The prettiest warehouse in England – in Hutton Rudby

Who knew that Hutton Rudby boasted the prettiest warehouse in England?  What a claim to fame.

Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough, 10 July 1895

Mr Henry Fell Pease, Mrs Pease, and other members of the family visited many of the villages nestling at the foot of the Carlton Hills yesterday, and at all places met with a hearty reception.  At Hutton Rudby there was a well-attended meeting, many of those present being sailcloth makers from the Cleveland sailcloth works, which with its ivy-clad walls can boast of the prettiest warehouse in England.  Mr Pease spoke well both at Swainby and at Hutton Rudby.  Mr Pease stayed at Hutton Rudby, and to-day he moves on to Carlton and Stokesley.  Whilst engaged in the western Mr Henry Fell Pease's supporters were active in the eastern extremity of the division.  Both at Coatham, New Marske, and Eston meetings were held approving of his candidature, strong committees being formed at each place.

Henry Fell Pease, a member of the prominent Darlington Quaker family, was Liberal MP for Cleveland from 1885 until his death in 1896 at the age of 58.  

Here he is canvassing for the 1895 general election, the voting for which was held between 13 July and 7 August 1895.  Pease was successful but his party was not.  The election was won by Lord Salisbury's Conservatives in alliance with the Liberal Unionists, who had broken from the Liberal Party over the issue of Irish Home Rule.

It's possible that the ivy-clad warehouse was the long building which the Tithe Map shows behind the houses of Barkers Row, standing parallel to them.  Unless anybody else has a better idea?

Hutton Rudby Mechanics' Institute, founded 6 November 1850

So little is known of the Hutton Rudby Mechanics' Institute, that I quote this piece in full.  It gives such a flavour of the event and the times and the hunger for learning and self-improvement among working men.  An impressive 400 people packed the large room of the Flax Spinning Mill by the River Leven to celebrate the Institute's first anniversary:-

York Herald, 15 November 1851

SOIREE OF THE HUTTON RUDBY MECHANICS INSTITUTE 

On Thursday, November 6th, the first anniversary of the Hutton Rudby Institute was celebrated in the large room of the Spinning Mill, the use of which was kindly allowed for the occasion.  The room was tastefully decorated with evergreens, and though the day was very unfavourable nearly 400 persons sat down to tea, which was provided gratuitously by the ladies of the village, who presided at the tables.  Mrs Burnett, the well-known vocalist, assisted by Mr S J Taylor, who presided at the pianoforte, sung several popular songs, during the evening, and added greatly to the enjoyment of the assembly.  As soon as tea was over, and the room had been cleared of tables, &c., the Rev J S Barlow [actually the Rev R J Barlow] was called to the chair. 

The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by assuring the meeting that he felt duly sensible of the honour they had conferred upon him.  As he had not been accustomed to take part in public meetings, he consented to take the chair very reluctantly, fearing he should damage the cause they were met to advocate.  He said few things could be more cheering to a person in his position, than to see efforts made to elevate the tastes and habits of his parishioners, especially the tastes and habits of the labouring classes, and he sincerely trusted they would avail themselves of every means of improvement which was offered by the Institute. 

The SECRETARY read the report, from which it appeared the Institute had been established one year; that it numbers upwards of sixty members; that a reading-room well supplied with newspapers and periodicals; and a library well supplied with books had been opened; that the committee had expended about forty pounds during the year, and that they had a creditable balance in hand. 

Mr JOSEPH TAYLOR, of Middlesbro', addressed the meeting, at considerable length, on the advantages of mechanics' institutes.  He said the object of those institutions was to give young men facilities for mental culture, and to assist them to acquire such a knowledge of business as should enable them to compete with men who had been favoured with a superior education in their boyhood, or had enjoyed the advantages of living in larger towns.  He made a powerful appeal to the young men present, who had not joined the institute, to come forward and do so.  He said it was impossible to say to what a man would attain who resolutely "willed" to be "onward." 

HENRY PEASE, Esq., of Darlington, on presenting himself, was warmly applauded.  He said they were not to expect a great speech from him, he did not take himself the credit of being an eloquent speaker.  He had long been connected with mechanics' institutes; he had some knowledge of what they had done for the people, and if he could say anything that evening calculated to promote the interests of the Hutton Rudby institute, it would afford him much pleasure.  He said there was nothing Englishmen respected more than manliness of character; and to possess true manliness of character, a man must be educated; ignorance was slavery.  He would advise every young man to apply himself studiously to one branch of education until he had mastered it.  He would urge upon every young man the necessity of depending upon himself; to trust in no man, and in no body of men; to trust in nothing but his own efforts, and God's blessing upon those efforts.  Determine to do credit to yourselves, and credit to the institute of which you form a part.  He was very anxious they should attend well to the classes.  He would advise them to adopt a good system of reading.  It was astonishing how little some people appeared to know, though they read a great deal; they read without any system, and they could not command either true ideas, or proper expressions, when they wanted them.  He urged upon all the importance of doing their best to improve their position.  He said there were [illegible] encouraging examples of men who had attained the highest positions, with everything apparently unfavorable at their start.  He had seen much of Mechanics' Institutes, and he knew their tendency was for good; let those institutes be well conducted, and have the support of which they were worthy, and he was certain they would see, in every town, a different and a better state of things. 

Mr JOHN TAYLOR, made some useful remarks on the claims of Mechanics' Institutes.  He said he had several times visited Hutton Rudby to advocate Temperance, and it gave him much pleasure to be with them on that occasion.  He was certain the formation of the Mechanics' Institute would constitute an important era in the history of Hutton Rudby, and he trusted it would meet with that support, from the inhabitants generally, as should make it a real blessing to the village and neighbourhood. 

The meeting was also addressed by Mr John Jordison, of Middlesbro', G O Wray, Esq., R R Burgess, Esq., and Mr Joseph Hutton, of Stokesley. 

A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and, about half-past ten o'clock, the largest and most enthusiastic meeting, ever held in Hutton Rudby, was brought to a close.

We know that by the end of the century the Institute was housed at the top of North End, and perhaps in 1851 it was already installed there.  The photograph below is thought to have been taken in the 1880s.

North End, Hutton Rudby

The building was later used as a Reading Room and Library, then a Snooker Hall, and in the 1960s it became a shop.  Originally it was a long, low building but it was altered in about 1900 when a mock-Tudor black-and-white frontage was added.

Postcard of North End, Hutton Rudby

This second photograph shows the new frontage.

For more on the vicar, Robert Barlow, see my book, Remarkable but still True, the story of the Revd R J Barlow and Hutton Rudby in the time of the cholera.  It's on this blog and Chapter 1 can be found here

Henry Pease (1807-81) was a member of the Darlington Quaker family.  He was a director of the Darlington & Stockton Railway, creator of the seaside resort of Saltburn, a peace activist who went to see the Tsar of Russia in an attempt to stop the Crimean War.  A short account of his life can be found here and there is more on his part in the opening of the railway line that ran across Stainmore here.  (I know I travelled on the line across to Penrith with my father, but was too young to have any memory of it now.  What a shame it's gone).

You will perhaps have noticed that though the village ladies supplied the refreshments, the young village women were not to have any share in the opportunities provided by the Institute ...


Thanks to Malcolm McPhie and the Facebook page of the Hutton Rudby and District Local History Society for the photos.  Many more photographs of North End can be found there.

The Rising of the North 1569

Exactly 450 years ago, the Rising of the North or Northern Rebellion of 1569 was reaching its crisis, as readers of Chris Lloyd's recent piece in the Northern Echo will know.  Don't miss it!  It tells the story of the siege of Barnard Castle and gives the numbers of County Durham men who were hanged after the Rising when Elizabeth I took her savage vengeance.

In Cleveland, Thomas Layton of Sexhow was a Queen's man and he played a part in the suppression of the Rising.  For the full story, check out my account of his cousin Thomas Milner of Skutterskelfe: the life & times of a Tudor gentleman. 

And when you travel along the road between Hutton Rudby and Stokesley, remember the man from the tiny hamlet of Braworth who was hanged there for his role in the Rebellion.

More on Joseph Honeyman (d 1848)

Dave Honneyman has just contacted me to say that the Joseph Honeyman of my last post (the seaman who died of cholera on board the brig Zephyr in the West Dock at Hartlepool at the end of October 1848) was, as I thought, the son of Thomas Honeyman and Ann Whorlton and it was Joseph who appeared in the Hutton Rudby census of 1841 as a cartwright's apprentice.

Dave tells me that Joseph's cousin Thomas joined the Navy in 1844 and he wonders if that was the reason that Joseph went to sea.

Thank you, Dave!  So nice to hear from you.  Anybody researching the Honeyman family should check out the information that Dave sent me in 2013, which can be found here:  Honeymans and Whorltons.

