Memories of Horton (from Rosalind Willetts)

 Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve

There was a long high concrete wall to the south side of the Stanwell Road by the  Arthur Jacob nature reserve.  This meant the Stanwell road was always in the shade.  It was built to protect the public from the rifle range at Wraysbury.  The wall did not protect Dairy Farm in Coppermill Road from  stray bullets which was one reason why my great grandfather James Willatts, left Dairy Farm to farm in Wraysbury.

The Arthur Jacob nature reserve was named after the Arthur Jacob who was county Councillor for  Horton and Wraysbury and did much for the area.  He died  perhaps in the 1970s 

The Five  Bells:   

The  church had five bells up until the 1890s.  The church owned the Five Bell Public House and when it came to renew the lease it asked for a premium of £60. This was used to pay for the sixth bell which has a lengthy inscription for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

In the 1950s the bells were unringable. In 1960 my father E Christie Willatts spearheaded the restoration of the tower,  This involved having a concrete ring installed to support the bell  frame.  The bell frame was renewed and the bells rehung.  The turret was dismantled to about half way down and then rebuilt.  The clock face was repainted blue.  The simple wind vane arrow and  cardinal points was removed by the Rector The Revd T.D Prentis for repair, but it never was repaired or returned.

St Michael's West door

The west door of the church which may well be 15thC in age  - I have not examined it for many years  - was last used for the wedding c 1922 of   Dora Brown to Herbert Wiggins.  Dora Brown's father ran the village shop. In the 1940s and 50s it was run by her brother.  Herbert Wiggins was a  market gardener who lived halfway up the Colnbrook road, by the Halfway House PH, both farmhouse and pub and cottages behind were lost to the  Q M reservoir. The Browns retired to the house Osmington on the village Green.  Some of the Victorian stained glass from the farmhouse was brought down and installed in it. Dora lived there after the farmhouse was demolished.

The bombing of cottages in Park Lane in 1941.  

This was random dropping of bombs by returning German aircraft. The cottages in question were just over the stream at the far end of the lane.  Turn right at the end by the pair of cottages, go along the track for c 100  yards over the bridge and there was the site of the bombed cottages. At the time there were young evacuee boys living there - described by my father as the  sweetest boys you  could find.    Many years later he ensured that their names were on the village war memorial.

Champney Hall & playing field

 During the war and well into the 1950s there were Nissan huts on what is now the Recreation Ground next to the Champney Hall.  They were lived in in the 1950s.  The field behind was the place of the village sports for the Coronation.  I have the programme still.

Mr and Mrs Champney's home

Mr Champney and his wife Margaret  lived in the 18thC house enlarged in Edwardian times opposite the Green at the corner of Park lane.   After the death of his wife it became the Margaret Champney Nursing home.  From  1952 to c 1980 it was a home for retired gardeners run by the  Gardeners Royal Benevolent Fund. 

Churchyard History

Grave of Alan Shanks (marble gravestone with white marble angel up against the churchyard wall to the road

Alan, aged 9, lived in one of the row of cottages  just round the bend at the station end of Coppermill Road near Wraysbury Mill.   In the mid 1950s he was playing in a ditch nearby  when he cut his knee on a piece of rusting metal.  The doctor in Wraysbury stitched up the wound.  But Alan developed  tetanus/sepsis and died.   At the time no one was really aware of tetanus.  

Tree of Heaven  (Ailanthus glandulosa)

The Tree of Heaven in the churchyard was planted in 1973 by Lady Janet  Young of the  Department of the Environment.  The D of E was having a campaign to plant trees, under the slogan "Plant a  tree in seventy three". Lady Young was a cousin of Christie Willatts. He was a senior civil servant there (retired in 1973)

Plant a tree in 73;    

Plant some more in 74

(Keep them alive in 75; 

chop them for sticks in 76).

