Isabella Sams
c. 1853 - 1945

Isabella Sams (also known as Ella), the daughter of the Reverend Barwick Sams, was brought up in the Rectory at Grafton Regis.

Isabella married James Harrison, the Rector of Paulespury in February 1833 and went to live at the rectory there

She was a talented amateur artist. Her watercolours of the village, the people and the countryside around Grafton have left us with a unique image of a rural way of life which has now passed into history. These pictures illustrate the Victorian Village Trail

Before her marriage she lived in Grafton Regis, where there was no lack of employment and no distress in the village, the village being the property of the then Duke of Grafton, the best and kindest of all landlords and one who made the well-being of his cottagers his special care. When she went to live in Paulerspury just 3 miles from Grafton she found the population was large and families were larger. There was no resident squire to care for the villagers.

Years before Paulerspury had been a centre of the lace-making industry. Isabella’s husband had the idea of reviving the lucrative industry. Isabella set about purchasing lace patterns and recruiting experienced lace-makers to teach the young people of Paulerspury. She never had difficulty from lack of funds as her husband gave her all she needed to cover the expenses of the business. Post and packaging was paid for by Isabella. The lace was sold at cost.

Isabella took lace-work to shows and exhibitions in order to generate sales. The finest piece of work ever designed and worked was a fan in point ground for Queen Alexandra.

Isabella left Paulerspury in 1910. She died at Bedford at the great age of 93 leaving a cherished example of a benevolent and useful life.

Find out more about Ella and the lace-making industry

Lace Prices

The Old Lacemaker - poem by S. Bostock

21st Century lace-making

See: lace-making, History of Paulerspury,

Isabella Sams watercolours of Grafton Regis are featured in the Victorian Village Tour

Under the old Willow tree in the garden at Grafton c. 1882

Left to Right : Miss. Fitzroy, Miss. Ella Sams, Mrs. Sutton Sams, Bobbie, [Rd Craies], "Mr. Fluff", Mrs. Barwick Sams, Winnie, Thomas Bryan Grounds, [Annie Bryan Grounds], Rev. Barwick Sams, Miss. M Sams, Rev. G.M. Capell.