Comments on: So Long, Madge Darby Of Wapping

By: Michelle ball

Michelle ball — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 18:17:25 +0000

My Nan and her sisters featured in a photo in an old book about wapping
It said the Hobbs sisters daughters of our cleaner Rose
Just wondered if it was one madge wrote as no one can find it

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:06:04 +0000

Hello, Just wondering if Madge’s papers about Bligh were deposited in a library or archive?

By: Alwyn Peel

Alwyn Peel — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 16:48:34 +0000

Madge leaves happy memories of visiting her at her home some years ago plus the interesting correspondence we shared. A lovely , interesting lady who will be missed by many.

By: VANDA HUMAN

VANDA HUMAN — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 06:36:39 +0000

Rest in Peace Madge. If only I could have met you and had a lovely chat. I am fascinated with history especially people who grew up during WW2. Safe journey.

By: Sara from Iowa USA

Sara from Iowa USA — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:11:22 +0000

Great post. I feel like I now know Madge a bit. Most of the world rushes past elderly people, paying them no attention. I suppose it’s always been like that. Only the thoughtful think of the past.

By: Achim

Achim — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 12:05:53 +0000

Dear Mrs Madge Darby — R.I.P.

Love & Peace
ACHIM

By: Stella Herbert

Stella Herbert — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 17:54:05 +0000

Again the stories you post resonate with my own family background in east London. I have just discovered that in 1866 my gt. gt. grandmother was picked up by a police constable in Old Gravel Lane where Madge was born all those years later.
Her husband had just died in the last London cholera epidemic. She had a young baby with her who had been christened in St. George’s just a few days after her husband’s death – she was deemed ‘lunatic’. Was she suicidal and headed for the Thames when found? After a brief stay in the Work House she was sent to Bow Asylum, the baby remained in the work house but died a few months later. Her other children were also in the work house.
She did leave the workhouse to resume her work as a seamstress – but not for long as she died in Bart’s from consumption just a few years later.

There was a happier ending as her three surviving children grew up and the firm of tin can manufacturers started by one of them, is still in business to this day! And she has quite a few descendants!

By: Peter Coxell

Peter Coxell — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 17:06:30 +0000

Very sad to hear this news. My wife and I attended St Peters Church and knew Madge and her brother Geoff very well. We were very fortunate to visit Madge last year on a visit to Wapping and had a lovely chat over a cup of tea about the “good old days”. God Bless Madge RIP>

By: Dorothy P

Dorothy P — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 16:08:52 +0000

This is such sad news. I have a postcard from Madge on which she gave me permission to use extracts from her book “Waeppa’s People” in my family history “Piper Love Stories”. I used her photograph of Old Gravel Lane where my grandfather was born.

If you would like to have that book, Gentle Author, and the postcard, I will send them to you for your collection. My history was published in 2012, so Madge’s book is gathering dust on my shelf. I know you will treasure it, along with all your other old London memorabilia.

By: pauline taylor

pauline taylor — Sun, 21 Oct 2018 10:37:54 +0000

I am so sad to read this news this morning. It was the history of Wapping and Madge that first introduced me to Spitalfield’s Life and you GA so I have much to thank Madge for. RIP Madge.