In a storm in 1971 the great yew tree on the east side of the churchyard path fell down.  It was much bigger than the other yew tree alongside it and its branches swept densely to the ground.  Christie wanted to replace it with a specimen tree and was advised to have a Tree of Heaven (which he thought a suitable name for a churchyard). He was advised that this would be fast growing and resistant to pollution from overhead aircraft. He even travelled to Bath to see a specimen Tree of Heaven there in St James’s Square.  In time both the ashes of his wife Edna d. 1979 and himself d. 2000 were strewn at the foot of this tree.

Iron Crosses

In the period 1890 - 1910   many local foundries made iron crosses, with each foundry having a different design.  In 2023 the St Michael's churchwardens received a number of these which had been removed some decades prior.

A group of volunteers under the guidance of Terry Doe refurbished the crosses and picked out the wording in silver paint.  They also refurbished the Pullen Vault (pictured above) and attached all the crosses to the vault railings.  Access to the vault was probably never considered when the railings were installed (believed to be C1800) and we are relieved no one got injured getting inside!

In 2024 Rosalind Willatts returned another iron cross which her father had removed many years ago and had been in her garage for 24 years. She believed this cross to be the only one left of the many which used to be in made in Foundry Lane Horton as cheap grave markers.  Churchyard mowers would pull them out of the ground to  mow and then return them in any order.  We are hopeful that Terry Doe will be able to refurbish this one too and add it to the collection.

The one from Rosalind is from 1902.  Christie thought it was some distant relation of his, via his grandmother Caroline who lived at Dairy Farm  in Coppermill road.   

There is no evidence that the c 1900 iron crosses were originally painted.  Cast iron made with charcoal  (as the pre industrial revolution ones in the Weald and west midlands)  did not rust, but the Edwardian crosses  would have used coal or coke.   These crosses have endured the weather better than some contemporary stone headstones. 

Church photos

  Diane Maskrey sent these photos to St Michael's church.  She says 

"I have been going through some of the photos left by my Grandmother Lilian Josephine Lipscombe Nee Hill. She grew up in 5 Bells Lane Horton with her Father William & her Mother Sarah also known as Jenny.  She loved St Michaels Church." 

Thank you Dianne:

Mothers Union Horton

Horton School netball team

Possibly Rev Thomas Read Davies

St Michaels Church

St Michaels Church Horton

Inside St Michaels Horton

Mother’s  Union banner made for St Michael’s by Miss Ella Foster

In remembrance to Rev Thomas Read Davies

In memory of those of this parish who fell in the Great War 1914-1918

Horton school Choir

5 (right hand side) Bells Lane Horton possibly 1918

Mothers Union pin

Sale of land in Horton, Wraysbury and Stanwell 1905

These documents make fascinating reading.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1moKE5TvpKkEycPGijAU9TicfkbaRdaPY?usp=sharing

More to follow

Horton's War Graves (By Carolyn Wheeler)

 full report is available here: https://wraysbury.com/home/st-michaels-war-graves/

Did you know that St Michaels Church in Horton has 12 war graves?

I have stumbled into being the village archivist, and this along with my role as a church warden has lead me to do some research and to uncover the stories behind some of the graves…

I created the plan below to help people find the graves, it is taken from the entrance into the graveyard extension

Plan showing Extension Churchyard

War Graves – WW1 

1. William Henry Oxlade, Private 3651, 3/1^st Bucks Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, who died of wounds on 23 July 1916, aged 18. William was the son of James (Isaac James) Oxlade and his wife Rebecca Springle. This grave has a CWGC headstone. Click here for more.
2. George Arthur Scott. Private 8150, Bedfordshire Regiment, who died on 9 November 1918. Son of Arthur Edgar Scott, and his wife Mary Ann.  His grave is immediately behind that of his brother Edgar but does not have a CWGC headstone as his parents had already added a curb edge to the grave. Click here for more

In the main churchyard there is a memorial, as part of a family grave, to Percival John Barrott, Stoker First Class, who died on HMS Aboukir when it was sunk by submarine U-9 commanded by Lt. Otto Weddigen when part “Live Bait Squadron” on 22 September 1914. Remembered with honour on the Chatham Naval Memorial Click here for more

Also in the main churchyard, on the headstone of his grandparents’ grave, there is a memorial to Reginald Albert Cosson, Private G/1363 of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who died on 25 January 1915 aged 26.  He is also commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial in Pas de Calais, France.  He was the only son of William James and Ellen James Cosson and grandson of George and Emily Barker of Horton.

