OUTSIDE THE ASYLUM
Can you help George Marshall Medical Museum with a spot of family history research to find out about some people who were admitted to the Worcester City and County Lunatic Asylum in the 19th century?
Our aim is to share more patients’ stories, and to find out about their lives before admission and (where possible) after discharge.
albert edward giles
find out more about albert edward giles
Albert was the eighth child of Henry William Giles (1823 – 1874) and Janet Lockhart (1832 – 1894) born in 1862 at Canongate, Edinburgh. Albert’s father was from Birmingham while his mother was Scottish, they married on 14 May 1849 at Arbroath, Angus, Scotland.
Henry and Janet Giles had ten children most of whom worked together as performers at various circus’ during the latter half of the nineteenth century. They assumed the stage name ‘Gilleno’. These children included William Giles (about 1845), Charlotte Giles (1850 Glasgow – 1928 Middlesex, Ontario, Canada), Ellen Giles (1857 Edinburgh – 1925 Birmingham, Warwickshire), Henry William (1857 St Giles – 1932 Birmingham, Warwickshire ), Juliet Giles (1858 Dundee – 1858 St Giles, Edinburgh), Jemima Bennet Giles (1859 Canongate, Edinburgh – 1860 Edinburgh), Thomas Giles (1860, Canongate, Edinburgh – 1905 Bangkok, Thailand), Albert Edward Giles (1862 Canongate, Edinburgh – 1899 Worcester, Worcestershire), Alfred Giles (1864 Canongate, Edinburgh – 1864 Edinburgh), Sophia Matilda Giles (1865 Canongate, Edinburgh – 1949 Thanet, Kent), Louisa Lorne Gilleno Giles (1870 Bury, Lancashire – 1927 London, Middlesex, Ontario, Canada).
The 1851 census informs us that Henry and Janet were lodging at the High Street, Johnstone in Renfrewshire, Scotland along with two of Albert’s older siblings William (age 6) and Charlotte (age 1). Henry was recorded as a comedian and Margaret Lockert [sic] was living at the same address and assumed to be related to Janet, likely her mother.
By 1861 Henry and Janet were living in Edinburgh at Black Friars Wynd, Henry was a photographic artist and comedian. With them were Albert’s older siblings Helen [Ellen] (5), Henry (4) and Thomas (6 months).
The Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review (1869) reviews the Theatre of varieties at Great Grimsby. ‘This place of amusement reopened on Monday May 17 with a first-class company of music hall singers, including the following… Miss C. Gilleno, Messrs. Harry and Nelly Gilleno…’.
By 1871 Albert had been born and included with the family living in the Redcliff area of Bristol with each member of the family recorded as a professional singer.
Adverts appeared in various newspapers during the 1870s relating to the ‘celebrated Gilleno Troupe. There is no doubt that Albert would have been included in the troupe learning this trade from his parents and older siblings. These adverts included appearances at Wells (Somerset) Journal (27 Aug 1870), Express and Echo, Exeter Nov 1870. 1871 continued to be a busy time for the family with adverts in Totnes (January), Barnstaple (February), Bristol (May), Belper, Stoke-on-Trent and Sheffield (July), Derby (1871), Bury (July/August), Barnsley (1871), Chesterfield (12-26 August), Leeds, (September), Sutton in Ashfield (September), Glossop (Glossop Times, 9 September)4,5. At Glossop ‘the great Gilleno troupe of male and female acrobats, Harry and Nelly Gilleno, the Comio and Talented Duettists, Miss Gilleno, The Queen of Serio-Comio’ were among the performers in August 1871. Other reports included the ‘celebrated Gilleno Troupe from Alhambra Palace, London, who will perform on the high rope’ and ‘Mrs Gilleno, the dashing serio-comic vocalist’. Mrs Gilleno refers to Janet which gives insight to her own abilities. In August 1873 a gala took place at Bromsgrove where ‘The celebrated Gilleno Troupe have been engaged; and also Mdlle Gilleno, the great ascensionist. There are also many references to The Gilleno Family with the ‘Female Blondin’ who was Charlotte (also known as Mademoiselle Carlotta) sister to Albert.
