Park Ave was a middle class area of Oswestry. During the war years, what was noticeable about the street was that women were listed as head of the household at a number of addresses. As they have ‘no occupation’, they must have had private means.
2 Park Avenue
Home to the Sharman family, Susan Caroline Sharman was employed as sub postmistress and her daughter Nelly Sharman, as assistant sub postmistress. Youngest daughter Elsie was a dressmaker working from home.
35 Park Avenue
Home of Mary Wall, a 66 year-old widow in 1911, her two unmarried daughters and her widowed sister, all of whom are listed at this address with ‘no occupation’.
Mary’s youngest daughter, a bookkeeper, also lived at 35 Park Avenue, as did four grandchildren. What is not known is where the money came from to keep this large household? Our research is ongoing.
This was not a rare event – a similar situation can be seen at numbers 36, 38, 41, 52 and 54 Park Avenue.
48 Park Avenue
This address was being run as a prep school by two sisters – Sarah Jane Lloyd, Principle and Fanny Lloyd, teacher.
59 Park Avenue
Home to Alice Anne Wynne, an elementary school teacher for the County Council.