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High Street Hidden History Heather Tyler February 2017 Lurking in your house and garden is a lot of the history of the village. Heather Tyler found the names of the Milsom family inscribed under the wallpaper of her Edwardian house at 1 Mead Villas, High Street, Box. The inscription says (top to bottom): V Milsom, papered this room, May 1st 1930 V Milsom, illegible, May 1934 V Milsom, March 194? J Milsom, May 30th 1958 Heather researched her deeds to discover more about the house and took a photo (right) of the inscription she found on the walls when redecorating. The details that emerged record the fascinating story of the development of the High Street and this area of the village. |
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Building Mead Villas
The deeds to our house show how this area developed. The land was originally part of Manor Farm owned by the Northey family until 4 October 1906 when Rev Edward Northey of Epsom sold the freehold of Farm Mead to William Bird, the landlord of the Bear between 1899 and 1909. He acquired the freehold of the land in return for the payment of an annual rent charge of £2 for the plot of 1 Mead Villas, payable by half-yearly instalments, and £1.11s.6d for 2 Mead Villas.[1] Mr Bird agreed not to erect any steam engine on the land, nor to conduct there any business of public-house keeper, beer-house keeperor retailer of beer, cider, wine or spirituous liquors. Mr Bird does not appear to have held onto the land because it was then sold to John Tiley, who had previously built 1 Roman Villas.
The transaction cleared the initial steps for the development of this part of the village, but the land itself was still tenanted for agriculture use by James and Elizabeth Vezey of the Chequers, Market Place. James was a remarkable person, Overseer of the Poor, a member of the Board of Guardians and Parish and District Councillor. He was also the founder of Box Cricket Club and may have spotted the area as relevant for matches. Although primarily a publican, James had interests in several local farms, including the tenancy of Farm Mead, which he presumably grazed to supply meat to his butchers shop at the Chequers. When he died in 1906 his widow, Elizabeth, sought to disentagle her involvement and she gave up part of Farm Mead for building on 2 February 1907. The original intention was to build numbers 1 to 5 Mead Villas there.
I assume that number 1 Mead Villas was sold by John Tiley to the Browning family because our deeds show that in March 1914 the property was owned by Jane Browning, widow of Mill House, Box, who sold the house to Peter Vezey of Muswell Hill, London, for £320. There were apparently two different Peter Vezeys and you can see details of the family at Vezeys In and Out of Box. When the house was sold in 1914 the occupier was Oliver William Drew, 33 year-old headmaster from Derbyshire.
On 10 April 1916 Peter Vezey sold a quarter share to each of Edward (Ted) and Alice Vezey for £82.10s, who were living there at that time. Peter Vezey and other family trustees retained some legal interest in the property until 21 April 1965 when the freehold was sold to Cyril Kiff of 4 Mill Lane for £2,300. It must have been in need of considerable modernisation as Cyril Kiff agreed to pay for work done on it, including supplying hot water to the kitchen and bathroom !
Other Mead Villa Owners
One document, possibly somewhere around 1926, lists owners of number 2 to 5 Mead Villas:
No 2: John Brooke
No 3: Miss F Andrews, later Maurice Shepperd
No 4: T Merrett Snr
No 5: T Merrett Snr, later John Brooke
John Brooke was a fascinating character, one of the most prestigious Box residents in the inter-war years. For 27 years he ran the Kingsdown Post Office and general stores until he retired and moved into the centre of Box at 2 Mead Villas. A staunch Baptist who refused to cease work and devoted his labours to Box Parish Council, became a Justice of the Peace, and took the position of chairman of the newly-formed Chippenham and Calne Rural District Council. His life was devoted to public service and I would love to hear more about the man.
The deeds to our house show how this area developed. The land was originally part of Manor Farm owned by the Northey family until 4 October 1906 when Rev Edward Northey of Epsom sold the freehold of Farm Mead to William Bird, the landlord of the Bear between 1899 and 1909. He acquired the freehold of the land in return for the payment of an annual rent charge of £2 for the plot of 1 Mead Villas, payable by half-yearly instalments, and £1.11s.6d for 2 Mead Villas.[1] Mr Bird agreed not to erect any steam engine on the land, nor to conduct there any business of public-house keeper, beer-house keeperor retailer of beer, cider, wine or spirituous liquors. Mr Bird does not appear to have held onto the land because it was then sold to John Tiley, who had previously built 1 Roman Villas.