Joseph Honeyman of Hutton Rudby, dies of cholera in 1848

York Herald, 4 November 1848

CASE OF CHOLERA, AND CAUTION TO DRUNKARDS

On Tuesday last, an inquest was held before Mr John Settle, at the Angel Inn, in Stranton, on view of the body of Joseph Honeyman, a native of Hutton Rudby, in Yorkshire, and who was a seaman on board the brig Zephyr, then lying in the West Dock, at Hartlepool, on board of which the deceased was viewed by the jurors.  

From the evidence, it appeared that the deceased had been drinking for several days, in London, previous to the vessel leaving the Thames, and that he had got quit of about nine sovereigns in eight days, during which time he had been drunk every day.  

When off Flambro' Head on Saturday last, the deceased was suddenly attacked about five o'clock in the afternoon with illness.  He was sick and vomited very much, he was purged and subjected to cramps, and was also cold at the extremities.  He lingered about thirty hours from his first being seized, and died on board the Zephyr, at the harbour of the West Dock.  

Dr Green, of Hartlepool, attended the deceased on the arrival of the ship, and, at the inquest, he stated that deceased's was a case of malignant Asiatic cholera, the exciting cause being drink.  Deceased was 24 years of age.  Verdict, "Natural death, from Asiatic cholera."

On the Hartlepool History Then and Now website you can see a Public Notice dated 8 August 1848 warning the inhabitants of the cholera:

From information received almost daily in this country, from many parts of the Continent, it is manifest that, that dreadful scourge of human life, the CHOLERA, is spreading its devastating influence over many parts; and, from all accounts, the inhabitants of this country have the strongest reasons for dreading its quick approach to these Isles; and of all the towns in the kingdom, none can have greater cause of fear than Hartlepool ...

The same website has a picture of the West Harbour and Dock dated 1848.

A few weeks before the death of Joseph Honeyman, the Darlington and Stockton Times of 14 October 1848 had carried the report that "considerable apprehension and alarm" had been excited in Hartlepool the previous Saturday when a rumour spread that a young passenger on the Highland Chief out of South Shields had died of the cholera.  

It was Dr Green, with a police officer, who went aboard to establish the facts, and he decided  that it had not been a cholera case.  The belongings of the poor young man, Isaac Forsyth Arthur, were removed ("his trunk, portmanteau, &c") and the Highland Chief continued on her voyage to Naples.  The jury decided that he had died from exhaustion, caused by sea-sickness.  He was about 20 years old, and had been a student in the Free College at Edinburgh.

This was the second visitation of the Asiatic cholera to the United Kingdom.  Hutton Rudby itself had suffered in the first terrible epidemic in 1832.  For a full account see 'The Year of the cholera', chapter 11 of Remarkable, but still True, my book about the Rev R J Barlow of Hutton Rudby.

Already in 1832, a link had been made between alcohol and the disease.  To quote from that chapter:

The abuse of alcohol was frequently linked with vulnerability to cholera, by the newspapers and the doctors.  It struck a chord with the public, as this was the dawn of the temperance movement, and alcohol now carried increasing associations of poverty and lack of self-control.  Moreover, the usual medical advice was to abstain from strong liquor during the epidemic and take wine in moderation.  In fact the gastritis and malnutrition caused by excessive use of alcohol did favour the disease.

And the unfortunate young man at the heart of this story –

There is one Joseph Honeyman in Hutton Rudby in the 1841 Census who was of the right age.  Joseph, aged 17 or 15 (it is hard to tell whether 7 or 5 was the correction) was the son of Thomas Honeyman, weaver, and his wife Ann, and he was in 1841 a cartwright's apprentice.  He must have left the village for a more exciting life ...

Mrs Annabel Dott & the Goathland Homes for Officers: correction

I've just amended a couple of posts in the fascinating story of the redoubtable Mrs Annabel Dott – the series of blogposts that make up the account of her life and work begin here – on hearing from a member of the Dott family. 

I had used a photograph of a pleasant-looking lady which was believed by some members of the family to show Annabel Dott, but it doesn't – it's definitely a photo of a Mrs Crebin.

My contact says of Annabel, "My feeling is that she would look a bit more fierce than Mrs. Crebin does" and I must say that I agree!

I'm still hopeful that one day a photograph of Annabel Dott will turn up ...

Taitlands near Settle, home of Thomas & Jane Redmayne

If you've ever read about John Richard Stubbs and his family on this blog – A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s introduces them – you might remember his visits to Taitlands, the country house near Settle where his mother's sister Jane Henlock lived with her husband Thomas Redmayne (c1797-1862) and their children.  

Jane was Thomas's third wife – the first two died young, probably in childbirth – and she brought up his daughter Jane and her own two children, Mary and Henry.

And now you can see photographs of Taitlands, which was for many years a youth hostel and has,over the last decade been lovingly restored to glory.  I'm sure the estate agents who are offering it for sale won't mind if I reproduce one of the photos here – perhaps it will prompt a reader to buy this beautiful house!

Taitlands, near Settle

John Stubbs describes visiting Taitlands several times in his diaries.  The house was barely twenty years old when he first knew it, as Thomas Redmayne had only begun building it in 1831, and so it must all have looked very new and grand to John.  When he was a teenage boy at Giggleswick School he used to visit the family.  In 1853 for example:

Saturday 29 January 1853  Went to Taitlands Aunt was poorly rode the horses came home with Uncle

One Friday, he went out there with a schoolfriend without telling Mrs Stubbs, with whom he was lodging, where he was going.  Mrs Mary Ann Stubbs was another of his aunts, the widow of his father's brother William Morley Stubbs.  She helped her sister Miss Isabella Henlock keep a school at The Terrace, Settle.  They also took in boys who attended Giggleswick School as lodgers:

Friday 30 September 1853

In the evening walked with T Bramley to Taitlands on the sly   Mrs Stubbs & Co knew not

After John left school, he visited the Redmayne family there on several occasions.

In August 1856 he stayed there for three weeks and described in his diary driving his aunt and cousins in the Phaeton – going shooting – taking a shot at a rabbit in a field "where I ought not" – visiting old schoolfriends – and enjoying "a little dance" when visitors came to Taitlands.

In 1857 he travelled there with his aunt Miss Isabella Henlock (not to be confused with her second cousin Miss Isabella Henlock of Settle).  Aunt Bell was there to visit her sister Jane Redmayne, and John was there to combine business with pleasure.  He went shooting with his cousin Henry Redmayne ("shot 2 hares"), went to Skipton Sessions from Settle station, and enjoyed the social life of Settle.  "Lots of folks" came to tea at Taitlands after calling on on his friend Thomas Stackhouse of Stainforth, who had recently married.

On Wednesday 13 January 1858 he travelled there for the wedding of his friend Dr Leonard William Sedgwick to Thomas Redmayne's daughter Jane.  John was one of the groomsmen and he stayed with Thomas Stackhouse.  I describe the customs of the weddings in rural Yorkshire in A Boroughbridge Boyhood in the 1850s: “Helped to arrange about the Wedding Breakfast”.  This was quite the grandest affair that John attended in those years:

Wednesday January 13

Went with Leonard & Mary Sedgwick to Taitlands to Leonards Wedding he paid my fare Tom Sedgwick joined us at Leeds   Fanny Stubbs met us at Settle Station   Had a Fly to Taitlands   Had tea there   Tom Sedgwick Wm Nixon & I went to sleep at Stackhouses Leonard went to Richardsons

Thursday January 14

Went to Taitlands to 1st breakfast & helped Uncle to arrange. Went back to Stackhouse’s got dressed   Took Leond to Church & they got wed.  Tom Sedgwick I Wm Stubbs Wm Nixon & Hy Redmayne were Groomsmen   Miss Nixon Mary Redmayne Mary Sedgwick Fanny Stubbs & Margaret Ingelby were bridesmaids. Went to Taitlands Sat down 30 to breakfast at ½ past 12  Bride & Groom started about 2. We some of us walked to Stainforth Foss & on to the rock in front of Taitlands went & had a 1st tea at Stackhouses Went to Taitlands we were above 50 of us Had a splendid dance Got to Stackhouses about ½ past 3 Went to bed about 5 Everything passed off firstrately

In September 1859 he left the office in Boroughbridge at about 2 o'clock taking three ferrets with him and arrived at Settle station at about 8 o'clock.  He visited friends and family in the area and he and his cousin Henry went about with guns and with the ferrets.  He spent his 21st birthday at Taitlands, going morning and afternoon to Stainforth Church – went with his aunt around Giggleswick and Settle as she made calls on friends and acquaintances – and went with the Redmaynes to Clapham to visit their relations the Marriner family at the vicarage and to have fun at Clapham Fair.  He and Henry went to a circus at Settle, went rabbiting about Horton, and shooting in Austwick Wood.  His stay lasted nearly three weeks.

And then in 1862 Thomas and Jane Redmayne died within days of each other.  Their son-in-law Leonard certified that Thomas died of "Chronic softening of the Brain 12 months" and of bronchitis, from which he had suffered for four weeks; Jane died of cancer.  

