Matilda Maria Gilderdale

Matilda's birth was registered in Wakefield in September 1865.

1871 Address: Kirkgate, Wakefield, West Yorkshire 1881 Address: Charles St, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. 1891 Address: 42, Milton Street, St Nicholas, York, North Yorkshire. 1901 Address: 1, Fulford Road Carey Street, York, North Yorkshire. 1911 Address: 67 Bootham, York, North Yorkshire. She would later live at a house called 'Highfield' in Haxby.

In 1896 she passed the model drawing (elementary section) of the South Kensington City & Guilds art examination, taking it at the Clifford Street school. (Yorkshire Herald, August 28, 1896, p.6), and her grandson Michael recalls that in early life she painted landscapes in oils. She studying was at a time when her husband was in a senior position at the Tower Brewery, but just a year before he disappeared. She was a Quaker, but the family is not sure whether this was a family background or her choice. She would send her sons to the Quaker school, Ackworth.

She ran a small confectionary shop (at the Bootham address), however after her son became a director at Rowntrees this was considered inappropriate, and he brought her to live with the family (which she did for around 30 years). Michael recalls that "Nana Gilderdale first lived at Highfield then moved to a house in Earswick village. When she grew rather older Pop decided she would manage better in HIS home, Brackenhill, so installed her in a nice flat there with its own bedroom, bath room and roomy sitting room. She was happy there but critical of the way Flo was bringing up the children. This led to bitter arguments with Pop as pig in the middle and two-way responsibilities."

Her artistic abilities were applied in her later years through beautifully detailed embroidery.