893
Thomas became a fireman on the SS Rothiemay of Newcastle and died of an internal hemorrhage, whilst on board, due to a broken blood vessel in August 1894. Two years later Sarah Jane died in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne, age 33 of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Their aunt Mrs. C A Coates of Rothbury Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne contacted the Ashley Down House, to see if she could place the children in their care. In 1896 Mrs. Coates contacted Thomas Bell's mother in Sunderland and wrote, 'I told her of the death of the mother and how destitute the five children were, but she would not assist them in anyway, and told me plainly she would do nothing for them, so I have not troubled her again'.
Three of the Bell girls entered the orphanage on 3rd Sept 1896.
9435 - Audrey (age 12)
After Audrey was sent to Ashley Down she had failing health, and it was felt she would not be able to get a job whilst in this condition.
[When this happened the child was sent back to their relatives or whoever agreed to take them back if there was an issue. A child could not be admitted to the orphanage without something in place for them to live if they could not stay at the orphanage. This back up plan was called - The Undertakings.]
9436 - Celia (age 10)
Celia Bell left Ashley Down on the 22nd June 1903, having gained employment as a house parlour maid to Mrs Stancombe at Rockville, Weston Super Mare.
9437 - Hilda (age 8) [The rest of her story is unknown]
Brother Ernest (age 14) stayed in Heaton, as he gained a job as an errand boy.
Younger sister Rhoda (age 3) was adopted by a local lady and given a home.
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