Ada Lewis Memorial
They have restored the memorial to Ada Lewis in Maidenhead which was originally erected in 1908.
In Dec 2010 it was moved a short distance away from the side of the A4 at the end of the bridge, to Bridge Gardens, beside the river. The same memorial, different position is here - www.flickr.com/photos/petereed/1260893886/
Ada Hannah Lewis was a wealthy philanthropist, born in Liverpool in 1844, died in London 1906. She was the wife of Samuel Lewis (1837 – January 13, 1901). Samuel Lewis was born in Birmingham and worked as a salesman of steel pens, then opened a jeweller's shop before making his name as a money-lender to the aristocracy.
From here - www.tymsder.co.uk/lender.htm
The story of Samuel Lewis, the most respected and philanthropic Jewish moneylender in Victorian society, is one of contrasts. Not only does Sam's life represent the classic rags-to-riches story but it also the difference in contemporary attitudes to usurers and the extravagant aristocrats who were their clients.
Moneylenders were generally shunned and reviled by society, yet society, particularly those in the upper echelons, could not do without their services. Samuel Lewis, discreet and trustworthy, gained their confidence and even their friendship in solving the cash-flow problems of rich and famous clients, including close friends of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and members of the exclusive Jockey Club. England's premier earl, the 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, borrowed a total of £370,000 (equivalent to £13 million today).
Sam's activities attracted the remorseless opprobrium of Sir George Lewis, society's leading solicitor and , like Sam. a Jew. Conscious that many an aristocrat was ruined by resorting to the services of West End usurers, Sir George branded Sam a 'curse to society and a danger to the community'. Yet to the poor of London, slum-born Sam was a benefactor, bequeathing money to establish accommodation at reasonable rents, and both he and his wife Ada were generous to deserving and appropriate charities.
Although as a Jewish moneylender Sam could not be part of high society, he and Ada owned houses in Grosvenor Square, London, on the river in Maidenhead, and in Brunswick Terrace, Hove. Ada was a well-known Mayfair hostess, and the Lewises were seen at all the fashionable events of the season. After Sam's death Ada, the wealthiest widow in England, was received at court, travelled extensively, supported the arts (especially music), and, at the age of 60, remarried - in church - Guards officer less than half her age. But in her will she expressed the wish to be buried next to Sam, and the lay side by side in a Golders Green cemetery.
Asked what he would like his epitaph to be, Sam replied, 'I lend to the lord and I give to the poor'. He saw himself as a latter-day Robin Hood.
On his death in 1901, Samuel left an endowment to set up a charitable trust to provide good quality homes for working people in London. Samuel Lewis Housing Trust susequently became Southern Housing Group, and now owns 24,000 homes. Ada became the wealthiest widow in England, and, at the age of 60 married a guards officer less than half her age. She died in 1906, and was buried next to Sam in Golders Green cemetery.
From the British Journal of Nursing, October 1906...
"We wonder if it is any consolation to those unfortunate persons who borrowed money from the usurer Sam Lewis that much of the £2,500,000 which he left to his wife is to benefit (now that the lady is dead) our charitable institutions. We doubt it.
But the windfall has caused great glee to many hard-working hospital secretaries. Amongst the charities which benefit is King Edward's hospital fund which gets £250,000. Other bequests are the London Hospital for a ward to be called the "Ada Lewis Ward",” £20,000; to the Sisters of Nazareth, Hammersmith, £20,000; for a home for London working girls, to be named "The Ada Lewis Home” £15,000; for charitable institutions at Cookham and Maidenhead, £15,000; for the relief of the Jewish poor in Dublin, £15,000.
The sum of £10,000 was left to each of the following: Guy’s, Charing Cross, St. George’s, St. Bartholomew’s, University College, St, Thomas’s, and Metropolitan Hospitals, Maidenhead Hospital, Hospital for Consumption, Sussex County Hospital (Brighton), Jews’ College, and the Jewish Board of Guardians for the relief of poor Jews.
Each of the following receives £5,000: Paddingdon Green Children’s Hospital, Evelina Hospital for Sick Children, London Ophthalmic Hospital, and the Jewish Soup Kitchen.
