Mark and David Ferrow

← Back to Before Gender

Mark and David Ferrow were a large part of my inspiration to write Before Gender. If there were minors transitioning before the alleged first trans children accessing medicine in the 1950s, what other stories might be missing from the transgender historical canon?

In Before Gender, I claim that Mark and David Ferrow were the youngest known non-intersex trans children to receive medical treatments. This was true at the time. However, after further research, I learned about the story of Alan Caldwell, another trans 16-year-old who received surgery in Manchester in 1937. It is not entirely clear if Alan would be considered intersex today, as someone who likely had PCOS or an adrenal condition causing facial hair growth.

One of the first articles I read about Mark and David, which inspired me to write *Before Gender* (*Daily Herald,* Aug 26, 1939).

Mark and David’s story reached US newspapers, but was largely forgotten by the end of WWII (San Antonio Light, Jan 28, 1940).

David in his bookshop in May 1990 (source).

I had to cut this interesting story from Mark and David’s chapter for length. David had a painting stolen in 1988 that was auctioned at Christie’s for £62,500 in 2019 (source).

David outside his bookshop in May 1990. He became something of a local legend and was often photographed in his later years.

David’s bookshop c. 2001 (from *Great Yarmouth Mercury*: source). It was closed after David’s 2006 death.

I’m sad I couldn’t include Mark’s paintings in Before Gender due to copyright issues. However, I can show you them here:

David Gower (b.1957) (1988), at the Leicestershire County Cricket Club
23 1/4 in. x 16 7/8 in. (592 mm x 428 mm)
National Portrait Gallery, NPG D5645

Tubes Factory, Desford, Leicestershire (1974)
H 95 x W 150 cm
Leicestershire County Council Museums Service (donated 2008)
The Tubes Factory at Newtown Unthank near Desford was part of the Tubes Investments Company (later TI). Its rolling and bearing tube mills made heavy duty metal tubes for many different industries. By 1969 the Desford works were the most advanced and integrated plant for making roll and bearing tubes. Five years after this picture was painted Desford Tubes won the Queens Award for Export. The picture shows part of the tube mill with hot metal being formed into long cylinders whilst the workers control the process and wait to move the tubes through the various process within the factory. The heat of the mills and furnaces cast an orange glow across the picture.

I also love the admiration David Ferrow received from his neighbors in Great Yarmouth. I was delighted to find this tankard by a local artist, Ernie Childs.

Mark and David’s street in Great Yarmouth.

The Blitz caused massive Damage to Mark and David’s neighborhood (via Our Great Yarmouth).

The Blitz destroyed a significant area of Great Yarmouth, which might have included Mark’s teenage memoir.

The Great Yarmouth Chief Constable helped Mark and his father obtain medals of honor in 1941.

← Back to Before Gender