Miss Elizabeth Mary Eugenie Caws – April 2006
Miss Caws lived in the upper floor of a 2-roomed cottage with a wash-house, the property of Mr A Attrill, of Lower Bettesworth Road. It had been rented by Miss Caws for some years and she sublet the lower room to Mrs Kathleen Beazley. The fire is believed to be due to an overturned lamp which was found in Miss Caws’ room, which also contained large bundles of books and papers. Mrs Beazley was cared for by neighbours during the night and subsequently removed to the Isle of Wight Infirmary suffering badly from shock. Miss Caws was a very familiar figure in the town, where her early Victorian type of dress and somewhat precise demeanour attracted attention, although she was very quiet and reserved.
The record from the County Press is attached to her entry on this website, and was transcribed by Ann Barrett. Click here
Miss Caws’ grave stone has recently been recorded by students from Ryde School who are working in the Cemetery as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award project.