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Charles William Bond Oatley,
1877-1950 Art Nouveau Man Ken Oatley January 2015 Have you ever noticed the unusual house half-way up Quarry Hill? It is different to other properties in Box being only partly built of Box stone, with a very large glass facade. It was designed and built by my relative, Charles Oatley, as a furniture emporium and offices, augmenting his smaller tin shed store in the High Street. Left: Quarry Hill property (photo Box Parish Council) |
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Growing
Up
Charles William Bond Oatley was my great-grandmother's half brother. His father was James Oatley, who amongst other things was a Quarry Master and finished his life as a baker in Box! My great-grandmother, along with 11 other children, was born to James' first wife, Sarah Poulsom, whom he married in Atworth in 1837. Sarah died in 1875. James married again on the 22 July 1875 in the Parish Church of Malmesbury to Miss Rebecca Beer. They had three children, the first of whom was Charles William Bond Oatley, born in 1877. James and Rebecca had two further children: Florence, born in 1878, and Elizabeth Ellen, born in 1880, who died at six years of age. Charles' early life is difficult to establish but all the family lived and spent their lives in Box. The family appear to have had a comfortable standard of life, in 1881 they could even afford a servant. The death of James clearly affected their finances and a decade later Rebecca is listed as a widow working as a grocer and taking in a lodger. Charles, aged 14, was apprenticed to upholstery. |
The Tin Shed on the High Street which stood next to Box School (courtesy Box Parish Council). Possibly it is Charles himself standing outside.
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In 1905 Charles married Miss Hilda W Maslen and in 1908 they had a daughter, Margaret Ellen, who was born in 1907. In 1911, the family were living at Mount Pleasant, Quarry Hill. Many people in Box still remember Charles. Geoff Bence recalls the family from the 1940s and the house he built at Little Orchard, Bull Lane in Box. Again, it was different, with a ultra modern flat roof. Hilda lived at Little Orchard, Box until she died in 1953.
Margaret Ellen, remained a spinster all of her life. She became a domestic science teacher and taught at both the Corsham Regis School and the Corsham Comprehensive School and is well remembered by many former pupils. She continued to live her later life in Box at Little Orchard, dying in Chippenham in 1995.
Margaret Ellen, remained a spinster all of her life. She became a domestic science teacher and taught at both the Corsham Regis School and the Corsham Comprehensive School and is well remembered by many former pupils. She continued to live her later life in Box at Little Orchard, dying in Chippenham in 1995.
Business Interests
Charles appears to have inherited family wealth on his father's death, including houses in Quarry Hill, Box and a house in Malmesbury. He made good use of his inheritance and set himself up in business from an early age. One can only imagine that from small beginnings in a shed off Box High Street, he established himself in the trade in which he had been apprenticed and he developed an entrepreneurial spirit which would eventually lead to greater things.
Charles appears to have inherited family wealth on his father's death, including houses in Quarry Hill, Box and a house in Malmesbury. He made good use of his inheritance and set himself up in business from an early age. One can only imagine that from small beginnings in a shed off Box High Street, he established himself in the trade in which he had been apprenticed and he developed an entrepreneurial spirit which would eventually lead to greater things.
illustration courtesy Mike Lyons
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From his good fortune, he planned to use the opportunity wisely. He later developed his business interests to include auctioneering and warehousing, no doubt employing a significant number of local people at his various business locations, evidence of which can be seen in the photograph of his Quarry Hill store.
In most of his business enterprises he was an innovator. In 1895, when Charles was only 18 years, he started an upholstery business on Quarry Hill and within three years built a workshop there. This was followed by the showroom on Box High Street and in 1905 site of the old Corsham Post Office, at the junction of the High Street, Corsham, and Post Office Lane, now occupied by the Jaipur Restaurant. This had previously been moved into a new location in Corsham's High Street, next to a building now occupied by Lloyds Bank. His business interests extended into various activities, mainly based around property. He worked as an estate agent and an insurance agent. He was licensed for providing assessments for probate and property valuations. In most of his businesses he was a great innovator. As his business interests extended, various other activities were introduced, mainly based around property. Additionally he introduced estate and insurance agencies to his increasing business interests. He was licensed to provide assessments for probate and property valuations; hence his FALPA recognition (Fellow of Incorporate Society of Auctioneers). In the 1901 census Charles described himself as a house furnisher and upholsterer. |
Charles clearly raised his profile in the community during his life and was dignified by being appointed a Justice of the Peace for Wiltshire, an honourable status only bestowed on persons of trustworthy, good character. Much of his enterprising spirit which eminated from those early days remain. Many have seen seen change to suit other business interests or fashion. His exceptional foresight in those former times are still in evidence today.
The Corsham retail store (photo courtesy the present owners of Jaipur Restaurant, Corsham).
