Kate had two sisters. Eliza was four years her senior and Georgina was two and a half years younger than Kate. Their mother was a dress-maker. I wonder if the girls were taught to make their own clothes at home?

Their twin brothers George and Louis were born when Kate was six. It is likely that once Eliza went into service Kate would often have been responsible for the boys.

We do not know which school the Ching children attended, but all the children were educated. They lived about equidistant from Belstone and Sticklepath. Both had Dame schools at times. Miss Martha Gillard had her day school in Belstone and I suspect the children went to her. Martha Eliza Gillard (b.1838) was of Irish extraction, but began her private school in Weigelia Cottage, Belstone by the age of 19. She is in William White’s directory 1878-9. At times it seems her mother Letitia ran the school, between them the school continued for 53 years, ending in 1910. Miss Gillard had a wooden leg, but that didn’t stop her. She lived to the grand age of 91 years.

Weigelia Cottage (Later Stoneycott) with the next generation of the Ching Family (George and Rose).

Miss Gillard is said to have used an ebony cane. After punishing a child she would wrap their hand in cobwebs to stem the bleeding and ease the pain.

For some children at that time Sunday school was their only opportunity to learn to read and write. The Ching Family were Methodist. Sticklepath chapel was very popular and a school room was added, opening in 1866 which must have been exciting for the 6 year old Kate. The bell was added at the same time, very unusual for Methodism. It rang for well over 100 years, calling people in to worship.

Her story continues – Kate’s time In Service…

Bibliography – includes information from The Book of Belstone 2002 Chris and Marion Walpole.