Civilian War Dead – WW1

12. Dorothy Moss, aged 16, she was killed in a massive explosion in the Powder Powder Mills in Poyle in April `1915. Her grave is marked with a wooden cross Click here for more

Civilian War Dead – WW2

3. Robert Henry Floyd. was killed in an air raid in May 1941 at the LCC Weights and Measures Office, Harper Road, Southwark, the floor collapsed and killed all those who were in the basement. Robert was buried in St Michael’s Churchyard on 16^th May.
4. William Isaac Challis. Was killed by the bomb dropped on Park Lane Horton in 1941

Five members of the Brown Family were killed by the same bomb on 3 April 1941 at No.2 Park Lane, Horton.

5. Mary Elizabeth Brown, aged 47 of 2 Park Lane, Horton, widow of Arthur J W Brown.
6. Arthur James William Brown, aged 21, Son of the above Mary Elizabeth Brown.
7. Doris Linda May Brown, aged 19, daughter of the above Mary Elizabeth Brown
8. Gwendoline Brown, aged 20, daughter of the above Mary Elizabeth Brown.
9. Alice May Morris (neé Brown) wife of Leonard W Morris and daughter of the above Mary Elizabeth Brown.
10. Hetty Margaret Golledge, aged 13, daughter of the late James Golledge and his wife Harriet. She was living with Mrs Eleanor Trotman at 1 Park Lane, having been evacuated from Stepney.
11. William Robert Golledge, aged 6, brother of the above Hetty Golledge

Compiled by Carolyn Wheeler 2023 from various sources

Arthur Jacob

I have been researching Arthur Jacob - trying to find out why Arthur Jacob Nature Reserve was given his name.  I haven't yet been able to answer that question but I have found a lot of information about his  life in Windsor (Thank you Carolyn)

Taken from: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/theroyalwindsorforum/arthur-jacobs-of-jacobs-island-t733.html

 

 - o O o -

Arthur Jacobs (1863 - 1928)

 Arthur Jacobs of Jacobs Island

 

Arthur Jacobs was born in 1863 at the old Anglers Rest, an inn which stood on the site occupied by the Thames Hotel, built around 1906-1907, and of which he was to become proprietor for 22 years. Prior to that he was licensee of the Watermans Arms at Eton. As a boy he attended Eton Porny School and from his earliest days to the close of his life he was either a swimmer or took the greatest of interest in it.

At the age of ten years Arthur Jacobs went to Eastbourne to take part in a high diving competition, an open event in which some of the best divers in the world took part. He won the contest and this was, perhaps the beginning of a wonderful career in the swimming world. Even before this, when he was but eight years old, he assisted in the saving of the lives of two little girls off the Cobbler. His next exploit was to participate in the saving of the lives of two boys at Athens, across the river from Windsor Racecourse, and he also figured in the rescue of a gentleman whose boat had upset.

It was on 7th January 1894, that Arthur Jacobs performed one of the bravest deeds of his life. He gallantly saved a young woman named Elizabeth Burridge who fell into the river when the ice across the Thames to the Brocas gave way. For this act of conspicuous courage, which involved diving under the ice, risking of his own life, he was the recipient of a testimonial from over 200 townspeople who subscribed to the presentation. The gift, which included a cheque for over £21, was made on behalf of the inhabitants by the Mayor of the Borough of Windsor.

