Glad All Over
by Robin Gill
William Ewart Gladstone was not everybody’s “cup of tea” unlike Earl Grey! He certainly didn’t agree with Benjamin Disraeli, and in later life was not to Queen Victoria’s taste. But one young lady from New Malden called Daisy Helena Christopher from Grafton Road wrote to the former premier on the occasion of his birthday in December 1895, and it is worth reproducing her letter here:
“Dear Sir
I wish you many happy returns of your birthday. I hope you have many happy birthdays yet. My dear father, who has gone to heaven, was so pleased that I was born on your birthday. I am only 13, but I hope soon to be able to earn something to help my dear mother and afflicted brother. With kind regards to dear Mrs Gladstone, and again wishing you many happy returns of your birthday.
I am, dear sir, yours very truly
Daisy Helena Christopher”
Nowadays, the cynics amongst us would regard all this as a mixture of spin and hyperbole, but with the assistance of modern technology we are able to go both backwards and forward in time to find out about this family.
Daisy’s father Alfred had been appointed groundsman (and umpire) for Malden Wanderers in March 1889 and reappointed in 1893 even though he wasn’t well. He was also honorary secretary and verger at the Congregational Church (URC), a member of the local Liberal and Radical Club and living in Grafton Road where he died on 18th September.
By the time of the 1901 census we find the family still in Grafton Road, but Daisy’s elder brother also called Alfred after his father is no longer there, we find him in the workhouse at Kingston (close to the site of the hospital) described as a pauper, but employed as a grocer’s assistant.
Forward ten years to 1911, we find that Daisy has married (to Alfred Malins) a fruiterer from Kingston, they have two children (and one adopted), and are living in Wimbledon. Christiana (Daisy’s mother) is living with them, and probably being supported by them. Unfortunately, Daisy’s brother Alfred is now in the Surrey Asylum at Woking described as an “imbecile”
Under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913 an imbecile was defined as somebody “incapable of managing themselves or their affairs”, whereas an idiot were “unable to guard themselves against physical danger” Alfred died in the asylum in 1915 aged 36, one can only imagine the life he had.
Daisy came back to New Malden with her family, and lived in Burlington Road where she died in 1962.
Liberal society
Gladstone had strong connections in the Coombe area, and stayed there many times. In the 1860s the area was known as a place where many bankers had built houses to live within easy reach of London. Many of these bankers were of the Liberal persuasion, the first of these to move to the area was Edward Charles Baring (Barings Bank) who had a property on Coombe Lane which he called Coombe Cottage. In 1863, the existing small ivy clad house was enlarged, and more land acquired. Gladstone often called at the house, and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) was a frequent visitor on Summer Sundays when the gardens were a sight to behold.
Mr Bertram Currie of bankers Glyn Mills Currie and Co soon followed Baring to the area, having a large property called Coombe Warren built in 1863 in 15 acres of grounds. These houses together with Warren House the home of Lord Wolverton formed a triangular base of closely knitted properties where the owners had much in common both politically and financially.
The family moved into the property in September 1863, and their first child Mary was born at Coombe Warren on 17th July 1864. By 1865 Bertram had been elected onto the committee for the successful return of the Liberal candidates for the East Surrey, and the unsuccessful return for Mid Surrey in 1868. Coombe Warren burnt down 29th January 1870, when a fire was discovered in a room near the kitchen. The local fire brigades were called, but suffered from a limited supply of water, and with the family being in London there was no one to authorise the breaking of windows to recover paintings etc.
A new substantial house was constructed in 1870/1 again to designs by George Devey. Built of red brick with Dutch gables and wide bay windows, it incorporated some of the buildings still standing after the fire. The art collection in the house included paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Brughel, and Rubens. Bertram grew to love the place which was entirely his own creation including his principles of taste. The large formal gardens included an orangery which still remains today, along with the lodge house, and some of the walling.
Health Resort
The house was lent to Gladstone while he was recuperating from an illness in March 1884, for some weeks, and was, very unusually, the location for a Cabinet meeting on 29th of the month. The other members of the Cabinet arrived on a specially charted train from London.
