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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Hampshire & Isle of Wight => Topic started by: the botanist on Tuesday 16 June 20 23:45 BST (UK)
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Hello,
I am looking into the property and would like to either find some photographs or some history into the building and its previous residents as it is Grade 2 listed. I have found the sale documents from 1939 on abebooks. I have also found that a Cory Williams was perhaps a surgeon there around 1878?
Thanks for your help in advance
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Welcome to Rootschat.
I have looked through my books on Christchurch and can’t find an early picture of Hengistbury House. I imagine you have googled and seen the modern pictures? I suggest you contact Christchurch History Society, they may have pictures a should be able to give you more information about the history of the house.
https://www.historychristchurch.org.uk/content/about-us/enquiries
Good luck.
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Do you have access to the Newspaper Archive? If so, there is an article about a break in at Hengistbury House in 1889 (10 Aug 1889, Christchurch Times). At that point it is the residence of Mr A N Fynes-CLinton. He seems to have been running it as a school, although I am not certain whether it is residential or day. The gardener is called George Scott and his wife is Margaret.
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1849 - Samuel Bayly, gentleman is living there.
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Do you have access to the Newspaper Archive? If so, there is an article about a break in at Hengistbury House in 1889 (10 Aug 1889, Christchurch Times). At that point it is the residence of Mr A N Fynes-CLinton. He seems to have been running it as a school, although I am not certain whether it is residential or day. The gardener is called George Scott and his wife is Margaret.
I don’t have access to the newspaper archives, is that something you could send me a link to?
Thanks
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1850 - House goes up for sale. Description of house given in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal 30th March 1850 (essentially a very large and lovely house!!)
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By 1864, the house has moved into the possession of Rev. Joseph Fletcher.
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1870 - the Fletcher family are still at Hengistbury House and are advertising for pupils
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Between 1870 and 1877, the property has changed hands from the Fletchers to Dr Cory. In 1877, Dr Cory is intending to leave England.
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In the Western GAzette 2 May 1879, Mrs Devereux is wanting a "Plain cook" who must be an "active girl"
Would that be the housekeeper or lady of the house advertising?
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In the Western Gazette 6 April 1883, Mrs Devereux is advertising again. This time for a "general servant, not under 20, for a small house of business"
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1884 - the Devereuxs are off, and the house is up for sale again. This time a boat is thrown into the deal too!
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By 1886, A.N Fynes-Clinton is advertising for pupils (see for example the Morning Post 31 Aug 1886)
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1887 - Looks like Mr Devereux had continued to own Hengistbury House because it is put up for sale as part of his estate.
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The house didn't appear to sell in 1887, so in 1888 there was another attempt (see Christchurch Times 9 June 1888). A N Fynes-Clinton is noted as paying the "low rate" of £120 per annum to lease it.
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Mrs Fynes-Clinton is hiring - very important to "understand some butter" apparently..... (Western Gazette 11 Oct 1889)
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Reported in Christchurch Times 25 Oct 1890 - Arthur Norreys Fynes-Clinton is nominated to be on the Town Council.
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15 August 1891 (Christchurch TImes) - Mr Fynes-Clinton has let Hengistbury House and has taken up residence at Beacon Lodge.
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By 1895 it looks like Hengistbury House has changed hands to Mrs Fields, but is then on the way out again too.
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1896 - Hengistbury House is hiring in the Western Gazette again (can they not get servants in Christchurch?) This time it is a Mrs Tyrrell who wants a general servant who can cook well. (Western GAzette 6 Mar 1896)
Western Gazette 27 Nov 1896 - Mrs Tyrrell is advertising for a cook "one who thoroughly understands her duties". Frankly if that is her attitude then I'm not surprised she has to advertise in Yeovil.
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1898 - and we're up for sale again. Reginald J Tyrrell has put Hengistbury House up for sale by auction to be held Sept 5th 1898 at the Kings Arms Hotel.
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From Christchurch Times 8 July 1899
July 4 @ Hengistbury House, Christchurch, death of Caroline widow of Henry Leighton Stapleton, aged 72.
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Different type of servant wanted this time: Western Gazette 13th October 1899
SHORTHAND AND TYPEWRITING: An expert operator on Yost or Blick machine, wanted by a professional gentleman immediately. Youth preferred. Apply, direct to JH Hengistbury House
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And an even stranger classified ad - Mrs Tyrrell would not have been impressed :P
TERRIER Very smart and intelligent black and white terrier. Evenly and prettily marked. Will sell for 20s or exchange for Great Dane pup. JPH Hengistbury House
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Death notice from 1904
27th Nov Frances Sophia Vaughan Haynes widow of Major Walter Illingsworth Haynes, of Royal Sussex Regiment.
