The history of Coalyard Farm

Coalyard Farm - Northleach

The history looks at the story of this grand Georgian farmhouse that dates back to the 18th century. One of the key sources of information on the story was a survey of the Sherborne Estate made in 1820 that clearly shows the occupant of Coalyard Farm and the surrounding land.

Survey of Northleach - Sherborne Estate 1820

Charles Hall of Coalyard Farm - 1820

During the 19th century Coalyard Farm was the home of a successful coal dealer and farmer, James Walker, who continued in the house for almost 50 years. 

For more on the story of Coalyard Farm visit Country Life or for the complete story go to - The history of Coalyard Farm – Northleach

For property details of Coalyard Farm visit – Chesterton Humerts

The home of Uli Nimptsch – and a Victorian dentist!

One of my recent house histories is a Victorian terraced house along Fulham Road in Chelsea where the first resident was a Victorian dentist. However, after World War II it became the home of Uli Nimptsch, celebrated sculptor responsible for the statue of David Lloyd George that stands opposite Winston Churchill at the entrance to the House of Commons.

Entrance to House of Commons with statue of David Lloyd George

Image courtesy of Parliament UK

The house along Fulham Road was completed in 1846 and was first known as No.10 Lansdowne Villas. The first resident in the house was Mr. George Ash, practicing as a dentist, who lived in the house with his family during the 1850s and 60s. Dentistry during the mid Victorian period was seeing vast improvements, but was still a frightening experience for many. Anaesthetic was first introduced from 1846 and a clockwork drill was invented in 1864, while an official register of Dentists was only established by the Royal College of Surgeons in 1872.

By 1862 the house names and numbers along Fulham Road were reorganised and by the early 1870s Mr Ash and his family had moved away. The house then became the home of a bankers clerk and merchant, Mr. William Williams.

However, by the turn of the 20th century things began to alter in the house and by the 1920s, Miss Laura Henrietta Brown was renting out rooms in the house. Miss Brown was the daughter of Henry Brown, surgeon and apothecary in Ordinary to the Royal Household at Windsor from 1833 to 1868.

Mary Pickford - Illustrated London News May 1929

The electoral registers during the 1930s show that the house was shared by a number of women, including a Mary Pickford, but this is unlikely to have been the Hollywood film star and co-founder of the film studio United Artists, but it was likely to have been the former MP for Hammersmith North. Mary Pickford was recorded in the house in 1930 and 1931 and it was in this year that she won the seat in Hammersmith as conservative candidate. Mary Pickford died suddenly in 1934 at the age of 49.

After the war years, the house became the home of sculptor Uli Nimptsch, his wife Ruth and their son, Peter. Uli Nimptsch was German born and studied in Berlin, as well as in Rome and Paris, but he moved to England from Nazi Germany for the sake of his Jewish wife in 1939. 

Uli Nimptsch working on the Lloyd George statue - Illustrated London News December 1962

Uli Nimptsch was most noted for his female nude sculptures in a naturalistic style, but he also worked on biblical and classical mythology, as well as portrait busts, including Paul Oppé and Brendan, Viscount Bracken. However, it was his commission to create an over life size sculpture of former Prime Minister, David Lloyd George for the Houses of Parliament that has given him the most recognition. The sculpture was completed in 1963 and stands prominently by Churchill Arch in the Members’ lobby to the House of Commons, opposite Sir Winston Churchill. A foot on each statue is noticeably worn, as it is the custom for MPs to rub the foot for luck as they walk past. Uli Nimptsch has a number of works held in key galleries across the UK, including The Tate Collection, The British Museum and the Royal Academy. Nimptsch regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy and was elected an RA in 1967. Uli Nimptsch lived in the house until he passed away in 1977.

 For the full history of the house – The history of home of Uli Nimptsch

Tags: Chelsea, Churchill Arch, David Lloyd George, Fulham Road, Mary Pickford, Uli Nimptsch, Victorian dentistry

Anglo-Saxons in the back garden

My lastest blog for Country Life features the history of a house that is a little bit different. The house was built during the 1860s, but situated in the back garden are the remains of a motte and bailey.

Mill Cottage - Newnham

An archaeological survey in 1880 also uncovered Anglo-Saxon activity, Stone Age barrow and evidence of Roman activity in the grounds around Mill Cottage. However, despite all these ancient associations, very little remains today, but rather Mill Cottage sits within rolling hills and landscaped gardens in the North Downs.

