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Chaffey Family at Charlotte Cottage Alan Payne Photos and family details courtesy Bob Hancock March 2017 It's hard to inherit a situation when previous glories have gone and funds are short. The story of Reginald William (Bill) Chaffey was just like that but his role in Box's history was not insignificant. He was a member of Box Parish Council from 1940, vice-chairman in 1949, and its longest serving chairman from 1950 to 1969. At first glance, Bill's ancestry seems to be the norm for Box. His grandfather James was a quarryman who moved into the area from Somerset in the 1850s. His father was a foreman mason who employed a few labourers. His sisters were dressmakers. But this is far from the whole story as this story of the Chaffey family in Box will show. Right: At the foot of the front garden of Charlotte Cottage possibly showing the women of the Chaffey family, Gladys, Louie and Elsie |
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James Chaffey
It is believed that the origins of Charlotte Cottage on the Devizes Road go back to 1836 and in the 1840 Tithe Apportionment record the plot was listed as House, Office and Garden. But the present house was built half a century later. On 25 March 1880 the land was leased by George Wilbraham Northey to James Chaffey for a period of 99 years at a rent of £2.15s with the wording And also the messuage or dwellinghouse and other buildings recently erected thereon by the said J Chaffey. It is probable that the house was named after James' eldest daughter, Charlotte. The Chaffey family lived there for three generations for over 100 years.
It is believed that the origins of Charlotte Cottage on the Devizes Road go back to 1836 and in the 1840 Tithe Apportionment record the plot was listed as House, Office and Garden. But the present house was built half a century later. On 25 March 1880 the land was leased by George Wilbraham Northey to James Chaffey for a period of 99 years at a rent of £2.15s with the wording And also the messuage or dwellinghouse and other buildings recently erected thereon by the said J Chaffey. It is probable that the house was named after James' eldest daughter, Charlotte. The Chaffey family lived there for three generations for over 100 years.
The only known photo of Chaffey family before 1935 appears to show left to right: Back row: Victor, Gladys, Bill and Front row: Arthur, Louie and Elsie
The Chaffey family developed the house into a splendid property, decorating the garden with numerous stone vases, urns and other intricate stone work. Decorative stonework in local gardens appears to be one of the features that Box's skilled masons introduced to improve their family homes and the vases and urns at Charlotte Cottage are reminiscent of those in the Lamberts' properties at Westdene, the Ley, and Moonrakers, Bargates.
The garden stonework in Charlotte Cottage made the garden rather grand and, with Roman replicas, it seemed older to the owners. Incidentally, the building seen below is Browning's Garage which existed on the corner of Chapel Lane and the Devizes Road.
The garden stonework in Charlotte Cottage made the garden rather grand and, with Roman replicas, it seemed older to the owners. Incidentally, the building seen below is Browning's Garage which existed on the corner of Chapel Lane and the Devizes Road.
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Arthur Chaffey, 1861 - 1943
Bill's father, Arthur, was one of Box's great characters. He was a well-known local mason employer, both on his own account and as a partner in Chaffey & Norkett and he worked for over sixty years until well into his seventies. He was one of the stalwarts of Box's Fire Brigade for whom he worked on a part-time basis for over forty years until 1933, including as captain from 1918 to 1931. And he was an active member of the Box Valley Lodge of Buffaloes.[1]
Arthur had a long record of public service. He was appointed to the newly formed Box Parish Council in 1894 and was its longest serving member. The new civil council was an attempt to democratise the power of the people in public affairs, which had previously been dominated by the church and the lord of the manor. So there was little surprise when a dispute arose over the grazing rights of locals on Kingsdown Common contrary to the wishes of Mr Northey and Kingsdown Golf Club. The council decisively lost the argument in 1912.[2]
The council took a leading role in the years after the First World War and Arthur expressed the grateful thanks of parishioners for the work of the War Memorial Committee in establishing the Box memorial a few years earlier.
But some of the matters dealt with by the council were even more incendiary than Arthur's duties with the Fire Brigade. In 1927 residents of Henley and Longsplatt complained that shots fired by the Somerset Territorials on the Ashley Firing Range were straying onto their houses.[3] The blame was put on the turf on the top of the marker's range and that when in proper repair it was the safest range in England. The council claimed it was not really their responsibility. Bearing in mind that some of the explosive bullets fell within a few yards of men working in the harvest field at Henley, that seemed to be a cop-out to residents.[4] They had justification because the council had written a strong letter of protest to the relevant authorities about the noise on the Range on Sundays, especially during the hours of Divine Service.[5]
Arthur was probably on safer ground when the council agreed to buy six fire extinguishers, one for each of Wadswick, Kingsdown, Box Hill, Middlehill and two in the central village.[6] Arthur was made responsible for the nomination of people to look after the extinguishers. Box would be safe as long as fires occurred exactly in those areas.
