Miss Berta Gardiner
Title
Miss Berta Gardiner
Description
It is rare these days to come across the old-fashioned family retainer. Such was Bertha Gardiner of the Old Mill, Oakridge Lynch, whose death at the age of 90 we reported in a recent issue of this paper.
Miss Gardiner went, at the age of 13 as kitchen maid into the home of Mr. and Mrs Charles Birtwhistle of Cheltenham.
Her abilities and personal qualities quickly won the appreciation of her employers and she finally became personal maid to Mrs Birtwhistle.
When, a few years later, Bertha returned to Oakridge to spend a holiday with her own family, Mr. and Mrs. Birtwhistle came too, fell in love with the village and, in 1905 just 60 years ago — bought The Old Mill.
Here, Bertha was set up as housekeeper and general custodian and their welfare, her energies and wide capabilities carrying her into a far wider circle than that of the merely domestic round.
Miss Gardiner went, at the age of 13 as kitchen maid into the home of Mr. and Mrs Charles Birtwhistle of Cheltenham.
Her abilities and personal qualities quickly won the appreciation of her employers and she finally became personal maid to Mrs Birtwhistle.
When, a few years later, Bertha returned to Oakridge to spend a holiday with her own family, Mr. and Mrs. Birtwhistle came too, fell in love with the village and, in 1905 just 60 years ago — bought The Old Mill.
Here, Bertha was set up as housekeeper and general custodian and their welfare, her energies and wide capabilities carrying her into a far wider circle than that of the merely domestic round.
Source
The Pat Carrick Collection
Files
Collection
Citation
“Miss Berta Gardiner,” Oakridge Archives, accessed April 28, 2024, https://oakridgearchives.omeka.net/items/show/485.