The Prime Minister had initially arrived at Coombe at 4.30pm on 19th March with Mrs Gladstone and two attendants. The press was kept up-to-date on his health through daily bulletins.
A detective from Scotland Yard was placed on duty in the neighbourhood, with close scrutiny of any strangers, although Mr Gladstone’s arrival had been kept secret. Plain clothed policemen were also on duty in the house. Gladstone was suffering from a bronchial condition, and had to have total peace and quiet. Mr Currie and his family stayed away in London while Gladstone in occupation of the house. The Prime Minister was confined to the property for the first four days, before being able to walk in the grounds, visiting the orangery, and greenhouses. He returned to Downing Street on the Monday.
Sometime after the cabinet was held, a large brass plaque was placed in the room of the house where the council meeting took place. In front of the house, on a small piece of lawn, there was a building liken to a Grecian temple, the centrepiece of which was a bust of Gladstone.
Gladstone returned to Coombe in July, this time staying at Warren House, the home of Lord Wolverton. This was a property he was to visit frequently over the next few years.
In 1890 Currie hosted a garden party on behalf of the local Liberal Association which drew 4000 supporters, and in 1893 he was appointed High Steward of Kingston. He was already a Justice Of The Peace for Surrey and High Sheriff of London. In October 1896, he left Coombe for the very last time knowing he was terminally ill with cancer.
Lord Wolverton had died in 1887, while Currie died on 29th December 1896; Edward Baring died the following year and Gladstone himself in 1898.
Mrs Currie died in 1902, she was largely responsible for the building of St Agatha’s Catholic Church in Kingston. The couple were also associated with other local institutions. Her husband had adopted the Catholic faith shortly before he died.
The younger generation of Curries only lived in the property during the summer months, and the grounds were sometimes used for political fetes and garden parties. During the first world war, the house was offered by the family as an auxiliary hospital.
The house was demolished in 1926, and the grounds were replaced with new housing with a house named Coombe Moor occupying the site of the old property.
Showing political allegiance has changed over the years. I can’t image anybody having a temple containing a bust of Vince Cable, Jeremy Corbyn, or Theresa May, but who knows what goes on in the back gardens of suburban Malden and Coombe.
by Robin Gill
William Ewart Gladstone was not everybody’s “cup of tea” unlike Earl Grey! He certainly didn’t agree with Benjamin Disraeli, and in later life was not to Queen Victoria’s taste. But one young lady from New Malden called Daisy Helena Christopher from Grafton Road wrote to the former premier on the occasion of his birthday in December 1895, and it is worth reproducing her letter here:
“Dear Sir
I wish you many happy returns of your birthday. I hope you have many happy birthdays yet. My dear father, who has gone to heaven, was so pleased that I was born on your birthday. I am only 13, but I hope soon to be able to earn something to help my dear mother and afflicted brother. With kind regards to dear Mrs Gladstone, and again wishing you many happy returns of your birthday.
I am, dear sir, yours very truly
Daisy Helena Christopher”
Nowadays, the cynics amongst us would regard all this as a mixture of spin and hyperbole, but with the assistance of modern technology we are able to go both backwards and forward in time to find out about this family.
Daisy’s father Alfred had been appointed groundsman (and umpire) for Malden Wanderers in March 1889 and reappointed in 1893 even though he wasn’t well. He was also honorary secretary and verger at the Congregational Church (URC), a member of the local Liberal and Radical Club and living in Grafton Road where he died on 18th September.
By the time of the 1901 census we find the family still in Grafton Road, but Daisy’s elder brother also called Alfred after his father is no longer there, we find him in the workhouse at Kingston (close to the site of the hospital) described as a pauper, but employed as a grocer’s assistant.