Their son Henry was only twenty years old, and the executors looked for tenants for Taitlands:

Yorkshire Gazette, 5 April 1862

To be Let, and may be Entered upon forthwith, Taitlands, a desirable Residence ... in the midst of very Romantic Scenery, with the Gardens and Grounds, and Seventeen and a Half Acres of Rich Grass Land.  The House comprises Entrance Hall, Dining, Drawing, and Breakfast Rooms, Eight Bed Rooms, besides Man Servant's Room, and Attics, Butler's Pantry, good Kitchens, Scullery, and excellent Cellars.  The Rooms are spacious and lofty.  The House is in good Repair, and in every respect a suitable Gentleman's Residence.  Good Coach House, Stables, Harness Room, and other convenient Outbuildings adjoining ...

The following year Henry's sister Mary married Dr James Sedgwick of Boroughbridge .  He was Leonard's younger brother and they were married in London, presumably from Leonard and Jane's house:

Morning Post 19 February 1863

Sedgwick - Redmayne.  On the 14th inst., at St Thomas's, Portman-square, by the Rev W Richardson, incumbent of Stainforth, Yorkshire, James Sedgwick, Esq., of Boroughbridge, to Mary, younger daughter of the late Thomas Redmayne, Esq., of Taitlands, Settle, Yorkshire

Five years later, Henry died at Taitlands:

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 19 March 1868

Redmayne - March 13, at Taitlands, near Settle, aged 26, Henry Redmayne, Esq

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 21 March 1868

Stainforth - Military Funeral - At Stainforth, on Wednesday, the members of the North Craven Rifles attended the funeral of Ensign Redmayne, who died on the 13th inst., aged 26 years.  The mournful procession, headed by the rifle corps, the band playing the "Dead March," proceeded from the deceased gentleman's residence, at Taitlands, to St Peter's Church, Stainforth, where his body was interred in the family vault.  The funeral service was read by the Rev Mr Hearnley, after which the accustomed number of three volleys were fired over the grave by the members of the corps

The Taitlands estate was offered for sale by Messrs Hirst & Capes of Knaresborough on 4 April 1868.  Hepper & Sons of Leeds sold the contents of the house.  A couple of their auction advertisements in the Yorkshire Post that June give us a flavour of the life that the family had known:

The Cabinet Furniture of Drawing, Dining, and Breakfast Rooms, in rosewood and Spanish mahogany; Chimney and Pier Glasses, Window Furniture, superior Brussels and Tapestry Carpets, Hearth Rugs, a number of Engravings, a few Books, a small collection of old China, Entrance Hall and fittings, a valuable Eight Days' Clock, which chimes every quarter and strikes the hours: cases of Stuffed Birds, Fire and Side Arms, the mahogany and other appointments of nine Bed and Dressing Rooms, Cut Glass, and transparent and stone China, in services; excellent Kitchen, Scullery, Laundry, and Dairy requisites

The Library of Books, loose Engravings, contents of bedrooms Nos. 5, 6, and 7, valuable guns, superior double brougham, two sets superior harness, Green's lawn mower, and various other effects.

John's friend Thomas Stackhouse bought the house.  He died on 1 April 1872, aged 38, leaving his widow and children to live in the house for many more years.

Stokesley races, 1727

This is the earliest newspaper notice for horse racing at Stokesley that I have been able to find.  You can see that it was a good financial investment for the subscribers to the Plate, as they were the only people entitled to supply the race patrons with food and drink.  

The racecourse at Stokesley was just south of Seamer Moor and more or less north of Brawith (which lies between Tame Bridge and Skutterskelfe); I think the name of Oneholmes Farm in the 19th century was Race Course Farm.  

The Toll Booth in Stokesley stood on the site of the present Town Hall, which replaced it in 1853.  

Newcastle Courant, 13 May 1727

On Trinity-Monday, the 29th Day of May, will be run for in a Field near Stokesley, in Cleaveland, a Subscription Plate, given by Stokesley Inhabitants, 3l. Value, by Galloways, 14 Handshigh or under, three Heats, each Heat 4 Miles, carrying 9 Stone, including Bridle and Saddle, each Horse, &c. to make the usual Allowance as in Galloway Plates, and paying 5s. Entrance, and to be enter'd the same Day betwixt 8 and 11-o'Clock in the forenoon at the Toll Booth in Stokesley; four or more to run or no Plate. 

On Tuesday, the 30th Day of May, will be run for, in the same Field another Subscription Plate, given also by the Inhabitants of Stokesley, 10l. Value, by any Horse, Mare, or Gelding, carrying 10 Stone, including Bridle and Saddle, three Heats, each Heat 4 Miles, each Horse, &c. paying 15s Entrance, and to be enter'd in Stokesley-Toll-Booth, betwixt the Hours of 8 and 11 in the Forenoon of the 29th of May, four or more to run or no Plate, and none to run that has won above 20 l. Prize at one Time, and both the said Races to be govern'd by Articles that will be produced at the Day of Entrance. 

This is to give Notice, that none but Subscribers will be allowed to set up any Tent, Hutt, or retail any Liquor in the Field, where the said Races are to be run.

For a full description of the Galloway pony, I refer the reader to Wikipedia.  It was a breed that is now extinct, but its influence can be seen across the Pennines in the Fell Pony and it was said to have "good looks, a wide, deep chest and a tendency to pace rather than trot."  In the 18th century Galloways were bred in Swaledale to haul lead ore. 

Younger readers might need to know that  3l. = £3, 10l. = £10, and 5s. and 15s. means five shillings and fifteen shillings respectively. (12 pence made 1 shilling; 20 shillings made £1).

This website gives the results of later race meetings held in 1752 and 1782.  I can't find the results of the 1727 races, I'm afraid.

An early Stokesley Show

As the annual Stokesley Show approaches, here is a little item to show that Shows have been taking place at Stokesley for a very long time.

I've preserved the 18th century spelling (as in 'publick' and 'shew') but I leave the reader to imagine the long 's' in words such as horses and first ...

Newcastle Courant, 4 July 1747 

These are to inform the Publick, 

THAT at STOKESLEY in Cleveland in the County of York, there will always for the future be publick SHEWS of Horses, Sheep, Cows, Heifers, and other Cattle; and also a SALE of Linen Cloth and Leather, on the following Days yearly (to wit) on Saturday next after the first Day of August, on Saturday next after the Twenty-ninth Day of September, and on Saturday next before the first Day of Lent; and that the first of the said Shews will be on the Eighth Day of August next.

Sale of Judy Kitching's Eggcup Collection on 18 September

As Judy Kitching has been the mainstay of Hutton Rudby History Society for a very long time and as her Eggcup Collection is very well-known in the area, I make no apology for advertising it here.  The catalogue can be found on the Lithgows Auctions website and the sale is on 18 September

Queries in the comments section of A History Walk round Hutton Rudby

I've had a query – you can see it in the comments to A History Walk round Hutton Rudby – about Mary Temple of Ebenezer Place and William Robson Temple, who lived in the village until his death in 1911.

I notice that his death was reported in one of the Leeds newspapers on 23 June:-

Leeds Mercury, Friday 23 June 1911

TEMPLE – June 20th, at Hill House, Hutton Rudby, aged 50 years, WILLIAM ROBSON TEMPLE, son of the late William and Ellen Temple, Raskelf, and nephew of the late Geo. Robson, Shires House, Easingwold.  (Will be interred at Rudby Church to-day (Friday).  Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.)

(I can't help but think that friends living in the areas served by the Leeds Mercury might have found it quite tricky to get to Rudby church for Mr Temple's funeral given the short notice – and when was the service going to be held?) 

Anybody with any information about Mary or William Robson Temple, please let me know!

.....................

Somebody left a comment on the same page of the blog some time ago asking about a John Graham who was a farmer at Home Hill Farm in the early 'fifties.  In case whoever it was is searching again:

I did reply to your query in another comment on the same page, but you'd have to have checked back with the comments section to find it.  In case you missed the reply and you're searching for John Graham again, here it is:

I didn't recognise the name Home Hill Farm so I've checked with a friend who has spoken to one of the oldest farmers of the district – he didn't recognise either the name of the farm or the farmer. Where did you think Home Hill Farm was, exactly?

Anybody with any information on John Graham, do contact me.

Hutton Rudby in the Second World War

Not to be missed!  Check out the videos on the Facebook page of the Hutton Rudby and District Local History Society in which Malcolm McPhie interviews Maurice Atkinson about his memories of Hutton Rudby in the Second World War.

