RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Wiltshire => Topic started by: kojak on Saturday 14 June 08 23:34 BST (UK)
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Some time during the Christmas of 2007 twinkly and I went to Savernake Forest, located just outside Marlborough in the district of Kennet in Wiltshire.
Whilst walking our dog (Meg babalicious) through the forest we came across a house auction in progress for a house we later found to be known as BRAYDON OAK. The house dates from around 1850s and is listed on the 1861, 71, 81, 91 and 1901 censuses (mainly inhabited by gamekeepers for the forest/estate of the Earl of Cardigan - who lived at Tottenham House - which is also found within the forest).
The following link gives info on Braydon Oak and Tottenham House:-
http://www.francisfrith.com/search/england/wiltshire/savernake/photos/savernake_57189.htm
A few weeks after the house auction (which led to no successful bids being accepted) we returned to walk past Braydon Oak with Meg babalicious only to find that some scallywag had broken in and had left the house in disarray. However, near the fire surround at the door entrance there were dozens of old photographs left scattered all around on the damp flag stone floor.
The photographs were in a rather delicate state with some dating from early 1900s up to the 1970s and were all of the same extended family.
Concerned about their fate, we rescued them from the weather and spent many hours carefully cleaning them with the hope that a member of the family who lived at the abandoned house may one day be found.
Since then, the only info we have managed to confirm is that the photos were of a family by the name of TWISK, originally thought to be dutch, but with London links.
There is also thought to have been some sort of link with florists in London.
Along with about 40 plus photographs, there are some personal letters and some photos of a London property (thought to be owned by the father of the Twisk who lived at Braydon Oak).
It was clear that the family were very wealthy, however, by the late 1990s, things had changed significantly at Braydon Oak, as the paperwork explains.
Does anybody have any link with the Twisk family? or Braydon Oak? Are you a relative? Have you or someone you know lived at Braydon Oak or Savernake Forest?
Does anyone have any other knowledge about Twisk family research?
Any info on the above would be of great interest in our endeavours to find a family member and hand over some invaluable family history.
Thanks
Kojak and Redspookhunter (and Meg Babalicious)
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Kojak, Spook, Meg, and twinkly
WOW what a find, i really hope you find the family, and i am sure they will be very grateful for it,
You have done a great job
Good luck
Craizi
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Tricky one this - technically you might have stolen the photos! :o
I should think the police would have informed any known owner of the damage, so that would normally be a starting point.
Have you tried the Land Registry to see whose name is on the property?
You might try looking for recent wills for the name you think applies?
Good luck.
A ;)
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Hi again
I think you will find that kojak has done a lot of research in to the house and the property in the time he has known about it. Apparently the home has been deserted for over ten years, and according to some of the letters, the people left never to return, they do know the owner of the home, but these things dont below to him, so i think he is just trying to pass them on to a family member that may be interested, rather than let them be ruined any more than what they are already,
Craizi ;D
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Hi Arranroots,
We thought long and hard about whether to just leave the photos to rot in the rain or get them safe to hand to the owner, who as craizi daizi says, has not lived in the house for many years.
The house was in a terrible state of dereliction and only through the fact it was so remote, kept it from praying vultures.
The owner of the property is not the owner of the photographs and I will not pass them to a third party, as some of the information is not to be handed over lightly.
As Craizi daizi says, we have done a lot of research in attempting to trace a member of the Twisk family. I would hope when/if we find them they won't mind the fact we saved the photos from ruin.
Thanks for your input though...
Best regards
Kojak and redspookhunter
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Sorry if it sounded a bit harsh - I was concerned that the rozzers would come in the night for you!! :o ;D
Hope you find a home for them!
;)
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I knew the name rang a bell - we used to live in Swindon and remembered this from The Sunday Times:
From The Sunday Times
November 11, 2007
Is it worth it?
