Reference
UN636
Title
Time slip 1-6 and Yesterday’s Witness 10-16 by Michael Jones. Typescript of memories of Lilian Bennett, daughter of W.C. Watson of Colworth
Date free text
1981-1983
Production date
From: 1981 To: 1983
Scope and Content
Time Slip 1
Mrs Lilian Bennet (daughter of W C Watson) account of interview by M Jones related to W C Watson’s business interests
Time Slip 2
Mrs Lilian Bennet mentions portraits of Watson’s 7 daughters by Sir Alexander Cope and Sir John Millais.
Watson’s social life
Time Slip 3- Mrs Bennet and Mrs Hunt of Souldrop undermaid at Colworth 1916-1919.
Mrs Hunt worked 6 days a week 6am-10pm for £15 per annum.
Detail re gas plant at Hawnes Park
Ice House at Colworth still in use in Watson’s time, marked on 2nd edition of OS Map, mentions old road to Colworth grassed in by Unilever Limited
Time Slip 4 - Mrs Bennet
Watson’s god parent of first child gave first child £1000 and agreed to give same to any additions to family; by the time the 8th appeared began to blanch.
Mrs Bennet married in 1897 and moved to Rutland Gate, London – decorated 6 Bedroom House for £200
Hugh Watson, sent down from Oxford for painting statue of a venerated provost red (Lord Villiers’ son)
Both go off to India hunting tigers
Returned to England with several tigers and a stuffed bear. This last was placed in the entrance hall and in its outstretched paws held a silver tray for visitors’ cards.
In 1903 Hugh Watson a JP for Sharnbrook District.
Time Slip 5 - The Wind of Change
Effect of Railways on the estate – poaching by railway navvies
Mentions privilege of having train stopped because railway went across Colworth estate.
Sharnbrook Station closed 5 May 1960, mentions Daniel Albone and Ivel Works. Watson had early motor car De Dion Bouton. Mrs Bennet remembers going to Newmarket in it at 10 mph.
Time Slip 6 - “The French Connection”
Probably 1st car in North Bedfordshire – 1st car into Britain 1895 imported from France by Honourable Evelyn Ellis.
Motor Car Act 1903 – Watson’s registered BM 89
Hipwell and Son registered steam motor lorry a few days later. Maximum speed 5 miles per hour.
“What did you do in the War, Mother?”
Colworth House a Holiday Home for Nurses from British Hospitals “free of charge hospitality offered by Lord and Lady Melchett”
Proximity of US Airbases mentioned.
Mitchell’s now of Wymington employed by Melchetts.
The Elephants’ Graveyard
disappearance of spray drier tower and FTD’s ammonia refrigeration plant.
Ted Parrock, a young project engineer, recruited from J and E Hall of Dartford. Supervised installation of major refrigeration plant by Sterne of Glasgow and the blast freezing process. Mike Kelly “had an interest in ephemeral glycerine spray”. Result in bulk frozen peas.
21 years later refrigerator exported to Ireland. Owen Stern Contract Engineer, in spare time, restored old cars. Details of people involved in the project, e.g. Fred Allen, sheet metal worker, originally worked with village blacksmith put steel props under sagging branches of cedars in front lawn.
Yesterday’s Witness No. 10 “...branches”
Rivalry between Lever and Monds over Crosfield of Warrington, soap manufacturers.
Pressure from successful family on H L Mond – runs away from Winchester, joined army – badly wounded – 1918 joins fast set of artists, authors etc.
Father formed ICI in 1926 with £95 Million capital
In with Huxley who called him “an admirable shekel producing machine”
Frequented Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Percy Street, Tottenham Court Road, met Amy Owen in 1920
Yesterday’s Witness No. 11
“The Becoming of a Baroness”
describes Eiffel Tower Restaurant!
Augustus John and Lady Melchett
Yesterday’s Witness No. 12
Lord Melchett built a villa Woodfalls at Melchett Court as a wedding present. !923 MP for Ely
Background of 1920’s to his marriage
Yesterday’s Witness No. 13 The Asset Strippers
1924 Harold Bowen bought the Colworth Estate from his father with legacy of £60,000, lived there for 3 years with Vera, his wife, assistant regisseur with Diaghelev ballet Company.
Harold had refurnished Colworth, went into 2 stores, both destroyed by bombs on the same night in 1941
1928 purchase of Colworth by Edgar Clayson.
Charles Clayson (born 1849) founder of C Clayson and Sons, Master builder, father of 13 children, built houses in Odell Road, suggests built Ailsa Villa (1898) and Innisfree and Avonlea (1909) – all have 11´´ cavity walls – houses of similar construction not built in Bedford until 1934. Charles Clayson lived for a time at Avonlea and died in 1923.
Because of Railway Investment – demand for railway sleepers, therefore demand for larch butts and ash and oak for carriages and wagons and need for timber for housebuilding.
Clayson by mid 1920’s bought Harrold estate on borrowed money – partner Frank Chappel, December 1928 Chappel and Clayson bought Colworth House and 683 acres for £15,100 (western part of estate) nothing done for 2 years until Harrold estate finished.
1930 the house was let and 1931 tree felling starts.
Yesterday’s Witness No. 14 “The Shadow of Death”
Story of Marie Hope Broughton and her journey to Colworth in the hopes of being cured by Dr S Damoglou – she died 10May 1930, account of funeral 13 May 1930, the Paceys were the undertakers
Yesterday’s Witness No. 15 All these things I can do
Article in Bedfordshire Standard entitled “Miracle at Colworth” by W Gerald Young re Dr Damoglou
Yesterday’s Witness No. 16 “On the Move”
Post 1906 Telegraph poles erected
1923 electricity poles
Telegraph system controlled by manual board in Village Post Office.
1936 piped water (first discussion with Water Board by A E Bowen 1914)
Visit of Rushden showmakers to watch Oakley hounds
1911 Council houses
Sharnbrook carter, Mr Rose (kept two lorries on site of 1983 carpark and green)
William Church, Old Mill, details of engine, used horse and acrt until c.1928 when at age of 70 bought a lefthand drive model 7 Ford 30 Hundredweight Truck used for visits within 5 mile radius. Delivered rolled oats, beans, crushed and ground grain, manly for stock feed.
He was a Churchman
Tom Pacey built his last cart c.1920. Hipwells still used a number of heavy horse wagons but for longer runs, i.e. to Luton and Cogenhoe used Ford steam lorries.
75 mm French artillery piece opposite Railway Hotel, after 1914-1918 War, melted down 1939
Reggie Blake and his wheelbarrow carrying for Damaglou
Level of description
item