Kingsmoor House and Skrine Family Alan Payne Initiated by Sarah and Nigel Street January 2019
Kingsmoor House shown top left about 1935 before other properties had been built in The Ley (courtesy Anna Grayson)
The first reference to Kingsmoor House was in 1911 when the Pinchin family lived there. Edwin Skeate Pinchin, Brewer and Maltster, married Charlotte Jane Browning in 1906 and they rattled around in the residence with its 9 rooms occupied by Edwin, Charlotte, one child and a domestic servant. The house had been built for the family based on plans submitted in 1904 by C Pinchin.[1]
From 1915 until 1922 the property was rented out and occupied by Miss Hilda Ernestine Galton and her partner Ruth Peto, a dedicated suffragette. The couple led a rather flamboyant lifestyle, in keeping with young, independently-minded women in the 1920s. They adopted a number of infants who seem to have had free-run in the house, a curious presage of the property’s later use. In 1922 they advertised for a nursemaid or children’s nurse required immediately to help with five children with whooping cough.[2] After the Great War, they appear to have been struggling to keep their lifestyle going. They offered a 5 shillings reward for the return of their six-toed tabby kitten in 1918 and needing a Woman Gardener to assist in the maintenance of the grounds.[3] In 1922 they decided to leave Box and move abroad, Hilda selling all her furniture and effects. The property was taken up by a new family, a branch of the famous Skrine family.[4]
Skrine Family
The Skrine family had an unbroken genealogy for hundreds of years. Some claim that they came to England as courtiers of Philip of Spain on his marriage to Queen Mary; others attribute the origins to the Skerne family of County Durham.[5] In the High Victorian period they were one of the wealthiest families in England, their money derived from tea planting estates in Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) and Malaysia, extending into legal matters and as merchants.
In the West Country the family were headed by Henry Duncan Skrine of Claverton Manor and Warleigh Manor. They lived in some style in huge properties. Warleigh Manor, Bathford, is a wonderful Grade II* listed manor house and Claverton Manor is now the home of the American Museum, Bath. The local newspapers reported that Henry Duncan's death in 1901 caused a void in public life in the city and county which is impossible to fill.[6] A high-minded cultured English gentleman his concerns were the Conservative Party (which the paper called The Constitutional cause) and the Church of England, especially the growth of Church schools through the National Society. Besides being deputy-lieutenant of Somerset, sheriff of the county, magistrate, art historian and patron of many Bath literary and cultural societies, he was a public benefactor who paid for the restoration of Bathford Church. On his death he left the amazing sum of £217,740.[7] A fascinating talk he gave to the Bath Literary Society in 1871 is available to read, courtesy the Bathford History Society.[8] The historical style is rather old-fashioned now but it is interesting to hear Henry Duncan's actual words.
From 1915 until 1922 the property was rented out and occupied by Miss Hilda Ernestine Galton and her partner Ruth Peto, a dedicated suffragette. The couple led a rather flamboyant lifestyle, in keeping with young, independently-minded women in the 1920s. They adopted a number of infants who seem to have had free-run in the house, a curious presage of the property’s later use. In 1922 they advertised for a nursemaid or children’s nurse required immediately to help with five children with whooping cough.[2] After the Great War, they appear to have been struggling to keep their lifestyle going. They offered a 5 shillings reward for the return of their six-toed tabby kitten in 1918 and needing a Woman Gardener to assist in the maintenance of the grounds.[3] In 1922 they decided to leave Box and move abroad, Hilda selling all her furniture and effects. The property was taken up by a new family, a branch of the famous Skrine family.[4]
Skrine Family
The Skrine family had an unbroken genealogy for hundreds of years. Some claim that they came to England as courtiers of Philip of Spain on his marriage to Queen Mary; others attribute the origins to the Skerne family of County Durham.[5] In the High Victorian period they were one of the wealthiest families in England, their money derived from tea planting estates in Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka) and Malaysia, extending into legal matters and as merchants.