The transaction cleared the initial steps for the development of this part of the village, but the land itself was still tenanted for agriculture use by James and Elizabeth Vezey of the Chequers, Market Place. James was a remarkable person, Overseer of the Poor, a member of the Board of Guardians and Parish and District Councillor. He was also the founder of Box Cricket Club and may have spotted the area as relevant for matches. Although primarily a publican, James had interests in several local farms, including the tenancy of Farm Mead, which he presumably grazed to supply meat to his butchers shop at the Chequers. When he died in 1906 his widow, Elizabeth, sought to disentagle her involvement and she gave up part of Farm Mead for building on 2 February 1907. The original intention was to build numbers 1 to 5 Mead Villas there.
I assume that number 1 Mead Villas was sold by John Tiley to the Browning family because our deeds show that in March 1914 the property was owned by Jane Browning, widow of Mill House, Box, who sold the house to Peter Vezey of Muswell Hill, London, for £320. There were apparently two different Peter Vezeys and you can see details of the family at Vezeys In and Out of Box. When the house was sold in 1914 the occupier was Oliver William Drew, 33 year-old headmaster from Derbyshire.
On 10 April 1916 Peter Vezey sold a quarter share to each of Edward (Ted) and Alice Vezey for £82.10s, who were living there at that time. Peter Vezey and other family trustees retained some legal interest in the property until 21 April 1965 when the freehold was sold to Cyril Kiff of 4 Mill Lane for £2,300. It must have been in need of considerable modernisation as Cyril Kiff agreed to pay for work done on it, including supplying hot water to the kitchen and bathroom !
Other Mead Villa Owners
One document, possibly somewhere around 1926, lists owners of number 2 to 5 Mead Villas:
No 2: John Brooke
No 3: Miss F Andrews, later Maurice Shepperd
No 4: T Merrett Snr
No 5: T Merrett Snr, later John Brooke
John Brooke was a fascinating character, one of the most prestigious Box residents in the inter-war years. For 27 years he ran the Kingsdown Post Office and general stores until he retired and moved into the centre of Box at 2 Mead Villas. A staunch Baptist who refused to cease work and devoted his labours to Box Parish Council, became a Justice of the Peace, and took the position of chairman of the newly-formed Chippenham and Calne Rural District Council. His life was devoted to public service and I would love to hear more about the man.
So far, there is no mention of the Milsom family but we were intrigued about Heather's inscription discovery and the information from her deeds, so we researched the history of the Milsom family and what they were doing at 1 Mead Villas. This is the story of the Milsom family that emerged.
Milsom Family
The "V Milsom" recorded in the graffiti was Victor Milsom, whose full name was William Albert Milsom. He was a wheelwright and carpenter, born in Box in 1886. Victor was a grandson of the famous Box Hill resident, David Milsom who was publican of the Rising Sun, brewing beer from the land he farmed, and proprietor of MAPS bottling plant on Box Hill. Victor's father was John Milsom, who at times identified himself as Farmer's Son and Mineral Water Salesman, both relating to his father's businesses.
John and his wife Harriett lived at various places in Box including at Lyndale, Devizes Road and in 1891 at Mead House, High Street. This wasn't Mead Villas but a property on the opposite side of the road, now the chemist shop. At this stage the family comprised his wife and children, John H aged 6 years, William Albert Victor 5 years and Horace, aged 2. The family also employed a servant Jane Phelps of Ashley, a 13 year-old general domestic servant.
Victor Milsom in World War 1
Amazingly, Victor's service records just about survived the fire at the Somerset House archive and it gives a fascinating insight into the man. Victor joined up on 11 November 1915 but was not accepted for active fighting duty because he had flat feet, left big toenail missing, second toes hammer both feet and varicocle (presumably varicocele meaning enlargement of the testicular area). Despite obviously being unfit for fighting, he was judged fit for general service and mobilised in September 1916, joining the Army Supply Corps and going to Grove Park Learners Section, London, for training as a motor vehicle driver and fitter.
His training contract was very strict, with a view to being trained as a Motor Transport Driver at a pay rate of 1s.2d per day until qualified when his rate would be doubled. This was no easy job because the supply department was expected to take supplies to the very front line of the fighting. He was not posted to Flanders but to quell the rioting after the Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916 when 465 people were killed and 2,600 wounded. Amidst increasing popular hostility, Victor was injured in February 1918.
His general health continued to cause problems. In November 1916 he spent seven days in hospital with influenza; in October 1918 he was suffering bronchial complications, treated with expectorants; and later that year spent eighteen days in hospital with influenza fever. This was the so-called Spanish flu pandemic which struck in the autumn of that year, killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide.
