Ancell Family Claire Dimond-Mills January 2026
The Ancell plot in Box Cemetery (courtesy Bath Burial Index | Bath Record Office)
The Ancell family were not Boxonians or even West Country people. They came to the village just before the First World War and three generations of the family made the village their home. This is their story.
Henry Ancell, Esq (1828-1873)
Henry was born in Cowbridge, Glamorgan, the son of a chief clerk for the Admiralty in London. He lived most of his life in Camberwell, Surrey, and attended the Royal Naval School as a 13-year-old. He worked most of his life for the Admiralty, London, as a victualling clerk, becoming Managing Director of the Civil Service Co-operative Society, and briefly chief clerk of the Admiralty, replicating his father’s achievement. In 1852 he married Sarah Piety from a family of bonded tea warehouse owners. They were sufficiently wealthy to employ servants, a general domestic girl and a cook, when bringing up their three children.
It was Henry’s role in promoting the welfare of his fellow civil servants for which he was chiefly remembered. He was instrumental in promoting the wellbeing of low-paid clerks, culminating in the repeal of the Superannuation Tax on 1857 and the establishment of a mutual life insurance scheme in 1862.[1] In 1865 Henry had been part of a delegation lobbying Lord Palmerston to introduce Saturday half day holidays to all Civil Service staff.[2]
In 1872 he was obliged to resign his role at the Civil Service Co-operative Society by Viscount Goschen, vice-president of the Board of Trade, on being appointed chief clerk in the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy.[3] It was a significant moment because Henry’s liberal views were seen as too radical for a leading position in the Civil Service. The uproar turned out to be short-lived because Henry died on 21 September 1873 at 210 The Grove, Camberwell, aged 45 years. He was clearly respected by his staff and fellow workers. The employees of the Haymarket Co-operative Store voted an annuity of £1,500 to his widow for a man cut off in the prime of life for overtaxing his powers in promoting and managing a concern which grew under his hands to proportions really gigantic in comparison with its modest beginnings.[4]
Henry was born in Cowbridge, Glamorgan, the son of a chief clerk for the Admiralty in London. He lived most of his life in Camberwell, Surrey, and attended the Royal Naval School as a 13-year-old. He worked most of his life for the Admiralty, London, as a victualling clerk, becoming Managing Director of the Civil Service Co-operative Society, and briefly chief clerk of the Admiralty, replicating his father’s achievement. In 1852 he married Sarah Piety from a family of bonded tea warehouse owners. They were sufficiently wealthy to employ servants, a general domestic girl and a cook, when bringing up their three children.
It was Henry’s role in promoting the welfare of his fellow civil servants for which he was chiefly remembered. He was instrumental in promoting the wellbeing of low-paid clerks, culminating in the repeal of the Superannuation Tax on 1857 and the establishment of a mutual life insurance scheme in 1862.[1] In 1865 Henry had been part of a delegation lobbying Lord Palmerston to introduce Saturday half day holidays to all Civil Service staff.[2]
In 1872 he was obliged to resign his role at the Civil Service Co-operative Society by Viscount Goschen, vice-president of the Board of Trade, on being appointed chief clerk in the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy.[3] It was a significant moment because Henry’s liberal views were seen as too radical for a leading position in the Civil Service. The uproar turned out to be short-lived because Henry died on 21 September 1873 at 210 The Grove, Camberwell, aged 45 years. He was clearly respected by his staff and fellow workers. The employees of the Haymarket Co-operative Store voted an annuity of £1,500 to his widow for a man cut off in the prime of life for overtaxing his powers in promoting and managing a concern which grew under his hands to proportions really gigantic in comparison with its modest beginnings.[4]
Henry Robert Ancell (1854-1927)
After his marriage to Catherine Ellen Harrison (1856-) in 1880, he took over the tea company of his father-in-law. The British had been importing tea to drink since the early 1700s, but it was not until the 19th century that tea became an everyman’s drink. The increase in consumption of tea per household per year rose from 1.1 pounds in 1820 to 5.9 pounds in 1900 and 9.6 pounds in 1931. By 1930 the UK market for tea made up 56% of the total world consumption of the beverage and marketing campaigns to replace tea with coffee by the USA and European producers had failed to take hold in Britain. This meant dealing in tea was highly lucrative. Tea had initially come from China but to have more control over the trade, the British successfully developed plantations in India and Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and by 1900 most tea exports came from these two countries[5]. As the profit in tea changed, he tried to diversify and later called himself coffee extract maker.
