Eleanor Rigby - The Story beyond the Grave

8/1/2018

The headstone in St. Peter's Churchyard, Woolton, Liverpool

In August 1966, The Beatles released the single Eleanor Rigby the B-side of Yellow Submarine, it was also included on the Album Revolver.

The song was composed by Paul McCartney and since the release the question has always been asked of Paul, "Who is Eleanor Rigby?"

Paul has always said it was a name that came to him that fitted in with the song, In 1984 it was pointed out to Paul that there is a headstone in St Peter's Graveyard Woolton, that contains the name Eleanor Rigby, the significance of this is that it was back in 1957, when Paul met John at the church fete which was held in the same church grounds.

Paul went onto explain the name Eleanor Rigby was in some way planted into his subconscious, from all those years ago, after all John and Paul would regular take short cuts through the church grounds in the early days before they became The Beatles.

The story of Eleanor was once again put into the public spotlight in 2008 when a document contain a signature E.Rigby dated 1911 was put up for auction and was sold for £115,000, the owner of the document stated that it came for Paul McCartney who had sent it to benefit the charity Sunbeams Music Trust.

Eleanor Rigby has always been a woman of mystery, but for those interested in the story of the infamous Eleanor Rigby here is what we found!

John Rigby

The first inscription on the head stone reads, 'In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband John Rigby, Who departed this life Oct 4th 1915, aged 72 years' 'AT REST'.

Our research took us back to the 1891 census.

The census showed John Rigby and his family living at No 8 Vale Road, Woolton. At the time John was listed as born in Woolton, aged 46 and a Stonemason. Also on that census is the rest of the family, Frances, his wife, William, his son, Mary and Frances, his daughters and also Annie and John Howard, John's niece and nephew.

Census of Vale Road Woolton, 1891

Eleanor was born in 1895, her mother was Mary Rigby, daughter of John and her father was Arthur Whitfield. They were married on September 11th, 1893 at St Peter's Church Woolton.

Church Road, Woolton, featuring St. Peter's Church circa 1900

The birth of Eleanor Rigby

Marriage Lines of Arthur Whitfield and Eleanor's mother Mary Elizabeth Rigby, St Peter's Church, Woolton, Liverpool

When Eleanor was born she was given the name Eleanor Rigby Whitfield causing confusion to many researchers as people try to trace the birth records with the surname 'Rigby'.

Sadly for Eleanor she never got to meet her father as he passed away in 1895 aged 24 years, a few weeks after Eleanor was born.

Baptism Register of St Peter's Church Woolton, showing the entry of Eleanor, note her middle name is Rigby

St Peter's Church, Woolton

St Peter's Church Burial and Baptism Registers

Eleanor Rigby Whitfield aged 5

The next information we have relating to the young Eleanor is the 1901 census. The Rigby's are still living at 8 Vale Road, her father has since passed away and the widowed is Mary living with her parents, who had taken her and her daughter in.

Census list reads:

John Rigby aged 59 (father)

Frances Rigby (wife)

Mary Whitfield (daughter- widowed)

William Rigby (son)

Frances Rigby (daughter)

Eleanor Whitfield (granddaughter- aged 5)

Eleanor's Mother Re-marries

With Eleanor having lost her own father at such a young age, and Mother and baby moving back home to 8 Vale Road, the only father figure Eleanor had known was her Grandfather John, up until the age of 15 when Mary met a new man Richard Heatley. Mary and Richard were married on 15th January 1911 at St Mary's Church, Wavertree, Liverpool.

The marriage line show that Richard Heatley aged 42, married Mary Elizabeth Whitfield, Widow aged 36 years, the address listed was 94 Stevenson Street, although within a few months Mary and Richard changed their address.

Marriage Lines of Richard Heatley and Mary Elizabeth Whitfield, St Mary's Church, Wavertree,Liverpool

Eleanor Rigby Whitfield aged 15

Rather than being taken in by her step-father, according to the 1911 census Richard has moved into Vale Road with the rest of the family. The census also shows us that Eleanor rather than take the surname Heatley, wanted to remain as Eleanor Whitfield.