In an article run in the London Era newspaper on November 5, 1874, is a shocking report on Albert’s father Henry demise:
“...on the night of the Prince of Wales’s visit to Birmingham, a circus proprietor, who had pitched his caravans in Lodge Road was assaulted in a brutal manner by a man named Edward Bate, who lived in Icknield Street. Bate was brought up before the magistrates and as a result of that interview is now undergoing a term of three months’ imprisonment. Instead, however, of recovering his health during the incarceration of his assailant Gilleno got worse, erysipelas set in and the poor fellow has died. ”
Further information was reported that Edward Bate was eighteen and a burnisher, that Henry William Gilleno…a circus proprietor… with his family, gave gymnastic performances”. The report continues that ‘the prisoner and another on Tuesday entered the exhibition without paying. He asked them to pay or leave, but they refused to do either, and the prisoner defied him to put him out. As the prisoner still refused to pay, he caught him by the shoulder and, after a violent struggle, succeeded in ejecting him and closing the door. The prisoner, however, returned, and threw at him a brick which, striking him on the head, inflicted a serious wound and rendered him insensible. Janet Gilleno, the wife of the prosecutor, gave corroborative evidence, and also complained of having been assaulted by the prisoner. The magistrate sentenced the prisoner to two months’ imprisonment in respect of each assault – four months in all.
After Henry’s death Albert (aged 18), an equestrian was living as a lodger with his sister [Sophie] Matilda (16) an equestrienne, in Edinburgh (1881). Sophie Matilda later used the professional name of Mademoiselle Flexmore. Their mother, Janet, is recorded as visiting another of Albert’s sisters, Ellen in 1881. Ellen was married to Henry Lucas and living with her in-laws and had three children at Deakins Lane, Yardley, Birmingham. Janet was a professional actor.
During the 1880s the family continued to work in various forms in the circus. An example of their talents and abilities can be construed for the following report
“Little Friskey and T. Gilleno, the comical pair of acrobats, horizontal bar performers, double and single knockabout, trick tumbling, and musical clowns, hat throwers, vaulters, comic chair performers, stilts, spade, pole and clog dancers &c., &c., just concluding twelve months with the Cooke Brothers. Prices Circus, Madrid, Spain, to follow. Kind regards to all friends.
The Era reported the marriage on 25th January 1882 in Edinburgh between Harry Gilleno, known as Little Friskey to Sarah (Zarah) of the sisters Adele and Zarah, and daughter of Henry Brown, court jester. Henry Brown was a famous circus equestrian and tumbler as well as Shakespearian mummery, topical comment on people in power, clowning and jesting, he also was the proprietor of ‘Browns Cirque Unique’ during the 1850s.
An advertisement in December 1884 brought the family Gilleno to the Holland Circus performing at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden, with the following report:
The Brothers Gilleno, on the horizontal bar, not only delighted all who saw them by their agility; but the grotesque drollery with which their feats were accomplished added greatly to the effect. They are admirable performers.
The family also appear to have strong ties to Hengler’s Circus. During the 1880s Albert and his family were performing with the Hengler’s Circus at various places. The Western Daily Press (1887) reported the Hengler’s Circus playing at Bristol with performers Including the Brothers Gilleno, and Little Frisky (Albert’s eldest brother Harry).
The programme for 'Hengler's Grand Cirque', annotated with date of attendance as 18 Apr 1885 at Argyll Street London, with the cast including ‘Gilleno’, however had no other details.
Albert, aged twenty-five married Marion Young 4 September 1888. He was recorded as an instrumentalist, as was his deceased father, living at 1 Starkie Street, St Augustine, Everton. The witnesses were Thomas Giles and Louisa Gilleno Giles. Their marriage was reported in The Era:
Married, on the 14th inst., at St Augustine’s Church Liverpool, Albert Gilleno, of the Gilleno Brothers, musical clowns, to Marion Young, professionally known as May Emmett, only daughter of Charles Young, ventriloquist.
Also of interest is Marion’s professional name of May Emmett, as her mother’s maiden name was Mary Emmett.
Albert and Marion went on to have four children: Thomas Charles Gilleno Giles (1890 – 1903), Albert William Gilleno Giles (1891 – 1957), Alfred Gilleno Giles 1894 – 1901) and Paul Gilleno Giles (1898 – 1917). Only Albert William reached full adulthood, with Thomas sadly dying age 14, Alfred at age 7 and Paul died during World War One while fighting as a soldier in Flanders, Belgium aged just 19.
We further learn that part of the family performed in Barcelona, Spain during September 1885. This may be referring to Thomas and his brother Harry known as ‘Little Friskey’.
The Gilleno Brothers, the original comical musical clowns just concluded one month’s engagement with Cirque Algeria, Barcelona Spain. Re-engaged for one month longer. Acknowledged to have made the greatest success ever known of any Two musical clowns that have ever appeared in Barcelona.
In 1892 Albert’s mother-in-law died, again The Era records this event:
“Died at Liverpool April 24th Marion Young, aged fifty-five, wife of Professor Charles Young, and dearly loved mother of Mrs Albert Gilleno. She suffered much, but is now at rest. ”
It seems that in 1894 Albert’s brother Harry worked for a short time with The Chadwick Circus. This circus was run by the Chadwick family,
who were “a circus family with John Henry Chadwick being one of Hengler Circus’ premier clowns throughout the 1880’s-1890’s known as ‘Little Valdo’…. John Henry had a short lived show in 1894 with a partner called Friskey Gilleno in Scotland known as ‘Gilleno and Chadwicks Circus’ but it was unsuccessful with him and Gilleno being sued by some of their performers for unpaid wages.
