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NETLEY ABBEY MATTERS!
PAST LIVES and TIMES OF NETLEY VILLAGE
Lost but not forgotten!
Many iconic properties or locations which were important to the local community in their
time have been lost to the Village over the years.
They have completely vanished - until now.
So have a read below and if you know of somewhere which deserves its place here,
then please get in contact.
Contents:
Castle View and Abbey View, Abbey Hill; Abbey Cinema; Netley Abbey Hotel aka The Lake House;
Netley Cliff House, Victoria Road; HMS "Enchantress"; Jubilee Hall, New Road;
Oakhurst; Ingleside + Leigh Grange, Butts Road;
Hilton, Abbey Hill; Simla House, Station Road
War Memorials
Castle View, Abbey Hill, Netley Abbey
Whilst researching for the Rev John A Addison, Vicar of Hound
I found the following article on Castle View, Abbey Hill
"Two superior-built semi-detached Villas, beautifully situated on high ground,
close to the fine ruins of Netley Abbey, with extensive views of the
Southampton Water and surrounding country.
The same are built in the most complete manner, of the best white brick, with large
gardens, well-enclosed by a strong oak fence.
The property is held for a term of 99 years at a ground rent of £15 per annum,
from September 1858."
Hampshire Advertiser 06/08/1859
1859 No 1 - F Soyer
1859 - 1862 No 2 - Rev John Aspinall Addison and his wife Mary
1863 Lt Thomas Oliver
1884 Rev James Stevens (Presbyterian)
1884 Mrs C E Waters
In 2021, a new development of very expensive apartments called "Castle View"
was built down nearer the shore, as you head out of Netley village towards Weston.
"Abbey View" aka "West Wood" sat somewhere between Abbey House and "Forest View" (No 5).
It was demolished and newer houses, nos 3 and 4 Abbey Hill, were built.
The 1881 Census showed -
E J Tandy, Widow, female, born in 1851 in the East Indies, no occupation
Huntly Gordon Dupid, Married, Sister born in 1849 in Scotland
Caroline Chapman, Visitor born in India in 1853
Servants:
Fanny King, General servant, born in 1864 in London, Middlesex
Charlotte Grist, Housemaid, born in Old Netley, Hampshire in 1859
The Abbey Cinema
1937 - 1958
It opened its doors on 11 April 1937.
The first films to be shown were a double bill of "King Solomon's Mines"starring Paul Robeson and
"Oh Doctor" with Edward Everett Horton.
Various folk have shared their memories of the ex-Cinema site.
Most folk recall it being the "Canada Dry" Depot; also a secondhand furniture shop but then I've also heard that it was the White Rose Coffee Shop (next door) which sold furniture.
The Netley Abbey Hotel aka The Lake House
1850 - 1870s
The first mention of the Netley Abbey Hotel is in the 1850s.
It was built on behalf of George Hunt who was at that time living as a Tenant in Netley Castle.
One of the roads out of Woolston ended at the double driveway of the Netley Abbey Hotel.
In 1852, the Proprietor is listed as Mr James Harris.
The Hampshire Advertiser of 14 February 1857 reported that the new owner of the Netley Abbey Hotel would soon be Mr George Richards, late of the Swan Inn, West End.
By 1868, the Netley Abbey Hotel has yet another change in management.
Mr Edward Prior has taken over as Proprietor and is now offering
"Apartments to let at reduced charges", for the winter months.
He is also mindful that with the opening of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital, there may well
be an increase in "same day" visitors to the area and so is offering refreshments only.
Hampshire Advertiser 14/11/1868
The first mention I've found so far about the Netley Abbey Hotel becoming The Lake House was
an article in the Hampshire Advertiser of 29/12/1877 -
"On Thursday evening a treat, consisting of a Christmas Tree loaded with toys and other ornaments, as through the kindness of Mr, Mrs and Miss Gould-Adams of the Lake House, Netley provided for the children of the above school.
The kind donors also distributed gifts to the little ones who attend this school.
Presentations were then given to the teachers and at the termination of the gifts,
ringing cheers were given by the children for their benefactors and wishes were expressed
that a happy new year might attend them.”
The Goold-Adams must have moved on -
Next up was -
The Rev Theophilius De Saules was living at the Lake House in 1881.
He was the founder of St Augustine's Iron Church at Netley.
Read more about this on
This, however, must simply have been a rumour because the next owner of the Lake House was
Major Frank William Nixon who lived there from 1884 to 1888.
