Grace Jones – Horton Cemetery Stories

One of 9000 forgotten and buried patients in Epsom’s Horton Cemetery, Grace Jones went into the workhouse aged about 13 and after transfer to Long Grove Hospital in Epsom died aged just 19. That even the expert research of The Friends of Horton Cemetery Charity reveals so little about her tells its own tragic story.

Grace’s parents

Grace Ethel Primrose Jones was born on 19th April 1899. She was the eldest child of Frederick Albert Jones (1874 – 1927), a stationer’s packer, and Ada Rebecca née Byford (1878 – 1983). The couple had married in 1898 in St George, Hanover Square. In the 1901 Census, the family is living at 10, Southwark Bridge Road in Southwark. Grace and her younger brother, Frederick, (born 1st February 1904) were both baptised on 8th March 1904 at St Matthias’ Church, Earls Court.

The 1900s

Grace was admitted to Millbank School on 11th March 1904 but later moved to the Convent, according to the school records. At this time the family was living at 2, Rosetta Buildings in Southwark. Grace was still attending school in 1911 when her father – described in the census of that year as a wholesale newsagent and bookseller – was living with his wife and two children at 43, Jessel House, Page Street in Westminster.

Admission to the workhouse

Grace was admitted to the Fulham Road Workhouse on 8th September 1913 and then transferred to Tooting Bec Asylum on the 19th November 1913. No reason is given in the register for her admission.

Long Grove – illness and death

We do not know when Grace was admitted to Long Grove but she sadly died there on 22nd July 1918 from Lobar Pneumonia of 22 days duration. There was no Post Mortem. Her death was registered by David Ogilvy the Medical Superintendent of Long Grove. Grace was buried in Horton Cemetery in plot 490b.