In the West Country the family were headed by Henry Duncan Skrine of Claverton Manor and Warleigh Manor. They lived in some style in huge properties. Warleigh Manor, Bathford, is a wonderful Grade II* listed manor house and Claverton Manor is now the home of the American Museum, Bath. The local newspapers reported that Henry Duncan's death in 1901 caused a void in public life in the city and county which is impossible to fill.[6] A high-minded cultured English gentleman his concerns were the Conservative Party (which the paper called The Constitutional cause) and the Church of England, especially the growth of Church schools through the National Society. Besides being deputy-lieutenant of Somerset, sheriff of the county, magistrate, art historian and patron of many Bath literary and cultural societies, he was a public benefactor who paid for the restoration of Bathford Church. On his death he left the amazing sum of £217,740.[7] A fascinating talk he gave to the Bath Literary Society in 1871 is available to read, courtesy the Bathford History Society.[8] The historical style is rather old-fashioned now but it is interesting to hear Henry Duncan's actual words.
The imposing entrance (courtesy Sarah Street)
Sholto Skrine at Kingsmoor House
Sholto George Douglas Skrine was the fifth son of Henry Duncan Skrine and one of twins. Sholto spent much time in Ceylon and back in England married Edith Douglas in 1882 and lived at Furze Croft, Maidenhead, until at least 1919. They moved to Kingsmoor House from at least 1923 until Sholto's death in 1927.[9] His funeral service was conducted by Rev George Esau, vicar of Ditteridge and Rev S Scott-White, Rector of Ditteridge.
His wife Edith, daughter of the Hon Sholto James Douglas, Procureur-General (public prosecutor) of Mauritius, was a formidable person who continued at Kingsmoor. Their eldest son Lieutenant Sholto Herries Skrine (1887 - 1917) was a tea planter in Ceylon until he volunteered aged 28 in 1915.[10] He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 while serving in the Royal Field Artillery but died of wounds sustained in action in France in 1917. Edith died in 1931 and her funeral at Claverton was conducted by Rev Esau now vicar at Charlcombe and Rev HF Plant, rector of Ditteridge.[11]
Their surviving son, Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine, and his wife Dora continued to live at Kingsmoor after Edith's death. Captain Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine had served in the First World War winning a Military Cross and Bar for his bravery. On his return he married Dora M Lawrence of Maidenhead in 1919. Walter was a lawyer and worked overseas for many years at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Strangely, Walter and Dora were not listed as heads of the household at Kingsmoor in 1939. Those were listed as Doris F Bridges (1889 - 1967) and Selina Ford (b 1870), both of private means.
In the Second World War Walter was second-in-command of the Box Home Guard. In 1940 he set up a village invasion alarm system by having two Boy Scouts on duty every night at Kingsmoor, one to raise the alarm by bugle, the other to arrange the ringing of the church bells. He left the village in February 1943, moving to Gastard, Corsham.[12]
Sholto George Douglas Skrine was the fifth son of Henry Duncan Skrine and one of twins. Sholto spent much time in Ceylon and back in England married Edith Douglas in 1882 and lived at Furze Croft, Maidenhead, until at least 1919. They moved to Kingsmoor House from at least 1923 until Sholto's death in 1927.[9] His funeral service was conducted by Rev George Esau, vicar of Ditteridge and Rev S Scott-White, Rector of Ditteridge.
His wife Edith, daughter of the Hon Sholto James Douglas, Procureur-General (public prosecutor) of Mauritius, was a formidable person who continued at Kingsmoor. Their eldest son Lieutenant Sholto Herries Skrine (1887 - 1917) was a tea planter in Ceylon until he volunteered aged 28 in 1915.[10] He was awarded the Military Cross in 1916 while serving in the Royal Field Artillery but died of wounds sustained in action in France in 1917. Edith died in 1931 and her funeral at Claverton was conducted by Rev Esau now vicar at Charlcombe and Rev HF Plant, rector of Ditteridge.[11]
Their surviving son, Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine, and his wife Dora continued to live at Kingsmoor after Edith's death. Captain Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine had served in the First World War winning a Military Cross and Bar for his bravery. On his return he married Dora M Lawrence of Maidenhead in 1919. Walter was a lawyer and worked overseas for many years at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Strangely, Walter and Dora were not listed as heads of the household at Kingsmoor in 1939. Those were listed as Doris F Bridges (1889 - 1967) and Selina Ford (b 1870), both of private means.