Then in June 1888, now Lieutenant-Colonel Nixon, he puts the Lake House up for sale again -
We now know that the Pennington Family were the successful buyers of this property
at the above Sale.
The Lives and Times of "Netley Cliff" House
off Victoria Road, Netley Abbey
1855 - 1979
Official Residence of the Commandants and/or Senior Medical Staff
of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
The earliest resident of Netley Cliff so far identified was the Rev Scratchley in 1854.
Sorry the image above is not so clear. I've tidied it up as much as I can.
This is the Sale of Contents at "Netley Cliff" by the last civilian owner P Bingham in 1856,
"the house and grounds having been disposed of to the Government".
Hampshire Advertiser 13/09/1856 accessed via www.Newspaper.com
Early Residents!
1860 - Anne Ounsworth - she was later admitted to Knowle Hospital as a 'Pauper Patient'.
1863 - Frederick Dovey, Clerk to Inspector-General Arthur Anderson
In 1863, Inspector-General Arthur Anderson is at the Royal Victoria Hospital although to date,
I haven't found anything to confirm he was living at Netley Cliff
- but I doubt the Clerk was there by himself!
In 1863, the Governor of the Hospital was Colonel Richard Wilbraham, CB but he is
living at Netley Castle!
Between 1876 - 1878, General Evans-Gordon and family lived at Netley Cliff.
He was the Governor of Netley Hospital. He was married twice.
His daughter Jessica married Mr T G Bowles at the Military Chapel on 23/12/1875,
by special licence from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
They too lived at Netley Cliff until the General was posted overseas in 1878.
Clearly, in the midst of moving overseas to serve one"s Queen and Country,
one must also arrange for the contents of one's residence to be sold,
including a "handsome Park Phaeton, the property of a Lady, having
no further use for it."
From 1878 - 1880, Colonel Robert Crosse Stewart, Governor and Commandant at the
Royal Victoria Hospital, lived at Netley Cliff until he receives orders in May 1880
to leave Netley to command a Brigade in Madras, India.
Major-General Sir Charles Knight Pearson, KCMG, takes up residence at Netley Cliff in 1880 when he succeeds Colonel Stewart above as Commandant and Governor of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley.
He remains at Netley Cliff until 1884.
He too is required to arrange the disposal of the contents of Netley Cliff.
Colonel W Hanning-Lee is my next resident at Netley Cliff from 1887.
He took over from Colonel Charles Percival Lynden-Bell as Commandant at the
Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley until -
Colonel H A Bushman was Commandant at the Royal Victoria Hospital between
1892 and 1895 but only appears to be living at Netley Cliff in 1895.
Mr James Whitchurch would appear to have been the next resident at Netley Cliff. He was not, as far as I can tell, connected to the War Office,
British Army or the Royal Victoria Hospital.
He was though very well-known and respected in the area.
He was the builder of the Market Hall on Victoria Road and the developer for the houses - Rothesay, Waverley, Garrick Lodge, Windy Ridge,
Highfield House - which surrounded the Market Hall.
He died on 9 May 1893 at The Towers,
off Victoria Road, Netley Abbey.
From 1899 - 1900, Colonel Walter B Creagh, Officer Commanding at the
Royal Victoria Hospital, lived at Netley Cliff.
Patrick Jacob made contact in July 2020 and offered to share photos and Diary entries for his
Great Grandfather General Sir Francis Harper Treherne KCMG FRCS Ed, RAMC
who lived at Netley Cliff in the early 1900s
[The photos, unless stated otherwise, are from the family photo album of Sir Francis Treherne
The Diary entries are in his handwriting.]
General Sir Francis Harper Treherne was born in 1858.
He received his medical training at St Bartholomew's Hospital London qualifying in
medicine in 1881. He decided upon the Army as a career.
In 1893, he was a Major in the Army Medical Services, soon to become the RAMC.
British Medical Journal Obituary 12/02/1955
In May 1900, Major Treherne received orders to proceed to Netley Hospital to be Registrar.
He married Miss Nona Therese Burne Turner on 31 October 1900 at St Mary
Abbot's Church Kensington. The ceremony was officiated by Rev George Griffiths, assisted
by the Bridegroom's brother, the Rev C A Treherne.
Whilst researching a Hospital patient recently, his relative sent me a copy of the Death Certificate, dated May 1903 and the "Hospital informant" of the death was "Francis H Treherne,
Acting Chief Resident Officer".