Braydon Oak, Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, £700,000
Braydon Oak, Savernake Forest
Helen Davies
What it is: Braydon Oak, in the middle of the Savernake Forest – 4,500 acres of ancient woodland – is on the market for the first time in more than 150 years. Reached via a bumpy track that runs off the Capability Brown-designed Grand Avenue – which, at four miles, is the longest avenue in Britain – the four-bedroom property is set in 1.64 acres.
Formerly a gamekeeper’s cottage, then a riding school, and more recently tenanted, it has two reception rooms and cellars. It is a little less than three miles from Marlborough, and 10 from Hungerford, 80 minutes by train from London Paddington.
The problems: Bar a few holes in the roof and boarded-up windows, Braydon Oak is “in pretty good nick”, according to the agent. While structurally sound, it needs complete modernisation. It may be possible to remodel, extend or even knock it down and build a 4,000 sq ft house in its place – subject to gaining all the necessary planning consents – but a covenant prevents more than one property being built on the site. The new owner will need to spend about £175,000 to connect to mains services, and another £50,000-£100,000 on building works and decoration.
The advantages:The desire to flee the suburbs and move westwards is as relentless as ever, and this pretty part of Wiltshire has become, says the agent, “terribly fashionable” – and therefore more expensive. “A house in such a stunning and picturesque spot as this is rare,” he says. “There are no near neighbours and the property offers almost complete privacy, which is increasingly commanding premium prices.” A420 Once restored, the property – depending on what work the new owner M4M4 has carried out – could sell for between £1m and £1.5m.
Carter Jonas; 01672 514545, www.carterjonas.co.uk
and here's a photograph of it.
Lizzie
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Kojak - Presumably the photos belong to the gamekeeper's family. Perhaps an ad or article in the local paper might find the family.
Lizzie
Modified - ps. Hope no-one wanted to buy it, it's under offer.
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Thanks Arranroots and Lizzie,
The photos are definitely not of the gamekeepers family, as the Twisks were somehow linked with an agricultural mechanical business when they tenanted the property.
An ad in a local paper may be the way forward...
The info on the house is known to us, but as far as we can tell, the property is no longer listed by carter jonas and it remains unsold.
The property was in an even worse condition last time we walked past it (a few months back). So, it would be good if someone has table an offer that was accepted, but I fear the building will be left to ruin.
Thanks for your input.
Here is a latest picture we took:-
Moderator Comment: Image Resized
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Hi
This may be something & nothing but my gran came from Marlborough & I know that she would walk to Savernake with her friend & their toy prams & spend all day there.
Last night I tried to ring her, but sadly she's been taken ill & has gone to hospital. As soon as she's well I will try & find out something. Her elder sister would have known all there is to know about the area but she passed away several years ago taking so much knowledge with her.
I will try my best as soon as gran's well
Regards Suzanne
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Many Thanks Suzanne,
Hope your Grandmother gets better soon.
Best wishes..
Jane and Jak
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Hi Jane & Jak
I'm sorry but I won't be able to speak to my gran now. She passed away yesterday in hospital.
Regards Suzanne
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Suzanne
I'm so sorry to hear about your gran. It must have been a shock for you, as you were obviously expecting her to get well.
Lizzie
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Dear Suzzanne
I am terribly sorry to hear about your gran,
My thoughts are with you
Craizi
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suzanne
so sorry to hear your sad news
many thanks for your input though
our thoughts are with you xx
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I had to register just for this comment! I was searching online for any reference to house, for I wanted to see how it looked. You see, I went to school (some 25 years ago) with the Twisk girl who lived the house. I since moved to Canada, but continued to keep in contact with her for several years following my move. I do know, through another website, that she still lives in Marlborough, and is, I believe a painter. I can't imagine she'll be too hard to track down. Her first name is Lucy.
Hope is helps. Sad to see the house in the condition that it's in, but I hope the photographs eventually end up in the right hands.
Thanks.
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Hi Canofcats
Welcome to Rootschat! :)
The power of the internet never ceases to amaze me - and quite a coincidence that you were looking at the same time as Kojak decided to post this topic!
I hope we can convert you and you will visit us again.
Kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Amazing !!