Victor's younger brother, Horace, was killed in the war at the Battle of the Somme. Horace joined up when he was 25 years old in 1914 and working as a banker mason. He served as a Lance Corporal in Devonshire Regiment, 1st Battalion and survived for months on the Somme battlefield until 17 November 1916, the day before hostilities came to a halt in appalling winter weather. His body was never recovered and he is remembered at the Thiepval monument.
Back Home
When discharged on 25 October 1919 Victor was given a Certificate of Identity as a Corporal in the Irish Theatre of War. It was a piece of paper to enable him to be recognised as a returning serviceman and authorised him to claim unemployment benefit if he could not obtain work.
He returned to Box in 1919 and immediately married a Corsham girl, Alice A Lilly, daughter of stone mason Henry Lilly and his wife Annie, who lived at Moor Green. Alice was their fifth child and the third daughter, fifteen years younger than her oldest sister. She was missing from the family home in the censuses of 1901 and 1911 when aged 13 and 23, probably working in service.
The years after the war were difficult for returning servicemen. Many put up a sign outside their house saying Served in HM Forces 1914-18 to encourage people to give them work. Colonel JDB Erskin started The Comrades Legion Club at Hardy House with a fund to offer support to the destitute and requests for employers to provide work, however trivial.
With very few private motor vehicles Victor returned to the building industry as a carpenter and builder, accepting any jobs that came his way throughout the depression of the 1920s when much of the quarry trade in Box, the brewery and the candle factory all closed. These were desperate times for local businesses. In 1923 Vicar Sweetapple wrote about the economic situation: May God stir Box to cast off lethargy and carelessness and awake our higher interests. The General Strike of 1926 encouraged marches of unemployed men down Box High Street.
The "V Milsom" recorded in the graffiti was Victor Milsom, whose full name was William Albert Milsom. He was a wheelwright and carpenter, born in Box in 1886. Victor was a grandson of the famous Box Hill resident, David Milsom who was publican of the Rising Sun, brewing beer from the land he farmed, and proprietor of MAPS bottling plant on Box Hill. Victor's father was John Milsom, who at times identified himself as Farmer's Son and Mineral Water Salesman, both relating to his father's businesses.
John and his wife Harriett lived at various places in Box including at Lyndale, Devizes Road and in 1891 at Mead House, High Street. This wasn't Mead Villas but a property on the opposite side of the road, now the chemist shop. At this stage the family comprised his wife and children, John H aged 6 years, William Albert Victor 5 years and Horace, aged 2. The family also employed a servant Jane Phelps of Ashley, a 13 year-old general domestic servant.
Victor Milsom in World War 1
Amazingly, Victor's service records just about survived the fire at the Somerset House archive and it gives a fascinating insight into the man. Victor joined up on 11 November 1915 but was not accepted for active fighting duty because he had flat feet, left big toenail missing, second toes hammer both feet and varicocle (presumably varicocele meaning enlargement of the testicular area). Despite obviously being unfit for fighting, he was judged fit for general service and mobilised in September 1916, joining the Army Supply Corps and going to Grove Park Learners Section, London, for training as a motor vehicle driver and fitter.
His training contract was very strict, with a view to being trained as a Motor Transport Driver at a pay rate of 1s.2d per day until qualified when his rate would be doubled. This was no easy job because the supply department was expected to take supplies to the very front line of the fighting. He was not posted to Flanders but to quell the rioting after the Easter Rising in Dublin in April 1916 when 465 people were killed and 2,600 wounded. Amidst increasing popular hostility, Victor was injured in February 1918.
His general health continued to cause problems. In November 1916 he spent seven days in hospital with influenza; in October 1918 he was suffering bronchial complications, treated with expectorants; and later that year spent eighteen days in hospital with influenza fever. This was the so-called Spanish flu pandemic which struck in the autumn of that year, killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide.
Victor's younger brother, Horace, was killed in the war at the Battle of the Somme. Horace joined up when he was 25 years old in 1914 and working as a banker mason. He served as a Lance Corporal in Devonshire Regiment, 1st Battalion and survived for months on the Somme battlefield until 17 November 1916, the day before hostilities came to a halt in appalling winter weather. His body was never recovered and he is remembered at the Thiepval monument.
Back Home
When discharged on 25 October 1919 Victor was given a Certificate of Identity as a Corporal in the Irish Theatre of War. It was a piece of paper to enable him to be recognised as a returning serviceman and authorised him to claim unemployment benefit if he could not obtain work.
