THE MIDDLEMORES - BROOKFIELD AND BELBROUGHTON?

In Belbroughton churchyard are memorials to the Middlemore family, commemorating: John Throgmorton Middlemore, Baronet, died October 1924, and his wife Mary, who died in 1935. A second one nearby marks Margaret, presumably their daughter who died in 1893 aged 6 years.

Last year we were paid a visit from a Canadian lady who was in search of Sir John, and she was able to tell us something about him. It is understood that the family lived at one time at Brookfield House, but exactly when, and for how long we do not know.

Sir John Throgmorton Middlemore's obituary appeared in The Times, Oct. 18^th 1924. He died in his Worcester residence, aged 80, and was described as belonging to an old Warwickshire family. He was a generous benefactor to the Birmingham Art Gallery and was the driving force behind the founding of the Middlemore Emigration Homes. It is this aspect that is of particular interest to our Canadian visitor. This scheme set out to gather together numbers of under-privileged children from city centres and virtually deport them to Canada to start a new life, described in the obituary as follows:-

...For nearly half a century he devoted himself to the Middlemore Emigration Homes, of which he was the founder, and which for a long period were entirely carried on by him and members of his family. As the work grew the co-operation of the public was invited, and a committee of management was formed, but Sir John was the guiding spirit and chief benefactor. The children admitted to the homes are street arabs and incipient criminals, and after preparatory training they are drafted to Canada to be trained in agricultural pursuits. For many years he accompanied parties of the children every year from Birmingham to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where there is a receiving home. Many of the children who have passed through the homes are now prosperous and self respecting citizens."

Apparently the children numbered many thousand over the years, though what they made of their enforced departure we can only surmise.

So far we have found out little more about the family - how long did they live in the village, and when? Why did Sir John and his wife choose to be buried in Belbroughton churchyard? No trace of his funeral account has been found in the local paper. If anyone can shed any more light on this story please contact: Madge Vaughan on (01562)730585.