by Jill Burton.
Edie was born in Long Stratton, in Norfolk, the daughter of George and Maria Fairman. George was a wheelwright.
Their children were
Edith Maria b 1880
Jane Elizabeth (Jinnie) b 1882
George b 1886
William b 1888
Rose b 1889
Lucy M b 1890
On the 1891 census they were living at Short Lane Cottage, Swardeston, a village about 3 miles south-west of Norfolk.
On the 1901 census Edith was a nursemaid for the family of a surgeon in Huddersfield. Her sister Jane (Jinnie) came to work at Erddig in 1902, first as 2nd Laundrymaid, then as 2nd housemaid
In the summer of 1906 Edith visited her sister at Erddig, and afterwards she wrote a postcard to Erddig’s Nurse, Lucy Hitchman, who collected postcards.
Huddersfield p/m 31 Aug 1906
to Miss Lucy Hitchman, Erddig Park, Wrexham, N. Wales
Dear Lucy, hope you will like the card. It’s one corner of our park. In the centre is the fish pond. You see I arrived home safe. I very often think of you all & wish I was at Erddig. I did enjoy being there & you were all so kind to me. I have just come back from town. With love from Edith.
Kisses for babies [this would be Simon IV & Philip III Yorke]
Edith was appointed 3rd laundrymaid at Erddig for about a year from the beginning to the end of 1907, at the time that an extra 3rd laundrymaid was employed, presumably because of the extra washing for the 2 small children in the family.
She was paid £1.9.0d + 4/- beer money per month.
She must have wanted to be with her sister as she left a job she had had for at least 6 years in Huddersfield – or perhaps it was because when she visited she had met Erddig’s groom, Thomas Goulding?
In September 1907 Edie went back to Norfolk to see her mother, perhaps to tell her she had had an offer of marriage, and she sent a postcard to Lucy Hitchman –
“Norwich 17 Sept 1907
Dear Lucy, This is one of the Norfolk Broads. We are having a nice time & fine weather. Have got nearly every day booked for somewhere. Trying to get mother to go to Hudd with me.
Love from Edie.”
Edith left Erddig at the end of 1907 to marry Erddig groom Thomas Goulding. He also left Erddig soon after.
Philip and Louisa Yorke gave them a wedding present of a wall clock which they always kept. (picture below)
In 1911 Thomas and Edith were living at 13, Empress Road, Wrexham with their son John age 2. Thomas was a coachman for an undertaker.
Thomas later opened a boot and shoe repair shop in Penybryn, Wrexham and he and Edie moved to 10 Earle Street.
Son Robert was born in 1920.
The 3 sisters, from the left, Jinnie, Rose and Edie.
Thomas died in 1950 age 66.
Edie died at home in Earle Street in 1953 age 73. She was buried in Wrexham Cemetery on 29th Dec 1953 in Grave R-04751, the same as her husband.
Laundry in 2013 Laundry in 2013 Laundry in 2013
ERDDIG SERVANTS RECORD SHEET
Servants Details
Christian Name(s): Edith Maria (known as Edie)
Surname: Goulding
Maiden Name: Fairman
Date of Birth: 1880
Date of Death: 1953
Job(s) at Erddig: 3rd Laundry maid
Start Date: Jan 1907
Finish Date: Dec 1907
Reason for leaving? Marriage
Researched by Jill Burton. January 2019.
