Catherine West (1877-1958): The Lady with the Flowers

IDENTIFIED

A mystery from January 2025, solved by our community.

When we first shared this photograph on our Facebook page in January 2025, we knew almost nothing about it. The only clues were three possible surnames connected with the collection it came from: West, Potts, and Abell. We asked our community to channel their inner Sherlock Holmes — and they delivered.

What the Community has told us

UPDATE MARCH 2026

She is Catherine West, born on 1st June 1877. In 1897 she married Thomas Potts, and they had six children. Catherine and her family lived at number 4 Dragon Lane, where they ran a small sweet shop and sold vegetables grown on their son’s smallholding on the recreation ground.

Catherine came from a well-known village family. Her father, Marston West, was the blacksmith and village constable of Newbold Verdon — his photograph appears in Roger King’s book Newbold Verdon 1901. Her brother, Philip Grey West, kept a draper’s shop next to the Swan Inn; he served in the First World War and died in 1917. The Archive holds a photograph of his shop with his name above the door.

One of our commenters also suggested the garden in the photograph may be that of 27 Main Street, identified from the roofline and a tall post part-way down the path.

With thanks to members of the Potts, West and Preston families, and other followers of our Facebook page, whose comments and family records made this identification possible.