Alice and Charles Salway Thompson - Gardeners

Taphophilia is a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries. The singular term is a taphophile.


Monument to Alice Thompson and Charles Salway Thompson, All Saints Churchyard, Boyne Hill, Maidenhead Berkshire.

"In loving memory of Alice beloved wife of Charles. S. Thompson died Decr 6th 1918 aged 57 years - God is our refuge.

Also Charles Salway her beloved husband died Feb 5th 1945 aged 88 years - at rest"


Alice Thompson was born Alice Pearce in the February 1861 in Bright Waltham, Berkshire to Charles Pearce, a carter, and his wife Amy Collins. 

Alice appears on the 1861 Census aged just 1 month, living with her parents and grandparents David and Sarah Collins at Bright Waltham Green.  In 1871 ten year old  Alice is still living with her grandparents David and Sarah at Bright Waltham Green, however Alice's parents and her younger siblings had moved to Scarlett's Lane in Wargrave.  It's possible that Alice stayed behind with her grandparents to continue her education.

In 1881 Alice is in service as a housemaid for Richard S. H. Jones, a barrister, and his wife Florence at Woodlands in Binfield Berkshire.  That same year Alice married Charles Thompson.


Charles Salway Thompson was born in Little Dunham, Norfolk in 1857 to Robert Thompson, an agricultural labourer, and his wife Ann Harpur, a charwoman (house cleaner).    1872 Charles is living with his widowed mother and five siblings in Little Duhman, Norfolk.  Charles's occupation is listed as a gardener's boy. 

In 1881 24 year old Charles in lodging in the home of Thomas and Martha Crockford at Bear Hill in Wargrave Berkshire.  Charles has progressed from gardener's boy to domestic gardener.

1891 finds Charles and Alice living in Gardener's house along with their four children, Archibald R, William C, Theodore V and Elsie M.  1901 and the family has moved to 68 Powny Road, Maidenhead Berkshire, where Charles is a jobbing gardener and his sons Archibald and William are under gardeners and Theodore is a garden boy.

Ten years on in 1911, the family, minus Archibald and Elsie, are still living at 68 Powny Road, Maidenhead. 

Sadly Alice was to pass away on 6th December 1918.  Charles was to live a further 27 years without Alice, before passing away on 5th February 1945.


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