View over North Downs

Mill Cottage was built during the 1860s to accompany a windmill that had been built on the top of the ancient mound in 1819. The windmill, built by John Filmer, did not remain long as it was dismantled by 1876, but Mill Cottage remained and was divided into two homes and became Mill Cottages. During the late 19th century it was home to agricultural labourers.

Ordnance Survey map - 1905

This section from the Ordnance Survey map in the early 20th century shows the house divided into two and also still marks the ancient mound. However, by the 1950s the house was converted back into a single home and the surrounding land was landscaped, which sadly included further levelling of the motte and bailey and filling-in of the surrounding ditch.

Mill Cottage

Today, Mill Cottage sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Special Landscape Area and although only a small part of the motte and bailey remains, it is clear that this quiet corner of the North Downs has seen plenty of history in its time.

For more information about Mill Cottage visit -  Chesterton Humberts 

For the complete history of Mill Cottage – The history of Mill Cottage – Champion Court

Quiet Georgian street in Hyde Park

Albion Street is a picturesque street in central London and the subject of my latest blog for Homes & Property. This unassuming street is literally a stones throw from Hyde Park and situated around the corner from Connaught Village.

Albion Street

It was built during the early development of the Hyde Park estate in the 1820s and despite it’s quiet and secluded location, it has been the address of many notable residents. The most well-known being Victorian writer, William Makepeace Thackeray and more recently the entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson. To read the full story of Albion Street visit my blog - Homes & Property.

For more information about properties available in Albion Street visit – Chesterton Humberts

An insight into sources…

It has been a while since I posted something and thought I would use the opportunity to give a little insight into the way I research houses. My latest project has me researching a former police house in Dorset and while the complete history is still being written, I’d thought I’d show you a few of the sources I refer to.

1881 census - The National Archives

Census records are one of the best sources for the 19th century, they give details of all those living in the house at the time the census was taken. The first national census was taken in 1801, however, it is only from 1841 that they began to note the names of occupants of the house. This is a page from the 1881 census and the first listing is for the Police Officer, Stephen Stillman, along with his four children – but it is worth noting that his wife was not at home when the census was taken.

Stephen Stillman and family

Photographs are very rare in most cases, but I fortunately discovered a photograph of the Stillman family in a history on the Dorset Constabulary. It is amazing how this brings a different insight when imagining the family living in the house.

1910 Valuation map - The National Archives

Maps are an excellent source for house histories. This is the map that corresponds with the 1910 Inland Revenue valuation survey and although difficult to read here, it clearly labels the house and a corresponding field book gives details of the owner, occupier, a valuation and also a description of the property.

There are many other sources to use when researching the history of a house, but this is a small insight into some of what I do…and also, I was desperate to show everyone the photo of Stephen Stillman and his family!

Rural estate once owned by Horace Walpole

In my latest blog for Country Life I take a look at the Ilsington Estate in Puddletown, Dorset. It has a history dating back to the 12th century, when it was granted to Norman lord, Richard de Redvers, who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066.

The estate was granted to the priory of Christ Church in the 13th century, but reverted to the crown at the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1540s. James I granted it to Henry Hastings, second son of George, fourth Earl of Huntingdon, although it had been held by Henry Hastings during the reign of Elizabeth I. The Hastings family had strong links with royalty, including Henry, third Earl of Huntingdon, who was knight of the garter and had charge of Mary Queen of Scots for a time.

Letters patent from James I - 1615

Puddletown manor, with Ilsington, remained in the Hastings family throughout the 17th century, but by the 18th century it had passed to the son of Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister. The estate eventually passed to Sir Robert’s youngest son, Horatio Walpole, fourth Earl of Orford, in 1751. Horace Walpole is most remembered for his writings and most prominently for his building of the gothic villa, Strawberry Hill in west London.

Horatio (Horace) Walpole

The Walpole’s were absentee landlords, so for most of this time the estate and Ilsington House was leased. One of the most prominent was General Thomas Garth, principal equerry to George III and it was at this time that the young princesses, Mary, Sophia and Amelia, along with the Duke of York, stayed in Ilsington House.

Ilsington

Puddletown manor continued in the hands of the Walpole family, but in 1861 the Ilsington estate was purchased by John Brymer, Esq. John Brymer was the first resident landlord for centuries and took an active role in the managing of the estate. His son, William Ernest Brymer, inherited Ilsington and was a prominent local personality. He was M.P. for Dorchester and South Dorset and from 1887 was High Sheriff for Dorset.

