Charlotte Statham 1895-1975, Experiences of a Female Farm Worker by David Wood

Born in Metfield Suffolk in 1895, Charlotte Statham had a hard life from the beginning. While still a child her parents had to enter the workhouse during the early twentieth century. It isn’t known if Charlotte accompanied them but she went into domestic service for a wealthy Metfield family aged fourteen after her father had died which guaranteed her work and accommodation.

Charlotte married Henry Statham from Chatham in 1917. They had two boys named George and Arthur.

During the 1920s the couple worked on farms at Allhallows near Rochester and in the Swale area. They eventually settled at Ridham Farm in Iwade working for A Hinge & Sons during the1930s and 1940s where they looked after livestock, mainly cattle. In 1947 while still working, Charlotte had to look after her grandson Howard for about two years after his mother had died.

Charlotte and Henry had a traumatic experience while working and living at Ridham Farm in February 1953 when the Great Flood struck and the couple became trapped upstairs in their house as flood water engulfed the building and almost reached the downstairs ceiling.

The couple were eventually rescued from the farmhouse by their son George who rowed a boat to the building and helped his parents into it from an upstairs window. Meanwhile, soldiers involved in the Swale flood rescue operation had driven a lorry along the railway embankment on the shore and were able to assist. While this was happening George returned to the farm in his boat where he rescued a horse trapped in a stable up to its neck in water. As he towed the horse with a rope attached, the terrified animal made the experience difficult by struggling all the way to the shore but the rescue ended successfully. After this Charlotte and Henry temporarily stayed with their son George at Biggin Hill.

After reading about the flood incident in the Kent Messenger newspaper, a lady sent Charlotte and Henry a ten-shilling note and a box of sugar lumps for the horse.

Because of his traumatic experience in the flood, Henry Statham suffered serious psychological problems and had to enter Chartham Mental Hospital where he died in 1955. A Hinge & Sons who owned Ridham Farm meanwhile offered Charlotte alternative accommodation and work in Upchurch which she accepted and she soon occupied number 1 of the three semi-detached thatched cottages which once existed at Wetham Green. Although she lost her husband, she had nine cats and a dog called ‘Smokey’ to keep her company.

Pictured:

Charlotte Statham at the gate of the Wetham Green thatched cottage with Son George and daughter in law Joan in their 1936 Austin 12/4 car in the 1950’s.

Charlotte Statham, daughter in law Joan Statham with grandchildren Linda and Howard at the Wetham Green thatched cottage in the 1950’s.

Charlotte Statham with her (large) cat at the Wetham Green thatched cottage in the 1950’s.

Charlotte Statham in domestic service with the Squires family in Metfield Suffolk around 1910.

Charlotte Statham at Ridham Farmhouse with her dog, probably 1930’s or 40’s.

Charlotte Statham at the Ham Green cottage around 1970.

Grandchildren, Linda and Howard standing by the old bridge near Ridham Dock around 1951.

Charlotte Statham with her dog Smoky.

The thatched cottage which Charlotte occupied was a tied cottage which meant that she could live there while she kept her job. The cottage had four rooms, a living room and scullery with a copper for washing clothes downstairs and two bedrooms upstairs. It did not have a bathroom so an outside privy behind the cottage served as a toilet. Running tap water did not exist in any of the three cottages, a tap in the back garden had running cold water. Joyce Bass (formerly Wildish) remembers a cold water tap eventually being installed in each cottage. Overall, Joyce describes the cottages as being cosy inside.

A sizeable garden existed at the back of each cottage and a communal allotment was located on the left side where fruit and vegetables could be grown. This suited Charlotte who spent a lot of time gardening.

Charlotte’s neighbours in the other two cottages were an old unmarried man named James Edmonds who lived at number 2 and Lou and Lilian Wildish and their family who resided in number 3.

The cottages were very old but although the exact age is unknown Joyce Bass says that when she lived there as a child they were believed to have been about 300 years old. The cottages are marked on an early Upchurch map dated 1778.

The thatched cottages were finally demolished during the 1960s and replaced with a bungalow (with a second bungalow years later). Charlotte then moved to 2 Callows Cottages at Ham Green where she spent the remainder of her life. John Hinge who lived at Ham Green and worked as a director of A Hinge & Sons made a kind gesture when he allowed Charlotte to stay in Callows Cottages rent-free when she finally retired.

Usually travelling to work on an old bicycle and dressed in blue coveralls and a beret, Charlotte had a good relationship with her work colleagues at Ham Green where she worked in the orchards and fields. Her female colleagues included Nancy Friend, Elsie Baldock and Rose Waters from Ham Green and Marj Lacy from Drakes Close. Charlotte made friends with the Baldock family at Greylag at Ham Green. Rita Baldock says that they called Charlotte ‘Stat’ and that she usually came to their house for a meal at Christmas.

Charlotte, who her grandson Howard described as being ‘abrupt at times but with a heart of gold,’ remained at Callows Cottages until she died aged 80 in 1975. She worked almost right up to her death and had chosen to work so long into old age because of fear of losing her house and having nowhere to live which probably stemmed from the insecurity and experiences of her earlier years. 

Charlotte Statham’s experiences were typical of farmworkers in earlier times but she loyally stuck to her job on the land, she worked hard and faced difficult times resolutely.

Thanks very much to Linda and Howard Statham for their photographs and help with compiling this article.

David Wood

About David

David Wood was born, raised and still lives in Upchurch today. He is able to write from personal experience about village life and the changes that have taken place over the years, making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable and detailed historical study of the village.

David's book is available from David at david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + postage and packing.