Goadby Marwood

The spring of 1892 saw a shocking event played out near the village of Goadby Marwood when a local wife and mother took her own life in a particularly grisly manner.

 

Ann Islip was born in the Lincolnshire village of Caythorpe, to farm labourer, Thomas Islip and his wife, Ann Islip nee Cooke. She was baptised at St. Vincent’s Church in the village on 12th September, 1840. By the time Ann was 20 she had left home and entered service, the census return of 1861 recorded her living in Harlaxton, where she was employed as a farm dairy maid.

 

On 2nd July, 1867, Ann married Nathan Louth at St. Vincent’s Church in Caythorpe, and following their marriage the couple lived in Caythorpe, where Nathan worked as a farm labourer. Between 1868 and 1879, Ann gave birth to seven children, William b.1868, George b.1869, Robert b.1871, Isabella b.1873, Thomas b.1875, Nathan b.1877 and Mary Ann b. 1879. Shortly after the birth of Mary Ann the family moved to Waltham on the Wolds where Nathan snr. was employed as a wagoner by Thomas Wright of Cranyke Farm. The Louth family lived on Burgin’s Lane just around the corner from the old George & Dragon public house. Two further children were born to Nathan and Ann in Waltham, Samuel b.1880 and Jane b.1883.

 

Ann committed suicide in May 1892 by laying herself across the ironstone railway tracks near to Goadby Marwood village. Her death was reported in The Grantham Journal on May 7th:

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Ann Louth, wife of Nathan Louth, Wagoner to Mr Thomas Wright of Goadby Marwood Lodge, committed suicide.

A single line of rails runs from the Asfordby Furness to the Eastwell ironstone mines through the parish of Goadby Marwood. At about 7 o'clock a mineral train of an engine and 12 waggons was proceeding to Eastwell and as it was travelling down an incline in Goadby parish the Fireman noticed the deceased standing near the bridge. She was then seen to walk down to the metals and apparently lay herself across them. Those in charge of the train being unable to stop in time the whole of it passed over her.

P.C. Stapleton found the headless body of the unfortunate woman lying in the track. Her head being on the other side of the rails. Her right leg was found some distance away.

An inquest will be held this Saturday.

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Following Ann’s death, Nathan and the younger Louth children who had not yet left home, moved to Thrussington, where Nathan lived until his death in 1929.

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