Kathrina Perry - Local Historian

  Elizabeth Arnold was the wife of James William Arnold (known as William Arnold) of A & W Arnold, Northampton. Born in Northampton in 1861 to Alfred Walker, was a boot fitter from Alfred’s Place St Sepulchre’s Northampton , and Elizabeth Harriet Cox, from Thrapston, Northampton, she married William Arnold on 30 th November 1885 at St Michaels Church, Northampton.[1] Elizabeth Arnold, Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1928 We can make assumptions about Mrs Arnold’s demeanour from the personal recollections of her husband, William. It is noted that the couple’s philanthropic activities, especially connected to religious causes, were vast and they gave 10% of their income to worthy causes, a decision made by Elizabeth.[2] Elizabeth was described as encouraging William “in all those admirable works that have characterised [their lives]. Like Dorcas she was full of good works and alms deeds.”[3] Her husband attributed the change of his life of lost faith and battle with abs...

    Lady Manfield was the wife of Sir Moses Philip Manfield, owner of Manfield and Sons. Born Margaret Milne, Lady Manfield was the second wife of Sir Philip and was the daughter of James Milne who was the County Surveyor. [1]  Her obituary in the  Northampton Mercury  makes mention of her “many kind and generous deeds” and describes her co-operation with her husband’s pursuits rather than that of her own altruism. [2]  However, further research into her own activities suggests otherwise. The involvement of Lady Manfield, as she was know from 1894 when her Husband was knighted in the King’s Birthday Honours, can be seen as in keeping with the philanthropic nature of the Unitarian church that both she and her husband were members of. When the Unitarian church and school buildings on the Kettering Road in Northampton opened in 1897, Sir Philip Manfield attributed the inception of the church, reported to be circa £5000 (approximately £654,700 today[3]) togethe...