In the Second World War Walter was second-in-command of the Box Home Guard. In 1940 he set up a village invasion alarm system by having two Boy Scouts on duty every night at Kingsmoor, one to raise the alarm by bugle, the other to arrange the ringing of the church bells. He left the village in February 1943, moving to Gastard, Corsham.[12]
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Other Skrine Family in Box
Several other members of the Skrine family lived in Box, close to the ancestral homes at Warleigh and Claverton. In 1893 Mrs Mary Wilhelmina Foxcroft of Hinton Charterhouse married Osmund Percie Skrine of Claverton. They spent much time in Canada and, on Percie's death in 1924, Mary moved to Ashley Corner, Box.[13] Their daughter Phyllis Mary Helen Skrine married RW Robertson-Glasgow of Ayrshire in 1929. Air Officer Commanding Alexander Douglas Skrine (born in 1878 in Ceylon - 1964) was the son of Duncan William Hume Skrine (1847 - 1928), an East Indian Merchant, who married Amey Hanham (died in 1946). Alexander married Gwendoleyne Elizabeth Lambert of Galway, Ireland, in Westminster in 1913.[14] They lived at The Priory, Corsham, before moving to Heleigh House, Middlehill, Box, from 1939 to 1950. Gwendoleyne was a supporter of the Mothers' Union, inviting the organisation to tea at Heleigh in June 1945.[15] Their daughter, Joan Elizabeth Skrine, married Flying Officer Kenneth Ian Mackenzie, who was killed in March 1941, six months after their wedding. She was later engaged to Anthony David Hathway Jones of the Manor House, Compton, Winchester.[16] |
Phyllis on her wedding day (courtesy Bath Chronicle and Herald 6 April 1929)
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Later History of the Property
It is usually believed that the Skrine family lived in the house until 1943 when it was taken over for military purposes, certainly they lived a domestic life there in 1941 when they advertised to purchase a milking goat, good breed. [17] It is likely that the services took over the house as it stood complete with the family furniture. It is probable that the house remained with minimum use in the period 1946-48 until it was sold to Wiltshire County Council. The furniture in the house was sold to a dealer, Mr LG Francis of Devon, who listed it for sale with Charles Oatley in 1949. It comprised domestic items such as walnut bedroom suite, three-piece suite in rust-coloured linen, oak dining room suite, Marconi radiogram and quarter-size billiard table.[18] Mr Francis probably did well on the deal and he took over Charles Oatley’s furniture auctioneer business in August 1950.[19]
When the house was released from military purposes, families considered it was too large for private residential use. Instead it was converted into a Children’s Home in 1949 originally for sixteen children.[20] It ran for many years until it was taken over by the Richmond Fellowship, a national mental health charity, in the 1980s. I have fond memories of inviting residents to a play in the Selwyn Hall about Antarctica in the 1980s which focused on threats to life on the continent. In the middle of a later musical section a child from the home shouted out What about the whales? One very interested member of the audience at least! The home eventually closed in 2008, and the house was converted back to its original purpose as a private residence.
It is usually believed that the Skrine family lived in the house until 1943 when it was taken over for military purposes, certainly they lived a domestic life there in 1941 when they advertised to purchase a milking goat, good breed. [17] It is likely that the services took over the house as it stood complete with the family furniture. It is probable that the house remained with minimum use in the period 1946-48 until it was sold to Wiltshire County Council. The furniture in the house was sold to a dealer, Mr LG Francis of Devon, who listed it for sale with Charles Oatley in 1949. It comprised domestic items such as walnut bedroom suite, three-piece suite in rust-coloured linen, oak dining room suite, Marconi radiogram and quarter-size billiard table.[18] Mr Francis probably did well on the deal and he took over Charles Oatley’s furniture auctioneer business in August 1950.[19]
When the house was released from military purposes, families considered it was too large for private residential use. Instead it was converted into a Children’s Home in 1949 originally for sixteen children.[20] It ran for many years until it was taken over by the Richmond Fellowship, a national mental health charity, in the 1980s. I have fond memories of inviting residents to a play in the Selwyn Hall about Antarctica in the 1980s which focused on threats to life on the continent. In the middle of a later musical section a child from the home shouted out What about the whales? One very interested member of the audience at least! The home eventually closed in 2008, and the house was converted back to its original purpose as a private residence.
