Trafford

Born Henrietta Clegg on the 6th March 1874, the birth being registered
during the June quarter 1874 in the Burnley R.D. - ref: 8e/200, the eldest
daughter of Stansfield & Ellen Clegg (nee Emmott).

1881 Census - 97 Ardwick Street, Burnley, Lancashire.    Daughter - aged: 7
- Scholar - born: Burnley, Lancashire.    Head of household - Stansfield
Clegg - Married - aged: 31 - occ: Cotton Weaver - born: Colne, Lancashire. 
 Also Ellen Clegg - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Burnley.    Plus 2 younger
siblings.

1891 Census - Navigation Road, Altrincham.     Daughter - aged: 17 - occ:
Dressmaker - born: Burnley, Lancashire.  Head of household - Stansfield
Clegg - Married - aged: 41 - occ: Cab Proprietor - born: Colne, Lancashire.
  Also Ellen Clegg - Wife - aged: 41 - born: Padiham, Lancashire.    Plus 6
younger siblings  and according to the birth dates, the family had moved to
Altrincham by 1882.

Married William Barker at St. George's P.C. Altrincham on the 15th March
1899, the marriage being registered during the March quarter 1899 in the
Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/208.    

1901 Census - Hall Lane, Grappenhall, Cheshire.     Visitor - Married -
aged: 27 - born: Burnley, Lancashire.    Also listed - William Barker -
Visitor - Married - aged: 25 - occ: Upholsterer - born: Altrincham.    Head
of household was William's mother, a widowed Farmer.

1911 Census - 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.     Wife - aged: 37 - born:
Burnley, Lancashire.     Head of household - William Barker - Married -
aged: 35 - occ: Upholsterer - born: Altrincham.    Plus 2 daughters and a
son.

At the time of her husband's enlistment into the R.G.A. on the 14th
September 1915, they were residing at "West View" 87 Oldfield Road,
Altrincham.

1939  National Registration - 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham.  William Barker
- Married - born: 3rd October 1875 - occ: House Fitter Heavy Engineering. 
Henrietta Barker - Married - born: 8th March 1874 - occ: Unpaid Domestic
Duties.

Just before 20.30 hrs during the second night of the "Manchester Blitz", a
bomb fell on the corner of Oakfield Road & Moss Lane, Altrincham,
destroying six houses and killing 12 civilians. 

Aged 66, Henrietta was killed at 87 Oakfield Road, Altrincham, where she
lived with her husband William Barker.   William, who survived the
explosion, was an Upholsterer/Cabinet maker.    The ARP Rescue Services had
to dig in the rubble to locate Henrietta.    Her CWD Ref No.1 states that
she was buried by Masonry and was still in her pyjamas when found at 06.00
hrs on the 24th December 1940.   Her body was taken to A.B. Brookes & Son's
Mortuary, Stamford New Road, Altrincham and identified by her husband,
William Barker.    Henrietta was buried in Bowdon (St. Mary's) Churchyard. 
   Buried 28/12/1940 - Burial No. 30/3198.

Although not individually named, Henrietta is one of the 12 local residents
killed at this site and around the corner on Moss Lane who are commemorated
in the Memorial Garden on the corner of Moss Lane and Oakfield Road.

On Friday 23rd December 2011 a group of local residents, relatives of the
victims and civic dignitaries attended a wreath laying ceremony at the
memorial garden on Oakfield Road, Altrincham, to the 12 civilians that died
when a German bomb landed at this site at about 8.30 pm 71 years ago to the
day.

The Sale & Altrincham Messenger sent a photographer and a short report of
the ceremony appeared in the 5th January 2012 edition of their newspaper.  
 The Hale, Sale & Altrincham Independent Newspaper also reported the event
in their January 2012 edition.

As the articles attracted such interesting feedback from relatives of
victims and those involved in their recovery, the Messenger's Chief
Reporter Chris Griffin,  researched the event further and wrote a number of
excellent articles about it and the families involved.   He also reported
about the recent demolition of the nearby Bridge Inn public house where one
of the victims was raised.    The articles were dated 12th January, 26th
January, 2nd February, 16th February, 1st March and the 15th March 2012.  
Chris was able to obtain much unknown information and personal photographs
of a number of the victims from their families.

Six houses were demolished in this incident - Nos. 83, 85, 97, 98 & 91
Oakfield Road, plus the first house on Moss Lane.    No.43 Moss Lane was
situated immediately behind No. 91 Oakfield Road.  These two dwellings
suffered the greatest amount of damage and was obviously the point where
the bomb struck.   The bodies from these two houses were the last to be
recovered at 1.0 pm on Christmas Day.    The land where Nos. 83 to 91
Oakfield Road was sited is now the site of the Memorial Garden and a
builders merchants now occupies the site of No. 43 Moss Lane.

Her CWD No.1 States that her body was taken to A.B. Brookes' Mortuary and
that he body was recovered from 87 Oakfield Road at 6.00 am on the 24th
December 1940 and that she was buried in St. Mary's, Bowdon Churchyard -
Grave No. 4021 on the 28th December 1940.