It's a priceless collection.  These are the topics that Maurice and Malcolm cover:

• The radio announcement by Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain
• Arrival of the evacuees 
• The Army take over
• The Home Guard
• Army Cadet Force
• The Air Raid Shelters
• Search Lights
• Village defences
• Spitfires over the village
• Damaged Army tank on Rudby Bank
• Rifle practice in Leven Valley
• Celebrations and bonfire on the Green

Celebrations of the tenantry in Ingleby Greenhow, 23 April 1850

York Herald, 27 April 1850

REJOICINGS AT INGLEBY GREENHOW

It was a day of gaiety and festivity long to be remembered at Ingleby Manor, on Tuesday last, the 23rd inst., in celebration of the marriage of Miss Foulis, of Ingleby Manor, to the Hon. Mr Phillip Sidney, only son of Lord de Lisle, of Penshurst, in Kent, which took place in London on that day.  

At two o'clock in the afternoon, in a commodious rustic tent, beautifully fitted up and festooned with evergreens and bloom [sic], about seventy gentlemen, including the tenant farmers on the estates, sat down to a substantial dinner with fine brown October and punch, served up in first-rate style by Widow Hunt, of the Village Inn.  John Peirson, Esq., of Thornton Fields, presided, supported on the left by John H Handyside, Esq., of Stokesley, on the right, by Thomas Garbutt, Esq., of Yarm; the vice-chair being occupied by Mr Henry Chapman of Hutton Rudby.  

Tea was provided at the Village Inn, for the wives and daughters of the tenantry, which was most tastefully set out, and the room chastely ornamented with wreaths of evergreens flowers, and orange blossom, a huge bride's cake taking command in the centre of the table.  Afterwards a ball took place, which was kept up with great spirit.  

It must not be omitted that a fatted ox was slaughtered, and an ample supply of beef given to every poor family in the villages of Ingleby and Battersby so that the aged and infirm, as well as the young and healthy, might each and all rejoice on this auspicious event.

Widow Hunt of the Village Inn was Mrs Mary Hunt, then aged 52.  In the census of 1851 she stated that she was born in Hutton, and I think this means Hutton Rudby.  She will have been assisted by her daughter Mary, aged 22.  She also had a 15 year old son, John.

John Peirson was a land agent; Thornton Fields farm is off the Redcar Road, near Guisborough.  

John Hepburn Handyside was a surgeon in Stokesley; he married Hannah Coates, daughter of the solicitor James Coates in Stokesley in 1845.

Thomas Garbutt was a Yarm solicitor.

Mr Henry Chapman of Hutton Rudby was a farmer and land agent.  The family farmed in Enterpen for many years.

Hutton Rudby had a couple of other links with this story besides Henry Chapman.  

Firstly, the Foulis family owned land in the Sexhow area and, secondly, Lucius Cary of the Falkland family, owners for a time of the Rudby and Skutterskelfe estates, was buried at the groom's family estate of Penshurst in 1871.  Lucius was the only child of Lucius Cary and Amelia Fitzclarence, daughter of William IV.  Amelia is commemorated by a tablet in Hutton Rudby church, (for details, see The People behind the Plaques.)

Leonard Appleton of Doddle Hill Farm

This sort of detail is always useful to family historians, I know, given the Rev R J Barlow's failure to keep the parish registers properly (see here and here)

Newcastle Guardian & Tyne Mercury, 15 April 1848

Marriages

On the 10th inst. Mr Leonard Appleton, of Hutton Rudby, farmer, to Miss Jane Hardman, of Durham

The Tithe Map and White's Directory 1840 show that Leonard Appleton farmed at Doddle Hill and in the 1841 census he gave his age as 43.  The 1851 census finds him farming 141 acres at Potto Field House.  By then his wife Jane had given birth to a little girl called Ann Elizabeth.  By 1861 Margaret Jane and Mary Ann had been added to the family.

Update on 'Thomas King of Kirkleatham, brewer & smuggler'

I have just been looking over an early blogpost on Thomas King of Kirkleatham, the brewer who was said to be in partnership with John Andrew, the famous smuggler of Saltburn.  

I've updated the links to the Skelton history website – the old ones were invalid.  And I've also done a little more work on the subject, so for a couple of 18th century newspaper reports on the lugger called the Morgan Rattler – and for an explanation of what a Morgan Rattler actually was – do follow the link.

The Yarm Minstrel Troupe performs at Hutton Rudby, 1894

This seems a very male entertainment and I harbour dark suspicions of the piece entitled Woman's Rights:

Darlington & Stockton Times, Ripon & Richmond Chronicle, 3 February 1894

HUTTON RUDBY 

On Friday night the members of the Yarm Minstrel Troupe gave a highly successful entertainment in the Board Schoolroom, Hutton Rudby, under the distinguished patronage of Messrs G. Y. Blair, J.P., A. Bowes Wilson, J.P., P.A. Blair, and other gentlemen.  

The room was crowded by a large and appreciative audience.  The first part of the programme consisted of a comic operata, The Two Frauds, performed by Messrs R.L. Wilford and H. Wright.  A most laughable sketch, entitled Woman's Rights, was given by Mr Rhodes Eliff, in full costume, for which he was loudly applauded.  

In the second part songs, &c., were rendered by the troupe, and Mr W. Raper sang, in a most exquisite manner, Maggie May, while Mr R Gamble played a cornet solo in capital style.  Mr J.H. Watson was accompanist, and Mr C. Fergyson was managing director.  

At the conclusion of the entertainment, Mr A. Bowes Wilson, J.P. in a few well-chosen remarks, complimented the performers on the efficient and entertaining style in which they had performed their parts.

G.Y. Blair was George Young Blair (1826-94) of Drumrauch Hall (see here).  Only weeks after this entertainment, Mr Blair suffered an attack of his heart condition and his doctors advised him to spend five weeks convalescing in Bournemouth.  He went back to work on his return, suffered a relapse and died on 22 September.  P.A. Blair was his son-in-law, Percy Alexander Field Sadler (1866-1906) of Linden Grange, who took the surname Blair.

A. Bowes Wilson was Allan Bowes Wilson (c1839-1932) of the Cleveland Sailcloth Mill - for more on him and his family see here.

Benjamin Flounders and the Crathorne Bleach Yard, 1743

This notice – really it's an advertisement – in a Newcastle newspaper of 1743, casts an interesting light on the scope of the operation run by Benjamin Flounders (1708-56), who had a Bleach Yard at Crathorne in the first half of the 18th century.

His surname appears in this advertisement as Flounder, but it is clearly a typo.  The notices continue in the Newcastle Courant until we find, on 3 April 1756, a few weeks after his death, that his widow Barbara is now carrying on the business in his place.  By 1765 the notices appear under the name of their son, John.

The family were Quakers. Benjamin and Barbara were the grandparents of the prominent Yarm businessman and pioneer of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, Benjamin Flounders (1768-1846).

We can see that Benjamin Flounders in 1743 has a network of collection points across County Durham and the North Riding.  I assume the handloom weavers, who worked from weaving sheds at home, would have their cloth bleached so as to be able to profit themselves from the higher price that it would then fetch. 

The square brackets indicate where I have added letters or given the modern spelling of names and places, to assist people searching online.  (You can see that Staithes was spelled phonetically)

Newcastle Courant, 26 March 1743

BENJAMIN FLOUNDER,

of CRATHORNE, near YARM, hereby gives Notice, 

THAT he continues the BLEACHING OF LINEN CLOTH this Year as usual, to great Perfection.  His Prices are, as formerly, Yard-wide high white at Twopence Halfpenny per Yard, and so in proportion for broader or narrower, and Superfine Cloth at Threepence, which will be taken in at the following Places, viz.  

By Geo. Flower, Grocer, in Sunderland; Barnard Sheal, at the Dun Cow, in the Market-place, Durham; Sam. Dalkin, Roper, in Sedgefield; Mary Ward, Weaver, in Whitby; Rich. Taylor, at Steaths [Staithes]; Rich. Outhard, Weaver, in Guisborough; Joseph Flounder, Butcher, in Northallerton; Anthony Lidster, Dyer, near Bedale; Simon Bickerdike, Dyer, at Laburn [Leyburn]; Robt Hodgshon [Hodgson]. in Darlington; William Bird, Taylor, in Bishop Auckland; Jonathan Wheatley, Dyer, at Staindrop; Wm Hall, Tanner, in Barnardcastle; John Gill, Weaver, in Sockfield; Thomas Allison, in Chester-le-street; and at his own Shops at Stockton, Stoxley [Stokesley] and Yarm.  All Persons may depend on having their Cloth kept strong, and with a good Colour.  Mr Gabriel Hughes, Merchant, at Yarm, with himself, will be accountable for all the Cloth that comes to the above Peoples Hands. 

N.B.  He has made a great many Conveniences in his Yard, so that his Friends may expect to have their Cloth as well done as at Durham, or elsewhere.

Note:  For more on Benjamin Flounders (1768-1846) see Benjamin Flounders, a very useful account of this interesting man on the Stockton-on-Tees heritage site.