Skrine Family Tree
Box Branch
Henry Skrine married Caroline Anne Spry. Children included Henry Duncan Skrine.
Henry Duncan (1815 - 1901) married Susanna Caroline Mills (d 1890). Children:
Henry Mills (b 1844); Duncan William Hume (b 1845); Rev John Huntley (b 1848); Edward Harcourt (b 1849); twins Sholto George Douglas (1851 - 1927) and Rev Vivian Eccles (b 1851); Osmund Percie (1858 - 1924); Walter Clarmont; Alice Caroline Francis who married Gerald Fitzgerald; Ethel Emily who married Douglas Richmond; and Mary Catherine Skrine (1855 - 1917).
Sholto George Douglas (1851 - 1927) who married Edith Clara Douglas (d 1931) in 1882. They lived at Claverton Manor for much of their lives. Children included Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine (1892 - 1966) and Gladys Skrine.
Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine (1892 - 1966) lived at Kingsmoor until 1943. He married Dora M Lawrence (1888 - 1961) in 1919. Children:
John Sholto Herries Skrine who married Hazel Helen Boxwell in 1952. Like his father he was awarded the Military Cross (in the Second World War) and lived in County Wexford, Ireland afterwards.
Box Branch
Henry Skrine married Caroline Anne Spry. Children included Henry Duncan Skrine.
Henry Duncan (1815 - 1901) married Susanna Caroline Mills (d 1890). Children:
Henry Mills (b 1844); Duncan William Hume (b 1845); Rev John Huntley (b 1848); Edward Harcourt (b 1849); twins Sholto George Douglas (1851 - 1927) and Rev Vivian Eccles (b 1851); Osmund Percie (1858 - 1924); Walter Clarmont; Alice Caroline Francis who married Gerald Fitzgerald; Ethel Emily who married Douglas Richmond; and Mary Catherine Skrine (1855 - 1917).
Sholto George Douglas (1851 - 1927) who married Edith Clara Douglas (d 1931) in 1882. They lived at Claverton Manor for much of their lives. Children included Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine (1892 - 1966) and Gladys Skrine.
Walter Vivian Douglas Skrine (1892 - 1966) lived at Kingsmoor until 1943. He married Dora M Lawrence (1888 - 1961) in 1919. Children:
John Sholto Herries Skrine who married Hazel Helen Boxwell in 1952. Like his father he was awarded the Military Cross (in the Second World War) and lived in County Wexford, Ireland afterwards.
References
[1] Details kindly supplied by Julian Orbach for update to Nikolas Pevsner, Architectural Guide to Wiltshire
[2] The Western Gazette, 27 August 1920
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 5 October 1918 and The Western Gazette, 13 September 1918
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 21 October 1922
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901
[7] Illustrated London News, 4 January 1902
[8] See http://www.bathfordsociety.org.uk/content/more/bathford_and_its_neighbourhood_main.htm
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 2 July 1927
[10] The Scotsman, 27 September 1927
[11] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 October 1931
[12] See Box Home Guard
[13] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 23 February 1924
[14] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 13 December 1913
[15] Parish Magazine, June 1945
[16] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 November 1942
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 4 October 1941
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 30 April 1949
[19] The Wiltshire Times, 5 August 1950
[20] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 20 August 1949
[1] Details kindly supplied by Julian Orbach for update to Nikolas Pevsner, Architectural Guide to Wiltshire
[2] The Western Gazette, 27 August 1920
[3] The Bath Chronicle, 5 October 1918 and The Western Gazette, 13 September 1918
[4] The Wiltshire Times, 21 October 1922
[5] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901
[6] The Bath Chronicle, 26 September 1901
[7] Illustrated London News, 4 January 1902
[8] See http://www.bathfordsociety.org.uk/content/more/bathford_and_its_neighbourhood_main.htm
[9] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 2 July 1927
[10] The Scotsman, 27 September 1927
[11] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 3 October 1931
[12] See Box Home Guard
[13] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 23 February 1924
[14] Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, 13 December 1913
[15] Parish Magazine, June 1945
[16] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 28 November 1942
[17] Bath Weekly Chronicle and Herald, 4 October 1941
[18] The Wiltshire Times, 30 April 1949
[19] The Wiltshire Times, 5 August 1950
[20] Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, 20 August 1949