Edith Alice Barnes
(1898-1945)

Edith Alice Barnes (my great-grandmother) was born on 22nd January 1898 at 4 Osborne Grove, Bolton, Lancashire, the daughter of John Henry Barnes, a tailor, and Ellen Rowlands.

From the age of 15, Edith became a Music Hall artiste. Although few family documents survive detailing her theatrical career, it is known that she was talented in song, dance and comedy. Edith played in music halls all over England and Wales, until she married Lewis Parkinson on 4th May 1921 in Wakefield, Yorkshire.

Edith had three children –

Ruby (born 1917 in Darlington) my grandmother. Her father was George Edwin Littlefair (1890-1949) of New Shildon, County Durham.
Doreen
Thomas

Edith died on 30th September 1945 at Wakefield.

 

Edith aged about 16 - drawing by her grand-daughter Sheila Edith Petyt

 

 

Photographs of Edith

  

 Ruby Waite (left) and Edith Barnes (right)
Publicity photo for their music hall comedy act
Taken c. 1915 by Brown, Central Beach and West Street, Blackpool

 

 Edith Barnes
another publicity photo
taken c. 1916 by S. Watson, Globe Studio, Aberdare & Oxford Studio, Mountain Ash

 

Edith Barnes with her husband Lewis Parkinson
taken 28th July 1928 by J. Roberts & Co, 1 Upper Headrow, Leeds

 

© Angela Petyt 2001. All rights reserved.

 Permission is granted for all free personal and non-commercial uses.

Commercial use of any portion contained herein is expressly prohibited.

 

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