Bill's father, Arthur, was one of Box's great characters. He was a well-known local mason employer, both on his own account and as a partner in Chaffey & Norkett and he worked for over sixty years until well into his seventies. He was one of the stalwarts of Box's Fire Brigade for whom he worked on a part-time basis for over forty years until 1933, including as captain from 1918 to 1931. And he was an active member of the Box Valley Lodge of Buffaloes.[1]
Arthur had a long record of public service. He was appointed to the newly formed Box Parish Council in 1894 and was its longest serving member. The new civil council was an attempt to democratise the power of the people in public affairs, which had previously been dominated by the church and the lord of the manor. So there was little surprise when a dispute arose over the grazing rights of locals on Kingsdown Common contrary to the wishes of Mr Northey and Kingsdown Golf Club. The council decisively lost the argument in 1912.[2]
The council took a leading role in the years after the First World War and Arthur expressed the grateful thanks of parishioners for the work of the War Memorial Committee in establishing the Box memorial a few years earlier.
But some of the matters dealt with by the council were even more incendiary than Arthur's duties with the Fire Brigade. In 1927 residents of Henley and Longsplatt complained that shots fired by the Somerset Territorials on the Ashley Firing Range were straying onto their houses.[3] The blame was put on the turf on the top of the marker's range and that when in proper repair it was the safest range in England. The council claimed it was not really their responsibility. Bearing in mind that some of the explosive bullets fell within a few yards of men working in the harvest field at Henley, that seemed to be a cop-out to residents.[4] They had justification because the council had written a strong letter of protest to the relevant authorities about the noise on the Range on Sundays, especially during the hours of Divine Service.[5]
Arthur was probably on safer ground when the council agreed to buy six fire extinguishers, one for each of Wadswick, Kingsdown, Box Hill, Middlehill and two in the central village.[6] Arthur was made responsible for the nomination of people to look after the extinguishers. Box would be safe as long as fires occurred exactly in those areas.
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Family Tragedy A dreadful event in 1935 altered the life of the Chaffey family. In that year Bill's mother Louie died aged 70 years. She was described as of a retiring disposition, a member of the United Methodist Church in Box, a woman who devoted her life to supporting her husband and their family.[7] Bill's sister, Elsie, aged 42 and unmarried, had nursed her mother through illness and had keenly felt the loss of her mother to whom she was greatly attached. Elsie went shopping at the Bath Co-operative Society, Westgate Buildings, Bath, for mourning clothes for the funeral. She complained of a headache, slid off a chair in the shop, collapsed onto the floor and died. Elsie was 41 years-old. She had been an active worker for the church, associated with Box Cricket Club and a staunch Liberal, for whom she was secretary of the local association. Two years earlier she had appeared in a missionary pageant produced by Sister Lillian at Box Methodist Church.[8] Mother and daughter were buried together. Right: Bill, Gladys and Elsie before 1935 |
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Bill Chaffey, 1902 - 1981
And so we eventually get to the story of Reginald William (Bill) Chaffey. Bill's working life was as an engineering clerk (I believe at Westinghouse but he also had dealings with Lambert Stoneyards and Brownings' Garage). As a single man he played cricket and tennis in the village whilst still living with his family at Charlotte Cottage in the Devizes Road.
After his father's death in 1943, Bill (aged 41) married Dorothea Dobson (known as Renee) who was a nurse in Box Surgery. The Dobsons were a local family who lived in Glovers Lane, opposite the Chequers. Renee's father was William Dobson, aged 64 in 1939, who was Employed by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms on Government Work at Monkton Farleigh (Heavy Worker). Her mother was Eleanor.
And so we eventually get to the story of Reginald William (Bill) Chaffey. Bill's working life was as an engineering clerk (I believe at Westinghouse but he also had dealings with Lambert Stoneyards and Brownings' Garage). As a single man he played cricket and tennis in the village whilst still living with his family at Charlotte Cottage in the Devizes Road.
After his father's death in 1943, Bill (aged 41) married Dorothea Dobson (known as Renee) who was a nurse in Box Surgery. The Dobsons were a local family who lived in Glovers Lane, opposite the Chequers. Renee's father was William Dobson, aged 64 in 1939, who was Employed by the Bath and Portland Stone Firms on Government Work at Monkton Farleigh (Heavy Worker). Her mother was Eleanor.