Many many thanks for the tip. We shall try and repatriate the photos and the info to the rightful family now.
Like Arranroots says, welcome to this family history site.
Thanks for your great help.
Kojak and redspookhunter
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Kojak,
Just picked up your info on Braydon Oak Lodge(Braidenhook?) Savernake forest. My Great Grandfather was born here 1845. George Astley - father Robert Astley; gamekeeper.Visited lodge summer 2007 but a sad sight - still occupied but very run down. Photo's presumably of later generations?
Regards James Astley
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Hi James,
We first visited the property in the winter of 2007 and it must have been just after the house was no longer occupied.
We were so struck by the isolation of the property that we undertook some research on the property and even printed off census returns for the property.
We noted that the property was the gamekeepers home and was so up until 1901. Very sad indeed how the property has been left to decay.
A recent return visit found the property secure at least, but the state of the roof and broken windows shall lead to problems.
Hopefully the owner does something soon...
Regards,
Kojak
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Hi
I have just spotted this post. My Mum lives in Marlborough and I have asked her about the house and the name Lucy, associated with it. She says she does vaguely remember them. She will ask her friend who may have more info.
I will post as soon as I have info.
Hope I can help.
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I, too, have just spotted this.
"Jim" (Klaas Ysbrand) TWISK lived there with his wife, Charlene, and their children Kate, Lucy and James, from about 1970. He would have been about 40 then, at some time was working selling fork lift trucks and died in 1999. Jim came from London but his parents were Dutch; his father owned a florists in The Strand - Jacques Fleur. Charlene was from Pewsey, where her family has a farm; her brother was farming at that time. I would guess that the children would still have local connections; I would start in Pewsey.
I knew Jim, Charlene, Kate & Lucy when they lived in Kew in the 1960's.
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This is certainly turning out to be a strange conversation. I added a comment back in August regarding the fact I grew up with Lucy Twisk in Marlborough back in the early '80s. I have since emigrated to Canada but kept in touch with her for many years. Anyhow, thought I would see what had happened to this discussion over the months. To my surprise, I read JAA21X comments about the Twisk family in Kew in the 1960s. I spent my 'early' years in Kew during that time (being born in '65) when I was a wee nipper - it's an even smaller world than I thought five minutes ago.
Good luck in tracking them down.. Would love to hear of the outcome.
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Hi,
I can not believe that my husband has found this and firstly want to thank you for your action in rescuing the photographs and taking time to seek their owners.
I am the half sister of Jim Twisk and remember, as a young child, when Charlene brought Kate into the flower shop, owned by Claas Twisk, Jimmy's father, in which my mother worked as a florist.
If you are still in possession of the items, my family and I would be excited to have sight of them.and any further information you are able to provide.
Thank you to Kojak and Redspookhunter (and Meg Babalicious)
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Hi
I'm so glad that a member of the family at last has been found. I think the Twisks were after my gran's time but when the first post showed up I rang her straight away.
Sadly that night gran was taken into hospital & died the following week. Every so often over the last year or so someone would add something to this thread & it was like a constant reminder of those sad days. Seeing your post this morning will give this thread & those events closure for me! I have often wondered if anyone had been found.
Hopefully the photos will be passed on. Do you have any ideas how everything got left like that?
Regards Suzanne
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Hi Suzanne
thank you for your response and I am pleased to hear that this will help put 'closure' on some things for you. It is never easy when you lose someone close, especially unexpectedly.
I am delighted and excited to learn of the existence of the photographs etc and may even find that, as a result of these postings, I
am able to make contact with my nieces and nephew! And all because people have been thoughtful enough and taken the time on this site; thank you.
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hello all,
Wonderful news indeed ! The wonders of this site never cease to amaze us (redspookhunter and I). We always knew we would trace the photos back to the Twisk family somehow - that's why we rescued them from the rain that day way back a few years when we stumbled upon the old house located in the wood. We have since moved house ourselves and the photos and some other stuff I'm sure the Twisk family relations would want back will be gotten down from our attic and sent on...
