Monday 1 March 2010

Over a century in Deptford

Deborah Wybrow of Crossfield Lane (now Crossfield Street), Deptford was an elderly lady who in June 1834 was still 'in the perfect enjoyment of all her faculties' and supporting herself by knitting. What distinguished her from other old women in the town was her very great age: 102 years old. In fact, her longevity brought her the honour of being chosen as the first passenger for the new railway in 1835.

Sadly, Deborah would never get her train ride. In April of that year, she fell downstairs and dislocated her neck with fatal results. The newspaper report of her death described it as 'an untimely end'.



3 comments:

Marmoset said...

What a curiously stylised picture on the ticket. Do the trains just run off the end of the viaduct?

Proud Maisie said...

What a fabulous post. An untimely end indeed.

CarolineLD said...

Marmoset, perhaps the trees are there just to give a soft landing!