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Ashley House:
A Den of Liberalism - or was it? Original research by Hugh Spencely, Fiona Sykes and David Murray September 2016 This is the story of one of the most fascinating houses in Box, certainly with some of the most interesting occupants. But as the article shows, much of the information we believed to be true about the property is wrong. You can read the real story below. Right: Ashley House from The Swan, Kingsdown (courtesy Hugh Spencely) |
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For many years there have been stories that Ashley House, Shockerwick, was built to take advantage of the new railway station at Middlehill. This was partly fuelled by the Historic Houses Listing which gave a date of the building of about 1840, a year before Box Station opened.[1] There is anecdotal evidence that Brunel stayed at Ashley House and wanted Box Station to be built in Ashley. Another story is that the owners of Shockerwick House refused to have the railway on their land, which limited the route of the line to its present course. And later in its history the house was known as the local home of the Liberal Party. But the real story of this house is very different.
There is evidence that an eighteenth century house existed on the site. An advertisement in 1776 describes a property for sale as A freehold estate situated at Ashley in the parish of Box in the county of Wilts consisting of a new stone-built dwelling house with a bakehouse etc, a garden and orchard, pleasantly situated on a rising ground, having a fine prospect of the country, and with a small expense may be fitted up for a private family; four miles and a half from Bath in the London road by way of Chippenham.[2] This speculation is backed up by a reference in 1793 referring to the sale of A variety of household furniture made up in a plain, neat taste, and almost new, the property of a Gentleman quitting Ashley-House, near Box, Wilts, four miles from Bath on the London Road.[3]
There was continuing occupation of the house in the early 1800s and advertisements for the sale of furniture and animals in 1807 refer to Dutton Turner, Esq, removed to the West Indies from Ashley House.[4]
There is evidence that an eighteenth century house existed on the site. An advertisement in 1776 describes a property for sale as A freehold estate situated at Ashley in the parish of Box in the county of Wilts consisting of a new stone-built dwelling house with a bakehouse etc, a garden and orchard, pleasantly situated on a rising ground, having a fine prospect of the country, and with a small expense may be fitted up for a private family; four miles and a half from Bath in the London road by way of Chippenham.[2] This speculation is backed up by a reference in 1793 referring to the sale of A variety of household furniture made up in a plain, neat taste, and almost new, the property of a Gentleman quitting Ashley-House, near Box, Wilts, four miles from Bath on the London Road.[3]
There was continuing occupation of the house in the early 1800s and advertisements for the sale of furniture and animals in 1807 refer to Dutton Turner, Esq, removed to the West Indies from Ashley House.[4]
Tragedy of the Sudell Family, 1832 - 1857
The first documented owner of the house was Henry Sudell in 1832 when a newspaper notice recorded the marriage of Rev Holled Darrell Cave Smith Webb Horlock, vicar of Box, to Eliza youngest daughter of Henry Sudell, Esq, of Ashley House, Wiltshire.[5]
The Sudell family were not local people; rather they were the family of a wealthy cotton manufacturer, merchant and financier from Lancashire.[6] Henry married his first cousin Maria Livesey and they were fabulously wealthy, families of the best standing.[7] They were the celebrities of their time and local Lancashire newspapers carried details of their lives almost every week. But they fell from grace in 1827 when Henry Sudell went bankrupt as a result of disastrous speculation in Germany and America and they had to give up their palatial residence at Woodford Hall, Blackburn, which they had built thirty years earlier.[8]
Henry Sudell, a veritable prince among traders, a Merchant-Prince, could not accept the disgrace and relocated to Bath. In 1831 they sold Mrs Maria Sudell's private assets including Woodford Hall and Park. Although substantially diminished in wealth and status, they were still reasonably well off and Mr Sudell either leased or purchased a country residence not far from Bath, namely Ashley House.[9] It is probable that they built Ashley House, or substantially renovated it, using Maria Sudell's assets.[10]