Will ask for the postage address separately xylem.
Suzanne - perhaps your gran helped trace the family back to the photos...everything in this world is connected somehow...hopefully this indeed marks as an appropriate closure for you.
I'm off to the attic this afternoon...redspookhunter won't go up there as there are spiders lurking...
Best wishes.
Kojak and Redspookhunter
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Hi All, and we hope your journey back home was an enjoyable one Belinda and Paul !
Just a quick update folks,
The photographs have now been passed on to Belinda and Paul, a lovely couple who travelled down to Wiltshire to meet up with us and share some family history over a pot of tea and coffee.
We later went to Braydon Oak and found that work is underway to make it habitable once more. We shall post an up-to-date photo later.
This 2 year thread has now finished (for the time being). Now, it's over to you Belinda and Paul to uncover the remaining family secrets...
:-)
Kojak and Redspookhunter and Meg Babalicious (who loved her dog treats (she had one when we arrived home)
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Hi Jak and Spook
Thats wonderul news, i am so glad it had a happy ending
Daizi
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Hi Folks,
Here is the up-to-date photo of the old house under going some tlc.
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Ohhh will be lovely ......
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Hi, I have just accidentally fallen into this chat as was actually trying to find the postcode of my sisters house online.
I was raised in Braydon Oak along with my other 4 siblings, being the youngest it appears you've not got any records of me.
It is a very sad tale with regards the ownership of Braydon Oak, we lived there for nearly 30 years as tenants of the Earl of Cardigan who repeatedly refused to sell the property to my family and likewise refused to make repairs to the property, which steadily fell into worse and worse condition. My family eventually left some five years ago or so, as the houses condition became untenable as well as the lack of mains electricity and gas making the cost of lighting and heating unbearable. The house has relatively recently been sold and I am assured there is a young couple who have been renovating it to a good condition, which I am delighted to hear.
I am distressed to hear that the pictures seem to have been inadvertantly left, and that they appear to have gone outside of the family? could someone help to try and get these back I am sure the rest of my family will be delighted to get them back.
My family is extremely well known in Marlborough with practically all members of my immediate family still living there and a simple call to the local police station alone would have pointed you in our direction.
I'd be happy to enlighten anyone who is interested as to the history of the house etc, though amazes me that there is a world of people out there who are so interested?!
Kind regards,
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Hi, I'd like to know how I can make contact with Xylem whom I imagine must be my Aunt????
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Hi, I'd like to know how I can make contact with Xylem whom I imagine must be my Aunt?
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megany1
Now you have made 3 posts, if you go up to where Xylem has made her last post and click on the green scroll, you will bring up a page where you will be able to send her a personal message.
Good luck.
Lizzie
ps. Rootschatters are interested in anything related to family histories, even when it is not their own family, so I'm sure the people following this thread would be interested in the history of the house, I know I would.
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Hi Kojak, I think I may have a link with the game keepers cottage you are talking about. I think my great great grandfather lived there in 1861. He was a game keeper at Braydon Park, according to the 1861 census.
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Hi Hcben,
Great ! If you are not local to the Marlborough/Wiltshire area, you may be interested to known that the property shown in a rather dilapidated state within this post thread has been subject to extensive conversion/refurbishment works. It looks like at long last, the old house has been saved from decaying away in the woods.
From memory and looking up the history of the house on ancestry (census records), I understand that the house was occupied by deer gamekeepers for several of the census years. Do you know much about your great great grandfather's past? As I understand things, the house belonged part of the wider Savernake estate, owned/managed by the Earl of Cardigan - if interested, you may wish to consider writing to the Earl's estate office requesting information about the old house and your ancestor. You never what old records they hold.
Here's a link to the Earl.
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Lord-resigns-trustee-Wiltshire-ancestral-estate/article-466170-detail/article.html
Best wishes
Kojak and Redspookhunter.
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Hi Kojak,
I live in suffolk, so not local to Wiltshire. Thank you for the information. It may be a little while before I follow up on it because I have just started a couple of courses that are taking up my time. However I might just write to see if he did live there.
