Dorothy Lloyd Townrow

The name ‘Dorothy Lloyd Townrow’ combined Dorothy’s own first name with her father’s name, Lloyd Townrow. This was the stage name of Joseph William Townrow who was a comedian before turning to theatre management; he managed the King’s Theatre, Sunderland, during most of the First World War. Dorothy Agnes E Townrow was born at Doncaster (according to the 1901 and 1911 census returns) on 2 October 1892 (according to the 1939 Register). Agnes was her mother's name. She is mentioned in The Stage and in newspapers as an actress and singer. The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette of 7, 14, 21 and 28 January 1913, and 10 February 1914, mentioned her performing (as Dorothy L Townrow) in the pantomime ‘Cinderella’ and (as Miss Dorothy Townrow) in Dion Boucicault’s ‘The Octoroon’, both at the King’s Theatre, Sunderland. At the end of 1914 she was a member of Charles Locke’s company (The Era, 25 November 1914; Shields Daily News, 1 December 1914). Dorothy wrote plays other than ‘Within Our Gates’ / ‘For Motherland’. In The Stage, 6 September 1917, she advertised herself as the author of ‘Fame; or, The Woman’, ‘Her Crown of Love’, ‘Women Who Work’, ‘Conquered Countess’ and ‘When Love Calls’. The latest reference that has been found to Dorothy’s stage career is in The Stage, 20 February 1936, when she offered her services as actress, pianist and singer. The combination of Dorothy’s first name and two other initials suggests that she is the Dorothy A E Townrow whose marriage to Alfred G F Lord was registered at Berkhampstead in July-September 1938. The 1939 Register shows Dorothy A E Temple (but Temple is crossed out and Lord written above), born 2 October 1892, an actress, living at Braughing, Hertfordshire, with Frank Temple (again Temple is crossed out and Lord written above), born 28 June 1884, an actor. The death of Dorothy Agnes E Lord was registered at Chanctonbury, Sussex in April-June 1971. The full set of two first names and an initial (exactly as in her birth registration) suggest that this is the former Dorothy Agnes E Townrow.