The family suffered repeated disasters and only one child ever married. The second daughter Maria died in 1823 and her younger sister Lydia in 1825 before they left Lancashire. In Box Mrs Maria Sudell died in 1848, the eldest son Henry Sudell junior died in 1851, Henry senior in 1856, the second son Thomas in 1857. At this point the family gave up residence at Ashley House after 25 years. But it was the deaths of eldest daughter Alice in 1858 along with the youngest daughter Elizabeth (called Eliza in the 1832 document) which caused most concern. Popular Box rumour had it that they had been poisoned and the finger of guilt pointed at Rev Horlock, which you can read elsewhere on the website.[11]
The first documented owner of the house was Henry Sudell in 1832 when a newspaper notice recorded the marriage of Rev Holled Darrell Cave Smith Webb Horlock, vicar of Box, to Eliza youngest daughter of Henry Sudell, Esq, of Ashley House, Wiltshire.[5]
The Sudell family were not local people; rather they were the family of a wealthy cotton manufacturer, merchant and financier from Lancashire.[6] Henry married his first cousin Maria Livesey and they were fabulously wealthy, families of the best standing.[7] They were the celebrities of their time and local Lancashire newspapers carried details of their lives almost every week. But they fell from grace in 1827 when Henry Sudell went bankrupt as a result of disastrous speculation in Germany and America and they had to give up their palatial residence at Woodford Hall, Blackburn, which they had built thirty years earlier.[8]
Henry Sudell, a veritable prince among traders, a Merchant-Prince, could not accept the disgrace and relocated to Bath. In 1831 they sold Mrs Maria Sudell's private assets including Woodford Hall and Park. Although substantially diminished in wealth and status, they were still reasonably well off and Mr Sudell either leased or purchased a country residence not far from Bath, namely Ashley House.[9] It is probable that they built Ashley House, or substantially renovated it, using Maria Sudell's assets.[10]
The family suffered repeated disasters and only one child ever married. The second daughter Maria died in 1823 and her younger sister Lydia in 1825 before they left Lancashire. In Box Mrs Maria Sudell died in 1848, the eldest son Henry Sudell junior died in 1851, Henry senior in 1856, the second son Thomas in 1857. At this point the family gave up residence at Ashley House after 25 years. But it was the deaths of eldest daughter Alice in 1858 along with the youngest daughter Elizabeth (called Eliza in the 1832 document) which caused most concern. Popular Box rumour had it that they had been poisoned and the finger of guilt pointed at Rev Horlock, which you can read elsewhere on the website.[11]
South-west corner of the house from the garden below the terrace (courtesy Hugh Spencely)
Holworthy and Bruce Occupants, 1857 - 1881
The next residents of the house, the Holworthy family was very well-known in the village. They came from Corsham but Elizabeth's mother, Ann, separated from her husband and set up home as a gentlewoman and fundholder at Heleigh House, Middlehill, before 1841 until about 1861.[12] Mrs Holworthy left a bequest to Box Church in 1861, whose interest was divided on Christmas Day amongst twenty old men and women who were parishioners and members of the Church of England.[13]
Elizabeth married Joseph Nash, physician at Kingsdown Lunatic Asylum, and she and her husband were extremely wealthy.[14]
In the 1861 census Elizabeth, her children and sister Henrietta were living at Ashley (Manor) House whilst Joseph was obliged to be in residence at Kingsdown. By 1871 Elizabeth and Joseph also acquired a seventeenth century country mansion, Brockley Hall, Somerset, partly on the considerable income they received from the asylum. Meanwhile Ashley House, Shockerwick, was acquired by Elizabeth's sister, Henrietta who had married William Adair Bruce and lived there in the census years 1871 and 1881. The Bruce and Holworthy families had long been neighbours and in 1861 Mrs Adair Bruce was recorded as living on the outskirts of Ashley at a house which could have been Ashley House.[15]
The story of the railway connection with Ashley House originated in part from the Bruce family. In the initial Great Western Railway share prospectus, the company's local lawyers in Bath were two people who were connected with the village, solicitors Messrs Mant and Bruce.[16] William Adair Bruce was a barrister and director of several railway companies, including, for many years, the Bristol and Exeter Railway which then merged with the Great Western Railway in 1876 where he was on the board until his death on 6 December 1892. Whilst on the board of GWR he was an ex-officio director of the Cornwall Railway Co from 1881 to 1890 but by then the Bruce family had gone from Ashley. In 1875 he owned 15 acres in Box with a gross rental of £170, which probably refers to the extent of the Ashley House land.