In 1896 a poster for the Tudor Circus advertised the Gilleno Brothers, Albert and Tom, who with their father and nine siblings were part of the Gilleno Family Troupe, were able to ‘extract music from anything they handled’. Watching them play ‘bells and bellows, ducks and banjo’, had the CIP reviewer holding his sides with laughter.
On 28th August 1896 the Tudor circus announced…
“The musical Gilleno Brothers performed…all playing musical instruments. This one act alone shows the creativity of the circus performers, with sketches made up at every new programme, and the needs of each performer, particularly the clowns, to have a variety of skill. ”
By 1898 we get the first glimpse of Albert being unwell. The Era reported Albert was not able to perform but his brother Thomas would continue as a solo artist:
“Notice to proprietors and agents. Owing to the ill-health of Albert Gilleno (of the Gilleno Bros) he will not be able to resume business for several months; but Thomas Gilleno in the meantime, will work by himself in an entirely new speciality musical act. At Liberty Nov 14th.”
At this time (October 1898) Albert at only 36 years old had been admitted to the Worcester Asylum suffering from melancholia.
In his medical notes he was described as ‘low and depressed, imagining that he had not had any food for weeks’. He continued to be sleepless, restless and deluded as well as pale, reduced, feeble & unsatisfactory. By April 1899 it was found that Albert had a fractured rib and was having bad attacks of diarrhoea. At some point in May Albert injured his left hip although it was recorded that there was ‘no definite signs of fracture or dislocation, his hip is very much swollen & is painful’. By the end of May although he had no signs of pneumonia, he was very pale & anaemic and described as being in a most precarious condition. During June and July Albert’s continued to deteriorate. He became more feeble by the beginning of August. In the morning of 11th August Albert’s condition caused his death. His hospital certificate determined the cause of death was phthisis.
In August 1899 The Era newspaper reported the death of ‘Albert Edward Gilleno, after a long and painful illness of dysentery, at family residence, Redhill, Hay Mills, Birmingham. Interred in the family vault at Yardley Cemetery. Deeply mourned. Thanks to friends for wreaths and telegrams.
There is a photograph of Albert’s grave on Findmypast although some of the lettering is unclear included on the gravestone is:
In loving memory of Janet Giles
the dearly beloved mother of
the Gilleno Family
who died Jul 9th 1884 aged 63 years.
Mourned by all.
--------
Albert Edward Giles of the above
who died August 11th 1899
aged 36 years
[there is quote here that unfortunately most is illegible]
I will no-----
For tho----------
Will-------------
Know tho—wil ]
Also of Freddie Gilleno,
beloved son of
Albert Gilleno [Giles]
who died June 22nd 19—
aged 7 years.
------
Also Sarah Ann
The beloved wife of Harry Gilleno
Died May 14th 1919
Aged 54 years
----------
There is obviously a disparity in Albert’s cause of death from the asylum (phthisis) to the newspaper reporting that he had died of dysentery. It is possible that he was suffering from both conditions.
The Era also reported:
“Mr Albert Edward Gilleon, of the Gilleno Brothers, circus artists, passed away on the 11th inst., after a long and painful illness at Red Hill, Hay’s Mills, Birmingham, and was interred in the family vault at Yardley Cemetery. The widow, Mrs Marion Gilleno, desires to thank the friends of her late husband for the many wreaths and telegrams received; also the company attached to Hengler’s Circus, Douglas, Isle of Man, for their kind sympathy and floral harp. ”
A year later a memoriam appeared in The Era
11 Aug 1900 The Era In Memoriam.
Gilleno – In memory of Albert Gilleno, died Aug 11th 1899 late of the Gilleno Bros., and dearly beloved husband of Marion Gilleno. To live in the memory of those we love is not to die.
Gilleno – In ever-loving memory of my dear brother Albert Gilleno, who passed away Aug. 11th 1899 – T. Gilleno.
To follow up on the members of Albert’s immediate family his remaining living son, Albert (junior) eventually emigrated to Canada leaving Liverpool on the Minnedosa in 1920. He gave his occupation as ‘Film Work’ and was travelling to his aunt’s residence. That aunt was Mrs Howard (nee Louisa Lorne Gilleno Giles, Albert Snr’s youngest sister), living at 627 Hamilton Rd, London, Ontario, Canada.