Ada Lewis Memorial
They have restored the memorial to Ada Lewis in Maidenhead which was originally erected in 1908.
In Dec 2010 it was moved a short distance away from the side of the A4 at the end of the bridge, to Bridge Gardens, beside the river. The same memorial, different position is here - www.flickr.com/photos/petereed/1260893886/
Ada Hannah Lewis was a wealthy philanthropist, born in Liverpool in 1844, died in London 1906. She was the wife of Samuel Lewis (1837 – January 13, 1901). Samuel Lewis was born in Birmingham and worked as a salesman of steel pens, then opened a jeweller's shop before making his name as a money-lender to the aristocracy.
From here - www.tymsder.co.uk/lender.htm
The story of Samuel Lewis, the most respected and philanthropic Jewish moneylender in Victorian society, is one of contrasts. Not only does Sam's life represent the classic rags-to-riches story but it also the difference in contemporary attitudes to usurers and the extravagant aristocrats who were their clients.
Moneylenders were generally shunned and reviled by society, yet society, particularly those in the upper echelons, could not do without their services. Samuel Lewis, discreet and trustworthy, gained their confidence and even their friendship in solving the cash-flow problems of rich and famous clients, including close friends of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) and members of the exclusive Jockey Club. England's premier earl, the 20th Earl of Shrewsbury, borrowed a total of £370,000 (equivalent to £13 million today).
Sam's activities attracted the remorseless opprobrium of Sir George Lewis, society's leading solicitor and , like Sam. a Jew. Conscious that many an aristocrat was ruined by resorting to the services of West End usurers, Sir George branded Sam a 'curse to society and a danger to the community'. Yet to the poor of London, slum-born Sam was a benefactor, bequeathing money to establish accommodation at reasonable rents, and both he and his wife Ada were generous to deserving and appropriate charities.
Although as a Jewish moneylender Sam could not be part of high society, he and Ada owned houses in Grosvenor Square, London, on the river in Maidenhead, and in Brunswick Terrace, Hove. Ada was a well-known Mayfair hostess, and the Lewises were seen at all the fashionable events of the season. After Sam's death Ada, the wealthiest widow in England, was received at court, travelled extensively, supported the arts (especially music), and, at the age of 60, remarried - in church - Guards officer less than half her age. But in her will she expressed the wish to be buried next to Sam, and the lay side by side in a Golders Green cemetery.
Asked what he would like his epitaph to be, Sam replied, 'I lend to the lord and I give to the poor'. He saw himself as a latter-day Robin Hood.
On his death in 1901, Samuel left an endowment to set up a charitable trust to provide good quality homes for working people in London. Samuel Lewis Housing Trust susequently became Southern Housing Group, and now owns 24,000 homes. Ada became the wealthiest widow in England, and, at the age of 60 married a guards officer less than half her age. She died in 1906, and was buried next to Sam in Golders Green cemetery.
From the British Journal of Nursing, October 1906...
"We wonder if it is any consolation to those unfortunate persons who borrowed money from the usurer Sam Lewis that much of the £2,500,000 which he left to his wife is to benefit (now that the lady is dead) our charitable institutions. We doubt it.
But the windfall has caused great glee to many hard-working hospital secretaries. Amongst the charities which benefit is King Edward's hospital fund which gets £250,000. Other bequests are the London Hospital for a ward to be called the "Ada Lewis Ward",” £20,000; to the Sisters of Nazareth, Hammersmith, £20,000; for a home for London working girls, to be named "The Ada Lewis Home” £15,000; for charitable institutions at Cookham and Maidenhead, £15,000; for the relief of the Jewish poor in Dublin, £15,000.
The sum of £10,000 was left to each of the following: Guy’s, Charing Cross, St. George’s, St. Bartholomew’s, University College, St, Thomas’s, and Metropolitan Hospitals, Maidenhead Hospital, Hospital for Consumption, Sussex County Hospital (Brighton), Jews’ College, and the Jewish Board of Guardians for the relief of poor Jews.
Each of the following receives £5,000: Paddingdon Green Children’s Hospital, Evelina Hospital for Sick Children, London Ophthalmic Hospital, and the Jewish Soup Kitchen.