The next residents of the house, the Holworthy family was very well-known in the village. They came from Corsham but Elizabeth's mother, Ann, separated from her husband and set up home as a gentlewoman and fundholder at Heleigh House, Middlehill, before 1841 until about 1861.[12] Mrs Holworthy left a bequest to Box Church in 1861, whose interest was divided on Christmas Day amongst twenty old men and women who were parishioners and members of the Church of England.[13]
Elizabeth married Joseph Nash, physician at Kingsdown Lunatic Asylum, and she and her husband were extremely wealthy.[14]
In the 1861 census Elizabeth, her children and sister Henrietta were living at Ashley (Manor) House whilst Joseph was obliged to be in residence at Kingsdown. By 1871 Elizabeth and Joseph also acquired a seventeenth century country mansion, Brockley Hall, Somerset, partly on the considerable income they received from the asylum. Meanwhile Ashley House, Shockerwick, was acquired by Elizabeth's sister, Henrietta who had married William Adair Bruce and lived there in the census years 1871 and 1881. The Bruce and Holworthy families had long been neighbours and in 1861 Mrs Adair Bruce was recorded as living on the outskirts of Ashley at a house which could have been Ashley House.[15]
The story of the railway connection with Ashley House originated in part from the Bruce family. In the initial Great Western Railway share prospectus, the company's local lawyers in Bath were two people who were connected with the village, solicitors Messrs Mant and Bruce.[16] William Adair Bruce was a barrister and director of several railway companies, including, for many years, the Bristol and Exeter Railway which then merged with the Great Western Railway in 1876 where he was on the board until his death on 6 December 1892. Whilst on the board of GWR he was an ex-officio director of the Cornwall Railway Co from 1881 to 1890 but by then the Bruce family had gone from Ashley. In 1875 he owned 15 acres in Box with a gross rental of £170, which probably refers to the extent of the Ashley House land.
Building Improvements: 1904, 1909 and 1917-18
We might imagine that every occupant altered the house to suit their domestic needs but some changes are more obvious than others, particularly when we can trace them through applications for Building Bye Law consent made to Chippenham Rural District Council.[17] During the short period for which records exist there is evidence that the house was altered in 1904, 1909 and 1917-18.
Considerable work was undertaken by Frederick EA Hunter, Major retired, Royal Artillery, who extended the house. His architect FW Gardiner of Bath made an application for Building Bye Law approval for the building of an extension on the south east comer of the house and to convert the basement into a butler's room, scullery and strong room, and on the ground floor, a billiard room, and above an extra bedroom and dressing room. You can see plans of the alterations in the appendix below.
We might imagine that every occupant altered the house to suit their domestic needs but some changes are more obvious than others, particularly when we can trace them through applications for Building Bye Law consent made to Chippenham Rural District Council.[17] During the short period for which records exist there is evidence that the house was altered in 1904, 1909 and 1917-18.
Considerable work was undertaken by Frederick EA Hunter, Major retired, Royal Artillery, who extended the house. His architect FW Gardiner of Bath made an application for Building Bye Law approval for the building of an extension on the south east comer of the house and to convert the basement into a butler's room, scullery and strong room, and on the ground floor, a billiard room, and above an extra bedroom and dressing room. You can see plans of the alterations in the appendix below.
The present front of the house was previously the rear (courtesy Carol Payne)
It is possible that this was also the date that the present house was entirely reversed with the original entrance now being at the rear of the property. This back section of the house is very interesting. The old entrance vestibule has now been enclosed separating it from the main staircase. Water was drawn up from a pond by a screw mechanism behind the lower lawn.
