Jeff James, chief executive and keeper at the National Archives, said: “Census releases are keenly anticipated and create a period of collective curiosity about the past. “It captures one of the most dramatic and dangerous moments.”Īmong those whose census return underlined the hardship suffered by the working classes was James Bartley, a father of three young children from Sussex, who wrote: “Stop talking about your homes for heroes and start building some houses and let them at a rent a working man can afford to pay.” Historian and broadcaster professor David Olusoga said of the census: “I think it shows a snapshot of a country in absolute trauma, a country in the midst of trying to recover from what was the biggest rupture in its history. He is listed as the son of Wilfred, a 36-year-old building contractor, and 34-year-old Isabel, whose occupation was listed as “household duties”. You can also find a one-year-old Thomas Moore, who went on to become NHS fundraiser Captain Sir Tom. Meanwhile, Nancy Astor, Britain’s first female MP, was one of more than 25 people at her home on the night of the census. The census lists her as the 54-year-old wife of solicitor William Heelis, and her occupation is down as “farmer” due to her passion for sheep breeding and conservation at her home in the Lake District. It is believed this was in fact Ada Besinnet, a known American medium, while Mr McKenzie was a parapsychologist who founded the British College of Psychic Science.īeatrix Potter appears under her married name, Helen Beatrix Heelis. Records show the 62-year-old author was joined by Jean, his 40-year-old wife, and their three children Denis, Malcolm and Jean junior, aged 12, 10 and eight, respectively, as well as five female servants.īut there were also three guests present – married couple James Hewat McKenzie and Barbara McKenzie, 54 and 51, and 30-year-old widow entered into the census by Conan Doyle as “Ada Bassinet” from “Toledo, USA”. He counted three overnight visitors to his home when the census was taken, prompting suggestions from historians that the known paranormal investigator may have been taking part in a seance – a ceremony conducted to make contact with the dead. One is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of detective series Sherlock Holmes. The census includes several famous names, showing potentially fascinating insights into the lives of 1920s celebrities.
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