After 1911 Henry Robert Ancell bought 1 and 2 Belle Vue, Devizes Road, united the properties and renamed them Belle Vue House, He moved in with his extended family. Henry Robert lived on his private income, the son of a gentleman. The house was their family home for a decade. Staying with Henry and Catherine on 19 June 1921 were:
The family moved to Northfield House on the High Street later the same year or shortly thereafter. Henry died there in 1927.
After his marriage to Catherine Ellen Harrison (1856-) in 1880, he took over the tea company of his father-in-law. The British had been importing tea to drink since the early 1700s, but it was not until the 19th century that tea became an everyman’s drink. The increase in consumption of tea per household per year rose from 1.1 pounds in 1820 to 5.9 pounds in 1900 and 9.6 pounds in 1931. By 1930 the UK market for tea made up 56% of the total world consumption of the beverage and marketing campaigns to replace tea with coffee by the USA and European producers had failed to take hold in Britain. This meant dealing in tea was highly lucrative. Tea had initially come from China but to have more control over the trade, the British successfully developed plantations in India and Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and by 1900 most tea exports came from these two countries[5]. As the profit in tea changed, he tried to diversify and later called himself coffee extract maker.
After 1911 Henry Robert Ancell bought 1 and 2 Belle Vue, Devizes Road, united the properties and renamed them Belle Vue House, He moved in with his extended family. Henry Robert lived on his private income, the son of a gentleman. The house was their family home for a decade. Staying with Henry and Catherine on 19 June 1921 were:
- Their eldest son, Henry Dawson Ancell, widower, together with his two daughters,
- Their daughter Mildred and her husband Lawrence Caleb Pressland who worked for the Ministry of Labour in Corsham together with their infant son,
- Their son Charles Gabriel and his wife Ethel Fitzwater who were visiting from Buenos Aires where Charles had worked for the Argentine Republic Waterworks Co,
- A niece Kathleen Annie Martin aged 29.
The family moved to Northfield House on the High Street later the same year or shortly thereafter. Henry died there in 1927.
Henry Dawson Ancell (1880-1953)
Henry Dawson Ancell married Ada Mary Mothersdale (1878-1919) from Redland, Bristol, in 1910. He was training to be a bank manager and she was the daughter of one. In 1911 they were living in Kent with her parents. Henry served in the Great War as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery from 1915 to 1919, serving in Salonika. Tragically, he was discharged from the forces early to return to Britain for his wife’s funeral. He then picked up responsibility for his two infant daughters. Henry Dawson stayed in Box and married his second wife Ethel Mary Marshall from Chesterfield in 1922 when she was 38. She had qualified as an elementary schoolteacher at Avery Hill Training College, Eltham, and was brought up by her mother and stepfather, Francis Maggs, farmer, from the age of 8 years.
Henry Dawson Ancell worked for the National Provincial & Union Bank of England for the whole of his working life. In the early 1920s he and his family were based at Sherborne, Dorset, until he was promoted to deputy manager at Trowbridge in 1927. From 1929 he became the manager of the Trowbridge branch of the National Provincial Bank until his retirement in 1937.[6] He was active in all sorts of community events, treasurer of the Trowbridge Carnival in the 1930s and later of the Box Horse Show and a constant Conservative supporter. After the Great War, he took an active interest in the work of the British Legion. He joined the Home Guard in the Second World War commanding 24 men in the Kingsdown Division.
After he retired, Henry and Ethel lived at Wormcliffe House, Ashley, (probably rented whilst looking around for a permanent home) with their two daughters. During the upheaval of the Second World War they moved permanently to Stonecroft at the bottom of Wormcliffe Lane, where they bred Khaki Campbell ducks for meat.[7] Ethel’s 90-year-old mother Sarah Elizabeth Maggs came to stay with them and died at Stonecroft in 1945.[8] Ethel joined in many of the village activities after the war. She was a keen tennis player representing Box in local matches and a fundraiser for local causes, including Wiltshire Institute for the Blind.[9] She was a keen WI member, sometimes appearing in WI fundraising plays.[10] Henry died at Stonecroft in 1953 and Ethel remained there until she died in 1967.[11]
Henry Dawson Ancell married Ada Mary Mothersdale (1878-1919) from Redland, Bristol, in 1910. He was training to be a bank manager and she was the daughter of one. In 1911 they were living in Kent with her parents. Henry served in the Great War as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery from 1915 to 1919, serving in Salonika. Tragically, he was discharged from the forces early to return to Britain for his wife’s funeral. He then picked up responsibility for his two infant daughters. Henry Dawson stayed in Box and married his second wife Ethel Mary Marshall from Chesterfield in 1922 when she was 38. She had qualified as an elementary schoolteacher at Avery Hill Training College, Eltham, and was brought up by her mother and stepfather, Francis Maggs, farmer, from the age of 8 years.