Census List reads:

John Rigby (Aged 67)

Frances (Wife)

Mary Heatley (Married)

Richard Heatley (Married)

Frances (Daughter)

Eleanor Whitfield (Grand Daughter- aged 15, school)

Growing up in Woolton Village

Woolton in 1911 was a small village on the outskirts of Liverpool. Here are images of the junction of Menlove Avenue and Vale Road.

Menlove Avenue 1910

Menlove Avenue 1911

Eleanor Rigby - The Adult Years

In 1915, Eleanor lost her grandfather, John Rigby died aged 72 and her grandmother, Frances in 1928.

Eleanor worked at City Hospital, Parkhill, Liverpool.

In 1930, she married Thomas Woods at St James' Methodist Church, Woolton, Liverpool aged 34.

Six years prior to her marriage to Thomas Woods in 1924, according to the headstone it appeared that 'F&E'Rigby, had and lost a daughter, Doris W Rigby, died December 24th 1927, aged 2 years and 3 months.

Our research into a Doris W Rigby showed her birth was registered in the December quarter of 1924 and the mother's maiden name was listed as Whitfield. It would suggest that the child was born out of wedlock however we cannot be certain of this as we do not have any details of 'F and E Rigby' as noted on the headstone as her parents, we can only presume that the E stands for Eleanor. thanks to Julie via email we have looked in more detail for 'F&E'
F is for Frederick Rigby and E is for Elsie Whitfield, Frederick and Elsie where married in 1923 at Russell Road Methodist Church, Liverpool and Doris was born in 1924, as we first though the E for Eleanor was incorrect we now know it relates to Elsie mother of Doris.

Eleanor Rigby Woods dies

Worksheet form City Hospital, Parkhill, Liverpool

Eleanor Rigby Woods died aged 44 on 10th October 1939 still listed as living at 8 Vale Road, Woolton.

Burial Register, St Peter's Church, Woolton

Statue of Eleanor Rigby by Tommy Steele, located on Stanley Street, Liverpool

28 Comments

Thomas Duran link

20/8/2017 05:33:43 pm

Nice read

Julie Pearson

5/9/2017 11:33:20 pm

I think you may have done Eleanor a disservice by suggesting she was a single mother. There is a marriage of Frederick Rigby and Elsie M Whitfield registered in the December quarter of 1923 in the West Derby registration district (which covers a lot of the Liverpool area) and they could well be the 'F&E Rigby' referred to on the headstone.

Paul

6/9/2017 08:40:17 am

I agree with Julie. If I had the time I'd be looking for a family link between John Rigby, the grave owner and the Frederick Rigby who married Elsie Whitfield. My money would be on Frederick being a Grandson, Cousin or Nephew of John. Possible F & E couldn't afford a grave when John's family offered the plot.

Kevin Roach

28/1/2018 10:30:51 am

Hi Julie
Thank you for your comments on the headstone ref F&E there was a marriage registered in the December quarter 1923, this marriage was between Frederick Rigby and Elsie Whifield and took place at Russell Road Methodist Church, Liverpool, in 1924 there was a child born Doris W, her mothers maiden name was Whitfiled,

we are waiting on birth and death certificates to arrive then we should be able to confirm that Doris was the daughter of Elsie and not Eleanor, and if so we will amend the article.

Anthony Williams

12/4/2021 03:58:45 am

Why would a cousins child be buried in a close family plot such as this one? Father, Wife daughter, grandchild:????? Hmmmm

Paul Nicholsn

6/2/2023 04:15:21 pm

Eleanor's father (Frances Whitfield) and her mother (Mary Rigby) were from different families until they got married.
Are you saying that another person from each family got married as well? Frederick Rigby and Elsie Whitfield? How small was this town?