Premises for a Modern Era
For its time the building in Post Office Lane reflected a new approach to retail display and construction. The doors to the building came from the original Harrods' shop in London, being of high grade walnut with chrome handles, quite remarkable for Corsham High Street. The buildings he owned stretched almost the length of Post Office Lane and the auction rooms were at the end of the site, where access to the further showrooms and stores were located.
This modern theme was also reflected with his other business properties in Box; the one in Quarry Hill has a similar unique glazed frontage to this day, most recently used as an art studio.
In 1905 Charles married Miss Hilda W Maslen and in 1908 they had a daughter, Margaret Ellen. In 1911, the family were living at Mount Pleasant, Quarry Hill, Box. Charles' daughter, Margaret Ellen, was a domestic science teacher at both Corsham Regis and Corsham Comprehensive Schools and continued to live her life in Box, until her demise.
Margaret Ellen remained unmarried. She moved to Cherry Trees, Bull Lane, Box for her last years of retirement, prior to her demise in 1995. Norman and June Jefferies bought Little Orchard thereafter and they did the work to make it more similar to other Box properties. Norman was the former owner of the Corsham Film Theatre and he lived there until he passed away in 2009. June stayed there until her death in 2011 and the house is now let.
For its time the building in Post Office Lane reflected a new approach to retail display and construction. The doors to the building came from the original Harrods' shop in London, being of high grade walnut with chrome handles, quite remarkable for Corsham High Street. The buildings he owned stretched almost the length of Post Office Lane and the auction rooms were at the end of the site, where access to the further showrooms and stores were located.
This modern theme was also reflected with his other business properties in Box; the one in Quarry Hill has a similar unique glazed frontage to this day, most recently used as an art studio.
In 1905 Charles married Miss Hilda W Maslen and in 1908 they had a daughter, Margaret Ellen. In 1911, the family were living at Mount Pleasant, Quarry Hill, Box. Charles' daughter, Margaret Ellen, was a domestic science teacher at both Corsham Regis and Corsham Comprehensive Schools and continued to live her life in Box, until her demise.
Margaret Ellen remained unmarried. She moved to Cherry Trees, Bull Lane, Box for her last years of retirement, prior to her demise in 1995. Norman and June Jefferies bought Little Orchard thereafter and they did the work to make it more similar to other Box properties. Norman was the former owner of the Corsham Film Theatre and he lived there until he passed away in 2009. June stayed there until her death in 2011 and the house is now let.
Little Orchard, Bulls Lane (courtesy CMP)
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Cherry Trees, Bull Lane (courtesy CMP)
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There are two marvellous photos of Charles on this website, one from 1918 and the other from 1935, which you can access by typing the name Oatley into the People Index search button. Little else is known of the detail of Charles' businesses, except that an elderly lady who once lived in Box, stored the contents of her home there when she was no longer able to keep house. She died in 1940, and her executors were instructed to go to Oatleys to remove the contents, and pass it on to a designated member of her family. Charles William Bond Oatley died in 1950 and is buried in Box Cemetery in Plot NB17.
Family Tree
James (1816 - 1882) married a. Sarah Poulson (1817 - 1875) and b. Rebecca Beer (1840 - 1909).
a. Children of James and Sarah:
Ann (b 1838); Samuel (b 1839); Daniel (1841 - 1903); Maria (b 1844); Thomas (1845 - 1884); Benjamin (1847 - 1912); Sarah (b 1848); Priscilla (1851 - 1852); Eli John (1853 - 1888); Leah Priscilla (1856 - 1947); Moses James (1858 - 1893); Maud Mary (b 1863).
b. Children of James and Rebecca:
Charles William Bond (1877 - 1950); Florence (b 1878); Eliza Ellen (1880 - 1886)
Charles William Bond Oatley married Hilda Maslen (1885 - 1953) in 1905
They had two daughters Margaret Ellen (1907 - 1995) and Ethel L (b 3 July 1911)
Reference
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1950
James (1816 - 1882) married a. Sarah Poulson (1817 - 1875) and b. Rebecca Beer (1840 - 1909).
a. Children of James and Sarah:
Ann (b 1838); Samuel (b 1839); Daniel (1841 - 1903); Maria (b 1844); Thomas (1845 - 1884); Benjamin (1847 - 1912); Sarah (b 1848); Priscilla (1851 - 1852); Eli John (1853 - 1888); Leah Priscilla (1856 - 1947); Moses James (1858 - 1893); Maud Mary (b 1863).
b. Children of James and Rebecca:
Charles William Bond (1877 - 1950); Florence (b 1878); Eliza Ellen (1880 - 1886)
Charles William Bond Oatley married Hilda Maslen (1885 - 1953) in 1905
They had two daughters Margaret Ellen (1907 - 1995) and Ethel L (b 3 July 1911)
Reference
[1] The Wiltshire Times, 9 December 1950