In 1921, Mabel Bessie Ellerton was living with her parents at 4 Ailsa Terrace. She was born on the 8th April 1876 and baptised at St Peter’s. Her father, John Francis was also born in the town and had been a grocer in Fore Street and very active in the local community.

Ailsa Terrace

Ailsa Terrace was very close to where the Ailsa Brook enters the River Lowman. It was next door to the Gas Works and opposite the Slaughter House. It doesn’t sound very attractive but they were substantial homes. One of the Ellerton’s neighbours in 1921 was Lloyd Maunder, founder of the butchery business which is run today by his great great grandson.

Mabel was awarded her Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) in 1905. The ‘ear training’ classes would have been what is now known as Music Theory in Practice. In 1898, it was described as ‘learning to hear intelligently’ and more recently as ‘to be able to recognize and reproduce intervals, patterns and notes’. Quite what Aural Culture was, is not clear but may refer to appreciating different styles of music.

Our archive contains several scores dating from the early part of the 20th century. Community singing was particularly popular in the 1920s. Although undated on our catalogue, this song first appeared 1921.

 Written by Museum volunteer, Sue B