Trafford

Born Henrietta Clegg on the 6th March 1874, the birth being registered
during the June quarter 1874 in the Burnley R.D. - ref: 8e/200, the eldest
daughter of Stansfield & Ellen Clegg (nee Emmott).

1881 Census - 97 Ardwick Street, Burnley, Lancashire.    Daughter - aged: 7
- Scholar - born: Burnley, Lancashire.    Head of household - Stansfield
Clegg - Married - aged: 31 - occ: Cotton Weaver - born: Colne, Lancashire. 
 Also Ellen Clegg - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Burnley.    Plus 2 younger
siblings.

1891 Census - Navigation Road, Altrincham.     Daughter - aged: 17 - occ:
Dressmaker - born: Burnley, Lancashire.  Head of household - Stansfield
Clegg - Married - aged: 41 - occ: Cab Proprietor - born: Colne, Lancashire.
  Also Ellen Clegg - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Padiham, Lancashire.    Plus 6
younger siblings  and according to the birth dates, the family had moved to
Altrincham by 1882.

Married William Barker at St. George's P.C., Altrincham on the 15th March
1899, the marriage being registered during the March quarter 1899 in the
Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/208.  He was a 23 year old bachelor residing at Moss
Lane and Henrietta, a 24 year old spinster residing at Navigation Road,
Altrincham.

William served as a Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery during WW1 - No.
54778.   His Attestation record, states that he was employed as an
Upholsterer and that they were residing  with their three children at "West
View", 87 Oldfield Road, Altrincham.

1901 Census - Hall Lane, Grappenhall, Cheshire.     Visitor - Married -
aged: 27 - born: Burnley, Lancashire.    Also listed - William Barker -
Visitor - Married - aged: 25 - occ: Upholsterer - born: Altrincham.    Head
of household was William's mother, a widowed Farmer.

1911 Census - 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.     Wife - aged: 37 - born:
Burnley, Lancashire.     Head of household - William Barker - Married -
aged: 35 - occ: Upholsterer - born: Altrincham.    Plus 2 daughters and a
son.

1921 Census - 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.    Wife - aged: 47 - occ;
housekeeper - born: Altrincham, Cheshire.     Head of household - William
Barker - Married - aged: 45 - occ: Upholsterer, employed by Clarke Brothers
(Furnishers), Kingsway, Altrincham - born: Altrincham.    Plus 3 daughters
and 2 sons..  The eldest daughter and elder son were employed by Linotype.
Ltd, Broadheath.

1939  National Registration - 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.  William Barker
- Married - born: 3rd October 1875 - occ: House Fitter Heavy Engineering. 
Henrietta Barker - Married - born: 8th March 1874 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of the "Manchester Blitz", a
bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying four houses and killing 12 civilians. 

Aged 66, Henrietta was killed at 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham, where she
lived with her husband William Barker.   William, who survived the
explosion, was an Upholsterer/Cabinet maker.    The ARP Rescue Services had
to dig in the rubble to locate Henrietta.    Her CWD Ref No.1 states that
she was buried by Masonry and was still in her pyjamas when found at 06.00
hrs on the 24th December 1940.   Her body was taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's
Mortuary, Stamford New Road, Altrincham and identified by her husband,
William Barker.    Henrietta was buried in Bowdon (St. Mary's) Churchyard. 
   Buried 28/12/1940 - Burial No. 30/3198.

Although not individually named, Henrietta is one of the 12 local residents
killed at this site and around the corner on Moss Lane who are commemorated
in the Memorial Garden on the corner of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local residents, relatives of the
victims and civic dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at the
memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham, to the 12 civilians that died
when a German bomb landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago to the
day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a photographer and a short report of
the ceremony appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their newspaper.  
 The Hale, Sale & Altrincham Independent Newspaper also reported the event
in their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting feedback from relatives of
victims and those involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event further and wrote a number of
excellent articles about it and the families involved.   He also reported
about the recent demolition of the nearby Bridge Inn public house where one
of the victims was raised.    The articles were dated 12th January, 26th
January, 2nd February, 16th February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information and personal photographs
of a number of the victims from their families.

Four houses from a terrace of six, were destroyed in this incident - Nos.
87, 89 & 91 Oakfield Road, plus the sweet shop on the corner of Oakfield
Road and Moss Lane.    The bodies from No. 91 and the shop were the last to
be recovered at 1.0 pm on Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road and the shop were sited is now a Memorial Garden.

.CWGC -  Of 87 Oakfield Road. Daughter of Stansfield Clegg and Ellen Clegg,
of Ivy Cottage, Navigation Road; wife of William Barker. Died at 87
Oakfield Road.