Gingell Family at Bath View All photos Vincent Frederick Charles Hart March 2022
Alfred Gingell chauffeuring a magnificent French car number Y449 owned by his employer William Littlejohn Philip in 1906
Vincent Hart wrote to us: I can find no reference to Bath View, Box Hill, anywhere on your website. What has happened to the house? My late wife's grandparents Alfred and Emily Gingell lived there between the World Wars and had five daughters including Laura Frances Gingell, my mother-in-law. Vincent is in his nineties and his wife Thelma died several years ago. He had several photos of Thelma’s family but only a sketchy knowledge of them.
Bath View
The house is on the corner of Beech Road, the old turnpike road which predated the current A4 route. The original turnpike road was built in 1761 and the earliest reference to domestic residences there appears to be in the 1840s. In the Tithe Apportionment map the Bath View area is listed as held by Jefford Head (possibly a spelling alternative of Gifford Head) with two separate properties, a cottage and garden occupied by William Collett and a house and garden and stable and garden (occupied by the Head family). The 1841 census confirms these details with Gifford Head and his family occupying one property.
The house is believed to have played an important role in the history of quarrying in the area.[1] In the late 1850s and 60s, the garage of the property may have housed a steam engine pulling empty trucks up from the centre of the village to the Pictor’s Clift Quarry Works. After loading building stone into the trucks, a tramway took the carriages down Box Hill by gravity along the line of Beech Road until they turned north, under the A4 road, and into a stoneyard called The Wharf. From here stone was carried by rail to any location in Britain and as far as Cape Town, South Africa. Because of its importance in stone transportation, it is probable that the Pictor family owned or developed the property at that time.
The house is on the corner of Beech Road, the old turnpike road which predated the current A4 route. The original turnpike road was built in 1761 and the earliest reference to domestic residences there appears to be in the 1840s. In the Tithe Apportionment map the Bath View area is listed as held by Jefford Head (possibly a spelling alternative of Gifford Head) with two separate properties, a cottage and garden occupied by William Collett and a house and garden and stable and garden (occupied by the Head family). The 1841 census confirms these details with Gifford Head and his family occupying one property.
The house is believed to have played an important role in the history of quarrying in the area.[1] In the late 1850s and 60s, the garage of the property may have housed a steam engine pulling empty trucks up from the centre of the village to the Pictor’s Clift Quarry Works. After loading building stone into the trucks, a tramway took the carriages down Box Hill by gravity along the line of Beech Road until they turned north, under the A4 road, and into a stoneyard called The Wharf. From here stone was carried by rail to any location in Britain and as far as Cape Town, South Africa. Because of its importance in stone transportation, it is probable that the Pictor family owned or developed the property at that time.
Early photo of house from the garden (courtesy Gill Dix)
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Early Residents
The property was tenanted by the Head and then the Chandler families in the 19th century. The Head family were there from at least 1851 until 1881 when the men in the household worked as stone masons.[2] They were followed by the Chandler family from 1881 until about 1916, who operated a bakery from the house, although in 1911 Henry Chandler described himself as cab proprietor and grocer, rather than baker. It is believed that Benjamin Drew learned his baking trade and took over the Bath View premises before moving down into Box village at Mead House. The Chandler family later moved into Box village and ran a taxi and car repair business from the Box Manor House. |
In 1911 either Hillside (the Bungalow in the garden) or part of Bath View was occupied by Albert Sheppard (b 1876) and his family, wife Flora (b 1880) and two children Dorothy and Percival. Albert was described as Banker Mason worker for Bath Freestone. As quarrying activity declined in the years around the First World War, both Bath View and the Bungalow became residences for people of different trades, including the Gingell family.
The line of Clift Quarry tramway down Box Hill (courtesy Box Parish Council)
Gingell Family
The Gingell family were from North Wiltshire but outside of Box. The family seems to have drifted around Wiltshire, in Bradford-on-Avon in 1861 and at Broughton Gifford in 1897. Daniel Gingell (1815-77), a labourer, sometimes thatcher, married twice: Elizabeth Shepherd in 1833 (with whom he had four children) and Emma Waite in 1868 (with whom he had two children). The youngest of these was my grandfather-in-law Alfred, born in 1871.
The Gingell family were from North Wiltshire but outside of Box. The family seems to have drifted around Wiltshire, in Bradford-on-Avon in 1861 and at Broughton Gifford in 1897. Daniel Gingell (1815-77), a labourer, sometimes thatcher, married twice: Elizabeth Shepherd in 1833 (with whom he had four children) and Emma Waite in 1868 (with whom he had two children). The youngest of these was my grandfather-in-law Alfred, born in 1871.