Henry Dawson Ancell worked for the National Provincial & Union Bank of England for the whole of his working life. In the early 1920s he and his family were based at Sherborne, Dorset, until he was promoted to deputy manager at Trowbridge in 1927. From 1929 he became the manager of the Trowbridge branch of the National Provincial Bank until his retirement in 1937.[6] He was active in all sorts of community events, treasurer of the Trowbridge Carnival in the 1930s and later of the Box Horse Show and a constant Conservative supporter. After the Great War, he took an active interest in the work of the British Legion. He joined the Home Guard in the Second World War commanding 24 men in the Kingsdown Division.
After he retired, Henry and Ethel lived at Wormcliffe House, Ashley, (probably rented whilst looking around for a permanent home) with their two daughters. During the upheaval of the Second World War they moved permanently to Stonecroft at the bottom of Wormcliffe Lane, where they bred Khaki Campbell ducks for meat.[7] Ethel’s 90-year-old mother Sarah Elizabeth Maggs came to stay with them and died at Stonecroft in 1945.[8] Ethel joined in many of the village activities after the war. She was a keen tennis player representing Box in local matches and a fundraiser for local causes, including Wiltshire Institute for the Blind.[9] She was a keen WI member, sometimes appearing in WI fundraising plays.[10] Henry died at Stonecroft in 1953 and Ethel remained there until she died in 1967.[11]
Ancell Girls
The two infant daughters also stayed in Box, which had become their home and centre of their lives. Marjorie followed in the footsteps of her father and became a bank clerk. Like him, she was interested in the story of the Second World War and collected many books and pamphlets from wartime.
Edna trained as a nurse and was appointed Sister at Sheerness Hospital before the Second World War.[12] It was a difficult location because the dockyard there made it a target for German bombers and an important hospital for wounded servicemen returning to Britain.[13] She was listed in the Box Roll of Honour for her wartime service.[14] In the late 1970s she replaced Nurse Chalinor as the District nurse attached to Box Surgery working in the surgery and out in the wider village community. Edna was living at 6 The Bassetts when she died in 1995.
The two infant daughters also stayed in Box, which had become their home and centre of their lives. Marjorie followed in the footsteps of her father and became a bank clerk. Like him, she was interested in the story of the Second World War and collected many books and pamphlets from wartime.
Edna trained as a nurse and was appointed Sister at Sheerness Hospital before the Second World War.[12] It was a difficult location because the dockyard there made it a target for German bombers and an important hospital for wounded servicemen returning to Britain.[13] She was listed in the Box Roll of Honour for her wartime service.[14] In the late 1970s she replaced Nurse Chalinor as the District nurse attached to Box Surgery working in the surgery and out in the wider village community. Edna was living at 6 The Bassetts when she died in 1995.
Conclusion
The Ancell family were from a different class to most Box residents; they were wealthy, important people in the London world of bureaucrats and merchants. We don’t know why they settled in the village – perhaps a random choice, perhaps to be close to Bath society.
Like many others. they made Box their home base, led their domestic and work lives in the area, and became well-respected village dignitaries. The Ancell girls never married and the direct family line died out. But they were an important part of the development of Box.
The Ancell family were from a different class to most Box residents; they were wealthy, important people in the London world of bureaucrats and merchants. We don’t know why they settled in the village – perhaps a random choice, perhaps to be close to Bath society.
Like many others. they made Box their home base, led their domestic and work lives in the area, and became well-respected village dignitaries. The Ancell girls never married and the direct family line died out. But they were an important part of the development of Box.