Major Frederick Ernest Arundell Hunter (1854 - 1906) came from Weston Park, Bath, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian campaign of 1882, which sought to ensure that the 1869 Suez Canal was not taken over by national insurgents. He was a magistrate for Wiltshire and sat on the Chippenham Petty Sessions bench for many years and was well connected, his sister having married George E Northey.[18] He died on 31 December 1906 at the home of his brother-in-law and his estate was valued at £19,891.[19]
Major Frederick Ernest Arundell Hunter (1854 - 1906) came from Weston Park, Bath, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian campaign of 1882, which sought to ensure that the 1869 Suez Canal was not taken over by national insurgents. He was a magistrate for Wiltshire and sat on the Chippenham Petty Sessions bench for many years and was well connected, his sister having married George E Northey.[18] He died on 31 December 1906 at the home of his brother-in-law and his estate was valued at £19,891.[19]
Liberal Member of Parliament, 1909 - 1917
One of the most fascinating, but short-lived, periods at the house was in the years before the Great War. Sidney Robinson, the Liberal MP, who succeeded Charles Morley of Shockerwick as Member of Parliament for Breconshire in 1906, decided to live at Ashley House. The Robinsons' traditional family home was at nearby Winsley House, Bradford-on-Avon, so the area was convenient to Westminster on the railway, for his parliamentary constituency and his family.
One of the most fascinating, but short-lived, periods at the house was in the years before the Great War. Sidney Robinson, the Liberal MP, who succeeded Charles Morley of Shockerwick as Member of Parliament for Breconshire in 1906, decided to live at Ashley House. The Robinsons' traditional family home was at nearby Winsley House, Bradford-on-Avon, so the area was convenient to Westminster on the railway, for his parliamentary constituency and his family.
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Lloyd George's budgets of 1906 to 1911 brought in a host of reforming measures: free school meals, Labour Exchanges, Old Age Pensions for people over 70 years and National Insurance in the event of unemployment or illness. In the face of bitter opposition from the House of Lords, the government forced the measures through by flooding support into the Lords. Chancellor David Lloyd George called the budget: This is a war Budget. It is for raising money to wage implacable warfare against poverty and squalidness. It is reputed that Prime Minister David Lloyd George often visited the Robinsons at Ashley House for private holidays and, indeed, his private secretary, Albert James Sylvester, lived in Rudloe Cottage after 1923.[20]
Mr Robinson instructed the architects Silcock and Reay of 47 Wilson Street, Bath to rearrange the rooms, closing off part of the cellar and adapting certain outbuildings for domestic use. The drawings below show the layout of the floors of the building and the huge amount of work involved. Sidney Robinson MP (courtesy Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette) |
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At ground floor level the conservatory was sub-divided to make a butlers' pantry and the bedroom over the entrance hall was converted into a bathroom, wc and housemaids' cupboard, The following year the bedroom over the billiard room, which had been built in 1908, was altered by the removal of the dressing room to make a larger bedroom and a south facing bay window was added.
Sidney Robinson continued as Member of Parliament until 1922 but he left Ashley House before 1917, moving to Lansdown Croft, Bath, where he continued his interest as a keen chess player, cricket enthusiast and in gardening, as President of the Bath Summer Show.[21] He was a very interesting man, not least because he was a magnificent benefactor of the Bath Royal Mineral Water Hospital donating an incredible £35,000 to the cause in 1936, recalling the need to provide help for Welsh miners from his former constituency.[22]
Sidney Robinson continued as Member of Parliament until 1922 but he left Ashley House before 1917, moving to Lansdown Croft, Bath, where he continued his interest as a keen chess player, cricket enthusiast and in gardening, as President of the Bath Summer Show.[21] He was a very interesting man, not least because he was a magnificent benefactor of the Bath Royal Mineral Water Hospital donating an incredible £35,000 to the cause in 1936, recalling the need to provide help for Welsh miners from his former constituency.[22]
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Above: At the present rear of the property: left the roof light in the entrance vestibule and right the view overlooking the lake which fed water to the house. Photos courtesy Carol Payne
Lieutenant Colonel Hugh le D Spencely, 1917 - 1927
Another military man, Hugh le D Spencely, owned the property at the close of World War 1 and for the next decade. He lived there with his wife Jessie Gladys (nee Thursfield) and his two sons, Hugh Greville Castle Spencely and James le Despenser Spencely.
Colonel Spencely instructed Mr Silcock, architect of Bath, to carry out alterations and the drawings below show the house as it was after these alterations had been completed. But his main interest was his horses and he built timber stables next to the two cottages opposite the Lodge.