When Mr Mease of Hutton Rudby lost his arm, November 1860

We had always known that Joseph Mellanby Mease (1827-1928) lost an arm in an accident at the corn mill on Hutton bank, but I have at last found a newspaper article that carried an account of the accident at the time:-

York Herald. 1 December 1860

HUTTON RUDBY

A HERO

Mr Mease, of Hutton Rudby, was accidentally caught, a few days ago, by a part of the machinery of his mill, and his arm fearfully mangled and crushed.  He extricated himself and stopped the machinery.  Allowing no one to go home to tell his wife of the accident, he calmly concealed the arm, and walked home himself, afraid the shock to his partner would be as serious as the accident to himself.  He walked into the house in his usual calm manner, took down a book, and commenced reading it for a minute or two, and then gradually broke the matter to his wife.  By-and-bye surgical assistance was procured, and Mr Mease bore up with the greatest magnanimity, his wife aiding him with that fortitude and resignation he had sought.  The arm, we regret to say, had to be amputated.

Joseph Mellanby Mease was a well-educated and well-read man, born into a Stokesley family in 1827 and baptised there on 24 October 1827.  According to a report on his 100th birthday in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, he went to school in Doncaster and would tell lively recollections of his stage coach rides to school.

He married Harriett Wilkinson on 29 March 1854 in the parish church of Whitfield in Derbyshire, where Harriett was living at Norfolk Street.  She was the daughter of Joseph Wilkinson, a cotton mill manager.

Joseph was then working as chief clerk at the Lake Chemical Works in Jarrow (they were owned by a member of his family), and it was in Jarrow that their only child, Jane Ellen (always known as Jenny) was born.

Joseph, Harriett and Jenny came to Hutton Rudby in 1858, for Joseph to work as manager of the corn mill that stood half way up Hutton Bank.  Then he lost his right arm in the accident at the mill.

Many adjustments must have been made.  Here, for example, is the left-handed moustache cup that he used:-

He seems to have retired temporarily - in the 1861 Census he describes himself as a farmer of 23 acres.  He and his wife and daughter were living at Mill House, later to be named Leven Valley, a house on the Rudby side of the River Leven.  Joseph and Harriett lived there for the rest of their long lives.

By 1871 he was the Registrar of births and deaths for Hutton Rudby and an Inspector of Nuisances, or Sanitary Inspector, for Stokesley Rural Council, retiring at last when in his eighties.

His wife Harriett ran a school, assisted by her daughter Jenny.  (Mrs Mease’s school is mentioned in the Hutton School log book in 1879.)

Joseph Mellanby Mease and his wife Harriett

In this photograph you can see Joseph and Harriett together in old age.

When the Northern Echo celebrated its jubilee in 1920, Joseph was one of the three or four people who could prove that they had taken the paper from its first number, and he was presented with a silver teapot.

Harriett died at the age of 92 in 1924.

In his last years Joseph became famous as the village's centenarian, as these notes from a clipping in Miss Winifred Blair's green album show:-

Newspaper clipping from 15 October 1927:  

Centenarian as Stone Layer – Hutton Rudby G.O.M. likes Bright Villages – New £3,500 Hall – 

Hutton Rudby’s grand old man, Mr J M Mease, who recently celebrated his hundredth birthday, on Saturday laid one of the foundation stones of the new village hall.

In view of his great age, however, it was not felt fit that he should be subjected to the excitement of a public ceremony, and he performed his part in the function with his usual cheerfulness a couple of hours before the larger gathering, with a silver mallet with which he was presented by the architects.

He said that he had always been in favour of brightening village life and was thankful that he had been spared to see the start of a village hall  

Joseph Mellanby Mease

He attributed his great age to an open-air life, plenty of sleep and always having been abstemious.  He never smoked until he was over 80, and after that had a cigarette after supper every night.

He died at the beginning of January 1928.  His daughter Jenny lived afterwards in Rose Cottage, Enterpen.

The Mease family

Joseph Mellanby Mease (1827-1928) was the son of Thomas Mease (1792-1862) and the great-grandson of Solomon Mease (1731-1801).  

Born in Great Ayton, Solomon married Jane Humphrey and had four children.  He was the son of a weaver and trained as a weaver himself.  As I understand it (but I have no source for this information) Solomon inherited money and his wife brought him a good portion, but in the words of his son John, his “love for cards and drink was such that he was sold up in a few years”.  He joined the army and served as a sergeant in the American Wars.  His son John Mease left a diary which contains many references to the religious problems of the day, but I do not know where this diary is to be found.

For a full account (incorporating new research) of the Mease family in Stokesley and Hutton Rudby, the mills they established and their fluctuating fortunes, see the series of articles posted on 29 February 2020 beginning with The linen mills of Stokesley & Hutton Rudby: 1823-1908

Hutton Rudby celebrates the coronations of 1911 and 1937

Hutton Rudby celebrates George V's coronation

This photograph – provided to me by Malcolm McPhie from the Album entitled The Green on the Facebook page of the Hutton Rudby and District Local History Society – gives a brief glimpse of the village's celebrations in 1911 at the coronation of George V.  

A programme survives in Miss Winifred Blair's Scrapbook, from which I made notes in the days before scanning such things was easily done:-

"The Coronation of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary"  on Thursday 22 June 1911 was to start at 8:30 am with presentation of Bibles and mugs to the children – church service – cricket – Maypole – sports.

These fascinating instructions showing how they managed to give a Public Tea to the entire village:-

Public Tea in the Council School, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Chapels.  

Those having RED Tickets take Tea at the Council School.

     "         "   WHITE     "         "       "    "    "   Prim. Methodist Chapel.    

     "         "   BLUE       "         "       "    "     "  Wesleyan Chapel.

Tickets can only be used by the person whose name is on it.  It will be impossible to obtain Tea without a Ticket. 

This was followed by a continuation of the sports – dancing on the Village Green – and finally the Bonfire at 10 pm

But the photograph and my notes from the programme don't convey the sheer scale and colour of the occasion – the "streamers, flags, and banners", the band, the sports, the marching round the village.  So I was very glad to find this, in the Darlington & Stockton Times:-

Darlington & Stockton Times, Ripon & Richmond Chronicle, 1 July 1911

HUTTON RUDBY

Right loyally did the inhabitants of Hutton Rudby celebrate the Coronation, and never was a happier day spent.  As early as 8.30 am the Hutton Brass Band gathered on the village green, conducted by their old bandmaster, Mr Henry Bainbridge, who freely gave his services on this most special occasion, and they played 'God Save the King' in a manner that did credit to the band, and which set the whole village a-going with a delightful determination to make the day one of the best.  

The band then played a march to the Council School, where Bibles were presented by Mr A. Park to all the school children of the parish, to the number of about 250.  They were also presented with a mug each, given by Mr J.T. Barthram.  Before the presentation Mr Park addressed the children in the schoolyard. 

On the conclusion of the presentations the children, under the control of Mr S. Eyre and his staff of teachers, formed a procession, headed by the band, and marched round the village, which was exceedingly pretty.  The streamers, flags, and banners flapped and danced in the morning breeze, which seemed to give life and gladness to everything.  The smiling faces of the happy children, with a Bible in their right hand and a mug in their left, walking in step to the music, was a sight that will not soon be forgotten.  

On they marched to the fine old Parish Church, which stands as a monument of the faith of our forefathers, and which has just been beautified by the fitting in of a reredos at the back of the altar table, with side wings down to the altar rail splendidly carved and panelled in solid wainscot oak, at a cost of something over £50.  This has been given to the church in memory of King George the Fifth's Coronation by Mr Allan Bowes Wilson, J.P., and Miss Annie Hutton Wilson, of Hutton Rudby.  The Coronation service was a most impressive and delightful one, the band taking part in the service by playing hymn 300 and the National Anthem.  The singing was taken up by the congregation with great enthusiasm.  The Vicar-in-Charge, the Rev F.W. Shepherd, gave an address on the great influence derived for good in having a Christian King.  

After the church service the band again headed the procession to the village, where the children dispersed, and the band lunched at the King's Head.  Later on they marched to the cricket field, playing selections while the cricket match was being played between Married and Single, the single winning.  At half-past twelve sports commenced, and lasted all day.  In fact they were not finished until Monday night.  At 2.30 pm the maypole dancers' march from the Council School, headed by the band, was a very pretty sight.  Great praise is due to Mrs Eyre for the trouble taken to get the dancers trained so splendidly, for the singing, dancing, and music was most enjoyable and pretty.  

A free tea was provided for all the parishioners, commencing at 4pm when 915 partook of an excellent repast provided by Misses Sedgwick, Hall, and Mello.  One of the most amusing parts of the programme was the fancy and comic costume parade, which was remarkably good and well got up.  The judges had great difficulty in deciding who was the most fancied and the most funny.  The rest of the night until dark was spent in sports and dancing until 10pm, when the bonfire was lit by Mr S. Snowdon.  

