My maternal great-grandmother lived in Darlington for most of her life, raising four boys with her labourer husband and spending the last 33 years as a widow. Her granddaughter lived with her for the last 10 or so years. She died aged 87.

The death certificate was issued after a coroner's inquest.

Cause of death: Apoplexy, accelerated by neglect, filth and want of proper care.

Not what any of us ever want to read.

Peter