Anxious to see Dada and What he may have for them.
No time for letter today.
Glad of yours.
This postcard is addressed to Mr Albany George Finch ℅ Mr Albert Finch at 98 Kings Cross Road, London.
‘Cousin Albert’ Finch and his wife Susan ran the post office at 98 Kings Cross Road. Susan was born Finch too, sister to Albany George. The postcard was posted in Sticklepath, probably at the end of the day, franked 6pm and then travelled to Okehampton where it was franked again at 7.30pm on 16 August 1906. Muriel wasn’t quite two and Phyllis was not yet four years old. It is almost certainly written by their mother, Georgina (nee Ching), wife to Albany, who seems in a rush!
When we think of our ancestors, do we think of them at their age of death? Or perhaps at a particular time associated with a life event or story? Or do we consider all their roles across their lifetime, son, father, friend and so on? In her 80’s Muriel always referred to Albany as ‘my father’ in a rather formal way. I had never before pictured Albany as ‘Dada’.
It feels intrusive to read this intensely personal note, and that sense is not diminished by the 115 years that have passed since it was written.
Then there is that brief message. The children are ‘Anxious to see Dada and What he may have for them’. Do you think this is a veiled instruction reminding him to bring a little something home for his daughters? Or perhaps he often brought something from his travels? As the ‘sales rep’, so to speak, for Finch Bros. Edgetool Makers of Sticklepath he travelled quite extensively in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
The postcard tells us that on 16 August 1906 Albany was visiting relatives in the big city. Quite a journey, and for several days it seems. I wonder why he was there? His hosts Albert and Susan were at this address in both the 1901 and 1911 census records, so it was not to assist with a house move. Perhaps Susan was ill or needed his help for another reason? Could it have been a business trip? Perhaps a family matter that Albany preferred to disclose or discuss in person? Or could it have been his faith, his role as a local preacher within the Methodist Church, perhaps a conference that called him to London?
It seems likely he would have travelled by train from Okehampton or possibly Sampford Courtenay station via Exeter to London. Even if he were delivering belongings or collecting tools he would almost certainly have transported them by train.
As usual a small piece of evidence adds to his story but leaves us with more questions than answers! Do please share any other suggestions for his trip.
July 1924 Snap taken when Albany took his two daughters to London, well after both Albert and Susan had died. It will be interesting to see who lived there on the 1921 census when it is released next year.
On 24th December 1927 Maria Palmer bought No. 2 Ska View Cottages Sticklepath. The previous owner, her father, Mr James Neill had died in February. Sadly his other daughter Beatrice had died in the interim. (Will dated 7 April 1927, she died on 26 May 1927). Frank Richards, her husband, was the sole Executor and Beatrice left her estate (which included a half share of No 2 Ska View) to her nephew Bernard William Palmer aged 13y, the son of Maria and John Palmer. The conveyance therefore became a little complex legally, with John Palmer representing the ‘infant’ son Bernard in the transaction.
Frank Richards was the headmaster of Sticklepath School and his wife’s death is noted in the school records, just to say that he took a half day because of her death!
Frank Richards, WW1 uniform. Details seen of cobbled path, granite pillars and ‘trellis’ porch.
No.2 was valued by Mr Arthur John Powlesland of Okehampton, a duly qualified valuer, who fixed the price as £320. The current tenant was a Miss Cann.
I have at this time no evidence to suggest Maria Palmer ever lived in Ska View Cottages. She wrote her Will 12 June 1958. Her son Bernard became a Chartered Accountant, and at the time of Maria’s death lived at 22 Mill Lane Felixstowe, Suffolk. Maria was said to be of the same address and formerly of ‘Kolar’ Okehampton. Maria died at The East Suffolk Hospital, Ipswich on 24th October 1958. She left everything to her son, Probate was granted in Exeter to him 9th January 1959. Assent to the vesting of Number 2 Ska View Cottages from Mrs M Palmer deceased to Bernard William Palmer is dated 22nd April 1959.
At some point Bernard moved to 19 Goyfield Avenue, Felixstowe. 11 December 1959 the cottage was sold again to Mr Charles Bowden, haulage contractor of Cleave House Sticklepath for £550. Witness to the signature was RK Barron of Foundry House Sticklepath, Tool Maker. In March 1965 a further valuation, by Anthony Wonnacott, likely for re-mortgaging purposes shows the property to be valued at £1,500.
A Memorandum appended to the conveyance shows that 26th October 1992 Charles Bowden gave the garden by Deed of Gift to Charles Roger Finch Bowden (his son) in fee simple. Charles died 20 March 1994 and Probate was granted (Bristol) 16 Nov 1995. The property assented to Charles Roger Finch Bowden and his wife Ann Rosalie Lloyd Bowden 28 January 1997. Land Registry Official Copy of Register of Title in 2008 valuation was £140,000 (without the detached garden). The type of joint ownership was amended 12 Dec 2012. Marketing websites show it sold in 2018 for £150,000.
In 1975 plans were submitted to make an interconnecting doorway between No.1 and No.2 Ska View Cottages. At that time Miss Phyllis Finch lived in No. 2 and the doorway and firecheck door enabled her to visit her sister in No.1 without venturing outdoors in the final weeks of her life. Planning was approved 17 October 1975. She died in March 1976. The doorway has since been blocked up.
I have not included much detail of the owners themselves, and even less of other occupiers. Perhaps another time. I am also aware that there may be other connections – I spent many hours in the Ska View Cottages as a child, visiting relatives or with my ‘child-minder’ after school, which is of course not documented. Nor do the papers survive to tell us how the houses were financed, how much mortgage was payable. I do not have any insurance documents for No. 2. ‘Official searches’ in 1959 do not add anything specific. Several documents declare no land tax was payable on these small properties.