A past contact, Lt Colonel W G May recalled schoolboy memories between "December 1899 and February 1905 of Netley Hospital where my father, SSM George May, was Chief Clerk to the PMO
and AAG - General Townsend, Colonel Treherne ..."
1920 - Lt-Colonel Ernest Albert Bourke, DSO, Commandant of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
1925 - 1927 Colonel Jack Powell, DSO, Commandant of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital.
1927 - Lt-Colonel Arthur H Bond, Commandant of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital
1928 - Lt-Colonel William Benton Rennie, MC MB
At the end of August 2018, Paul Winkworth contacted me asking about Netley Cliff and The Towers.
Here are his memories of Netley Cliff -
"As a child I had a number of friends that stayed at Cliff House, but being 'Army Brats' they never stayed for long. I can remember that the building had three floors and that it housed 3 - 4 families. This would have been the mid to late 1960s. The cellar was purported to be haunted, so it was a great magnet to us kids. Eventually, the Army put a locked door on it, but we still managed to get in - how is another story!
In 1969 I had a friend living there called Peter Clarke. I was quite sweet on his sister, Linda. This was the year 'Star Trek' was first shown on TV and we turned the Air Raid Shelter into our very own USS Enterprise. I've been a Trekkie ever since!
We also spent many hours in the boughs of the old oak tree (which I believe, is still standing).
[Thanks Paul! I hope I didn't give away too many secrets ...?]
So, guess what happened ...?
"The Victorian house - Netley Cliff - once the official residence of the Commanding Officer of the Royal Victoria Military Hospital - and its 2.73 acre site were sold by auction by order of the Secretary of State for Defence earlier this year for £190,000.
A scheme to build 37 flats on a site overlooking Southampton Water has been attacked by
Hound Parish Council.
F Rendell + Sons Ltd of Devizes have applied to build flats mainly along the top of the cliff in two or three storeys on the site of former Netley Cliff House, Victoria Road, Netley Abbey.
After looking at plans for this proposed development, a member of Hound Parish Council commented:
'It looks like a prison block; it certainly is not in keeping with the area'.
The Council agreed to block the application."
Southern Evening Echo 26/07/1981
Just over a year later, the Flats were built. Each of the buildings is individually named.
"Netley Cliff" re-born, built in 1982.
Beautiful well-kept gardens with a view which is absolutely magnificent
over Southampton Water.
Photos taken by author in 2014
HMS "Enchantress"
A Club House on the High Seas
The floating home of the (Royal) Motor Yacht Club
1906 - 1920
"The new floating club house "Enchantress", belonging to the Motor Yacht Club was opened for the use of members on May 12, 1906. Their new club house is an ex-Admiralty yacht, a vessel of 1000 tons which was sold out of the Service in 1905 and purchased by Mansfield Cumming in late 1905.
After the engines and boilers had been removed, she was purchased by the Rear-Commodore,
who has chartered her to the Club for use as a floating club house and fitted her out for that purpose. Important structural alterations have been carried out during the past winter
and the vessel has been redecorated and refurbished throughout.
The accommodation provided includes - on the main deck, aft, a dining-saloon, 7 sleeping rooms, including ladies' dressing-cabin; forward, card-room and 4 sleeping-cabins; on the upper deck, aft drawing-room, 8 sleeping-cabins and stern, gallery; amidships bathrooms and lavatories.
A promenade deck, 110 feet long by 28 feet wide, has been also added.
Ladies were welcome onboard but were required to leave by 10 pm.
The Enchantress is moored off Netley Hard.
There is excellent communication with the shore by a 24 hp Thornycroft motor-launch
and the ship's boats.
The London and South-Western Railway grant special terms to members."
London Illustrated News Saturday 19/05/1906
Graphic Saturday 19/05/1906
"The Duke of Sutherland is Commodore; Sir Boverton Redwood, Vice-Commodore and
Lieutenant Mansfield Cumming who commands the boom which would be thrown across the entrance to Southampton Water in time of war is Rear-Commodore."
The Sketch Wednesday 23/05/1906
Rear-Commodore Lieutenant Mansfield Cumming started MI6, became "C" who in turn
became "M" in the James Bond films.
Above - Promenade Deck, Smoking Room and the Boom Boat
HMS "Argo"
Above - Drawing Room and
Dining-Saloon
OLYMPIC GAMES - LONDON 1908
+
Motor Boat Races in 1900 - 1910
Netley Hard, off Southampton Water
The location of and facilities available on the "Enchantress" attracted many of the 1910s Motor Boat Races to the Hamble Peninsular. The crowds lined the coastline to watch both marine and air competitions and trials, bringing trade and custom to the area, giving the economy a major boost.
