Myrtle Ashdown

Myrtle Ashdown lived in Victorian England in Surrey, a wife who dutifully obeyed and supported her husband Gilbert Ashdown, and a mother, moral adviser and guide to her only daughter Josephine. Her husband Gilbert was a cold, private man who worked all hours and often left Myrtle lonely. For 10 years Myrtle yearned for a child and after copious failed pregnancies when Myrtle had almost lost hope and all feeling she learnt she was pregnant with Josephine. Josephine; her daughter, companion and best friend, was so precious and longed for by Myrtle. Myrtle experienced 14 years of intense happiness and fulfilment with her until Josephine contracted the lung disease Tuberculosis, a disease which killed 1 in 4 Victorians. Myrtle nursed her and prayed that Josephine would survive the cough, night sweats, weight loss and appetite loss. After 6 weeks, Josephine died early one morning in her mother’s arms. In an era where death was highly visible, she became yet another woman cocooned in crape mourning clothes. She adorned her neck with hair jewellery and had a post-mortem photograph taken of her daughter. Just seven months after Josephine’s death, her husband died of old age. Alone and feeling nothing but numbness and darkness she projected this blackness to the world,   wearing her black mourning clothes for the rest of her long life.