In 1921 Albert Junior [Gilleno] was living at 124, St. Julien Street, London, [Ontario] Canada with his mother (Marion) who had also emigrated to Canada and was now re-married. Her second husband, Henry J. Ford, is not at this address and their marriage registration has not yet been found.
Two years later Albert is recorded as travelling to Chicago, Illinois. His nearest relative is his mother, Marion Ford living at 124, St. Julien Street, London, [Ontario] Canada. He was described as a vaudeville actor, going to Colosseum Poodles, Hannaford, Chicago, intended to stay indefinitely was 5’ 8”, fair complexion, brown hair and blue eyes, having been born in Liverpool, England.
By 1931 (Canadian Census) Albert had married May Raymond and had two children. He was living at 124 St Julien Street, London, Ontario and a porter in a restaurant.
Marion (Albert’s wife) died on 5th June 1937 aged 67 of pulmonary congestion, chronic myocardial degeneration and myxoedema.
Research Process
Initially the census’ on Ancestry were searched to find the basics of Albert’s family. As Albert and some of his siblings were born in Scotland an additional search of the Scotland’s People index clarified their births. This resource also clarified Albert’s mother’s maiden name and his parent’s marriage.
It became clear that although the family name was Giles, many events were recorded under the name ‘Gilleno’. This was the professional surname used by the family who were circus performers. During researching it was discovered many performers particularly in circus, music hall or theatre adopted continental sounding names to add an exotic or mystic element of their acts.
Searching the newspaper section in Findmypast turned up many articles from The Era, and other newspapers with reference to the Gilleno family as a whole performing troupe or individuals from the family. The Era was originally a general newspaper, which became noted for its sports coverage and later for its theatrical content. Not all of these reports have been included due to the large number found many of which did not have free access. This helped to create an overarching summary of what type of performances the family were involved in and where they performed. Information was also gleaned from websites that focused on circuses. Ancestry was searched to retrieve the follow-up information of Albert’s remaining family after his decease. Find a Grave was used to find Albert’s gravestone.
References
1. Scotland’s People
2. Ancestry.co.uk
3. Illustrated Sporting News and Theatrical and Musical Review, London, England 22 May 1869
4. Findmypast newspaper search
5. The Era 5 November 1874 [Findmypast]
6. The Era 10 October 1880 [Findmypast]
7. The Era, 4 February 1882 [Findmypast]
8. Arthur Lloyd, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Bow Street, London [ctrl F – Gilleno: Hollands Grand Circus 26 December 1884
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/RoyalOperaHouseCoventGarden.htm
9. Western Daily Press, Bristol 30 Aug 1887. [Findmypast] https://britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/search/results?basicsearch=cooks%20circus&somesearch=cooks%20circus&retrievecountrycounts=false&newspapertitle=western%2Bdaily%2Bpress&sortorder=score
10. 1885 Colyer Fergusson Albums Reference: MS108/1/78 Cadbury Research Library: Special Collections, University of Birmingham. Access: Open Custodial history: Formerly numbered 5506 as part of the Theatre Collection
https://calmview.bham.ac.uk/GetDocument.ashx?db=Catalog&fname=MS108.pdf
11. The Era, 22 September 1888. [Findmypast]
12. The Era 29 August 1885. [Findmypast]
13. The Era 21 May 1892 [Findmypast]
14. Browne J.P. Circus History Site: Chadwick’s Circus (reference to 1894)
https://www.irishcircushistory.org/post/chadwick-s-circus
15. Tudor’s circus, Auckland Road, Cambridge. [1896] (CIP, 28 August 1896, p 8).
https://tudorscircuscambridge.uk/1896-tudors-new-circus-in-auckland-road/
16. 29 Oct 1898 The Era [Findmypast]
17. Outside the asylum project
https://theinfirmary.educationhost.co.uk/Patient.php?PatientNo=7749
18. 19 Aug 1899. The Era [Findmypast]
19. Photo of gravestone
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/246810565/albert-edward-giles
20. 19 Aug 1899 The Era [Findmypast]
21. 11 August 1900 The Era, in memoriam [Findmypast]
22. Canada, Ocean Arrivals (Form 30A) 1919 – 1924.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1588/images/30927_2000901368-02709?pId=284693
23. Canadian Census 1921
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/8991/images/1921_072-e002943323?pId=3204386
24. US Department of Labor, Immigration Service.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1247/images/31054_174576-07275?pId=169105
25. Canadian Census 1931
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/62640/images/1931_128-e011658390?pId=1317655
Province of Ontario – Certificate of Registration of Death https://www.ancestry.co.uk/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/206596101/person/412716207489/media/f7fc1217-dec0-4c9e-9453-7d113ea476ea?galleryindex=1&sort=-created
Research by Sandra Weir, 2025
To view Albert’s patient records, click here.
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