May Spence

Mary Emma Spence was born in 1857 in North Shields, Northumberland, and was the youngest daughter of Alderman John Foster Spence JP and his wife Elizabeth. Her father was the Mayor of Tynemouth for five years and as her mother had died in 1885, Mary took on the role of Lady Mayoress for three years (1891-1894), at the end of which she was presented with a magnificent piano. Her father was the owner of a large Drapers store but curiously ran evening classes for apprentice joiners and plumbers. It was from these classes that Mary learned to use the tools and developed the skill of woodcarving.

By 1899, Mary became so skilled that she and her friend Katherine Clepham began teaching woodcarving to others, running evening classes at their respective workshops. It was around this time that Mary was asked to carve a replacement for the North Shields 'Wooden Dolly'.

The 'Wooden Dolly' tradition began in 1814 when Shipowner and brewer Alexander Bartleman erected an old ship’s figurehead on the quayside. However, it became the custom for sailors to cut off slivers for good luck. In 1850, to the dismay of locals, Dolly was attacked by a group of drunken vandals who broke her neck and ripped her body from the ground. A new Dolly was erected as a replacement but sailors continued to chip off pieces to carry on their voyages and she only lasted 14 years. A third Dolly was made but, instead of chipping, the sailors found their good luck by hammering coins into her body which eventually caused this third Dolly to break in half.

Mary's life size carving of the fourth Dolly took the form of a Cullercoats fishwife carrying a creel on her back. The superb quality of her carving is plain to see in the photograph. The statue was unveiled in 1902 and remained on the site until 1957 when she was replaced.

Around 1917, Mary, or May as she preferred to be called, retired to Hartsop. Initially she rented the cottage 'Howe Green', where, a couple years later, she was joined by Ann Macbeth. It was here that they wrote a book together entitled 'School and Fireside Crafts', which was published in October 1920. In 1921 they established a branch of the Women's Institute in the dale (which is still going strong over 100 years later).

Around 1934, May Spence moved to 'Cherry Garth' in Hartsop, where she remained until having to enter a nursing home in Kendal in the mid 1950's. Her Dolly almost survived her. In a touching tribute to May, the replacement 'fifth' Dolly, carved in Mahogany by Robert (Mouseman) Thompson, was unveiled to the public on the occasion of May's 100th Birthday.

May Spence died on the 31st of August 1957 and is buried in Patterdale Churchyard.

30 Jun 1926 - May Spence at High Beckside, Hartsop, the house that she and Ann Macbeth rented from Mr William Gibson (a local farmer).

A 1905 postcard of the New Wooden Dolly at Customs House Quay in North Shields. The Wooden Dolly is in the form of a Fishwife with a creel on her back and was carved by May Spence of North Shields.

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Page Editor: Norman Jackson

Page Last Reviewed: 04 Apr 2024

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