My great grandfathers name was Henry Manners and he lived in a game keepers cottage, in braydon park, in 1861.
I visited Chippenham recently and found out a bit about my grandfather, Henry's son.
Even if my great grandfather didn't live in the house you had a picture of I am glad it is being renovated because it looks a lovely house.
Best wishes
hcben
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Hi All,
Just a follow up message for you all...
Recently, the wife and I went for a walk in Savernake Forest and wandered and wandered until we stumbled upon Braydon Oak once more...
This time, the old house was no longer a ruin, abondoned in the woods. It has now been redeveloped/brought back to life - and someone has moved in.
Photo below.
Best Wishes
Jane, Kenny and Meg.
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HI All
It's great to see the house looking so well & loved again! For nearly three years this story has played out. It's the third anniversary of my Gran's death in a few weeks & I can't believe this thread is still going ;)
Suzanne x
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Hi Suzanne,
The house renovation is indeed a long time in coming...The place has lots of character and we can remember you saying about your gran.
RIP gran x
Best Wishes,
Kojak and Redspookhunter
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I will need to get more information from my Dad, but his grandfather Dobson lived and died there with his daughter Trixie in the early to mid 1800s. We also walked around there as a ruins as my Dad remembers playing around the oak tree. We must take another walk there soon to see how it has been developed.
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Heya, thats my grans old house, used to go there all the time as a kid. i was wondering if the photos ended up with my family??
-Lucy Sumner-Twisk
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Hi Lucy, I met up with Charlene, Megan and Kate.
I gave them all the pictures and other material that Kojak, Spookhunter and Meg kindly rescued.There was also a letter and a genealogy.
Apologies for late reply, I have only just gone back on site and best wishes for the coming season! X
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Hello. I stumbled across this site purely by chance but was amazed to see reference to my Grandfather's old house when he was a small boy c. 1911. His Father, Stephen Alexander Fergusson was keeper of the deer at Savernake Forest and his family of 8 children lived at Braydon Oak. My Great Grandfather tragically was killed in WWI but his Wife and Family were allowed to live in the Cottage for several years after he died I've posted a photo taken during the time they lived there. They then moved to South Wales however my Grandfather came back to Wiltshire as a young man where he met my Nana and the rest as they say is history. Did anyone on the site know the Fergusson family whilst they lived near Marlborough?
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Hi
I was really interested to see your message about Braydon Oak in Savernake Forest. Andrew Fergusson, the one who died at Salonika, was my Grandmother's brother (so he was my great-uncle). I heard about him and about a couple of his children from my mother and her sister, Florence and Evelyn Mary Gregson. Mum also told me about her cousin Nan, who was still alive at that time (Mum died in 2009, Aunty Molly in 2004). They both told me about Daisy, the baby who died in her pram when a cartridge she was playing with exploded.
I think we must be cousins.
Regards
"GrannyPat"
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I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for saving those photos from the rain when my granny left braydon oak all those years ago. Reading this over a decade later and seeing how much people cared about the old house and what happened to my family really warms the heart, as well as seeing how members of said family are mentioned or found this thread over the years. I don't remember much about my granny's house since I was only 8 when she left, but what I do have are very fond, except for when I fell over in the front garden and broke my arm when I was 3. My mum still goes for walks in the woods regularly and always points out stuff from her childhood, and the house is in a far better state now that it's run by a family that can actually afford it haha. I hope everyone involved in this thread is doing well, and thank you again for caring <3
(Attached is a photo my mum took of my family just outside braydon oak last year, sorry I don't have any house update pics as that would be trespassing hehe)
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Hello Phoebe,
thank you for your kind and thoughtful message. The photographs and documents certainly 'travelled' to journey back to you all when My husband and I drove them back down from Scotland, to hand them over to your Grandmother and her two daughters (my Sister-in- Law and nieces!!).
I hope all your family are well and send my best wishes.
Belinda