Result of sports:- 

Cricket match for men, Married v Single - 1st, Single
120 yards handicap footrace - J Honeyman; 2, T Bainbridge, 3, S Snowdon
Tug-of-war - G Nelson's team
Potato race - A Bainbridge, 2, D Fortune, 3 P Grearson [Grierson]
Clout the bellman - V Gordon
Sack race for men - J W Sidgwick and A Bainbridge
Point-to-point race - J Honeyman, 2 W Bainbridge, 3 L Hodgson
Pricking the donkey for men - G Featherstone
Do.do. for women - A Irwin
Race, women over 50 - Mitchinson, 2 Walker, 3 Smith
Fancy costume parade - 1 J Garbutt, jun, and M Sherwood, 2 B Foster and Miss Garbutt
Comic costume parade - T Liverseed, 2 D Fortune and R Hodgson, 3 G Husband and Miss Garbutt
Climbing greasy pole for leg of mutton - Gordon, 2 Dobson, 3 Coverdale
Band musical novelty race - T Sidgwick, 2 Lobley
Boys and girls under 14 - Cricket match, Up and Down Towners - Down Towners
Plaiting the maypole - £1 divided
Footrace for boys, under 7 - H Garbutt, G Hodgson
Do.do. for girls under 7 - D Smith
Needle and thread race - M Weighell
Skipping for girls under 14 - M Honeyman, 2 M Weighell
Do.do. for girls 7 to 10 - M Hodgson, 2 H Honeyman
Do.do. under 7 - J Coverdale, J Honeyman
Handicap footrace, 10 to 14 - J Mello, 2 G Stringer
Potato race - M Bainbridge, 2 V Dodsworth
Sack race - B Garbutt, 2 A Kay
Egg and spoon race - M Wood, 3 H Weatherell
Three-legged race for boys - A Wilson and C Chapman
Do.do. for girls - A Metcalfe and J Coverdale
Long jump - J Burton, 2 J Mello
High jump - N Williams, 2 J Dobson 

NOTES

I think the bandmaster must have been the builder Henry Bainbridge, who lived in Enterpen, on the site of the old Sawmill.

The Mr A. Park who presented the children with Bibles was Alexander Park.  

From The People behind the Plaques, an account of the memorials in All Saints', Hutton Rudby:-

The lectern was carved by Alexander Park, a gentleman farmer who retired to live at Leven House (across the river from the church) with his elderly spinster sisters in the late 19th century.  Mr Park was for years the honorary secretary of the Hurworth Hunt, and was said not to have made a single enemy during all his time in office.  On his last day out with the hounds he and his old black horse had a combined age of ninety-nine.  He and his sisters were very generous and active in village and church life: the choir stalls and altar rails were given to the church by the family.

Mr J T Barthram, who presented the mugs, was John Thomas Barthram, grocer & draper, who lived with his wife Mary, and children Martha, Thomas, Richard and James half way along North Side.

Samuel Eyre was the village schoolmaster.  He first appears in the Hutton Rudby census of 1881 as a young married man of 25.  He was born in Hope, Derbyshire and was twice married, firstly to Sarah and then to Hilda Marguerita.  Both women were schoolmistresses; Sarah was born in East Harlsey and Hilda in Hutton Rudby.  Hilda survived him.  In the early 20th century Samuel lived at West House.  This is the house next door to the Village Hall; it has been much extended over the years.  Under Mr Eyre, the garden in front of the house was put out to vegetables and boys were sometimes sent out of their lessons to do some weeding for him. (A History Walk round Hutton Rudby).  He died on 18 November 1914, aged 60.

The first verse of Hymn 300 of Hymns Ancient and Modern:-

All hail the power of JESUS' Name;
Let Angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him LORD of all.

Mr S. Snowdon was the 20 year old son of Dr Anthony Snowdon, who lived at Ravensthorpe on Doctors Lane.  For more on Dr Snowdon, his car and the story of the pet raven, see A History Walk round Hutton Rudby.

The name Mello appeared twice in the newspaper account as Mellor, but I have changed it to Mello on the assumption that it is a typo.  Mr Joshua Arnold Mello and his family lived, according to the 1911 Census, in the Bungalow on North End, next to the original Methodist Chapel, in the island of houses in the middle of North End Green.  Mr Mello is described as a Refreshment Caterer; the Bungalow was used as Refreshment Rooms and a dance hall before the building of the Village Hall.

There are many familiar village names in the list of winners, and I am sure their descendants will get in touch with Malcolm McPhie to explain who they are!

The Coronation in 1937

The Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 12 May 1937 was celebrated in a similar style.

The programme in Miss Blair's Scrapbook shows that it was to start at 8:50 am with the children assembling at the school and marching to the Village Hall – presentation of mugs and souvenirs – cricket – service – sports – children’s tea at Village Hall, followed by tea for over 65's – fancy dress parade – sports – broadcast at the Village Hall – King’s speech broadcast from the Village Hall – dance in the Village Hall at 9:30

Mrs Annabel Dott: additions and corrections

A minor point - just to inform readers that I have amended my text as regards the architect Walter Brierley's involvement in the Goathland scheme.  

It is known that he was involved in the conversion of the cottages for the disabled officers but it isn't clear whether he was involved in the original design stage.

3 March 2019:  Following correspondence with Lynne Dixon, I have made an amendment regarding the Amhurst Road house in which Annabel grew up.  Lynne has come to the conclusion that 13 & 323 Amhurst Road are one and the same.  Lynne informs me that Annabel gave up her membership of Women's Pioneer Housing Ltd after four months, probably because of pressure on her time, given her other projects and her parish work; I've made that alteration too.

23 October 2019:  Following correspondence with Martin Hulbert, a descendant of Patrick Dott's brother Hugh, I have added to 9. Annabel & Patrick Dott in Barnes, 1923 to 1937 an interesting piece of information from a notebook kept by Patrick.  A newspaper clipping from the Church Times of 16 June 1934 stated that Patrick had been "appointed chairman of the Capetown Diocesan Association", which suggests that he and Annabel had been planning a return to South Africa.  I think it likely that they changed their plans when they realised she had cancer.

11. Annabel & Patrick Dott: Epilogue: sale of the Goathland Homes

A couple of years after Annabel put the Grey Wood estate at East Hoathly on the market, the Trustees of the Goathland Homes for Officers put the The Orchard up for sale.

By the summer of 1931, the Trustees had found that the cottage colony had run its course.  According to Percy Ward, "most people found Goathland too quiet" and it was decided to invest instead in houses in London.

Percy Ward, in his article in the Goathland News, recorded the names of the original tenants – men such as Captain Tollemarche, who was badly shellshocked and who played cricket for Goathland, and who was succeeded at No 1 by Capt Brown; Brigadier Smith at No 4, a fine tenor who sang in the church choir; Capt Harry West at No 5, who was very lame, and became Chief Surveyor to the County Council; and blind Mr Irish at No 6, who sang bass in the church choir.  This was the sort of involvement in village life that Annabel and Patrick must have envisaged for the occupants of the Orchard.  The announcement of the auction in the Yorkshire Post gave the names of the tenants in 1931:

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 1 August 1931

GOATHLAND, YORKS.,

SALE OF THE ORCHARD ESTATE.

By Order of the Trustees of the Goathland Homes for Officers.

Messrs ROBERT GRAY and SONS will offer for Sale by Auction, on the Premises, Goathland, on THURSDAY, AUGUST 20th, 1931, at 2 p.m. (subject to Conditions),

The VALUABLE FREEHOLD ESTATE

known as

"THE ORCHARD," GOATHLAND, comprising Eight Stone-built DWELLING-HOUSES, including contents, gardens, orchard, gardener's cottage, recreation ground, and 15¾ acres of grass land, which will first be offered in one lot, and, if unsold, will be divided into eleven lots.

Each house is furnished, and the contents are included in the purchase.

Plans may be seen and particulars and conditions of sale obtained from the Auctioneers, Whitby; or of

Messrs GRAY and DODSWORTH, Solicitors,

Duncombe Place, York

Yorkshire Post & Leeds Intelligencer, 8 August 1931

LOT 1 - Semi-detached RESIDENCE, No. 1 The Orchard. Tenant – Captain Stanley Brown.  9 Rooms, old railway carriage, garden and orchard

LOT 2 - Semi-detached RESIDENCE, No. 2 The Orchard.  Tenant – Dr Slater.  Same size as lot 1, garden and orchard

LOT 3 - Stone-built RESIDENCE No 3 The Orchard.  Tenant – Mrs Almgill.  8 Rooms, garden and orchard.

