Pixie Lott emotional as it's revealed her family lived in a Victorian workhouse

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    ‘I couldn’t believe what I learnt’: Pixie Lott emotional as it’s revealed her family endured ‘shocking’ conditions living in a Victorian workhouse

    • The hit-maker was left emotional after learning her great grandmother was orphaned at 13 and lived in a Victorian warehouse in East London 
    • Of her great grandmother Mary Fleming – born 1889 – Pixie, 30, said: ‘I was shocked to learn what she’d been through’
    • Pixie can be seen exploring her family history on Who Do You Think You Are? on November 9


    Pixie Lott was left emotional after learning that her poverty-stricken great grandmother was orphaned at 13 and lived in a Victorian warehouse in East London during the late 19th century.

    Expressing her ‘shock’ during an upcoming episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Pixie, 30, said of her great grandmother Mary Fleming – born 1889 – ‘I was shocked to learn what she’d been through. I couldn’t believe what I learnt.’

    By an early age Mary lost many of her ten siblings after moving from Ireland to London. Before living in a warehouse – notorious for their dire conditions – Mary found herself on the street aged just two.

    Emotional: Pixie Lott, 30, was left emotional after learning her great grandmother was orphaned at 13 and lived in a Victorian warehouse in East London during the late 19th century

    Emotional: Pixie Lott, 30, was left emotional after learning her great grandmother was orphaned at 13 and lived in a Victorian warehouse in East London during the late 19th century

    Summarising what she had discovered about her family, Pixie said: ‘On my Dad’s side were Irish but moved to East London and were in and out of Victorian workhouses for years. My great grandad Lott was a prisoner of war in WW1.’

    As for how she felt after learning of the conditions her great grandmother experienced as a young girl, Pixie admitted: ‘I was very shocked to learn what my great grandmother Mary had been through.

    ‘Her life and upbringing was extremely tough. Especially as the story that trickled down to me before doing the show, was that she was from glamorous Verona in Italy but the reality is very different.’

    Pixie also explained how she felt after visiting an old workhouse, saying: ‘I couldn’t believe what I learnt about their living conditions and what daily life was like.

    Shock: Pixie said of Mary - born 1889 -'I was shocked to learn what she'd been through. I couldn't believe what I learnt' (pictured: Pixie's great grandparents Martin and Mary Fleming)

    Shock: Pixie said of Mary – born 1889 – ‘I was shocked to learn what she’d been through. I couldn’t believe what I learnt’ (pictured: Pixie’s great grandparents Martin and Mary Fleming)

    Candid: Pixie also explained how she felt after visiting an old workhouse, saying:'I couldn't believe what I learnt about their living conditions and what daily life was like'

    Candid: Pixie also explained how she felt after visiting an old workhouse, saying: ‘I couldn’t believe what I learnt about their living conditions and what daily life was like’

    ‘Also, that the workhouse we visited that they lived in for a time, was down the road to where I’ve been living for the past ten years!’

    Meanwhile, on Pixie’s mother’s side of the family, she was delighted to learn many were military musicians.

    Pixie said: ‘I was extremely happy to find I have musicians in the family. I always thought I was the only one to do music as an occupation.’

    She added: ‘It makes more sense now as to why I went into it myself!’

    Musicians: On Pixie's mother's side of the family, she was delighted to learn many were military musicians (pictured: Pixie's great grandfather, John Martin (R) on HMS Cyclop in 1910)

    Musicians: On Pixie’s mother’s side of the family, she was delighted to learn many were military musicians (pictured: Pixie’s great grandfather, John Martin (R) on HMS Cyclop in 1910)

    The blonde beauty also revealed that she has started ‘writing little songs’ based on all she had learned about her family.

    ‘I’ve already started writing little song ideas from my experience,’ Pixie explained.

    ‘It really was a once in a lifetime journey to go on, especially as my mum joined us too. Now we can pass the stories on to the next generation from our family and keep them alive.’

    Of her overall experience on the show, The Mama Do hit-maker gushed: ‘I loved every second. I’ve been wanting to do this show ever since I knew it existed and was so happy to be a part of this series!’   

    Pixie Lott’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs on Tuesday 9th November at 9pm on BBC One. 

    Inspiration: The blonde beauty also revealed that she has started'writing little songs' based on all she had learned about her family

    Inspiration: The blonde beauty also revealed that she has started ‘writing little songs’ based on all she had learned about her family

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