The original hypothesis could by correct, that the baby was born out of wedlock. Perhaps Doris 'W' was not a Rigby at all, but rather a Woods. Not Thomas, but his brother 'F'. This would explain why the baby was buried here, in the grave of a close family who all lived at 8 Vale street together for so long. Why veil thier names like this?
1. To ensure Doris is never disgraced as a bastard.
2. To obscure Eleanor's promiscuity.
3. To name Thomas Woods as the only spouse.
4. To sweep brotherly betrayal under the rug.

What do you think?

Paulette W

6/9/2017 08:32:18 am

There ia a birth of Doris W Rigby, mother's maiden name Whitfield, registered in Liverpool in the December quarter 1924. If Doris was born late September 1924, the birth registered in October (December quarter) that would make her 2 years and 3 months at the time of death in December 1927. Her birth certificate would confirm whether she was the daughter of Frederick & Elsie.

Paulette W

6/9/2017 08:55:45 am

The death of Doris W Rigby, age 2, was registered in Liverpool in the December quarter 1926, so the headstone is incorrect.

Paul Nicholson

6/2/2023 05:14:49 pm

I guess the stonemason who added Doris' name to the headstone would have done so shortly after the funeral. If she was born in late 1924 and died at 2y3m on Dec 24, then she died in 1926 as you say. John Rigby was a stonemason and would have been rolling over in his grave that they got the date wrong, and also he had to make room for the baby.

There are a few strange coincidences here.
1. A woman called Rigby married a man called Whitfield, then a woman called Whitfield married a man called Rigby. Then again, Liverpool is a pretty big city.
2. The second Rigby-Whitfield marrriage resulted in a baby called Doris, born in 1924, which is approximately the year the baby in the grave was born.
3. She is not listed as Doris Rigby on this tombstone, by the way. She is named 'Doris W'. Was her middle name her maiden name in the same way Eleonor's was? Was this a common trend in Liverpool? What else could the W stand for?
4. Everyone buried in that grave are immediate family members of John Rigby. If Doris were born to the documented Frederick and Elsie, then she is either a distant relative with an incorrect tombstone date, or the child of complete strangers who share the same surnames as this family.
5. The most astonishing coincidence would be that Elsie and Frederick Rigby were not related at all to this family, had a baby called Doris born about the same time and who died at about the same age. Then again, Liverpool is a big city and those details were EXACTLY what we were searching for. They don't make as much sense as Eleanor ALSO having a baby called Doris who was born and died at about the same time, but the documentation exists for Elsie and not for Eleanor. The other thing is, Elsie and Frederick got married only 3 miles down the road from this grave. In this case, it does appear that everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, is pretty much guaranteed to be related. There were a lot of same names in the family, of course. The name Frances was repeated. From 1924-1933, Doris was in the top 10 most popular names in the United States, so I assume it was also popular in England.

MY GUESS ABOUT TOMBSTONE DORIS

She's Doris Woods, born September, 1925 to Eleanor Rigby Whitfield and F. Woods, brother of Thomas Woods. Died in 1927 age 2.

Elsie Whitfield and Frederick Rigby were related to this family, lived in the area and ALSO had a baby called Doris. The Whitfields and the Rigbys met for family lunches and interbred with one another through multiple generations. This Doris was born in 1924 and died in 1926 age 2.

Same same but different.

ELEANOR RIGBY WINS!

Sarah M

7/9/2017 07:40:23 am

Eleanor R Whitfield's father, Arthur (b 1871) and Elsie Mary Whitfield's father, Amos (b 1866), were brothers, the children of Charles Whitfield and Margaret nee Ditchfield who married in 1855.
Elsie Mary Whitfield's husband, Frederick Rigby was illegitimate, his mother possibly being Elizabeth Rigby b 1878 (though could be a different sister perhaps?). In any case, Frederick's grandparents were Elizabeth's parents, Thomas Rigby and Elizabeth nee Blackmore who married in 1868. Frederick's grandfather, Thomas Rigby was the younger brother of John Rigby who appears on the headstone. Thomas and John were children of William Rigby and Elizabeth nee Molyneux who married in 1842.
I don't have any certificates to back up the above, just used the census, GRO birth index with mmn, GRO marriage index and the 1939 register to tie things together.