LOT 4 - Stone-built RESIDENCE No 4 The Orchard. Tenant – Dr Smith.  7 Rooms, Garden and orchard

LOT 5 - Stone-built RESIDENCE No 5 The Orchard.  Tenant – Dr Aspinall, 8 Rooms, Garden and orchard

LOT 6 - Semi-detached RESIDENCE, No 6 The Orchard.  Tenant – Mrs Burt.  8 Rooms, Garden and orchard

LOT 7 - Semi-detached RESIDENCE, No 7 The Orchard.  Tenant – Mrs Todd.  9 Rooms, Garden and orchard

LOT 8 - Detached Stone-built RESIDENCE, No 8 The Orchard.  Now vacant.  8 Rooms, garden and orchard

LOT 9 - The Gardener's COTTAGE, adjoining Lot 7.  5 Rooms.

Each home is furnished, and the Contents are included in the purchase.

LOT 10 - FIVE CLOSES OF GRASS LAND and GARDEN adjoining above lots.  Tenant – Mr J Wilson.  Area 15,758 acres.  Annual Rent £21.  Fee Farm Rent 7s 6d per annum.  Tithe £1 3s 10d per annum.  Frontage to river Murk Esk.  Three hen houses and pigsty are included.

The Houses may be inspected on application to Captain Brown, No 1 The Orchard, Goathland, on Friday afternoons

So the Goathland cottages were sold to private owners.  Many alterations have been made to them since 1931, but the generous gift made by Annabel and Patrick is still remembered on the stone tablet recording the donation:

Very many thanks to Elsie Smith, a Trustee of Goathland Village Hall, for providing me with the Percy Ward article from the Goathland News

Lastly:  Mrs Annabel Dott: additions and corrections

10. Annabel & Patrick Dott in Wiltshire: 1937 and 1938

I have not been able to find anything about Patrick's move from Barnes, but by mid-March 1937 he was Rector of the village of Winterslow, near Salisbury.  Perhaps it was intended to be a quieter parish and a slower way of life, after many years in busy or challenging ministries.

It was in the Winterslow Rectory, on 18 March 1937, that Annabel signed her Will.  She left everything to her husband and appointed him sole Executor – a very simple Will but, most unusually, it was handwritten.  It does not appear to have been written by Annabel, but I can't discount the possibility that it is in Patrick's handwriting.  This suggests to me that, when Annabel was persuaded of the need to make a Will, they simply copied the terms of someone else's – perhaps Patrick's own Will.  The appropriate gap was left for the date to be inserted, and this has been done in a darker ink.  It is properly witnessed by retired schoolmaster and local JP, Henry T Witt, and by T Cottrell, the Rectory chauffeur.

Annabel died a few months later, on 5 November 1937, at the West London Hospital.  She was 69 years old, and the cause of death was 1(a) sarcoma of uterus with (b) multiple secondaries.  A funeral service was held at Barnes Parish church which was, the West London Observer reported, "attended by a large number of prominent local people."

Patrick took out Probate of her Will, the net value of her estate being £3,098 17s 8d.  He did not survive her long.  He died a year later, on 8 December 1938, at St Luke's Hostel, Fitzroy Square, a nursing home for clergy.  His sister Bessie was his Executrix.  Interestingly, the gross value of his estate according to the National Probate Calendar index, was £1,028 8s 10d, some £2,000 less than the value of Annabel's estate.  Perhaps this generous man had made more gifts and donations during the last year of his life.

Next:  11. Annabel & Patrick Dott: Epilogue: sale of the Goathland Homes

9. Annabel & Patrick Dott in Barnes: 1923 to 1937

Patrick and Annabel stayed in Barnes for 14 years.  They had come to a beautiful place.  The area of Barnes Rectory was described in 1936 as

one of the beauty spots of a really beautiful borough ... of some three to four acres, consisting of the church, the rectory, the homestead and cottage

The Rectory adjoined the church.  It was a Georgian house of 28 rooms, and required work.  Patrick and Annabel are reported to have spent £2,000 on renovations on their arrival.  Patrick's gross stipend, according to Crockford's Directory of 1930, was £578 a year (£520 net plus house); he later said the rectory was so vast a building that it imposed a considerable strain on the incumbent's resources:

A house of this sort cannot be maintained on much under £1000 a year ... Only a man who has an income of at least £500 or £600 a year of his own can possibly accept this living

I have only been able to find a few newspaper articles relating to Patrick at Barnes, but luckily an article in the West London Observer of 31 March 1933, when there was a rumour that Patrick was leaving the parish for a city church, gives a brief account of how active he had been in the parish during his first ten years:

Mr Dott came to Barnes from Croydon in 1923, and during his ten years tenure he has been closely associated with the Barnes Nursing Association, League of Nations Union, Animals' Welfare Centre, Barnes Rotary Club, and many other local institutions.  He played a prominent part in the recent successful Charter celebrations, being Chairman of the sub-committee responsible for arranging the historical tableau in the procession. 

One of his first considerations on coming to Barnes was to raise funds for the building of a church hall which now stands in Kitson Road.  This was opened by Dean Inge in the Spring of 1928. 

During his rectorate Mr Dott has been instrumental in effecting many improvements both within and without the church, and at the moment he is endeavouring to raise sufficient money for a fund the object of which is to repair the older part of the roof of the historic Parish Church which, incidentally, dates back as far as the fifteenth century, and also the belfry steps and the bells.

The building of the Kitson Road church hall had also been Annabel's project:

West London Observer, 8 June 1928

NEW CHURCH HALL

Plans designed by Rector's Wife 

A new recreation hall for Barnes Parish Church, erected on a site in the Rectory grounds adjoining the church, was dedicated by the Dean of St Paul's and formally opened by Lady Lowther in the presence of a large and distinguished assembly last Saturday afternoon.  The fact that the plans of the hall were designed by his wife was revealed by the rector during the ceremony. 

The Rev W P Dott, who presided, read a message from the Duke of York, who has taken a keen interest in the efforts to provide a recreation hall, in which His Royal Highness expressed his pleasure that the hall had been completed.  It was a very great day for those who had had the matter on their hands for more than three years, the Rector said, and it was really a fine achievement that they had provided such a building, for the religious and social welfare of the parish.  They had had to encounter many difficulties in building the hall; at first they tried to find a site in front of the Rectory gardens, facing the main road, but it was found that this meant going beyond the building line.  The site was accordingly backed to the level of the old Rectory.  The first plans which were submitted by the honorary architect, the Rector continued, were found to be too costly, and finally, speaking with all modesty, the Rev Dott said the hall was designed by his wife.  (Applause).  "This is a time when the Church of England is being rent asunder," he said, "and it is pleasing to reflect that the Church of England in Barnes during this time of controversy has got on with the job." (Applause) ... 

A financial statement submitted by Mr Bowes Loddiges showed that £3,838 18s 6d had already been received, of which £2,842 12s 2d had been paid away.  Further demands amounted to £1,116 and as the cash in hand was £1,036, there was a deficit of £80.  In addition to this, he estimated that a further £180 would be required for equipment, etc. ... 

Following the opening ceremony, Mrs W P Dott presented Mr W Taylor, the foreman employed by the builders, with a handsome watch 

[There follows a short list of the more significant attendees:  councillors, and clergy from Holy Trinity Barnes, St Michael's Mortlake, and the West Kensington Jewish Synagogue]

This building is still the St Mary's Church Hall, generally known as Kitson Hall (the entrance is on Kitson Road)

Kitson Hall, Barnes

Annabel was still attracting press attention.  A story that she claimed to be able to build workers' houses at two-thirds of the cost of council houses appeared in several papers – her print persona was to be unorthodox and slightly eccentric, and how much of what is reported of her is true, is impossible to judge.  This is from the Dundee Evening Telegraph, 8 June 1928

If only the builders to-day would forget about the pretty villas with paper-like walls and unnecessary rooms that they are building," she said, "and go back to the simple old Elizabethan cottages, the housing shortage would be solved in half the time. 

The working man and the small clerk need only one large living room, with furniture such as sideboards and cupboards let into the walls.  Two rooms are more expensive, twice the work, and quite unnecessary. 

If only I could have the designing of the L.C.C and other Council estates being built for the workers I would put them up at two-thirds the cost, double the comfort, and make them solid, beautiful and lasting"

By this time, the work that Annabel had begun in Sussex in 1920 was nearly complete.  As the 1921 article in the Worthing Herald had said, she aimed to combine at Grey Wood, East Hoathly, "all the delights of Jacobean residences with all modern conveniences".  Her use of electricity attracted the attention of the trade press:

The Electrical Journal, vol 92 1924

Mrs Annabel Dott, wife of the Rector of Barnes, has designed and had erected 17 cottages [actually 14 dwellings in all] in Grey Wood, near East Hoathley, Sussex.  A special electrical generating plant has been equipped, and the cottages are supplied with current for lighting, irons, kettles, etc., while there are also a communal electric laundry, electric bakehouse and electric washer-up

Annabel had created a little hamlet at Greywood – a quirky collection of cottages, houses and supporting out-offices in a variety of styles.  As with the houses in Goathland, Annabel had used reclaimed materials.  She seems to have envisaged a self-sufficient little community, sharing facilities without living in each other's pockets, and enjoying a woodland and lakeside setting.  There was no architectural unity to the scheme – the cottages were thatched, the supporting out-offices were built in a half-timbered style, the houses were very individual – it was an eclectic collection of styles that must have appealed to Annabel herself.

