After the death of their father, Sir George Talbot, Georgina and Marianne vowed to help the poor and hungry - a task that proved more difficult than they had originally envisaged.
The two sisters built Talbot Village, with sturdy, mildly rustic homes and low rents.
The kind-hearted sisters had not foreseen that their mission to save those in need would be a challenge. What they soon discovered was that the lives of some of the people they sought to aid were far from respectable.
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The Wallisdown district was well-known for its lawless inhabitants, such as smugglers and poachers.
The Talbots had dreams of a conventional life for them, yet some of the characters and their bad behaviour meant they didn't fit into the vision. This certainly caused some friction in the lives of the new neighbours. Residents of Talbot Village enjoyed the benefits of low rent but were required to fulfil certain obligations.
It was expected that they would do whatever work was asked of them, and it was not allowed for individuals to take in boarders or to conduct any business apart from selling eggs, poultry and bacon.
In 1862, the opening of a new school marked the start of an educational journey for 68 students.
Almost three decades after the first arrivals, the headmaster of the school was less than pleased with how things had progressed. According to him, a large number of students demonstrated a lack of intelligence due to their poor lifestyle choices and parental influence, not to mention poverty and inadequate footwear.
Although there were no restrictions on religious beliefs, all who entered had to abide by the Ten Commandments.
Pets were not permitted, making it a pet-free zone.
The two sisters, at a later date, constructed St Mark’s Church as well as the almshouses. The regulations of the latter specified that only individuals whose behaviour was exemplary and who had self-control were allowed to be considered for residence.
Georgina Talbot passed away in 1870, and 15 years later, Marianne followed her.
Nestled in a picturesque setting, Talbot Village is now one of the more desirable places to call home.
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