‘STARVATION’ at Brigsteer.

In the midst of the arctic winter of 1947 an unusual tragedy which occurred at Brigsteer.

It reported at an Inquest at Kendal Town Hall following the deaths of Edwin Berry, aged 54, and his sister Agnes, aged 65.

Revelations of the state of their isolated cottage at East View seemed to hark back to extreme privations of earlier times.

It was reported that the deceased had died from malnutrition as well as from medical problems.

Edwin who was found by a chance visitor had been discovered dead on the floor face downward.

Upstairs Agnes Berry was in bed gasping for a drink of water being, seemingly, in a moribund state.

There was no fire on in the dwelling and apart from a stale crust there was no food in the pantry.

A hot drink provided by a neighbour seemed to revive her.

Even so, she was removed to ‘The Kendal Institution Hospital’, in the Workhouse, where she died the next day.

As she had been receiving medical attention her death was ascribed to ‘Natural Causes’.

Edwin’s brother, Frank Berry, gave evidence that he had never been ill in his life, ‘not even a cold’ and had never ever seen a doctor.

In recording a verdict that Edwin’s death had been caused by a heart attack the coroner added ‘that despite reports in the press ‘there was no question that both deaths had been caused by malnutrition’.

Even so the starvation myth lived despite relations asserted that the siblings were not poor, as ‘they had found two new handbags in Agnes’ room’.

WG 25 January 1947 and memory Frank Rockliffe 1930-2017.