Folk whose names are famous to this day, Thomas Sopwith, Harry G Hawker, F P Armstrong, pioneers and later partners in well-kent companies such as Sopwith Aviation, Hawker Aircraft, Hawker-Siddeley, Armstrong-Siddeley; their days of trialling new craft were spent off the coast of Netley Abbey, courtesy of the "Enchantress" and the affluent and influential members of the
Royal Motor Yacht Club.
"Members of the Royal Motor Yacht Club will learn with pleasure that his Royal Highness,
the Duke of York has consented to become Commodore of the Club.
It was a singularly unfortunate circumstance which deprived the RMYC of their
floating club-house, Enchantress .
Much time has been spent by the club in trying to obtain suitable quarters in her place
and, after considerable consideration, it is now definitely decided to
establish the Club Headquarters on Hythe Pierhead."
Hampshire Advertiser 03/07/1920
The Jubilee Hall, New Road, Netley Abbey
1900 - 1990
The Jubilee Hall was built on the instruction of Miss Lydia Rashleigh to commemorate
Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887
One of the first social events at the Jubilee Hall was a musical and dramatic entertainment
in aid of Church Sunday School funds which was held in September 1887,
the Misses Rashleigh lending the Hall.
This was followed by a dramatic entertainment to raise funds for a Lending Library for the Parish.
In 1891, Mr John Pettit was the Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall.
He lived across the road at No 6 Arthur Terrace, New Road, Netley Abbey with his wife, Dinah.
He passed away in 1901.
Mrs Kill took over as the Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall in early 1902.
By 1907, Mrs Willis was Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall
Miss Lydia Rashleigh passed away in 1910.
Extracted from Hound Parish Council Minutes -
The Council decided to have a notice board erected at the Jubilee Hall, the cost not to exceed £1. It was also decided to revise the letting rates for the Hall.
Hampshire Advertiser 10/01/1914
At the Hound Parish Council Meeting on Monday evening, it was reported that the lettings for the Jubilee Hall in February (1914) amounted to
£3 16s 9d."
Hampshire Advertiser 06/03/1914
In 1920, Mrs Sharp is the Caretaker.
The receipts for the letting of the Jubilee Hall for the month amounted to £4 10s 6d
Hampshire Advertiser 10/01/1920
In 1927, Mrs Eleanor Della Gana was appointed Caretaker of the Jubilee Hall.
She moved house in 1928 and was subsequently replaced as Caretaker.
Mr W Hamerton was asked to carry out various repairs to the Jubilee Hall
Hampshire Advertiser 20/08/1932
In its lifetime, the Jubilee Hall has been used as a Library, a "British Restaurant"
- see articles below -
a Theatre, an Auction Room, Polling Station, for woodwork classes and as a practice room for
Netley Orchestra - as well as for hundreds of social events, meetings, wedding receptions,
anniversary and birthday parties.
Sunday School was held here. Sharon (Butt) recalls that babies were weighed at the Hall
and her Mum says that they used to pay their rates there!
Despite all of these uses though, to date, no-one has been able to give me photos of its interior
(although I have been told it was pretty boring and dull)!
I haven't as yet found out when it was demolished but Sue Hill (thank you) told me recently that
Eastleigh Borough Council Planning Application No Z/28066/002/00 - Full planning dated 09/04/1990 covered the "Demolition of Existing Hall and erection of block of 4 maisonettes ..."
They are named Jubilee Mews but wouldn't a little blue plaque giving the Hall
a mention be appropriate?
Jubilee Hall R I P
The Map below shows three of the large Houses + Gardens which were well-known
by the Villagers of Netley Abbey and Old Netley in the 20th century
"Oakhurst", "Ingleside" and "Leigh Grange".
Whilst I was adding 1937 locations and residents on to my Ntley Residents' Register,
I kept coming across house names, the address of which was shown as Butts Road but which
if still in existence in 2018 were now listed as being in
St Mary's Road or Station Road.
Apparently that was around the year when Butts Road underwent a "takeover" by St Mary's Road
However, if I had been given a £1 for every time a "local" told me that
the only "Butts Road" was in Sholing, this website would be paying its way by now!
During my visit to the Hampshire Records Office on 27 September 2021, I found this letter
offering to gravel and make up the road known as Butts Road, Netley Abbey in exchange for an
extended lease on the Brickyard, dated 9 April 1903.