Another military man, Hugh le D Spencely, owned the property at the close of World War 1 and for the next decade. He lived there with his wife Jessie Gladys (nee Thursfield) and his two sons, Hugh Greville Castle Spencely and James le Despenser Spencely.
Colonel Spencely instructed Mr Silcock, architect of Bath, to carry out alterations and the drawings below show the house as it was after these alterations had been completed. But his main interest was his horses and he built timber stables next to the two cottages opposite the Lodge.
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Colonel Spencely died on 13 February 1927. Ashley House, the garden and grounds, lodge, garage, two cottages and farm buildings were valued for probate at £7,000.
Mrs Spencely remained in the house after her first husband's death and in 1928 married his friend, Major Basil Owen Palmer MBE, late Border Regiment (left). The house continued to remain in the family's ownership when Mrs Spencely and her new husband moved to Kensington, London in 1934. The furniture in the house was divided between Mrs Palmer and her two sons, Greville and Jim, with the residue being sold. Ashley House and Lodge and a portion of the land was sold after 13 February 1936 for £3,156 to Mrs Wilkinson. |
A portion of the estate was retained, including pasture land and barns at Wormcliffe and two cottages. The tenants of the cottages were Mr Bayliss and Mr Hackett.[23] The cottage tenanted by Mr Bayliss was sold to him on 28 April 1952. Mr Hackett's cottage had been vacant since March 1951 and was sold on 24 April 1952. The two cottages and the adjacent stables were sold for a total of £4,250.
The Wormcliffe land was rented to Mr Butt. The sale of the land and stone barn at Wormcliffe was deferred in 1954 but part of the byre, the barn and forecourt were eventually sold for £750 after repairs had been carried out, the cost being shared between vendor and purchaser. That left the pasture land as the only part of the estate not sold at that time. Mrs Palmer died in 1971 and the connection with Box was ended.
The Wormcliffe land was rented to Mr Butt. The sale of the land and stone barn at Wormcliffe was deferred in 1954 but part of the byre, the barn and forecourt were eventually sold for £750 after repairs had been carried out, the cost being shared between vendor and purchaser. That left the pasture land as the only part of the estate not sold at that time. Mrs Palmer died in 1971 and the connection with Box was ended.
Recent Owners
In recent years the story of the house has become complicated by the sub-division of the property. In some respects it started in 1912 when William Young, butler, lived permanently at Ashley Lodge with his District Nurse wife. In more recent years Ashley Lodge was sold to Commander Richardson.
For many years Ashley House was a private house but in 1952 the main building was divided into two called East and West Ashley House. In the 1960s Ashley House was further sub-divided: part owned by Major Parry and part by Dr Muir. Ashley House is now subdivided into four units and the lodge has been renamed. In the main building, the western part is called West Ashley House and the eastern part, Lawnwood. The original kitchen and the bedrooms above with a small part of the stable block are called Under Lawnwood, with the remainder of the stable block being called Ashley Mews (at one time Ashley Groome).
In recent years the story of the house has become complicated by the sub-division of the property. In some respects it started in 1912 when William Young, butler, lived permanently at Ashley Lodge with his District Nurse wife. In more recent years Ashley Lodge was sold to Commander Richardson.
For many years Ashley House was a private house but in 1952 the main building was divided into two called East and West Ashley House. In the 1960s Ashley House was further sub-divided: part owned by Major Parry and part by Dr Muir. Ashley House is now subdivided into four units and the lodge has been renamed. In the main building, the western part is called West Ashley House and the eastern part, Lawnwood. The original kitchen and the bedrooms above with a small part of the stable block are called Under Lawnwood, with the remainder of the stable block being called Ashley Mews (at one time Ashley Groome).
Census Returns
1841 Henry Sudile (sic), 75 years old, his wife Maria, 60, sons Henry, 40, and Thomas, 35, and five servants
1851 Henry Sudell, said to be aged 87, widower, and his unmarried sons Henry aged 52, and Thomas, 48, and servants
1861 William A Bruce, aged 57, barrister not in practice, his wife Henrietta MR Bruce, 37, three children and five servants
1871 William A Bruce, aged 67, barrister employing two men and two boys, Huntsman, his wife Henrietta A Bruce, 47 (nee Holworthy), Margaret Bruce, 22, daughter, Archibald A Bruce, 20 years, son, Alice AD, also 20, Agnes, 9, and five servants
1881 Wm A Bruce, aged 77, barister, Henrietta M, 57, wife, Agnes, 19, and six servants. The entry is under Shaylors House.