The scheme cannot have been the success for which she had hoped, because she put the little estate up for auction at the end of May 1929 and the auction announcement in the Sussex Agricultural Express of 31 May shows that only two of the thatched houses in The Quad (see photograph below) were tenanted, and only one of the outlying houses.  The estate was to be sold as a whole or in lots, and prices ranged from £550 to £1,450.  

Quadrangle, Greywood, East Hoathly

The sales brochure which describes Greywood is written in a style so reminiscent of Annabel's own that it must surely have been written by her:-

The Grey Wood Estate consists of nearly Fifty Acres of beautiful woodland in which are built a Quad of Nine Thatched Houses, a Flat in the Little Quad, and four outlying Cottages.  It is about a mile from East Hoathly, a Village on the main London to Eastbourne Road, and is in an unspoiled rural district, its comparative isolation being its chief asset – it is so hard to get real country within fifty miles of London. 

People are tired of crowded towns, with the jostling on the pavement, and the rush of traffic.  It is a boon to get a small house away from the dust and noise of modern life.  Such a house with a really big living room and modern conveniences can be a comfortable home for a quiet-loving man, or a week-end refuge in the peace of the countryside.  The very distance from a station is a gain in these days of the small car and the motor 'Bus. 

The big Power Station makes it possible to supply its own electric light. 

The Quad is not a communal settlement, as at the 'Varsity, a man can "sport his oak" when he chooses; as in a London block of Flats, the Tenants do not necessarily have an intimate acquaintance, so in the country one's friendships depend on one's inclination. 

It is hoped to attract Tenants from the Services, especially Naval, Army, Indian Civil Servants, 'Varsity and Literary Men needing quiet; lovers of the Country and country life.

The Quad consisted of nine thatched houses built on three sides of a square:

Each House has a long low Living Room with panelled walls and oak floor, a small Kitchen, Dining Room, 3-4 Bedrooms, Bath Room.

Wired for Electric Light.  Radiators

Constant Hot Water could be arranged.

Telephone if desired.

The Little Quad, an L-shaped, black-and-white timbered adjunct to the Quad:

consists of boiler house, fuel store, electric laundry, the Estate Office, the Bakehouse, with a three-tier oven, an electric washer up for 200 people, and a store room for luggage may be added.

Above is a long Balcony, from which Three small Guest Bedrooms open in the manner of a little Swiss chalet hotel.

There is also a Flat with Drawing Room, Dining Room, Kitchenette, and Three Bedrooms and Bath Room.

The Quads at Greywood, East Hoathly

There were, according to the brochure, "four outlying cottages".  One was 'Fairview'

a house with wide open views across the Valley.  It is built of English oak weatherboard, lined with a wall of Moler Blocks making it warm and cosy.  The house is wired for electric light.  Living Room (oak floor), 20ft x 12 ft with casement Windows, radiator, Dining Room, 20ft x 12 ft, radiator.  Third small sitting Room.  Kitchen with independent hot water boiler.  Loggia, partly roofed to serve as open air sleeping porch.  The house stands in an acre of ground.

Another was 'The Little House', which

stands in a charming small garden about one acre, part of which is wild woodland, the rest fruit trees, flower beds and grass.  It is built of brick and English oak weather board, with a tiled roof.  The big long Living Room has an oak floor and Casement Windows.  A Dining Room and Small Kitchen are also on the Ground Floor.  Above are 3 Bedrooms and the Bathroom.

The description of the other two "outlying cottages" is fairly baffling, and seems to describe just one house:

Round Houses stands in an acre of ground and is copied from a house in S. Africa, which has four Round Rooms.  It is built of oak weather board and is thatched.  There are two Large Panelled Living Rooms, a charming Round Room for Smoking or a Man's Den, five Bedrooms, Bathroom, Kitchen, etc, and a cloak Room with W C and lavatory basin.  It is wired for electric light, has an independent hot water boiler, radiators in the Living Room, and is most easily worked.  There is room for a Garage and Tennis Lawn.  The Gate is a fine piece of old English ironwork.

It is thought that it may have had rounded corners or round rooms at the corners, rather than being a round house.

Greywood was fully equipped with its own electrical generating plant, a brick-built water tower, pumping sheds (with an Amanco engine and a Pettar engine), a hydro extractor, vats and tanks, a boiler house to provide hot water for 9 houses, circular saw, fire appliances, chicken sheds, bee barn and garage.

There was a small lake and, true to her love of entertainment in the country and of acting, Annabel had planned an open air theatre in the woods.

I do not know what happened at the sale in 1929.  In 1936 she evidently still owned the woodlands:

Sussex Agricultural Express, 1 May 1936

By kind permission of

Mrs Patrick Dott

The Woodlands,

(40 acres)

Greywood,

East Hoathly,

will be opened to the Public on

Wednesday, May 6th

between the hours of 12 noon and 7 pm

The charge for admission will be 1/-, which will be devoted to the Funds of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Institution

Although Patrick and Annabel spent more time in Barnes than in any other parish, I have been able to find very few references to Annabel in the local press.  An article in the West London Observer of 26 February 1932 shows that she was the Secretary of the newly-formed Society of Friends of Barnes Church.  Dean Inge was the chief visitor at a public meeting of the Society, which was presided over by Patrick, who pointed out 

that they had recently made a great improvement to their churchyard, but they now had at least £500 to spend on repairing the fabric of the Church ... They had started a fund to meet their expenses.  

Annabel, the Society's secretary

explained how they had formed the Society to help the Church, and added that she thought they were the first parish church in the country to start such an organisation, although they had been run in conjunction with the various cathedrals.  Dean Inge had supported the idea and agreed to become their President.  To her mind, all who were proud of the parish church at Barnes should support the Society.

It's possible to follow parish activities in the pages of the West London Observer.  In the early 1930s Patrick was Mayor's Chaplain to Mr J D Firmston, J.P., the Charter-Mayor of Barnes.  The Rectory Grounds were used for fund-raising – in June 1933, there was Dogs' Jamboree in aid of the RSPCA.  And the new church hall – by mid-1935 it had become known as the Kitson Road Church Hall and often simply as Kitson Hall – was in regular use.  A quick look at the second half of 1935 shows: a display by a dancing school; a "flannel dance" held by the Tennis section of the Church Fellowship (Mr and Mrs Dott "looked in"); a play about Leonardo da Vinci; a Jubilee Bridge Drive held by the Badminton Section of the Church Fellowship; a two-act play translated from Spanish, called 'The Cradle Song', given by the Student Players; whist drives held by the Barnes Habitation of the Barnes Primrose League; the play 'Journey's End', by the Student Players; a sale of work and a concert in aid of Barnados ... 

But Annabel disappears from the press in the 1930s, as far as my searches of digitised newspapers show.  Perhaps she concentrated on parish life, or on her private life, or was very occupied with work for her favourite projects, such as the Women's Pioneer Housing.  A clipping pasted by Patrick into a notebook suggests that in 1934 he and Annabel were planning to move back to South Africa.  It appeared in the Church Times of 16 June 1934:

The Rev W P Dott, rector of Barnes, has been appointed chairman of the Capetown Diocesan Association in succession to the late Archbishop of Capetown, Dr Carter, who has accepted the position of President.  Mr Dott was rector of Woodstock, Capetown, for four years, and Acting Warden of St Paul's Theological College, Grahamstown.

Perhaps it was then that the first symptoms of Annabel's cancer appeared and they changed their minds.

Patrick and Annabel's last major activity in Barnes was, it seems, to apply to build a block of flats on the Rectory grounds, together with a new rectory, and for the old Georgian rectory of 28 rooms to be turned into chambers.  This was their solution to the problem of what to do with a rectory that was far too expensive to run – and it was natural, given their view of the need in London for more accommodation suitable for the needs of the post-War population.  

However, their proposal ran into trouble from the well-organised Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen Ratepayers' Association and was rejected by the Council.  The Dotts took their application to appeal, and it was rejected at an inquiry in early 1937.  It cannot be a coincidence that in March 1937, the Association held a public meeting at which their President gave an address on the subject, "Are flats a menace in Barnes?"  

But Annabel and Patrick would soon be gone.  By mid-March 1937 they were in Wiltshire.

The Rev W Patrick Dott at Barnes

With very many thanks to 

Jane Seabrook, local historian in East Hoathly, who has provided me with so much information on Greywood 

Cheryl Cole at Kitson Hall for use of the photograph

Descendants of the Dott family for the photograph of Patrick at Barnes
Martin Hulbert for the information from Patrick's private notebook

Next:  10. Annabel & Patrick Dott in Wiltshire: 1937 and 1938