Long before I had ever thought of travelling to Paraguay I was fascinated by an unusual grave stone in Dunstable cemetery. It just seemed so out of place in an English country graveyard. I always wondered what the story behind it was.

The memorial is that of Eliza Bagshawe. Born in Asuncion, Paraguay on 15-5-1864. Then after a long life dying in Cambridge, England on 13-8-1952.

Elizas’ parents were James Smith Parkinson and Jane Hare. James was born in 1836 in Bubwith Yorkshire and Jane in 1838.

James was one of a number of British managers and engineers bought to Paraguay by the president Carlos Lopez in the mid 1800s. They were there to help modernize his country. In Paraguay James was employed as manager of the Asuncion Brick Works.

Whilst the work to modernize the country continued Carlos Lopez died in 1862. He was succeeded by his son Francisco. Known as Mariscal Lopez.

The following year James Smith Parkinson and Jane Hare were married in Asuncion. They had probably met in Paraguay. The date was 2-8-1863.

The following year on 15th May their daughter Eliza was born. Eliza was named after the Irish mistress of Mariscal Lopez, Eliza Lynch. Eliza Lynch was at the time the height of Asuncion fashion and naming their daughter after her would have done the young couple no harm.

Elizas’ early years were not however to be happy ones. The following year following deputes with both Brazil and Argentina Paraguay was thrown into war. It was a disastrous war that would all but destroy Paraguay.

Like many foreign workers the Parkinsons would have sought to get away from Paraguay. It does seem that they escaped before the final devastating months of the war when following the fall of Asuncion to Brazilian forces in late 1869 Mariscal Lopez and his ever dwindling forces fought a fighting withdraw across the country for most of the following year.

I think that was the case as they were back in England around the time of Elizas’ 6th birthday. The flight however seems not to have been peaceful and uneventful. Along the way vital paperwork was lost.

Arriving in England Eliza lacked a birth certificate. Something that was vital for her continuing life. The problem was though swiftly resolved. Whether through her rights as a British citizen or through the influence of her family a fresh certificate was produced. This new birth certificate now showed Eliza as having been born in Rotherham, Yorkshire.

The family was not though ruined by their sudden departure from Paraguay. James quickly found fresh employment as a brick and tile manufacturer in Lancashire.

Better time were ahead and the family finances appear solid. Eliza was able to go to a boarding school in Stroud and from there to Stratford Abbey Training Collage in London.

It was whilst in London that Eliza Parkinson met Arthur Bagshawe. The couple were married in Fulham, London in June 1891.

Arthur Bagshawe was born in Sheffield and the son of Richard Bagshawe. Richard Bagshawe had a factory in Hammersmith importing chains and machine parts. There Arthur worked as an apprentice to his father in preparation for one day having his own business.

Whilst in London Arthur and Eliza had three children. First Arthur W Gerald in 1892. Then Mary Christine Evelyn in 1893. Finally Thomas Wyatt in 1901.

By the time of the birth of Thomas Arthur was ready to set up alone in business. He wanted that business to be somewhere away from the dirt of London. Somewhere with clean air and open spaces that would be ideal for a young family. Also close enough to London to maintain business connections.

For sometime he travelled around the country seeking somewhere suitable. Then in 1906 as site in Dunstable to the north of London was settled upon.

Eliza and the children travelled to Dunstable and the mid 18th century Grove House in Dunstable High Street was settled upon as their residence. This was rented by Arthur in 1906 and then bought outright in 1920.

The factory itself was built a mile away on a site in Church Street. This contained an iron foundry and and a chain manufacturing shop. Allowing the entire manufacturing process to be carried out on one site. This would decrease costs and increase profits.

Away from the factory Arthur was a dedicated family man and a keen gardener. Grove House had a large garden and he spent many happy hours there tending to the plants. The garden also gave the children space to run and play.

The happy family life continued until the death of Arthur in 1926. Ownership of the factory and Grove House then passed to the eldest son, Arthur W.

Following the death of her husband Eliza continued to live in Grove House until 1936. At that point both the house and gardens were sold to the Borough of Dunstable. The gardens were then opened to the public.

Eliza lived on for many more years. Finally she died in a Cambridge nursing home in 1952.

She had enjoyed a full life. She had survived three wars. Had fled halfway across the world as a child refugee and finally seen her husbands dream become a reality.

Her body was interred in Dunstable Cemetery next to that of her husband. There still they lie together.