Mary

27/1/2018 09:45:05 pm

What was contained in the document she signed in 1911? She would have only been 16 years old, if the date on the headstone is correct.

Kevin Roach

28/1/2018 10:37:15 am

Hi Mary

The document that was signed by Eleanor came to light in 2008, this made the BBC news at that time, you can read the full BBC report on the website, click on the link belowhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7723003.stm

Bradbury link

4/2/2018 05:09:04 pm

Famous Eleanor Rugby would never know great name

f kilmore

1/4/2018 11:06:01 am

Paul said that the song came from a shop called Rigsby and his co star in help, Eleanor Bron.....I think he never went through the churchyard often it is nowhere near his normal activity....I think a fan saw the name, wrote a song and sent it to paul and John....people sent them songs all the time and they would steal them...some songs are too good to be written by them and this is one...Nowhere Man is another...

CHARLES

16/8/2018 10:50:31 am

Steal them?
Too good to be by them ?
Someone must edit this website to keep the looneys out

Phillip Price

4/6/2019 08:46:51 pm

Read the book Billy Shears,then you will find out the true answer about the grave

Dana Morrell

8/10/2020 12:58:03 am

Still the saddest song ever written. I first heard it in a high school poetry class- still makes me cry every time.

Andrew Lace link

31/12/2020 11:22:39 am

Hi nnice reading your blog

Anthony Williams

12/4/2021 03:53:38 am

Wait...I have much to say on this subject. And should you read this , please contact me with the provided email. E is for Eleanor and F is for Francis. I have a book Eleanor once owned. Why would a distant cousins child be buried in such a private family plot! yes, that is a statement. Is this task still liv?. I am from Texas, I am not English educated as many who will read this, however, I too have at lest half a brain of which to sonsider possibilities.

Raelene Joy Rigby link

27/6/2021 08:06:21 pm

I am undertaking my family tree and are endeavouring to work out where Eleanour Rigby Whitfield belongs in my family tree.

Damian Rudegeair

7/12/2021 09:38:36 pm

Some may find it mildly interesting that Eleanor died exactly one year before Lennon's first full day outside the womb. He was born October 9, 1940. She died October 10, 1939.

Tony

8/12/2021 12:04:43 am

Eleanor Rigby Whitfield named to confuse
Just as was Doris Whitfield named to confuse

Raelene J Rigby

4/5/2022 03:33:46 am

There are many things said @ this topic. Some truth others lies. It is crucial to define them as reputations can play a major role in life! When people don't know facts they tend to elobrate & twist things to make it more sensational than it really is! Researching your information throughly ensures that information is acual fact or fiction!

Local History of Woolton

24/5/2022 05:27:57 pm

Interesting, thank you.

Barbara Ridding

24/7/2022 03:52:12 am

Great read

Paul Nicholson link

15/3/2023 10:09:34 am

I have explained my theory about Doris in my latest musical. It's called 'Eleanor Rigby - The Musical'. This story inspired me. Read the script and watch the videos at EleanorRigbyMusical.com.

Paul Hayes link

27/3/2023 11:46:12 am

Dear Sir,
My name is Paul Hayes and I am an auctioneer based at The Swan at Tetsworth in Oxfordshire.
I recently attended a valuation day at The Museum of Liverpool as part of a new Channel five television programme Great Auction Showdown.
One if the items that i consigned is a book presented to Eleanor Whitfield of Weslyan Sunday School ,Woolton,Liverpool,dated 1906.The book is to be offered for auction on Wednesday 5th April lot 53.The sale is viewable via our website www.theswan.co.uk or www.thesaleroom.com or www.easylive.com.
Any help of advice would be greatly appreciated.
Best wishes
Paul Hayes
07904692872
01844281777

Paul Nicholson link

27/4/2023 06:24:26 am

Paul Hayes, let the buyer know that Eleanor Rigby Whitfield now has a musical written about her life. Its called Eleanor Rigby - The Musical. Written in 2023. www.EleanorRigbyMusical.com