Alfred and Emily Gingell with their five daughters at the time of the First World War. Laura Frances, with long dark hair, is seated next to her mother and became Vincent's mother-in-law in 1954
When Alfred Gingell (24 April 1871 in Atworth-27 January 1951) was born his father was elderly, he had already retired from work and he died when Alfred was in his first year at primary school. Alfred’s prospects in life were poor and he joined the army in 1887 in the Wiltshire Regiment, described as a labourer on induction. Alfred trained locally for the first five years of service and was then sent to the Indian sub-continent from 1892-94, where most campaigns were in the north-west province of India. After this, he returned to Britain for a further 5 years until he was demobilised in February 1899. As a young man, he wasn’t really suited to army life, leaving as a private with no campaigns, no medals, no wounds and limited education, but he did return later to serve in the Boer War and the Great War. Two years before demobilisation in 1897, Alfred married Emily Kate Webb
(20 October 1875 in Broughton Gifford - 20 December 1951). Their families were next-door neighbours in Broughton Gifford where they were described as cottagers living on Broughton Common. Alfred then had to find employment and a place to live, whilst Emily lived with her parents and their two infant children in 1901. By 1902 they were living in Box and in 1911 they rented Sherbrook Lodge, where Alfred was the chauffeur for William Littlejohn Philip at Sherbrook House (sometimes called Rudloe Towers).
The headline photo shows him at the wheel of the Philip’s very posh car, a Clément Gladiator Double Phaeton, dated 1906. It was a chain-driven vehicle (the firm started as cycle manufacturers), and the technology is still used in some quality cars such as Mercedes and BMW. Interestingly, both this company and the engineering firm operated by WL Philip became famous when they converted their production line to supply armaments in the Great War – Clément Gladiator manufacturing small arms and machine guns and Philip’s company supplying lifting gear for shell production.
(20 October 1875 in Broughton Gifford - 20 December 1951). Their families were next-door neighbours in Broughton Gifford where they were described as cottagers living on Broughton Common. Alfred then had to find employment and a place to live, whilst Emily lived with her parents and their two infant children in 1901. By 1902 they were living in Box and in 1911 they rented Sherbrook Lodge, where Alfred was the chauffeur for William Littlejohn Philip at Sherbrook House (sometimes called Rudloe Towers).
The headline photo shows him at the wheel of the Philip’s very posh car, a Clément Gladiator Double Phaeton, dated 1906. It was a chain-driven vehicle (the firm started as cycle manufacturers), and the technology is still used in some quality cars such as Mercedes and BMW. Interestingly, both this company and the engineering firm operated by WL Philip became famous when they converted their production line to supply armaments in the Great War – Clément Gladiator manufacturing small arms and machine guns and Philip’s company supplying lifting gear for shell production.
Living at Bath View
When William Littlejohn Philip left Sherbrook in 1912, Alfred had to find a new home and career, resorting to gardening work. By 1921 they had moved to Bath View, Beech Road, Box Hill, where Alfred was working as a fitter’s labourer for engineers Spencer & Co. During the Second World War Alfred worked for Murray & Baldwin making aircraft parts at Box Market Place.[3]
They had five daughters, including my mother-in-law Laura Frances (1904 in Box-1988. Always called Frances), who was the fourth child. In 1931, Frances married Percy William Pearce (4 November 1905-1975), a grocer’s assistant in Chippenham. Percy had been brought up at Monks Lane, Corsham, where his father was a delver in stone quarry. Percy and Frances Pearce moved to 1 Palmer Street, Chippenham by 1932 and my wife Thelma was born in 1934.
When William Littlejohn Philip left Sherbrook in 1912, Alfred had to find a new home and career, resorting to gardening work. By 1921 they had moved to Bath View, Beech Road, Box Hill, where Alfred was working as a fitter’s labourer for engineers Spencer & Co. During the Second World War Alfred worked for Murray & Baldwin making aircraft parts at Box Market Place.[3]
They had five daughters, including my mother-in-law Laura Frances (1904 in Box-1988. Always called Frances), who was the fourth child. In 1931, Frances married Percy William Pearce (4 November 1905-1975), a grocer’s assistant in Chippenham. Percy had been brought up at Monks Lane, Corsham, where his father was a delver in stone quarry. Percy and Frances Pearce moved to 1 Palmer Street, Chippenham by 1932 and my wife Thelma was born in 1934.
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The marriage of Frances and Percy William Pearce in 1931
The daughters of Alfred and Emily gradually married and moved away from their parents’ family home but, as often happens, they congregated back there for occasions, including their golden wedding celebration in 1948.[4]
My mother-in-law and her sisters in the window of Bath View on the corner of the lane. Frances is second from the right, wearing black.