Bill and Renee's wedding in 1943. Bill's best man left is unknown and it is presumably Renee's father, William Dobson, who is on the right.
Bill was a quiet administrator, manager of Box Schools, governor of Corsham Secondary Modern School and a member of Calne and Chippenham Rural District Council. He and Renee had no children of their own and Bill's life was of duty and service to his community.
Vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith recorded his death as He was to me a kind of life-line, connecting old Box with the present (1981).[9]
He spoke of the seriousness which Bill brought to his duties, his attention to detail and his desire to leave the village a little more attractive than he had found it. During his time on Box Parish Council Bill had extended the Recreation Field by levelling the lower mead with lorry loads of rubble, the building of the new tennis courts and the Selwyn Hall. Graham Straughen, parish chairman in 1981, said that Bill had devoted his whole life to the well-being of his beloved village and parish.
Vicar Tom Selwyn-Smith recorded his death as He was to me a kind of life-line, connecting old Box with the present (1981).[9]
He spoke of the seriousness which Bill brought to his duties, his attention to detail and his desire to leave the village a little more attractive than he had found it. During his time on Box Parish Council Bill had extended the Recreation Field by levelling the lower mead with lorry loads of rubble, the building of the new tennis courts and the Selwyn Hall. Graham Straughen, parish chairman in 1981, said that Bill had devoted his whole life to the well-being of his beloved village and parish.
Family Tree
Grandparents
James Chaffey (b 1833 ) married Mary Ann (b 1834). Both came from Montacute, Somerset. They moved to Box some time before 1862 where James was a mason. In 1871 they lived at Vezey Cottages, next door to the Chequers, and by 1881 were at Charlotte Cottage, Devizes Road.
Children: William (b 1861); Arthur (b 1861); Henry, known as Harry, (b 1864); Charlotte E (b 1866); Herbert Prosser (b 1872) ran Beechen Cliff United Methodist Church for many years and married Miss Louisa Roskilly.
Parents
Arthur V Chaffey (23 November 1861 - 1943) married Louie Jane Little in 1888. Children:
Percival (1890 - 1891);
Elsie (1893 - 1935);
Arthur V (b 5 November 1895) who married Evie B (b 7 December 1904)
Victor (b 1896);
Gladys I (21 September 1900 - 1943);
Reginald William (Bill) (10 November 1902 - 1981);
Reginald William (Bill) Chaffey (10 November 1902 - 1981) married Dorothea IM Dobson (known as Renee) in 1943.
Renee's parents were William Dobson (b 12 September 1875) and Eleanor A Dobson (b 5 July 1881).
Grandparents
James Chaffey (b 1833 ) married Mary Ann (b 1834). Both came from Montacute, Somerset. They moved to Box some time before 1862 where James was a mason. In 1871 they lived at Vezey Cottages, next door to the Chequers, and by 1881 were at Charlotte Cottage, Devizes Road.
Children: William (b 1861); Arthur (b 1861); Henry, known as Harry, (b 1864); Charlotte E (b 1866); Herbert Prosser (b 1872) ran Beechen Cliff United Methodist Church for many years and married Miss Louisa Roskilly.
Parents
Arthur V Chaffey (23 November 1861 - 1943) married Louie Jane Little in 1888. Children:
Percival (1890 - 1891);
Elsie (1893 - 1935);
Arthur V (b 5 November 1895) who married Evie B (b 7 December 1904)
Victor (b 1896);
Gladys I (21 September 1900 - 1943);
Reginald William (Bill) (10 November 1902 - 1981);
Reginald William (Bill) Chaffey (10 November 1902 - 1981) married Dorothea IM Dobson (known as Renee) in 1943.
Renee's parents were William Dobson (b 12 September 1875) and Eleanor A Dobson (b 5 July 1881).
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 10 August 1911 and Bath Chronicle and Herald, 11 February 1933
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 31 August 1912
[3] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 1 October 1927
[4] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 September 1927
[5] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 July 1926
[6] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1926
[7] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 30 March 1935
[8] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 25 March 1933
[9] Parish Magazine, July 1981
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 10 August 1911 and Bath Chronicle and Herald, 11 February 1933
[2] The Bath Chronicle, 31 August 1912
[3] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 1 October 1927
[4] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 September 1927
[5] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 17 July 1926
[6] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 23 January 1926
[7] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 30 March 1935
[8] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 25 March 1933
[9] Parish Magazine, July 1981