He returned to Box in 1919 and immediately married a Corsham girl, Alice A Lilly, daughter of stone mason Henry Lilly and his wife Annie, who lived at Moor Green. Alice was their fifth child and the third daughter, fifteen years younger than her oldest sister. She was missing from the family home in the censuses of 1901 and 1911 when aged 13 and 23, probably working in service.
The years after the war were difficult for returning servicemen. Many put up a sign outside their house saying Served in HM Forces 1914-18 to encourage people to give them work. Colonel JDB Erskin started The Comrades Legion Club at Hardy House with a fund to offer support to the destitute and requests for employers to provide work, however trivial.
With very few private motor vehicles Victor returned to the building industry as a carpenter and builder, accepting any jobs that came his way throughout the depression of the 1920s when much of the quarry trade in Box, the brewery and the candle factory all closed. These were desperate times for local businesses. In 1923 Vicar Sweetapple wrote about the economic situation: May God stir Box to cast off lethargy and carelessness and awake our higher interests. The General Strike of 1926 encouraged marches of unemployed men down Box High Street.
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The Wall Graffiti
The question remains about the purpose of the graffiti on the walls of 1 Mead Villas. The wealth of the Milsom family from their Box Hill businesses had been spent and the time when Victor's father could employ a domestic servant was gone. We know that Victor Milsom never owned Mead Villas and there is no evidence that he ever lived there as a tenant. It is probable that he made the inscription to remind the occupiers that he was a good worker. In 1939 his home was at Springfield House, the old poorhouse, where he lived with his wife, Alice, and sons, John and Peter, and where he took in two boarders, Kathleen M A Treloar, a teacher, and Norman G Clements, licensed victualler. And the last inscription on the wall appears to be from Victor's son, John, also a carpenter and builder, who re-papered the room in 1958. Interestingly Victor Milsom's reputation survived, and John still traded under his father's name as late as 1963, as shown in the advertisement in the parish magazine, when John was living at Stanley House. |
Victor Milsom was renowned as a wonderful carpenter in the village, working from Springfield House with a workshop where the garages are now. We believe that he made certain of the pews in Box Church which were subsequently taken out by Rev Richard Snow.[2]
Family Tree
David Milsom (1833 - 1925) from Holt married Amelia from Holt
David was described as farmer of 22 acres and innkeeper employing 2 labourers i the 1871 census.
Children: Eliza (b 1857); John (b 1858); Harriett Mary (b 1859); David (b 1862); Ann Amelia (b 1864); Emma Jane (b 1866); George Arthur (b 1867); Ellen (b 1869)
John Milsom (b 1858) married Harriett Powell (b 1859) of Bath in 1883
John may have died in 1902.
Children: John H (b 1885); William Albert Victor (b 31 January 1886); Horace (1889 - 1916)
William Albert Victor married Alice A Lilly (b 10 September 1887) in the forth quarter of 1919.
Children: John Milsom (b 29 March 1921) also a carpenter and builder; Peter H Milsom (b 24 February 1930)
David Milsom (1833 - 1925) from Holt married Amelia from Holt
David was described as farmer of 22 acres and innkeeper employing 2 labourers i the 1871 census.
Children: Eliza (b 1857); John (b 1858); Harriett Mary (b 1859); David (b 1862); Ann Amelia (b 1864); Emma Jane (b 1866); George Arthur (b 1867); Ellen (b 1869)
John Milsom (b 1858) married Harriett Powell (b 1859) of Bath in 1883
John may have died in 1902.
Children: John H (b 1885); William Albert Victor (b 31 January 1886); Horace (1889 - 1916)
William Albert Victor married Alice A Lilly (b 10 September 1887) in the forth quarter of 1919.
Children: John Milsom (b 29 March 1921) also a carpenter and builder; Peter H Milsom (b 24 February 1930)
Reference
[1] The deeds of 1 and 2 Mead Villas.
[2] Anecdote from Bob Hancock
[1] The deeds of 1 and 2 Mead Villas.
[2] Anecdote from Bob Hancock
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If you have made an unusual descovery, similar to Heather's graffiti findings, we would love to hear about your discovery.
Every house has its own story to tell so get looking at unusual features in your property or unusual finds in the garden.
If you have made an unusual descovery, similar to Heather's graffiti findings, we would love to hear about your discovery.
Every house has its own story to tell so get looking at unusual features in your property or unusual finds in the garden.