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As a consequence of Mrs Vaughan-Haynes' death, the house goes up for sale again (see Christchurch Times 4 Feb 1905)
The house took a while to sell, but on 10 Mar 1906, the Christchurch Times records that a Mr W Morrison of Aberdeenshire has purchased it and will soon be taking up residence.
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1919 - there is now a Mrs London doing the hiring of servants (good old Western Gazette 2 May!)
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Not London, but Loudon
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As you know, in 1939 the house goes up for sale. Included in the advert is the selling point "suitable for evacuation purposes"
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So, by my reckoning you have the following residents:
1849 - Samuel Bayly
1864 - Rev. Joseph Fletcher
1877 - Dr Cory
1879 - Mr W and Mrs Devereux
1886 - Arthur Norreys Fynes-Clinton
1895 - Mrs Field
1896 - Mr Reginald J and Mrs Tyrrell
1899 - Caroline Stapleton widow of Henry Leighton Stapleton
1904 - Frances Sophia Vaughan Haynes, widow of Major Walter Illingworth Haynes (Royal Sussex Reg)
1906 - Mr W Morrison of Aberdeenshire
1919 - the Loudons.
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Amazing work! Mrs Tyrell sounds like a character :P Thanks for all your research you have conducted...all there is to do now is to find some photographs/ old plans to go with these news articles!
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Even The Times got it wrong on 6 March 1923 when it printed " ... Major London and Mrs London ...".
The Times, Jan 2 1980
CONVERSIONS SOUGHT AS INVESTMENTS"
The other example is one in which conversion is currently being carried out. The property, Hengistbury House, at Purwell, Christchurch, Dorset. Little is known about its history except it was built some time in the last century and was used as a hotel until about five years ago. It is being split into three self-contained maisonettes which are to be sold at prices from £42,500 freehold
The Times, 1 Oct 1973
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According to a report in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, 8th Sept 1834, Samuel Bayly was elected Sword Bearer at the recent Grand Provincial Lodge of Freemasons.
Samuel Bayly was living at Hengistbury House on the 1841 census. He is also living with someone called Mary Bayly, but obviously the 1841 census doesn't show relationships. In 1848 (Jun qtr, Wilton) Samuel marries Emma Macey at the parish church of Fuggleston St Peter (?). Samuel is shown to be a widower. His profession is noted as Gentleman and his residence is Christchurch. His father's name is also Samuel Bayly and his is also a Gentleman. Emma's father is given as James Macey, Bailiff.
In 1849, Samuel Bayly is the manager of a tontine https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tontine John Macey is the secretary of this tontine - presumably some relation to Emma. (Salisbury and Wiltshire Journal 20 Oct 1849)
Samuel and Emma have a son, also called Samuel, born in 1850 (Mar qtr, Christchurch 8, 164)
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In 1856, everything seems to be going a bit pear-shaped for Samuel Bayly. There are bankruptcy notices placed in every newspaper on 30th August 1856 for Samuel Bayly "hotel keeper" of Bournemouth - didn't think he was hotel keeper? Remember the tontine of which he was the manager? That encompassed the Belle Vue Hotel, Bournemouth, where in Oct 1856 Samuel Bayly starts to sell parts of his estate.
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The bankruptcy proceedings drag on into 1857. Hengistbury Place/house is put up for sale.
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Samuel Bayly dies 23rd August 1864 in Bournemouth. His probate notice calls him a wine and spirit merchant and there is reference in the local newspapers to a Samuel Bayly of the Victoria Hotel. Letters of administration were granted to Emma Bayly, his relict.
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In 1861, Joseph Fletcher, a 45 year old Independent Minister, and his wife Marianne (45) and daughter Sarah J S (3) are living at Hengistbury House with 10 pupils, ranging in age from 15 to 11. There are also 3 live in servants.
Joseph Fletcher merits an entry in the Dictionary of National Biography (available via Ancestry) and edited highlights here: Joseph Fletcher the younger (1816-1876), congregational minister.........was educated at Ham grammar school near Richmond, Surrey......was transferred to Christchurch, Hampshire in 1849.....resigned his charge at the close of 1873 and died at Christchurch 2 June 1876. He kept a school for a time at Christchurch but the death by drowning of seven of his pupils in May 1868 caused him to close his establishment
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In the Christchurch Times (23rd May 1868) there is a report of the tragic drowning of the boys. It seems that 8 boys and one of the masters went swimming in a "usual place" near to where the rivers meet the sea. All was calm, but then it seems that perhaps the tide turned and there ended up a surge that increased the water level from chest height to over the heads of the boys. One boy swam for shore, and the master managed to pull another one to shore (who drowned),whilst the alarm was raised and some fishermen and the coastguard pulled the remaining bodies from the sea.