The Lives and Times of "Oakhurst", Butts Road, Netley Abbey
1887 - 1964?
Charles Henry Young Godwin + family lived at "Oakhurst" 1887 - 1892
Nathaniel Joseph Ede + family lived at "Oakhurst" 1899 - 1927
Nathaniel J Ede, Head, 64;Mary L Ede, Wife, 61; and 4 servants -
Letitia Green, 59, Cook;
Anne Reeves, 28, Parlour Maid;
Florence Whettle?, 20, Housemaid;
William Rothman, Groom
Mary Louise Ede passed away at "Oakhurst",
on 10 June 1902, age 62.
She is buried in St Mary's Churchyard, Hound.
Dr Joseph Wills kept a Diary of an early motoring holiday he and his wife took to Bexhill-on-Sea
in June 1906. In his Diary, he mentions that they lunched with Mr + Mrs Ede at "Oakhurst"
before they all went off to sightsee.
Later he remarks in his Diary that "the Edes had a rose on their house. a 'Lamarque',
from which they cut on two successive Sundays altogether 250 blooms".
The 1911 Census shows Nathaniel Joseph Ede, Retired Underwriter; his wife Laura Annie, their son Haines
+ 4 servants - Cook, Parlourmaid, Housemaid and Assistant Maid.
Nathaniel Joseph Ede passed away on 15 November 1915, aged 80 at "Oakhurst". He was formerly of Hong Kong. He was a member of the Royal Southampton Yacht Club and the owner
of the yacht "Calisaya".
Hampshire Advertiser 20/11/1915
Other Residents found at Oakhurst so far:
1930 - 1945 Sir Rayner Childe Barker
In April 1947, Captain George Edge applied to Winchester Rural District Council for permission to
convert "Oakhurst" from one large residence to a "smaller" house and 4 self-contained flats.
The Kelly's Directories below all show "Oakhurst" is now on St Mary's Road, Netley Abbey
1948 - 1949
No 1 Oakhurst - James McCarthy
No 3 Oakhurst - Leonard Parslow
No 4 Oakhurst - Thomas Husband
1954
No 1 Oakhurst - Roy Hollands
No 3 Oakhurst - Edward Gray
No 4 Oakhurst - James Macdonald
Both the above directories show George Edge at "The Woodlands", St Mary's Road, Netley Abbey
According to the Street Directory, in 1964 Mrs D H Edge is still living at Oakhurst, St Mary's Road
Between 1960 - 1964, George Edge is at "Flettons", St Mary's Road.
1960:
No 1 Oakhurst - Raymond Bloomfield
No 3 Oakhurst - David S Poole
No 4 Oakhurst - Miss M Smith
No 5 Oakhurst - Edward Middleton
The Lives and Times of "Ingleside", Butts Road, Netley Abbey
aka 19 St Mary's Road!
1898 - 1978?
The large house called "Ingleside" was demolished quite a while ago now.
Its grounds and gardens are under Ingleside (Road) in and around where Bembridge is now - which is the first left after turning in from St Mary's Road.
The dotted line ----- is the Railway Line
Chris Meikle gives us a tantalising peek inside Ingleside and further down, outside in its Gardens ...
"Entering the building, the main entrance had two sets of double doors with a tiled floor.
Once inside the hallway, the oak panelled walls and high ceiling led to the large square hall/reception area.
Step back to just inside the entrance and on each side of the hallway was a sitting room, each with high almost floor to ceiling windows and large fire places. Returning to the square hall area was the grand oak staircase with a double landing with a stain glass window as the staircase continued up to the first floor.
Adjacent to the grand staircase was the doorway to the Billiard room with its oak wall panelling and a high ceiling and a full size table. The fire-place was large and impressive.
Along the outer wall of the Billiard room was the entrance to the conservatory/orangery that went
almost the full length of this side of the house.
Continuing from the Hall/reception area along a now narrowing hallway led to the door to
the Dining room.
The grandness of the hallway now changed as you entered the domestic/servant area.
Next I think was a prep room; then at the end of the hallway was the door to the
kitchen and scullery.
In the small hall just before the kitchen, was the servants' entrance door and the box with
the "servant room service call system". Opposite this was the service staircase to the first floor.
The first floor had about 15? bedrooms, and at least one bathroom all serviced from the main
and servant staircases.
On the top floor (which would originally have been the servants' quarters),
there was now a self-contained flat."
"The driveway continued around the front side of the building to the former brick built stable that
had been converted into garages with a hay loft above.
