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Worker of the Week: William Boustead

By July 15th, 2026No Comments
A postcard of Botchergate in Carlisle. There are some tall buildings with people stood on the road between them and some tram lines. This is a black and white photo. Underneath this is a handwritten note which reads "how do you like this view? One you collecting?"

Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which highlights the workers at H.M. Factory Gretna that our volunteers researched for The Miracle Workers Project. This project aimed to centralise all of the 30,000 people who worked at the factory during World War One and, although it may be over, our amazing research volunteers are continuing to uncover more stories about H.M. Factory Gretna workers to be added to this database. We are always looking to learn more about H.M. Factory Gretna workers. If you know anything about a H.M. Factory Gretna worker please feel free to get in touch with us by contacting info@devilsporridge.org.uk  

This week’s Worker of the Week, is William Boustead, who seems to have spent most his life living in Carlisle. Thanks to all who help to make this possible blog possible!

Early Life

  • Firstly, William was born in 1879, in Carlisle.
  • His parents were William and Elizabaeth Jane Boustead (nee Gibson).
  • Additionally, we know William was the second eldest of seven siblings.

 

  • By the 1881 census the family have moved to live at 15 Barrack Street, Carlisle.
  • The census gives William’s father, who was also William, occupation as a railway signalman.

 

A postcard of Botchergate in Carlisle. There are some tall buildings with people stood on the road between them and some tram lines. This is a black and white photo. Underneath this is a handwritten note which reads "how do you like this view? One you collecting?"

Botchergate in Carlisle from a postcard in our archive. Do you think it might have looked like this when William lived there?

 

  • After this, the 1891 census gives the family address as 39 Close Street, Botchergate in Carlisle.
  • Meanwhile, the older William, was still working as a railway signalman.

 

  • The next census shows that the younger William had moved away from Carlisle.
  • In 1901 he was boarding at 14 John Street, Gateshead.

Marriage

  • However, this move doesn’t appear to have lasted long!
  • We know that William returned to Carlisle by December 1904.
  • This is because, he married Hannah Fisher there on Boxing Day in 1904.
  • William’s occupation is described as a clog maker.

 

  • Following his marriage, the 1911 census shows that Hannah and William continued to live in Carlisle.
  • They were living in in 82 Harrison Street, Carlisle.
  • William worked as a boot repairer.
  • Also shown on the census record, William and Hannah had four children, but sadly only two survived.
Entrance to English Street Carlisle. A road with historic brick buildings on either side of a road. There is a bus and a van driving on the road. Some pedestrians are walking on the left pavement. This is a black and white photo from the past.

Do you think William would recognize Carlisle from this photo?

 

H.M. Factory Gretna and Life Beyond

  • Next it seems the William worked at H.M. Factory Gretna.

(It’s important to note that the rural site of H.M. Factory Gretna actually stretched from Dornock in Scotland to Longtown in England, unlike what the name given to it by the government at the time suggests. The two townships of Eastriggs and Gretna were built to house and facilitate those that came to the area to work at the factory. Both townships were also vital to the factory and those who worked there.)

  • Currently, we do not know exactly what William did at the factory.
  • We do think it’s likely that he was still living at his Harrison Street address while working there though.

 

  • The reason why we know William worked at the factory is because,  he is described as an ex or retired H.M. Factory Gretna Worker in the 1921 census.
  • Perhaps unsurprisingly, William, Hannah and family were still living in Carlisle.

 

  • Lastly, William died in 1932, in Carlisle.

 

A colourised postcard featuring three photos of Carlisle in years gone by. One is of a statue in front of part of a castle, the second is of castle and the third is of a street.

A 19th century colourised postcard of Carlisle. Do you think William would be able to recognize the places in this postcard?

Sources and Further Reading

 

Read William Boustead’s online database entry by clicking here>

 

Do you have a relative who worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact us by emailing info@devilsporridge.org.uk. You never know maybe your relative could feature in a future Worker of the Week blog post! You can also have a look at some more H.M. Factory Gretna workers on our online database here>

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