Ancell Family Tree
Henry (1828-1873) married Sarah Piety (1825-1884) in 1852. She was from a family of bonded tea warehouse owners. Children:
Henry Robert (1854-1927) born in Camberwell married Catherine Ellen Harrison (1856-) at Camberwell, Surrey in 1880. and took over the tea company of his father-in-law. He later called himself coffee extract maker. Children:
Henry Dawson (1880-1953) married Ada Mary Mothersdale (1878-1919) in 1910. Children:
Henry (1828-1873) married Sarah Piety (1825-1884) in 1852. She was from a family of bonded tea warehouse owners. Children:
- Emma Adelaide (1853-) married Philip Basden Smith in 1869;
- Henry Robert (1854-1927);
- Catherine Fanny (1856-) married Ebenezer Dawson in 1878;
- Annie Frederica (1858-);
- Frederick Macaulay (1860-1909) married Annie Laura Harrison (1860-) in 1887. Children: Frederick Norman (1888-1955) served in the Royal Fusiliers. Frederick married Mary Constance Haswell in 1917; Horace (1890-1918) private in Artists’ Rifles. Buried at Arras; Kathleen Annie (1891-);
- Edward Piety Drayner (1861-1895) joined the army aged 18 in 1877. He served mostly in Dublin until he retired as a corporal in 1885.;
- Francis Alfred (1863-1868) died age 5;
- Suzanna Elizabeth (1865-1898) trained as a nursing sister in the Tottenham Hospital and Deaconess Institution.
Henry Robert (1854-1927) born in Camberwell married Catherine Ellen Harrison (1856-) at Camberwell, Surrey in 1880. and took over the tea company of his father-in-law. He later called himself coffee extract maker. Children:
- Henry Dawson (1880-1953) married Ada Mary Mothersdale (1878-1919) in 1910.
- Robert Wolfe (1882-1976) farmer in Argentina who served in the Royal Army Service Corps in Argentina in WW1;
- Charles Gabriel (1884- ) married his cousin Ethel Fitzwater Williams (1879-) in 1910 and they emigrated to Buenos Aires, where Charles worked in the water industry;
- Sarah Piety (1884-1885);
- George Harrison (1886-1917) married Gertrude Whiten (1883-). He served in Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in WW1 and buried at Arras Memorial;
- Richard T (1888-) left for Buenos Aires, Argentina;
- Isabell Augusta (1890-);
- Winifred Mabel (1891-1974) became a partner in the hotel business of her sister Mildred and Lawrence Pressland in Wallingford;
- Janet (1893-) married Julio Cesar Estol and lived in Uruguay;
- Mildred (1895-) married Lawrence Caleb Pressland (1888-), Children John Ancell (1921-).
Henry Dawson (1880-1953) married Ada Mary Mothersdale (1878-1919) in 1910. Children:
- Marjorie (1915-2011),
- Edna (1917-1995).
References
[1] The Sun, 7 May 1857 and The Weekly Chronicle and Register, 27 December 1862
[2] The Morning Herald, 22 March 1865
[3] The Morning Advertiser, 5 December 1872
[4] The Pall Mall Gazette, 12 November 1873
[5] https://eh.net/encyclopedia/the-history-of-the-international-tea-market-1850-1945/
[6] The Wiltshire News, 10 May 1929
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 14 June 1947
[8] The Derbyshire Times, 11 May 1945
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 23 June 1923 and The Wiltshire News, 17 February 1928 and 6 November1953
[10] The Wiltshire News, 13 January 1950 and 22 January 1960
[11] The Wiltshire Times, 31 January 1953
[12] Sheerness Guardian, 2 November 1935
[13] The Sheerness Standard, 10 May 1948
[14] Parish Magazine, May 1944
[1] The Sun, 7 May 1857 and The Weekly Chronicle and Register, 27 December 1862
[2] The Morning Herald, 22 March 1865
[3] The Morning Advertiser, 5 December 1872
[4] The Pall Mall Gazette, 12 November 1873
[5] https://eh.net/encyclopedia/the-history-of-the-international-tea-market-1850-1945/
[6] The Wiltshire News, 10 May 1929
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 14 June 1947
[8] The Derbyshire Times, 11 May 1945
[9] The Wiltshire Times, 23 June 1923 and The Wiltshire News, 17 February 1928 and 6 November1953
[10] The Wiltshire News, 13 January 1950 and 22 January 1960
[11] The Wiltshire Times, 31 January 1953
[12] Sheerness Guardian, 2 November 1935
[13] The Sheerness Standard, 10 May 1948
[14] Parish Magazine, May 1944