Also see: https://projectmarion.ca/family-presentation-subject-jane-louisa-lejeune-february-1-2-2025/

Photos of Louisa Lejeune’s life (more to be added)

Father and Mother

Husband and Children

Timeline of Major Life Events

Date	main life Events
1846	Alexander Maclaren takes up a post at Portland Chapel, Southampton
1856	March 27 – Alexander Maclaren marries cousin Marion Ann McLaren
1857	March – Jane Louisa Maclaren is born in Southampton, Hampshire England (father: Alexander Maclaren aged 31, mother: Marion Ann McLaren aged 28)
1858	February 22 – birth of sister Mary (Minnie) Moved to Manchester where father took up a position at Union Chapel
1860	– birth of sister Marion Alice in Manchester
1865	September – birth of sister Florence Elizabeth in Manchester
1869	April – birth of brother Alexander David in Manchester
1870	– birth of brother Allister in Manchester
1877	July – aged 20, marries Adam Eduard (Edward) Lejeune
1878	April – birth of daughter Franziska (Cis) Marion
1879	June – death of sister Marion Alice September 2 – birth of daughter Marion in Manchester
1880	September 14 – birth of daughter Juliet (Judy)
1882	January – birth of daughter Helene in Manchester
1883	April – birth of son Gustav Alexander (Alick) in Manchester
1884	December 21 – death of her mother Marion Ann, aged 56, in Barton Upon Urwell, Lancashire
1886	March – birth of son Edward (Russell) in Manchester
1888	April 2 – birth of son Francis (Arnold) in Manchester
1888	Residence is Lyndhurst, 10 Wilmslow Rd, between Withington and Fallowfield in Manchester, England (date uncertain)
1889	October 16 – Became one of the founders of Withington Girls’ School
1897	March 27 – birth of daughter Caroline Alice in Withington
1899	October 28 – husband Adam Edouard died in Zurich, Switzerland December 29 – sister Mary (Minnie) Wingate died in Knowle, Warwickshire
1909	Moved to Holland House at 8 Burlington Road, Withington
1910	May 5 – Father (Rev Dr) Alexander Maclaren died, aged 84 December 10 – present when granddaughter Ruth Enke born on Galiano Island, British Columbia, Canada
1921	September – Moved with daughter Caroline to London, first to a flat in Maida Vale, then to various other flats ending in Bloomsbury so Caroline could take up a position as music critic, subsequently film critic for The Manchester Guardian
1922	Settled into 19 St Loo Mansions, Chelsea
1924	Wembley Exhibition
1925	Move to Fallowfield, Pinner, Middlesex near London. Daughter Caroline marries Edward Roffe Thompson and they make their home at Lane End, Pinner, not far from Louisa’s home.
1928	– birth of grandson Tony Thompson (who subsequently wrote under the name Anthony Lejeune)
1931	May 29 – death of son Russell in an accidental shooting at Boodanoo Station, Western Australia, Australia
1936	April 11 – death of Jane Louisa at Fallowfield, Pinner, Middlesex aged 79

1889-1921

During the 1890’s Louisa was not only busy with Withington Girls’ School and Lady Barn House School, she also managed the large household at 10 Wilmslow Road, consisting of a husband, seven children, a Cook, housemaid and Lizzie who catered to the children’s needs. On Sunday afternoons Louisa and Eduard kept a tradition of Open House, being visited by friends and acquaintances. Much sharing of ideas and differing view points on current affairs would be aired.

In 1897 another baby came along – Caroline Alice.

In 1899 tragedy struck: Eduard, who had suffered from heart problems for a number of years, died while on a business trip to Zurich. Louisa was left as a single parent of eight children, the oldest, Franziska age 22 and the youngest Caroline, just 2. Nevertheless, Louisa carried on, As Caroline noted “Mother was in charge of everything: paid all the bills, arranged the Family holidays, held morning prayers, sat at the head of the long dining-table and carved the Sunday joint, dealt deftly with the vast turkey and blazing plum pudding at Christmas.”

Caroline wrote later in life “Mother was a most unusual woman …She influenced a great many people without their knowledge. She never asked questions, never interfered, but somehow what she intended would be done … she had the sort of lively mind which never stultifies, but seeks for and finds its own education. She grew with the changing times: was keenly aware of current concepts, although she did not always conform to them; she could keep her counsel. She was the repository of many secrets. I can guess now at the gravity of some of them but they remain secrets to this day.”