Behind the stable building was an apple orchard.
There was also a plot of land from the railway embankment to the side of the Stable building about the size of an allotment, used for growing fruit and vegetables and had wooden potting sheds and a greenhouse running parallel to the veg plot and the front lawn tennis court.
The boundary on this side of “Ingleside” ran at a right angle from the railway embankment along the edge of the allotment plot to the end of the apple orchard. This boundary backed onto a large field owned by Frampton’s Farm and bordered in the distance onto Grange Road.
At the rear of the house was a second tennis court, overlooked by the kitchen and dining rooms
and a couple of the first floor bedrooms."
Courtesy of the documents I found at the Hampshire Records Office (in September 2021), we now
know that the first owner/occupier of Ingleside was indeed the Royal Victoria Hospital's
Professor of Pathology - Almroth Edward Wright
He is mentioned on numerous occasions on this website in the Pages about the history of the
Royal Victoria Hospital.
He married Miss Jane Georgina Wilson on 8 January 1889
He had leased the land from Tankerville Chamberlayne under an existing Indenture which
was due to expire in 1894. Both parties agreed to end this Indenture before its time and replace it with a new Indenture which would cover not only the land but also a residence and outbuildings
for which Professor Wright had incurred expenses in their erection.
The document below shows that he had been in communication with the Chamberlayne Family Solicitors soon after he arrived at Netley Hospital in 1892. Note his address below - "Oakhurst".
He and his wife moved into Ingleside in 1898.
The 1898 map below shows that there are no gardens included in the Ingleside plot.
The 1901 Census shows -
Sometime during their time at Ingleside, between 1898 and 1909, Almroth and Jane had its gardens designed and commissioned.
In 1910, the Wright Family sold "Ingleside" and moved to 6 Park Crescent, Mayfair, London.
[Much of the above information was supplied by Chris Meikle - thank you]
Let's read Chris's description of Ingleside's extensive Gardens -
From the road entrance, a curved gravel driveway to the house was lined with mature Rhododendrons and fir trees leading to the impressive frontage that had a large gravelled turning area.
Directly opposite the house, was an immaculate grass verge an ornamental fish pond that was U-shaped with a rockery in-between and filled with alpine plants. Beyond this was the main grass tennis court.
The outlook from the front of the house was beautiful.
The gardens wrapped around the whole house.
Beyond the tennis court were very tall trees and at ground level what used to be well-tended gardens that went all the way down to the Bunney.
In the early 60s, this part of the gardens had been taken over by nature and become almost completely overgrown.
The garden area that was opposite the Billiard room was quite enclosed with
tall pine trees and a stunning monkey puzzle tree.
It was probably the shadiest area of the grounds and what grass there was, was always covered with pine needles.
The overgrown part of the garden that led down to the Bunney had many different varieties of Rhododendrons that looked a real picture when they came into flower.
At the far end of the grounds next to the Bunney and stream, (but within Ingleside’s boundary) was a large ornamental pond that, in its day, would have been a cool and peaceful place to sit, on a warm summer’s day."
1910 - 1921 had Thomas Roberts + his Family living there
Thomas was born on 10 May 1840; Miss Florence Willcock Gavin was born on 20/02/1855
They married on 8 March 1883
He died on 16/09/1920; his wife on 23/06/1948
They had seven children.
The 1911 Census shows Thomas; his wife, daughter Winifred Maud Mary +
3 servants - Cook and 2 housemaids
I think it says that Thomas is a "Divisional Judge with the India Civil Services
After the death of Thomas Roberts in 1920, "Ingleside" was once again put up for sale.
However, two military gentlemen appear to have been there in 1920:
Lt Geoffrey Gavin Roberts, Royal Field Artillery
Major Montagu Frederick Grant, 29th Company RAMC.
1922 - 1945 saw Dr Edwin Arthur Peters and his Family living at Ingleside
On 16 April 2020, the grandson of Dr Edwin A Peters, contacted me via my website. Geoff gave me new details about his Grandfather's life at Ingleside including a photo of the man himself. Geoff and his sister are checking to see if they have any photos of the house.
In the meantime, here's what Geoff told me -
"My paternal Grandfather was born on 16/04/1868 and died in 1945 when my Dad was just 10. The old rascal had my Dad (Henry) when he was 66 and he was almost 70 when my Auntie Margaret was born. He lived at Ingleside with his first wife; they had two daughters. He remained there with his second wife, my Grandmother, and that's where my Dad grew up. My Dad never spoke a great deal about his formative years although I remember one conversation where he recalled it being 'quite posh'.
