Person    | Female  Born 1791  Died 1877

Mrs Catherine Smithies

Born as Catherine Bywater. Founded the Band of Mercy movement in Britain. She also campaigned against slavery but we can find no details.

Her home, Earlham Grove House, built c.1865, has also been known as Westbury House and Woodside House. It still stands in Woodside Park on the High Road. Her son, Thomas Bywater Smithies (1817-83) who never married, was living with her in Earlham Grove when she died.

We can find no picture of Smithies so we are using this charming one of a Band of Mercy, possibly American.

2018: Dai Bevan wrote to tell us that the Shoreditch Observer, 3 November 1877 reports Mrs Smithies' funeral so she must have died shortly before that date. We had previously taken her date of death as 1878 from her son's page at the normally reliable ODNB. We thank Dai for this correction.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Mrs Catherine Smithies

Commemorated ati

Mrs Catherine Smithies

{The sides of the plinth above each basin are inscribed with texts.  Taking t...

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Other Subjects

National Council for Animal Welfare

National Council for Animal Welfare

One of a number of organisations active in the 1920s promoting animal welfare.

Group, Animals

1 memorial
Imperial Camel Corps

Imperial Camel Corps

Formed in 1916.  At its height there were 4,150 men and 4,800 camels.  3 of the 4 battalions were disbanded in mid-1918. The 2nd Battalion was disbanded in May 1919.

Group, Armed Forces, Animals, Australia, Egypt, India, Israel/Palestine, New Zealand

1 memorial
Philip Astley

Philip Astley

Equestrian performer and circus proprietor. Born Newcastle under Lyme. Aged 17 he joined the 15th Light Dragoons where he developed an exceptional ability breaking and riding horses. Discharged as ...

Person, Animals, Theatre

3 memorials
Veterinary History Society
1 memorial
Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association

Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association

Started by Samuel Gurney MP and the barrister, Edward Thomas Wakefield. Founded as the Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association it changed its name to include cattle troughs in 1867.  London...

Group, Benefactor, Animals, Food & Drink

38 memorials