Mr Watmough was the master. The drowned boys were:
Henry Atley Pewtress (aged 15)
Arthur Howard Pewtress (aged 11)
Leonard Moser (aged 13)
Horace Moser (aged 12)
George Frederick Johnson (aged 13)
James Atley Hunt (aged 13)
William Robert Smith (aged 13)
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Do you have access to the Newspaper Archive? If so, there is an article about a break in at Hengistbury House in 1889 (10 Aug 1889, Christchurch Times). At that point it is the residence of Mr A N Fynes-CLinton. He seems to have been running it as a school, although I am not certain whether it is residential or day. The gardener is called George Scott and his wife is Margaret.
I don’t have access to the newspaper archives, is that something you could send me a link to?
Thanks
You might find it worth your while to take out (even a short term) subscription to Find My Past.
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The Christchurch Times of June 10th 1876 gives a detailed write up of Joseph Fletcher's life and death.
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The 1871 census shows Joseph Fletcher and family still at Hengistbury House, but in line with the adverts in the newspaper, it now seems that Marianne Fletcher and daughter Mary Fletcher are running a girls school. There are 7 pupils between the ages of 17 and 10.
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Chronologically the next person should be Dr Cory that is looked at - but I can't work out whether it is Dr William Gillett Cory or his son Dr William Howard Cory.
So I'm ignoring him for a while!!!!
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1881 census has the Devereux family at Hengistbury House:
William J Devereux 39 Draper employing 27 people, bn London
Elizabeth A Devereux 37 bn Wells Somerset
Elizabeth A Devereux 11 bn Salisbury, Wilts
William R Devereux 10 bn Salisbury, Wilts
Francis E Devereux 8 bn Salisbury, Wilts
Agnes C Devereux 6 bn Salisbury, Wilts
Frederic H Devereux 5 bn Salisbury, Wilts
Alice W Devereux 2 bn Christchurch, Hants
Fanny Barrell sister in law 25 Governess bn Australia, Adelaide
plus 3 visitors and 3 servants
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IN 1871 the Devereux family are living in Salisbury (43 Catherine Street). William and Elizabeth had married at Holy Trinity, Bath on July 1st 1868. William's father was stated as being John Devereux, merchant, whilst Elizabeth's was Thomas Barratt, paper manufacturer.
William died at a relatively young age of 45 on Jan 20th 1887 at Elmside, Salisbury, with his widow, Elizabeth living until 1930. On the 1911 census, Elizabeth states that she has had 9 children, 7 of whom are still living but 2 have died. One of the 2 that died was her eldest son - William Richard Devereux who died in Johannesburg on Feb 4th 1896 of typhoid fever aged 25.
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Arthur Norreys Fynes-Clinton was born in Nottinghamshire in 1850. His parents were Charles JOhn and Rosabella F Fynes-Clinton. In 1851, Charles is noted as being the Rector of Cromwell and Vicar of ?Orston Nottinghamshire. They are living in Bedford with 8 children, 2 visitors and 7 servants.
Charles John Fynes Clinton has an entry in the Dictionary of National Biography which includes the information that he was the son of Rev Charles Fynes Clinton, and brother of Henry Fynes Clinton (the chronologist ???)
In 1871, Arthur is shown on the census with his parents and two of his siblings (Geoffrey aged 24 and Rosabella aged 18). Arthur's profession is listed as student at Christchurch, Oxford.
By 1881, Arthur has found a business partner, Reginald Hawkins, and they are running a school at BUrlington House, Kings Road, Richmond. On the census return, 9 pupils are shown, including 2 students that must be related to Arthur: Charles E F Clinton (12) and Albert H F Clinton (11) both born in Leyland, Lancashire.
On July 30th 1881, Arthur Norreys Fynes-Clinton (31) married Georgiana Ann Gill (19) at St John the Baptist, Hampton Wick
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The 1891 census shows Arthur and Georgiana at Hengistbury House. They have 9 pupils living with them, aged between 19 and 11. It doesn't look like Arthur and Georgiana have had any children of their own. Later on in 1891, the Fynes-CLintons leave Hengistbury House, for Beacon Lodge, Bournemouth.
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HI Samuel Bayly was the husband of my 5th great aunt so I have been keen on finding out more about Hengistbury House and assume he put it up for sale when he faced bankruptcy.