For more details about the Ilsington estate today visit – Chesterton Humberts

To read the full history go to - The history of the Ilsington Estate – Puddletown

The meeting place in Fulham Fields – The history of Munster Road

My latest blog for Homes & Property looks at the area of Munster Road in Fulham. Tucked away between rows of Victorian and Edwardian houses, the northern section of Munster Road has become known as Munster Village and is a popular address for many. 

Victorian terraced houses - Munster Road

The area was originally known as ‘Mustew’ and slowly became ‘Munster’ meaning ‘meeting place’. Up until the 19th century the entire area was covered in market gardens and fields, except for the occasional farm building and the largest house was Munster House, home to the Powell family from the 16th century.

Fulham Fields 1870 - Ordnance Survey

Building development began to spread across Fulham fields after the Metropolitan District railway came to Fulham and Parsons Green in 1880. Within a few years large sections of fields and gardens had been built over.

Go to my blog on Homes & Property to find out more – Homes & Property

To read the full story – The history of Munster Road

For more details of houses and flats available in Munster Road and Fulham visit – Chesterton Humberts

The lost medieval village

My most recent blog for Country Life features a lovely house, Westlands Farm, on the edge of Chichester Harbour, but behind the beautiful gardens and open fields lies an unusual history of the missing village of East Itchenor.

Westlands Farm

Westlands

Westlands Farm was built in the early 19th century, but the history of the surrounding area dates back to the Romans. However, it was during the Anglo-Saxon period and the early middle ages that the village of East Itchenor developed and thrived. In the 13th century East Itchenor was larger than neighbouring Birdham, but in 1348 when the Black Death spread across England, East Itchenor was badly affected.

Sales particulars for Westlands 1854

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries the area where Westlands stands today remained open farming land until in the early 1800s and Westlands Farm was built.

Westlands Farm - early 20th century

Riverside Harrods – The history of Harrods Village in Barnes

My latest blog for the Evening Standard’s Homes & Property looks at an iconic London building, but it’s not the famous Harrods building in Knightsbridge, but rather the famous Harrods building in Barnes.

William Hunt Mansion - The Harrods Furniture Depository

You may know about the Harrods Depository from watching the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, where the grand building is a pivotal point in the race, or spotted it while driving across Hammersmith Bridge, but you may not know the story of the Harrods Depository.

For the full story go to my blog – Homes & Property

Richard Burbage Mansions - Harrods Village

From humble beginnings as warehouses and factory buildings, today, Harrods Village is a very popular place to live, with high quality apartments and river views. Chesterton Humberts have a number of properties available in Harrods village. To find out more visit – Chesterton Humberts

The Chelsea Murders – London 1870

In my recent research into the history of some of Chelsea’s most prominent garden squares I came across a story of a double murder that sounds like something from an Agatha Christie novel.

The main characters involved were the Reverend Elias Huelin, an 84 year old French protestant minister and assistant chaplain at Brompton cemetary; his housekeeper, Ann Boss and plasterer and carpenter, Walter Miller.

Reverend Huelin was the owner of a number of properties in Chelsea including one in Paultons Square, where he and Ann Boss were living and another in Wellington Square (which is where my research picked up on the story). Walter Miller was employed to do repairs in the house in Wellington Square and where he devised the idea of murdering the vicar and his housekeeper to steal money and goods (including the deeds for the house!)

It is believed that Arthur Miller murdered the elderly vicar and his housekeeper on 16th May 1870 and not only set about stealing from the house, but he actually pretended to be the vicar’s French nephew and donned a disguise and put on a French accent.

It was when he arranged for a man, Henry Piper, to dispose of a large luggage box that the murder was uncovered. Piper went to pick up the box and found blood seeping from inside. Miller (still prentending to be the French nephew) tried to escape, but as the man chased after him, Miller met with a local constable walking n Paultons Square. It soon appeared that poor Ann Boss was strangled and had been placed in the luggage box!

Miller was arrested, but there was still no sign of Reverend Huelin, until it  was discovered a few days later that he had been buried in a drain in Wellington Square.

Miller was tried and found guilty of the murders, although he always professed his innocence and said he was employed by a ‘foreign gentleman’, who was meant to be the real vicar’s nephew, but such a man never appeared. Miller was executed at Newgate gaol on the 1st August 1870. The Lord Chief Justice ordered Henry Piper to receive £50 for his conduct in the affair.

It just goes to show some of the unusual and unique stories that can be uncovered when researching the history of a local area or even a house! The details for the story of The Chelsea Murders’ has been sourced from the archives of The Times newspaper and The Illustrated London News.