Description:Phoebe Clarke, nee Woollams, married James William Clarke at Pershore in 1886. After the birth of their first child they moved to Hednesford in about 1888 where James worked (and died) in the booming local coal mining industry.
Phoebe is pictured at what is thought to be the 'back-yard' of their home at 31, Church Hill, a mid-terraced housing block built for miners backing onto Hednesford Hills. With her are the youngest of her nine children, the three older brothers being of working age (two children had died by this date).
At the time the photo was taken Phoebe was about 41 years of age. Her children are Phoebe (born 1894, married name Price), George (born 1897), Constance (born 1903, married name Clansey), and Leonard (born 1906).
Len emigrated in 1926, briefly to New Zealand where he married a Scottish Nurse he had met onboard ship, and then returned to coal mining at Redhead, New South Wales, Australia from where this photo re-emerged via a granddaughter.