Alfred Gingell died at Bath View on 27 January 1951 and Emily Kate died later the same year on 20 December. Their funerals were both officiated by the Methodist minister Rev WT Coleman at Box Chapel and they both had the same hymns, Jesu, Lover of my Soul and The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended. My family’s direct connection with Box came to an end at that time.
The Gingell family of five daughters, their husbands and children. Bottom left Frances Pearce, behind her the four Gingell sisters, seated in black Emily and Alfred Gingell, on the right is the family of Fred Couzens (centre rear). Also shown are Daphne, Susan and Malcom Pearce, Olive Couzens and
centre back showing flower corsage, my wife Thelma.
centre back showing flower corsage, my wife Thelma.
Thelma and her uncle Fred Couzens in 1951
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Vincent and Thelma’s Marriage
My wife Thelma lived with her family in Chippenham. Thelma became close to her aunt Elsie who had married Fred Couzens (later a security officer in the underground quarries).[5] Her uncle Fred appears to have taught her to ballroom dance and they became great pals. I had been evacuated from Hastings to Chippenham in September 1940 and went to school at Chippenham Grammar. After the war, I joined the navy aged 16 and a half in February 1947. After courses at HMS Ganges Boys Training Establishment and later an electrical course at HMS Defiance (the Navy's Electrical School at Plymouth) I eventually received my draft orders in February 1949 to join HMS Amethyst in Hong Kong for a 2-years-plus commission in the Far East. Sadly, whilst I was awaiting passage on a troopship, Amethyst was attacked whilst on peaceful patrol on the River Yangtse by Chinese Communist troops in the famous Yangtze Incident of 1949. My eventual arrival in Hong Kong on 3 June meant I had no ship to join as Amethyst was still trapped up-river. Her eventual escape brought her back to safety 31 July. Meanwhile, I joined the newly-formed Hong Kong flotilla of patrol boats operating from HMS Tamar. In 1950 I exchanged drafts with another rating and joined the repair carrier HMS Unicorn, firstly on a show the flag cruise around Japan and then carrying out duties in the Korean War period. |
I returned to England, taking passage on Aircraft Carrier HMS Theseus, early June 1951. I re-joined HMS Defiance for a further electrical course and it was while on a weekend leave from there that I met Thelma Diana Pearce - in fact on my 21st birthday,
4 August 1951. Thelma was just 17 when I met her in the ballroom of Chippenham's Neeld Hall. I wasn’t a dancer so I asked if we could just sit this one out and talk. In fact, I didn’t ask her directly, as I went through her mother who was her chaperone, sitting next to me. Thelma had just been appointed the maid-of-honour to the Chippenham Carnival Queen in the celebrations which were so popular in the years after the war. We married in December 1954.
4 August 1951. Thelma was just 17 when I met her in the ballroom of Chippenham's Neeld Hall. I wasn’t a dancer so I asked if we could just sit this one out and talk. In fact, I didn’t ask her directly, as I went through her mother who was her chaperone, sitting next to me. Thelma had just been appointed the maid-of-honour to the Chippenham Carnival Queen in the celebrations which were so popular in the years after the war. We married in December 1954.
Vincent’s marriage to Thelma 18 December 1954 at Chippenham, including the Gingell family on the right
Thelma and I lived in Plymouth after 1955, whilst her parents and family stayed in Chippenham. Her father Percy Pearce died in 1975 and we frequently returned to Chippenham afterwards to visit her mother Frances at 1 Palmer Street, Chippenham. Many years ago, Thelma and I visited Bath View to remember her grandparents. Thelma died in 1996 and I am now 91 and a half, still living in Plymouth. Having served in the Royal Navy until 1970, Plymouth was always our home base.
Owners of Bath View Area
Box View house, the Bungalow and the Garage were tenanted from private landlords. It seems that these properties were owned by the Speke family in 1626 and then came into the ownership of the Pictor family. Edwin George Hiscock was recorded as the owner of the land around the Garage. For some years Edwin George Hiscock (1878-18 November 1967) was foreman of the Bath and Portland Stone Firms (formerly Pictor & Sons) and lived at the Clift House from at least 1939 until his death.[6] Edwin Hiscock married Ellen Dowdell on 14 February 1901 and was an active member of the Men’s Voluntary Aid Detachment after the First World War.[7] On 22 October 1943, Edwin sold part of the land to Frederick George Neate, who had bought much land around Box Hill. Edwin didn’t own all of the area outright and Winifred Alice Miles of Tisbuts House (1897-30 May 1960) and others sold interests in the land and Garage to Frederick Neate in the early 1950s.[8]
Ownership becomes clearer after the Second World War when the whole site was owned by Frederick Neate. Frederick never married and he sold this property to his sister-in-law Ellen Margaret Head in May 1951, who in turn left it to her daughter Evelyn Mary Green in 1963. For a few years the area was owned by Harold and Judith Mary Apiafi until it was acquired by Barrie and Gill Dix in 1980. By then, the house had been modernised but the Bungalow in the garden, bordering on Manby's Lane (now called Barnetts Hill), had to be demolished, notwithstanding that it had been occupied by Pansy Carter.
