Hi,
I'm trying to find out a bit more about this man.
Allan Ansell was born 1867 in Croydon, son of Henry & Catherine Ansell.
I can't find this Allan Ansell in either the 1891 or 1901 census returns but in 1911 he was living in Cheam in Surrey, having been married 23 years to a woman called Ellen and with a 21 year old son called John William. Ellen was born 1866 in Harleston, Norfolk, John William was born 1889 in East Ham. Allan Ansell had married Ellen Brown on 4th June 1887 at St Michael's church in Croydon.
The 1911 census indicates that he was a farmer although from that time he became more involved in property and real estate dealing & development and there are a number of land registration entries in his name reported in the London Gazette.
In 1920 he bought two farms in Rainham, Essex. A highway was completed in 1926 to by-pass Rainham which ran through Ansell's holding, but he laid out roads on both sides of it, and sold plots for residential houses which were said to be cheaper per square yard than linoleum.
In 1924 he acquired a 1,500 acres estate in Havering including the manor of Havering-atte-Bower. Indications are he was living at 'Priests', Havering Road in Romford around that time. His son John W. Ansell, a contractor, sold most of the 1500 acre estate in 1937.
Allan Ansell was killed in a car crash on 28th July 1933 when his car over-turned on the Kingston by-pass near Esher. The car in which he was travelling went out of control after striking a lorry. His chauffeur was also killed in the crash. I've not seen the full newspaper reports of his death and would appreciate if anyone can let me know if they contain any more information than summarised here.
At the time of his death he was living in Danescourt, Oxshott. Danescourt has recently been developed into a very upmarket housing estate and I've not been able to find any information on the property he actually resided in which I assume has long since disappeared.
Around the time of his death, I believe he took delivery of a supercharged Bentley sports car, one of the 50 original production Blower Bentleys. Bentley Motors service records indicate that the car was acquired in 1933 by famous Maidenhead motor dealer (Rolls Royce & Bentley) dealer R.S. Mead which would tie in with Mr Ansell's untimely death that summer. It is high likely R.S. Mead initially supplied Mr Ansell with the car from new as it was registered in Berkshire.
I've not been able to find the death date of Ellen, his wife.
His son, who I believe continued his business, died in 1960 at Leigh-on-Sea. The executor of his estate was Ethel Lilian Ansell, a married woman. I've not been able to determine the relationship between John William and this woman.
Any further snippets of information on the above would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Chris