On another occasion he saved a Mr Wells and his two daughters when they fell through the ice, and he rescued two girls when he was just eleven years old.

Some years ago a Limehouse man, visiting Windsor, had the misfortune to fall into the river and was in peril of drowning. Arthur Jacobs without hesitation dived into the water and rescued the man. Subsequently there was a remarkable demonstration at Limehouse Town Hall, where Arthur Jacobs's bravery was suitably honoured by a well-earned testimonial.

It is said that if anyone ever got into trouble in the water he would never rest until he got them ashore, without thought to himself. The list of his exploits is too numerous to record, but it is thought that during a lifetime spent by the river he had been instrumental in rescuing over sixty people. He received three certificates from the Royal Humane Society and also the gold, silver and bronze medals for deeds of bravery.

Arthur Jacobs came from a family of established carpenters, his mother Sarah was a daughter of Roger Tolladay, a successful boat builder, who originated from Lambeth, and ran his own company in Eton, building racing boats for Eton College.

It is not surprising with that background that Arthur Jacobs began his passenger boat company. In his capacity as a riverside hotel and boat proprietor he was one of the most popular and familiar figures on the upper reaches of the Thames. Arthur Jacobs was never afraid to advance with the times and the building of the New Windsor Castle, one of the largest and most up to date of up-river steam launches, was a big venture that he undertook in 1923. The steamer was constructed using the latest methods on Jacobs Island, adjoining the promenade. The launching of the vessel created quite a stir in the town at the time, with children being given the day off school to watch. The 'New Windsor Castle' was launched stern first from the slipway which was built facing upstream because the area downstream of the island was used for mooring and letting small craft. Some years ago, David Pickin rediscovered the slipway and restored and recommissioned it. It was in use up to the 1960's.

 

A view downstream from Jacobs Island showing the rowing boats for hire and the earlier promenade beyond

  

An interesting little tale... When Lance Summers, boat builders, arrived to build the Windsor Castle and the Grand Duchess they asked for assistance to carry their anvil onto the island. Clifford Davey the captain of the Empress of India, who was a tremendously strong man, picked up the anvil and put it on his shoulder and walked across to the island. When the boat building had finished Cliff was asked to take the anvil back. His comment was "I carried it over, you take it back!" The anvil was so heavy that two of us had difficulty lifting it so the anvil was left there and the company still has it.

 A double-fronted boat house was first built on the banks beside Corporation Island in Victorian times and it is here that the Windsor Belle was built in 1901 by Edward Burgoine for Arthur Jacobs. Records show that she was built on Corporation Meadow (Clewer Meadow) which was to become Alexandra Gardens and Barry Avenue. Subsequently the boat houses were moved to the island, probably in 1905 when Barry Avenue was constructed.

Circa 1913: The promenade with the rebuilt boathouses beyond on Jacobs Island. In later photographs the boathouses are seen to be striped.

 

 The New Windsor Castle

 

 The New Windsor Castle turns in to Windsor Promenade

The boathouses on Jacob's Island where she was built are beyond.

 

 

The Windsor Belle in 1901

Other boats in the Jacobs fleet were the Woodland Lily, The Duchess and The Welbeck as well as many rowing boats and punts.

 

In addition to his Thames steamer and boat hire business, Arthur Jacobs was chairman of the Windsor Conservative Party and for nine years a member of Windsor Town Council. He died in 1928 at the age of 65. It is fitting that the former Corporation Island has long been known as Jacobs Island, probably since the 1920s and the construction of The Windsor Castle. The name serves to remind us of a famous name from not only Windsor's history but that of the River Thames also.

Links to info and photos of Berkyn Manor

 

Berkyn Manor (Urban Exploration and Guardian article)

https://www.28dayslater.co.uk/threads/berkyn-manor-horton-berkshire-january-2013.77286/

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2015/oct/23/john-milton-berkyn-manor-paradise-abandoned-photographs-former-home