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Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm has found a dubious example of ‘girl power’ in her family tree.
The chart-topping star has discovered that her great-grandmother Mary Bilsborough was a money lender who charged ‘exorbitant’ rates of interest to her neighbours.
Chisholm learns about the formidable- looking Bilsborough in an upcoming edition of the hit genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?
She told the programme: ‘My great-grandmother Mary is listed as being a money lender, and I really don’t know what that means. I imagine some big burly guy battering your door down to get the money back, and that was what my great-grandmother was doing.’
Bilsborough was one of more than 1,300 money lenders – the vast majority of them women – operating in Liverpool in the 1920s and 30s. The mother of nine was herself living in dire poverty. By loaning small sums to neighbours, she was able to feed her family.
Spice Girl Melanie Chisholm has found a dubious example of ‘girl power’ in her family tree on an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?
The chart-topping star has discovered that her great-grandmother Mary Bilsborough was a money lender who charged ‘exorbitant’ rates of interest
But Chisholm, 50, was also presented with evidence that many lenders were ‘terrible bullies’ who charged interest of up to 400 per cent.
Many victims were vulnerable women who had borrowed without their husband’s knowledge, but there is no evidence that Bilsborough victimised her clients.
Chisholm said: ‘I don’t want to think of my great-grandmother as a bully. I’d painted a lovely picture of her helping the community. But of course there’s going to be people who aren’t going to pay and if you have to get your money back, you have got get it back, haven’t you?’
The Money Lenders Bill 1927 required all lenders in Liverpool to register and take an oath testifying to their good character. Chisholm was relieved to find that Bilsborough did register in 1939. She said: ‘She did it. She proved her character in probably very intimidating circumstances and got her registration. That makes me feel very proud. I am a rule-abider, not a rule-breaker.’
Bilsborough’s private life was complicated. In 1908 she married a soldier named Joseph Nunnery, but while he was serving in India, she had an affair with a man called Thomas Bilsborough. The couple had three children while she was still married then wed in 1918, after Nunnery died.
Mary Bilsborough died in 1973 leaving £3,028, the equivalent of £46,000 today. Chisholm said: ‘She lived through lots of tough times and came out on top. Girl power.’
Melanie Chisholm’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? is on BBC1 on August 29, 9pm.
Chisholm, 50, was also presented with evidence that many lenders were ‘terrible bullies’ who charged interest of up to 400 per cent.
