Confirmation Dresses - and a Watford Photographer.

A Confirmation Dress

Family Events

In the Church of England there is infant baptism and when one becomes older there is an opportunity to confirm ones membership of the church. In this service women are dressed as a bride, and this one can be seen holding a prayer book.

The picture was taken in about 1911 and on the back there is an order for 6 reprints for Miss  "F hory" ???

So who is it? A search on the 1911 came up with no obvious match and the best I could find was Frances Honey, 47, Asylum Nurse, M A B, boarding at Martin Square, Abbots Langley. Can anyone come up with a more likely possibility?

Photographers

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The photograph was taken by William Frederick Southwood, and as it gives his address as "40 Market Street, Watford, late Woodford Road" it must have been taken soon after his brother, Joseph James Southwood retired from the business - suggesting a date of about 1911. This is the first example of William's work I have found.

Adult Baptism, Confirmation & Holy Commumion

Tring

It is important to remember that not all Church of England baptisms were infant baptisms as this interesting document shows. Doris Sutherland Thomas was born in 1891 but was not baptised until four days before she was confirmed by the Bishop of Barking in 1910. She lived at the Mill House, Brook Street, Tring.

On the main web site (Walter Thomas, Mill House, Tring)  I have posted some information about the house and her family.

Silk Mills

Walter Thomas was born in the Scilly Islands, the son of a shipwright, and he became a marine engineer in Kent. Meanwhile Lord Rothschild was making changes in Tring and closed the Silk Mill - converting it to become his estate management department. He employed Walter Thomas as an engineer, who was responsible for supply electricity to Tring Park and became estate engineer.