| AdminHistory | Madeleine Swallow (often known as 'Madge Swallow') was born in the old school house at Stocksbridge on 17 Oct 1896, daughter of Mr Marsh Swallow (1869 - 1933), who for many years was headteacher of Stocksbridge National School, and his wife Jemima (nee Clarke) (1868 - 1946). Marsh Swallow was born on 5 Oct 1869 in Hepworth, Yorkshire, son of John Swallow, a farmer and his wife Hannah, and baptised the following year on 25 Sep 1870 at Hepworth Holy Trinity Parish Church. Marsh Swallow first came to Stocksbridge to teach in 1893.
Madeleine followed her father into the teaching profession, training as a teacher in Sheffield, and becoming a teacher in Stocksbridge, initially at the Stocksbridge British School (housed in the old British Hall). From 1926 onwards, Madeleine was a teacher at Stocksbridge National School (later Church of England School), where her father was headteacher, and where she taught for the rest of her career until her retirement c. 1956, aged 60.
Outside of teaching, Madeleine Swallow also served for many years as Parochial Church Council (PCC) secretary at Stocksbridge Parish Church and Mother's Union treasurer. Together with her brother Jack Swallow, she was also an evening branch actuary of the Yorkshire Penny Bank, which used the Church School at Stocksbridge as its local headquarters. Madeleine's brother Jack Swallow was also president of the Stocksbridge Co-op for many years.
Madeleine Swallow lived most of her life at 'Sunny Bank', 13 Coronation Road, Sheffield, home of her father, where she continued to live after his death on on 19 May 1933 (aged 64), initially with her mother Jemima until her death in Jan 1946. After her mother's death, Madeleine lived with a companion Edna Swallow (1893 - 1977) (no relation).
Madeleine's longtime companion Edna Swallow with whom she lived at Coronation Road in Stocksbridge, died on Christmas Eve 1977. Following Edna's death, for the last twelve years of Madeleine's life she lived at the home of her nephew John Philip Swallow in Woodford, East London (latterly in a local nursing home). Madeleine Swallow died on 3 Nov 1989 at Wanstead in East London, aged 93.
Madeleine's funeral was held in Essex but her ashes were taken to Bolsterstone, back to the area where she had lived for most of her life.
Madeleine's nephews (and executors of her will) John Philip and James Swallow (both also from Stocksbridge originally) also followed their aunt and grandfather into the teaching profession, with John Philip Swallow becoming headteacher at Ongar Comprehensive School in Essex. |
| CustodialHistory | Donated to Sheffield Archives by a nephew of Madeleine Swallow in Feb 2018 |