Thank you all for your responses to my queries. Mike is correct - in that in 1871 at Morpeth most inmates were described as lunatic. So, I assume that Eliz. Lavery had a very low IQ, and may not have been brought to lunacy by some life changing trauma. I also found a web site about Aycliffe Minitions facory - it was a huge operation, and a dangerous one at that. I just remember the smell of the shortbread biscuits my mother brought for me from the canteen! Many thanks for your thoughts and ideas - Stan, as usual is a fount of all knowledge! Ann Lavery

Thanks for this - I now understand what an Aycliffe Angel is /was. In a recent death notice, my mother's cousin was thus described. Mike in Saudi > I also found a web site about Aycliffe Minitions facory - it was a huge > operation, and a dangerous one at that. I just remember the smell of the > shortbread biscuits my mother brought for me from the canteen! > >> > >