Edwin's death was reported in the Times and the British Medical Journal so he was clearly a man of some standing. He also wrote books/papers/studies regarding his work as an Ear, Nose + Throat surgeon.
Edwin's daughters restored the Lychgate at St Mary's Church in 1949 and installed stone plaques."
“Much sympathy is felt for Dr Peters of Ingleside, Netley Abbey, in the loss of his wife who passed away at a London Hospital early last week after an illness.
Mrs Peters was well known in Netley and will be greatly missed. The funeral took place at St Mary’s Hound Churchyard on Friday afternoon.“
Hampshire Telegraph and Post, 07/08/1931
In 1933, Dr Edwin Peters, aged 65, married Margaret Robertson Allan Mains, age 36.
They had two children - Geoff's Dad, Henry and his Aunt Margaret.
After the death of Dr Edwin Peters in 1945, Ingleside was once more put on the market.
George Cosier was the successful buyer of Ingleside in 1947 and once it had been
modernised and redecorated, he and his wife, Elsie, daughter Betty and his two Grandsons,
Gordon and Alan moved into separate areas within the house.
Please click on Shared Village Stories l to read more about the Cosier/Meikle Family
at Ingleside between 1947 - 1971.
Tenants at Ingleside
Mr + Mrs Frances L Payton rented rooms in the house while Mr Payton was a
hairdresser working at George Cosier's Hairdressers at 33 - 34 Victoria Road, Netley Abbey
in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Their son, William got engaged in 1949.
Mrs Melinda Carlile, a widow, was a tenant in the self-contained top floor flat in the 1950s - 1960s.
Chris relates the following:
"When I was a child, Mrs Carlile, a former teacher helped John, Roger and me to read.
Mrs Carlile had many fascinating items from her travels with her husband but the most amazing to me, as a child was the Tiger's head and skin rug, it was huge and filled her sitting room floor.
The story was that the tiger was shot in India by her husband during a game shoot in the 1920s."
"Ingleside" was sold in 1971. It is believed that the new buyers were the Callaghans.
When it was actually demolished is unclear but by 1980, the house was gone and Laing + Co
who had acquired other land in that area several years before, started to build the current
housing estate known as Ingleside.
The Lives and Times of "Leigh Grange"
Butts Road, Netley Abbey
1891 - 1939
Centrally situated and built of mellowed brick with a tiled roof, Leigh Grange contains the following well-planned accommodation -
a Hall;
Cloakroom;
2/3 Reception Rooms;
4 Principal and 3 Secondary Bedrooms;
2 Bathrooms;
Compact Domestic Offices.
Main electricity, water and drainage are connected. Good outbuildings.
The gardens which are a feature of the property extend to a total area of just under 2 acres.
Hampshire Telegraph 23/06/1950
The earliest resident I have found so far -
1891 - 1895 Commander Leslie Stuart, RN
with his wife Elise; his father-in-law, Edward ? and Jane Gillingham, Cook on the 1891 Census
Next -
1895 - 1906 Edward Mardon Millman, Retired Paymaster-in-Chief, RN
with his daughter, grand-daughter, son-in-law, niece and 2 servants on the 1901 Census.
Followed in -
1911 - 1913 by Colonel Robert A Gwynne Harrison (Retired), late RN
with his wife, Alice Ann and 3 Servants - Lady's Maid, Cook and Parlourmaid on the 1911 Census
More residents -
1923 - 1932 Major and Mrs Norman Deakin
In 1923, Major Deakin was given permission by South Stoneham Rural District Council to add
a brick garage (and fencing) to the side of his residence.
Major Deakin died in 1925.
1937 - 1946 Edward Francis Usborne, Southampton County Councillor +
his wife Edith Constance
Mr Edward Francis Usborne of Leigh Grange, Netley Abbey who has represented the division
including the villages of Netley Abbey and Bursledon for the past nine years
on the County Council has no opposition.
Hampshire Telegraph 26/02/1937
Major C Randolph remarked that he was sorry to see the Councillor there and Mr Usborne replied with a smile,
"I am only glad to have had the experience."
Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 18/03/1937
1939 - Peter W Gallup, Company Director; Dorothy A Collins, Domestic Cook
1953 - Lieutenant H Michael Woolrych
Peter Curtiss contacted me via this website on 13/05/2020 to tell me that
he had lived at Leigh Grange as a child.
His father was Flight Lieutenant John Curtiss serving at Air Service Training in Hamble.