Margaret Grant, who was Head Mistress of WGS from 1908 until 1938, wrote of Louisa “I stayed with her on my first visit to Manchester, and as the years passed I appreciated increasingly her counsel and her friendship. I sought her advice over much business and in many difficulties and always felt—such was her sympathy, judgment and discretion—that I could clear and ease my mind by any statement of opinion and feeling and have no qualms afterwards regarding what I had said.”

And “Her mind had wide range. She was both highly critical and warmly appreciative, and her sense of humour was acute. Her letters were a delight — conveying mood, reflection and most perceptive descriptions. I think she would allow me to quote a few passages.

” I did not want to write you a dismal letter or one from a distracted mind—I have kept putting off, waiting for the springs of joy to rise. But they won’t, so it’s no use waiting any longer.”

” I wonder whether it’s a weakness to be unable to live a sane mental life unless one comes into contact with a number of people—to feel so strongly ‘ the need of a world of men ‘ ” ;

But on another occasion she wrote— ” I beat a retreat, not being in a gregarious mood.”

The family group began changing in the early days of the first decade of the 20^th Century. 1901 and 1902 saw first Russell and then Arnold go away to attend boarding schools. Meanwhile the older girls were attending Oxford then onto employment: Franziska in 1903, Marion in 1904, Juliet in 1906. Also in 1906, Russell left for Western Australia and in 1907 Arnold left for British Columbia in Canada.

At Christmas time in 1906, Marion became engaged to Max Enke and the intention was that they too would go out to British Columbia. In October, 1907 Louisa and Marion travelled to Quebec City where Max was waiting to meet them and be married, having earlier been to Galiano Island where he purchased a number of adjoining farms and set the 13 Belgian workers who had accompanied him working on further development of the properties.

With the resident family shrinking in number it became clear that 10 Wilmslow Road was now far too large for the reduced family so in 1909 they moved into a smaller home, at 8 Burlington Road, Withington.

The house still exists in Withington but has undergone a naumber of additions and renovations

The original house is just the right half; the left half is a later addition.

In October of 1909 Franziska married Laurence Meade. In May, 1910 Louisa’s father, the Reverend Alexander Maclaren died. But life renews: Marion wrote that she was expecting a child in December. As a result, Louisa, who had borne eight children, travelled out to Galiano Island in BC to support Marion, who was about to be delivered of her first, and Louisa’s first grandchild, Ruth Enke. Louisa was also able to see Arnold who was working in BC.

In 1912, Marion, baby Ruth and Arnold visited Manchester from BC and in 1914 Arnold returned to the UK to marry a girl from Edinburgh whom he had met in BC; the couple then returned to BC and Galiano Island.

The First World War brought tension to Louisa’s life once again – in 1916 Arnold returned to England to enlist. His wife Gladys, pregnant with their first child, moved into 8 Burlington Rd and Diana was born there in August. Arnold subsequently was sent to the front, was gassed and ultimately given a medical discharge. Russell was safe in Australia, and Alick was attached to a railway mission in South Africa. Nevertheless, a nephew Graeme West, son of her deceased sister Marion, was killed.

Meanwhile Caroline had fallen in love with the theatre and writing and, because she was good at it, developed her analytical skill. While still at university, she began to have anonymous pieces of journalism published in the Manchester Guardian. A some point Caroline, now captured by the newly emerging cinema, decided she was going to be film critic reviewing films as they came out. She pitched the idea to C.P. Scott of a regular column of film criticism in the Manchester Guardian. He listened gravely but said, “I think that would have to be from the London end.” So Caroline had to get to London and Louisa supported her, agreeing that they would move there. It’s probable that Louisa, then 64 and having essentially spent her entire life to date in Manchester, didn’t think it would last because they took only some suitcases. Ultimately, however, in 1921 they ended up at 10 St Loo Mansions in Chelsea.

Jane Louisa Lejeune and C.P. Scott

Let’s jump back a bit, to the first decade of the 20th Century and Louisa’s close friendship with C.P.Scott, the great editor of the Manchester Guardian. “Scottie” was a frequent visitor to 8 Burlington Rd. Louisa had been a close friend of Scott’s wife Rachel who died in late 1905. Subsequently Scott and Louisa developed a close intimate relationship – he would drop in for tea two or three times a week. As Caroline describes it:

“Mother’s relationship with Mr. Scott was very close and very durable. It was perhaps unusual, but they were both unusual people. Each summer they would go away together, and spend a fortnight in the Lake District, or a fortnight in Devonshire. They set great store by these quiet annual holidays, and seemed to find strength and refreshment in each other’s company.”