Box View house, the Bungalow and the Garage were tenanted from private landlords. It seems that these properties were owned by the Speke family in 1626 and then came into the ownership of the Pictor family. Edwin George Hiscock was recorded as the owner of the land around the Garage. For some years Edwin George Hiscock (1878-18 November 1967) was foreman of the Bath and Portland Stone Firms (formerly Pictor & Sons) and lived at the Clift House from at least 1939 until his death.[6] Edwin Hiscock married Ellen Dowdell on 14 February 1901 and was an active member of the Men’s Voluntary Aid Detachment after the First World War.[7] On 22 October 1943, Edwin sold part of the land to Frederick George Neate, who had bought much land around Box Hill. Edwin didn’t own all of the area outright and Winifred Alice Miles of Tisbuts House (1897-30 May 1960) and others sold interests in the land and Garage to Frederick Neate in the early 1950s.[8]
Ownership becomes clearer after the Second World War when the whole site was owned by Frederick Neate. Frederick never married and he sold this property to his sister-in-law Ellen Margaret Head in May 1951, who in turn left it to her daughter Evelyn Mary Green in 1963. For a few years the area was owned by Harold and Judith Mary Apiafi until it was acquired by Barrie and Gill Dix in 1980. By then, the house had been modernised but the Bungalow in the garden, bordering on Manby's Lane (now called Barnetts Hill), had to be demolished, notwithstanding that it had been occupied by Pansy Carter.
Conclusion
Bath View has served many different purposes during its life from steam engine shed, bakery and private house. It has had different owners and numerous tenants. The present property would be largely unrecognisable to its creators and its attraction as a private family residence hides its fabulous history.
Bath View has served many different purposes during its life from steam engine shed, bakery and private house. It has had different owners and numerous tenants. The present property would be largely unrecognisable to its creators and its attraction as a private family residence hides its fabulous history.
Gingell Family Tree
Daniel Ginger (1815-77) married twice:
Elizabeth Shepherd in 1833. Children: Daniel (1845-); Sarah (1849-); William (1851-); Sarah (1864-).
Emma Waite in 1868. Children: Emily (1870-); Alfred (1871-1951).
Alfred (24 April 1871 in Atworth-27 January 1951) married Emily Kate (20 October 1875 in Broughton-1951) in 1897. They lived at Sherbrook Lodge in 1911. In 1939 they lived at Bath View, where Alfred was a gardener. Children:
Laura Frances (1904-1988) married Percy William Pearce. Children:
Daniel Ginger (1815-77) married twice:
Elizabeth Shepherd in 1833. Children: Daniel (1845-); Sarah (1849-); William (1851-); Sarah (1864-).
Emma Waite in 1868. Children: Emily (1870-); Alfred (1871-1951).
Alfred (24 April 1871 in Atworth-27 January 1951) married Emily Kate (20 October 1875 in Broughton-1951) in 1897. They lived at Sherbrook Lodge in 1911. In 1939 they lived at Bath View, where Alfred was a gardener. Children:
- Doris K (1900 in Broughton-) married Arthur W Merrett in 1932;
- Victoria May (born 1901 in Broughton-), who married Francis Henry Beaven in 1926;
- Edith Mary (1903 in Box-1992) who married William J Coadwell in 1932;
- Laura Frances (18 November 1904 in Box-1988), married Percy William Pearce (1905-75) in 1931, my parents-in-law;
- Elsie Mildred (1911 in Box-) who married Fred Couzens
Laura Frances (1904-1988) married Percy William Pearce. Children:
- Daphne Elizabeth (18 December 1932-) who married Mr Eddie Taylor;
- Thelma Diana (21 April 1934 in Chippenham-1996), my wife;
- Malcom Morley; and
- Susan.
References
[1] See Central Box Residents
[2] Additional research details courtesy Gill Dix
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 10 February 1951
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 6 August 1948
[5] Bath & Wilts Evening Chronicle, 15 December 1961
[6] South Gloucestershire Gazette, 11 October 1930
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 18 November 1933
[8] Details courtesy Gill Dix
[1] See Central Box Residents
[2] Additional research details courtesy Gill Dix
[3] The Wiltshire Times, 10 February 1951
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 6 August 1948
[5] Bath & Wilts Evening Chronicle, 15 December 1961
[6] South Gloucestershire Gazette, 11 October 1930
[7] The Wiltshire Times, 18 November 1933
[8] Details courtesy Gill Dix