Lady Milnes Gaskell

We decided to name the business after the forgotten woman of Wakefield, Lady Catherine Milnes Gaskell

In 2008 Howarth Funeral Service opened a new branch in the old church hall next to St James' Church, Thornes, upon having a look around we discovered a stone plaque in the brickwork just to the right of the main entrance doors.

Born in 1856, Lady Catherine spent much of her life supporting the health, education and wellbeing of Wakefield’s poorest communities.

Shortly after arriving in Yorkshire as a new bride from her home in Shropshire in the 1880s, she set about supporting women and children less fortunate than herself.

Lady Catherine established what was called the Guild of Pity, which provided free milk to children in workhouses and distributed clothing to poor families and the families of wounded soldiers. She was also instrumental in setting up a scheme to place orphans in foster homes rather than leaving them to the workhouse.

By 1891, Lady Catherine was a published essayist. In her essays she explored the complex lives of women. Her essays were received with some hostility by a male dominated press, she says. By the time of her death in 1935, she shared the same publishers as George Gissing and the Bronte Sisters, and had published nine books and a host of articles and essays.

Lady Catherine was awarded The Order of St John – a royal order of chivalry. She also played a role in medical care in Wakefield.

She founded the Wakefield-based division of the St John’s Ambulance Brigade in 1911 which, during the First World War, delivered care at the city’s former Clayton Hospital. At registration, 70 men and 27 women wore their uniforms with pride. This uniform was provided by Lady Catherine and funded from the sale of Alpine plants grown in her garden.

Lady Catherine, who died in 1935, was also among the first women to become a Justice of the Peace.

She also has a blue plaque which can be found on The Gardener’s House in the Rose Garden at Thorne’s Park.