Francis Saunders (buried 1922)

At a glance

At a glance
Surname: 
Saunders
First name: 
Francis
Other Christian names: 
Robert
Gender: 
Male
Children: 
Unknown
Burial number: 
1079
Born: 
21/6/1847
Died: 
00/00/1922
Buried: 
25/04/1922
Occupation: 
Secretary;
Heene Hallmark: 
No
Commonwealth War Grave: 
No

The Grave

The grave
Image of the headstone for Francis Robert Saunders
Cemetery area: 
SWS
Cemetery row: 
2
Cemetery plot: 
4
what3words location: 
https://what3words.com/valve.tree.leap
Burial remains: 
Unknown
The headstone
Endowed grave: 
No
Headstone inscription: 
In dear memory of Amelia Sophia the beloved wife of Francis Robert Saunders who died February 2nd 1915 aged 65 years. "They that ....... Also of Francis Robert Saunders who died April 20th 1922 aged 75 years

Life story

Life story

Francis Robert Saunders was born on 21st June 1847, and baptised on 16th July 1847 at St. Mary the Virgin, Lewisham, Kent. His parents were John James Saunders, Esq.,51yrs, and Isabella Saunders, 43yrs, nee Boyd. He was the youngest of 8 children; when Francis was 3yrs old, his family were living in Brighton, Sussex, at 44, Marine Parade, with 3 older sisters, Isabella, 22yrs, Louisa, 18yrs, and Mary, 11yrs. His father was a gentleman of wealth and the family employed a private governess, lady's maid, butler, and 4 other domestic servants.

Francis was privately educated and at 13yrs of age he was a pupil at Marlborough College, Wiltshire. In 1877, aged 29ys, Francis married Amelia Sophia Read, 30yrs, on 24th July at St. Stephen's, Paddington, they lived at Durham Terrace, Paddington, and Francis was the Secretary of Rochester Diocesan Society.

In March1886, aged 38yrs, Francis became mentally ill and was admitted initially, to Moorcroft House, Hillingdon, and then, in June 1887, to Holloway Sanatorium, Virginia Waters, Surrey. Established in 1885, the Holloway Sanatorium served the insane of the middle class. A spacious establishment filled with grandly furnished rooms overlooking sweeping lawns, it was a beautiful place to be treated. Francis returned to his family and in 1901 he was back in Lewisham living with Amelia at the home of his father-in-law. By1911, they had moved to Worthing, living at Dalvey, Shakespeare Road, and in 1913 Francis was widowed when Amelia died, aged 65yrs.

Francis moved to St. Clair, 13, Tilehurst Road, Reading, and on 20th April 1922, aged 75yrs, he died at Camberwell House, 33, Peckham Road, Camberwell. Probate was granted to Albert Edward Saunders, Clerk, effects £8525 3s 3d. Value 2021 - £496K.

Burial researcher: 
Maggi Martin

Further information

Birth
Date born: 
21/06/1847
Marriage
Marriage 1
Spouse one first names: 
Amelia Sophia
Spouse one last name: 
Read
Marriage one date: 
24/07/1877
Marriage one address: 
Paddington, London, England

Death

Death (details)
Date of death: 
00/00/1922
Age (at time of death): 
75
Cause of death: 
Unknown
Address at time of death: 
Camberwell House, 33 Peckham Road, Camberwell, London, England
Personal effects
Probate pounds: 
£8,525

Census and miscellaneous information

Census information
1851 census: 

Living at 44, Marine Parade, Brighton, Sussex. John James Saunders, 57yrs, wife, Isabella, 47yrs, daughters, Isabella, 22yrs, Louisa, 18yrs, Mary, 11yrs, son, Francis, 3yrs, plus 7 domestic servants.

1861 census: 

Marlborough College, Wiltshire. Francis R. Saunders, 13yrs, pupil.

1881 census: 

Living at 25, Durham Terrace, Paddington. Francis R. Saunders, 33yrs, Secretary Rochester Diocesan Society, wife, Amelia, 34yrs, aunt, Henrietta J. Read, 63yrs, gentlewoman, plus 4 domestic servants.

1901 census: 

Living at 16, Montpelier Row, Lewisham. William H. McLeod Read, 82yrs, Retired E. Indies Merchant, son-in-law, Francis R. Saunders, 53yrs, Retired Secretary, daughter, Amelia Sophia Saunders, 54yrs, great nephew, Hugh Percy Saunders, 31yrs, (Born in Tasmania).

1921 census: 

Living at 13, Tilehurst Road, Reading, Berkshire.

Francis Robert Saunders Boarder Male 74 Secretary Retired Bishop Of Rochester (Thorold)
Miscellaneous information

Holloway Sanitorium
Holloway Sanitorium

Holloway Sanitorium

During the nineteenth century there was a growing concern for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. Many new mental hospitals (generally called lunatic asylums at the time) were built for them. A small number of private establishments or charitable hospitals catered for wealthy or middle-class patients. Holloway Sanatorium, opened in 1885, was one such institution. Thomas Holloway, a multi-millionaire businessman, donated the funds and commissioned the extraordinary gothic-style building and extensive pleasure grounds at Virginia Water. Right next to the railway station, it offered easy access for inmates, visitors and supplies. Established in 1885, the Holloway Sanatorium served "the insane of the middle class." A spacious establishment filled with grandly furnished rooms overlooking sweeping lawns, it was a beautiful place to be treated. Its reputation was quite fine. Holloway was well appointed, with a badminton court, a swimming pool, a chapel, a cinema, a hairdresser, and a wide variety of facilities providing the patients with rest and leisure between doses of strychnine. What the Sanatorium didn’t have on hand, Virginia Water happily supplied. Some patients at the Sanatorium paid very high fees for the best facilities. This subsidised the charges for those who were rather less well off.                                                 The Sanatorium continued as a charitable foundation until 1948, when it was transferred to the National Health Service. It closed as a mental hospital in 1980. Link to: History of Holloway Sanatorium. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZDUm87HID0