The Misses Beale and their impact on girls' education
There are many references in local directories and the census to the Misses Beale who lived in Woodchester in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1891, Mary Henrietta and Margaret Jane were living at Larchgrove in Selsley Road. They were daughters of Miles Beale, a surgeon in London (but originally from Bisley) and his wife Dorothea Margaret Complin. They appear to have lived "on their own means" until their deaths in 1909 and 1926 respectively.
In 1901, their brother, Henry Blenkarne Beale, a retired wood engraver who had been deaf from birth, was living at Rosare in South Woodchester with his family. He was probably renting the house but in 1905 his sister, Anna Chrysogon Beale bought it and moved in. In 1911, she describes herself as a spinster but she had in fact had an interesting career. She had served as head of the lower school at Cheltenham Ladies College where her next older sister, Dorothea was the long term and very successful principal. Around 1877, Anna moved to Belmont House School in Leicester, By 1891, she was retired and living in London. Anna died in 1919 and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
Dorothea who founded St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1893, remained as principal of Cheltenham Ladies College until her death from cancer in 1906. She was cremated and her ashes buried in Gloucester Cathedral.
Education was still important in the next generation. Henry Blenkarne Beale's eldest daughter, Dorothea Marion Beale BA who was born in Canada, was appointed the first headmistress of Stroud High School when it was formed in 1904.
There are many references in local directories and the census to the Misses Beale who lived in Woodchester in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1891, Mary Henrietta and Margaret Jane were living at Larchgrove in Selsley Road. They were daughters of Miles Beale, a surgeon in London (but originally from Bisley) and his wife Dorothea Margaret Complin. They appear to have lived "on their own means" until their deaths in 1909 and 1926 respectively.
In 1901, their brother, Henry Blenkarne Beale, a retired wood engraver who had been deaf from birth, was living at Rosare in South Woodchester with his family. He was probably renting the house but in 1905 his sister, Anna Chrysogon Beale bought it and moved in. In 1911, she describes herself as a spinster but she had in fact had an interesting career. She had served as head of the lower school at Cheltenham Ladies College where her next older sister, Dorothea was the long term and very successful principal. Around 1877, Anna moved to Belmont House School in Leicester, By 1891, she was retired and living in London. Anna died in 1919 and is buried in St Mary's Churchyard.
Dorothea who founded St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1893, remained as principal of Cheltenham Ladies College until her death from cancer in 1906. She was cremated and her ashes buried in Gloucester Cathedral.
Education was still important in the next generation. Henry Blenkarne Beale's eldest daughter, Dorothea Marion Beale BA who was born in Canada, was appointed the first headmistress of Stroud High School when it was formed in 1904.