THE tallest monument in the cemetery off Walton Lane, Nelson, commemorates five young weavers, who drowned on holiday more than 100 years ago.

Historian Steve Chapples has been investigating the tragic deaths of Mary Helena Clegg, Frances Crossley, Alice Reed and Mary Jane Smith, all 21, and 20-year-old Nancy Pickles.

In August 1898 the five friends, all Sunday school teachers at Carr Road Wesleyan Church, took their annual week’s holiday in Keswick, at the National Home Reading Union Holiday Association.

They decided to hire a skiff on Derwent Water. Although it was only supposed to hold six, the boatman said it could safely accommodate eight.Two gentlemen took the oars, one girl took the rudder, and a third man sat in the bow. As they set off the weather was fine and the water calm, but then winds blew down from Borrowdale and it began to get very choppy.

It is unlikely any of the girls could swim as Nelson did not have any municipal baths at the time. One of the girls dropped her luncheon satchel into the water. As the oarsmen tried to turn the boat around and retrieve it, it began to fill with water. As the boat began to sink, it was hit from the stern by a giant wave. All five girls drowned and their bodies were later found within a 50-yard radius of each other.

The Rev G.H. Pickering at the Wesleyan Church was informed by telegram. Word spread like wild fire across the shocked mill town.

On Saturday relatives travelled to Keswick to identify the bodies and an inquest concluded the boat was too overloaded for the weather conditions.

The bodies were brought back to Nelson by train and, as all the church bells tolled, vast crowds lined the railway station and streets. On the following Tuesday, blinds were drawn and businesses closed as a crowd of 30,000 mourners gathered, surrounding the cemetery railings on three sides. Only the mayor, the town clerk and the grieving families were allowed inside. The funeral cortege was more than half-a-mile long and contained five horse-drawn hearses, and 30 carriages to transport 300 relatives and close friends.

A commemorative booklet was later published showing photos of the girls and the scene of the tragedy. It also named the many hundreds who contributed towards a monument in their memory. It sold for 3d and Nelson reference library has a copy.

At the families’ request the girls were laid to rest in a communal grave. Best friends Helena and Frances, born within two days of each other, were laid to rest side by side.

Their granite monument, in the shape of a steeple, is 19 feet tall with gold lettering.

Paid for by public subscription, it cost £161.