It is interesting to see the increasing valuation or sale prices:
1890. £100. Sale
1924. £380 Sale
1927. £320 Valuation/Assent
1959. £550 Sale
1965. £1,500 Valuation
2008. £140,000. Valuation
2018. £150,000 Sale
One might surmise that the assent value in 1927 was on the low side but market fluctuations may mean it was accurate, and there was a tenant in situ.
Perhaps equally interesting is to understand the size and type of housing of a headmaster and mine manager in the 1920s, perhaps some of the better off villagers, with a total floor area of 56.5 sq m . The plan prepared for Stags estate agent Okehampton 2017 shows there were two downstairs rooms and two upstairs.
There was no bathroom in their time. It is not clear when a bathroom was added to No. 2, planning was sought for indoor bathrooms in other cottages in 1972. The outdoor toilet across the yard was certainly in regular use in 1960s. They did not have covered sewerage or electiricity, so no electrical appliances. (Details of how the drains were ‘flushed ‘ see Ladywell).
The open drain can be seen just infront of the wall with a step from each Cottage bridging the gap. (Chapman of Dawlish Postcard)
The detached garden was a small allotment used to grow vegetables, a necessity not a hobby. Compare that to expectations of families today both in terms of space, amenities and services.
The row of 4 Ska View Cottages with stone outbuildings behind. The Old Cottage and Village Hall are seen to the right. Between these two the Back Lane leads to the electricity sub-station (black)and just past this, off the picture would be the garden allotment.
Tiled roof and chimney detail No.1 and No.2
Sticklepath has several small terraces of houses running parallel to the road. The cottages are well built of solid masonary. Originally they had a shared roof space – as with many old rural houses this has provided a roost for bats (myotis sp.).
Stone built out-house believed to have stabled a pony at one time. Later W.C.(water closet or toilet)
During renovation work in 2017 a small Victorian range was found in No. 2 kitchen. The plaque above suggests it was made or at least sold by an Okehampton firm. It was in a poor state and Okehampton Museum were not interested in preserving the remains. It seems very likely Captain Neill and his family would have benefitted from food cooked in such an oven, on the hob, a fire in the grate and bread from the bread oven. A family with these facilities may have made extra to sell to other villagers.
Times change and No.2 is now a holiday cottage, no longer accomodation for local residents. The railings and matching porches (also seem on Farley Cottage and previously on Effra, opposite the Methodist Chapel) give some character and unity to this row of cottages.
Our saga of Thomas Finch and family continues. Last week we heard about the Coroner’s case when Victor Thomas Finch drowned aged 22 months. Happier times followed when Gladys Lena was born in 1897 and then Leslie George in 1900.
Sadly the newspapers tell of further tragic circumstances 10 years later.
The Western Times on Friday 25 November 1910 reported:
The British Library Board accessed via British Newspapers Archive online February 2021
It paints a touching picture of the relationship with his sister. So many wreaths for a small coffin. I need to investigate further, as, for example, I don’t know who was at Walnut Road, Chester or Friendship but these appear to be important, as they are listed first.
Such reports are ideal for genealogists, with many FANs named. (The FAN Club abbreviation was developed by Elizabeth Shown Mills, a highly respected genealogist and relates to cluster research. When investigating an ancestor, their FANs or Friends, Neighbours and Associates can tell us a great deal about their situation, social status, occupation etc. ).
The brief Western Times report of a week earlier – Friday 18 November 1910, written before the funeral, adds a different slant:
Clearly Thomas and Annie had been very caring parents, but this hints at the ‘delicate’ nature of Leslie. Taken together with the photograph I suggest Leslie had Down’s Syndrome.
Leslie and Lena Finch
In 1866 Dr John Langdon Down first identified a group of patients with certain characteristics. In 1959, it was discovered that it is a genetic condition due to an extra chromosome (Trisomy 21). It wasn’t until 1965 that the World Health Organisation adopted the term Down’s syndrome. I don’t know when the term came into common usage or if the syndrome would have been recognised by a village GP in 1900 – 1910.
Leslie had been poorly for some time and his death certificate shows he died of consumption, which is TB or tuberculosis. Three generations of the family at least were affected by this disease. This is an image from the memorial card:
The two brothers, Victor Thomas and Leslie George Finch, are buried in the same grave in Sticklepath with their memorials on either side of the short stone.
Move the arrow side to side to see front and back of the gravestone.
The 1911 census states the facts as cold statistics. Three children born alive, two who have died. One still living. Childhood deaths were still fairly common. Daughter Gladys aged 14 continues at school. Annie Standlake domestic servant has been with the family for over 10 years.
England & Wales Census 1911 accessed through Ancestry
. . . . . . . . . . . . . Gladys Lena Finch
We finish on a happier note –
Gladys survived and later married William Gater Heard and had children. John Heard, a very tall man in shorts and sandals, came to visit us in Sticklepath when I was young. He brought a family tree he had been working on for us to see.
Western Times – Wednesday 25 May 1921 Marriages
HEARD – FINCH On May 24th at the Parish Church South Tawton, by the vicar (Rev E.F.Ball). William Gater Heard, eldest son of Mrs W.J. Heard, Exmouth to Gladys Lena, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. Finch, Sticklepath, Okehampton.
Annie and Thomas Finch on the beach with the Heard Family – Gladys and William, and their grandchildren.
Looking at this photo you can see why Thomas was invited to be Father Christmas for the WI party each year!
Sticklepath a Village and its People 