His sister is still(?) looking for some old photos to share here!
"HILTON"
off Abbey Hill heading to Weston Shore,
(Top left corner of map below)
It was possibly built fo Sir John Hilton, Baronet who lived at Woolston 1847 - 1848.
It was originally a detached three-storey house with stables on the woodland side. It was situated in Westwood, accessed from Abbey Hill /Weston Shore.
The remains of the steps in front of which its two driveways converged, are currently clearly visible as you walk down Abbey Hill. The driveways have been swallowed up by the rhododendrons sadly.
Several years after the Brett Family moved out, the top floor and attics were removed leaving a double-fronted bungalow as shown here.
Past Residents of "Hilton" so far ...
1895 - 1896; 1899
Sir Richard Charles Percy and Lady Gethin
May one presume from the articles right that either Lady Gethin didn't get anyone first time round or she did but the person was found to be somehow lacking?
1907 - T M Williams
1912 - 1917 Alfred Hewett
1920 - William Henry Hughes,
Fleet Paymaster, HMS “Northbrook”, Royal Navy
1925 - Ernest Brett, daughters Mimi + Dorothy, and twin sons. Mimi kept house.
The twin boys collected butterflies and bird eggs and kept them in the attics.
It was thought at the time that Mrs Brett had been French because "Mr Brett read French books
and he had named his daughter "Mimi"!
Source: Memories of a Past Village Resident
From 1936 to 1945, Reginald Keevil, his wife, son Graham and his daughter lived at "Hilton".
"SIMLA HOUSE"
75 Station Road, Netley Abbey
1900 -
Its first owner was Sergeant Major Owen Johnson, late of the 2nd Battalion of Dragoon Guards.
He had been a patient at the Royal Victoria Hospital where he met his wife, Annie who was the Army Schoolmistress.
In October 1900 his Plans to build a private detached house were approved.
The Architect was Mr Fred J Oborne, Fairlawn, Station Road, Netley Abbey.
Then in September 1903, Mr Johnson applied to make alterations and additions to Simla House.
Owen and Annie Johnson and their son, Douglas, lived at Simla House until 1907 when they
moved next door to "Lynton".
Many of the residents below were medical staff who lodged at Simla House whilst serving
at the Hospital.
1901 - Denis O'Donoghue, 26, single, Surgeon-on-Probation at RVH
1901 - William Brown, Surgeon-on-Probation, Army Medical Corps
1907 - Major Alexander Jasper Chambers
1911 - Major Bertram Arthur Graham Shelley, Royal Engineers; wife Beryl Hubbard;
daughter Mary Graham and son John Graham. They had 3 Servants living in.
1912 - 1913 John Taylor Bricknell
1916 - 1920 Major Frederick William Hall
1927 - Alfred H Whelan
1927 - George William Sellex
1937 - 1946 Mrs Wheatley
1951 - Dr Spencer Dobson, his wife Jean Margaret, nee Berry and newly-born daughter
Katherine Susan.
Talking to Ted French in early 2020, he brought me up to speed on some of the more recent changes of ownership of this house.
By 1971, it had become a well-loved Family Hotel called the "Benfields House" and then a few years later, the Ray family bought it and changed its name to the "Victoria Park" Hotel where I hear many
wedding receptions took place!
However, its high running costs proved too much and the house was put up for sale once more.
Left - as Victoria Park Hotel; right - its replacement today in 2023
WAR MEMORIALS
Hound Fallen Remembered
The War Memorial in the Churchyard of St Mary's Hound
1914 - 1918
I have researched many of the names on the Memorial Cross.
Please click on Contact Me if you wish to learn more about any of them.
Roll of Honour
At the Hound Parish Council Meeting on Monday last, it was agreed to place a “Roll of Honour” of those Parishioners serving in HM Forces in the Jubilee Hall.
It will be of a temporary character at present but later it is to be hoped to make it
both complete and permanent.
Hampshire Advertiser 06/11/1915
This took just over a year to create - see below -
In total, more than fifty men of our Parish died in the 1914 - 1918 War with many more returning home with physical and psychological injuries, the latter in those days referred to as "shell-shock".
Boys behind the War Memorial - Paul Keast + Maureen Queen
PARISH ROLL OF HONOUR 1944
In 1944, St Edward's Church Newsletter gave details of those Parishioners
serving in the Forces.
I have transferred the names to a spreadsheet - please use
Contact Me if you wish to know more.
War Memorial at St Edward the Confessor Parish Church