1891 Wm Daunt, 60, retired Major General, Infantry, born East India, his wife Ann, 37, William, aged 6, Charles, 4, Georgina, 3, and five servants, The gardener lived in Ashley Lodge.
1901 Frederick EA Hunter, 47, Major retired, Royal Artillery, his wife Comelia Louise, 42, Violet, 10, and three servants. The butler lived in the Lodge. Major Hunter died 31 December 1906.
1911 Sidney Robinson MP, 48, his wife Catherine F, 55, daughter Violet H, 22, mother-in-law Mary Grant, 89, widow, and four servants.
1841 Henry Sudile (sic), 75 years old, his wife Maria, 60, sons Henry, 40, and Thomas, 35, and five servants
1851 Henry Sudell, said to be aged 87, widower, and his unmarried sons Henry aged 52, and Thomas, 48, and servants
1861 William A Bruce, aged 57, barrister not in practice, his wife Henrietta MR Bruce, 37, three children and five servants
1871 William A Bruce, aged 67, barrister employing two men and two boys, Huntsman, his wife Henrietta A Bruce, 47 (nee Holworthy), Margaret Bruce, 22, daughter, Archibald A Bruce, 20 years, son, Alice AD, also 20, Agnes, 9, and five servants
1881 Wm A Bruce, aged 77, barister, Henrietta M, 57, wife, Agnes, 19, and six servants. The entry is under Shaylors House.
1891 Wm Daunt, 60, retired Major General, Infantry, born East India, his wife Ann, 37, William, aged 6, Charles, 4, Georgina, 3, and five servants, The gardener lived in Ashley Lodge.
1901 Frederick EA Hunter, 47, Major retired, Royal Artillery, his wife Comelia Louise, 42, Violet, 10, and three servants. The butler lived in the Lodge. Major Hunter died 31 December 1906.
1911 Sidney Robinson MP, 48, his wife Catherine F, 55, daughter Violet H, 22, mother-in-law Mary Grant, 89, widow, and four servants.
Appendix
1904 Renovation Plans
1904 Renovation Plans
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1917-18 Renovation
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References
[1] Historic Buildings
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 4 April 1776
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 19 September 1793
[4] The Bath Chronicle, 22 October 1807
[5] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 11 October 1832
[6] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 23 November 1889
[7] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 16 November 1889
[8] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 8 April 1893 and 30 November 1889
[9] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 7 December 1889
[10] The current owner of Lawnwood thinks the house was first constructed in the late 1700s and later altered and extended.
[11] See Sudell article
[12] See Heleigh House article
[13] Kelly's Directory, 1915
[14] See Medical Men article
[15] The Bath Chronicle, 14 February 1861
[16] See Martha Shaw article
[17] Held at Wiltshire History Centre
[18] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 10 January 1907
[19] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 3 January 1907 and 14 March 1907
[20] See Parliament in Box article
[21] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 October 1929 and 21 March 1936
[22] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 21 March 1936
[23] See story about Eric Bayliss
[1] Historic Buildings
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 4 April 1776
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 19 September 1793
[4] The Bath Chronicle, 22 October 1807
[5] Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette, 11 October 1832
[6] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 23 November 1889
[7] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 16 November 1889
[8] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 8 April 1893 and 30 November 1889
[9] Blackburn Standard and Weekly Express, 7 December 1889
[10] The current owner of Lawnwood thinks the house was first constructed in the late 1700s and later altered and extended.
[11] See Sudell article
[12] See Heleigh House article
[13] Kelly's Directory, 1915
[14] See Medical Men article
[15] The Bath Chronicle, 14 February 1861
[16] See Martha Shaw article
[17] Held at Wiltshire History Centre
[18] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 10 January 1907
[19] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 3 January 1907 and 14 March 1907
[20] See Parliament in Box article
[21] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 12 October 1929 and 21 March 1936
[22] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 21 March 1936
[23] See story about Eric Bayliss