Forward ten years to 1911, we find that Daisy has married (to Alfred Malins) a fruiterer from Kingston, they have two children (and one adopted), and are living in Wimbledon. Christiana (Daisy’s mother) is living with them, and probably being supported by them. Unfortunately, Daisy’s brother Alfred is now in the Surrey Asylum at Woking described as an “imbecile”
Under the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913 an imbecile was defined as somebody “incapable of managing themselves or their affairs”, whereas an idiot were “unable to guard themselves against physical danger” Alfred died in the asylum in 1915 aged 36, one can only imagine the life he had.
Daisy came back to New Malden with her family, and lived in Burlington Road where she died in 1962.
Liberal society
Gladstone had strong connections in the Coombe area, and stayed there many times. In the 1860s the area was known as a place where many bankers had built houses to live within easy reach of London. Many of these bankers were of the Liberal persuasion, the first of these to move to the area was Edward Charles Baring (Barings Bank) who had a property on Coombe Lane which he called Coombe Cottage. In 1863, the existing small ivy clad house was enlarged, and more land acquired. Gladstone often called at the house, and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) was a frequent visitor on Summer Sundays when the gardens were a sight to behold.
Mr Bertram Currie of bankers Glyn Mills Currie and Co soon followed Baring to the area, having a large property called Coombe Warren built in 1863 in 15 acres of grounds. These houses together with Warren House the home of Lord Wolverton formed a triangular base of closely knitted properties where the owners had much in common both politically and financially.
The family moved into the property in September 1863, and their first child Mary was born at Coombe Warren on 17th July 1864. By 1865 Bertram had been elected onto the committee for the successful return of the Liberal candidates for the East Surrey, and the unsuccessful return for Mid Surrey in 1868. Coombe Warren burnt down 29th January 1870, when a fire was discovered in a room near the kitchen. The local fire brigades were called, but suffered from a limited supply of water, and with the family being in London there was no one to authorise the breaking of windows to recover paintings etc.
A new substantial house was constructed in 1870/1 again to designs by George Devey. Built of red brick with Dutch gables and wide bay windows, it incorporated some of the buildings still standing after the fire. The art collection in the house included paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Brughel, and Rubens. Bertram grew to love the place which was entirely his own creation including his principles of taste. The large formal gardens included an orangery which still remains today, along with the lodge house, and some of the walling.
Health Resort
The house was lent to Gladstone while he was recuperating from an illness in March 1884, for some weeks, and was, very unusually, the location for a Cabinet meeting on 29th of the month. The other members of the Cabinet arrived on a specially charted train from London.
The Prime Minister had initially arrived at Coombe at 4.30pm on 19th March with Mrs Gladstone and two attendants. The press was kept up-to-date on his health through daily bulletins.
A detective from Scotland Yard was placed on duty in the neighbourhood, with close scrutiny of any strangers, although Mr Gladstone’s arrival had been kept secret. Plain clothed policemen were also on duty in the house. Gladstone was suffering from a bronchial condition, and had to have total peace and quiet. Mr Currie and his family stayed away in London while Gladstone in occupation of the house. The Prime Minister was confined to the property for the first four days, before being able to walk in the grounds, visiting the orangery, and greenhouses. He returned to Downing Street on the Monday.
Sometime after the cabinet was held, a large brass plaque was placed in the room of the house where the council meeting took place. In front of the house, on a small piece of lawn, there was a building liken to a Grecian temple, the centrepiece of which was a bust of Gladstone.
Gladstone returned to Coombe in July, this time staying at Warren House, the home of Lord Wolverton. This was a property he was to visit frequently over the next few years.
In 1890 Currie hosted a garden party on behalf of the local Liberal Association which drew 4000 supporters, and in 1893 he was appointed High Steward of Kingston. He was already a Justice Of The Peace for Surrey and High Sheriff of London. In October 1896, he left Coombe for the very last time knowing he was terminally ill with cancer.
Lord Wolverton had died in 1887, while Currie died on 29th December 1896; Edward Baring died the following year and Gladstone himself in 1898.
Mrs Currie died in 1902, she was largely responsible for the building of St Agatha’s Catholic Church in Kingston. The couple were also associated with other local institutions. Her husband had adopted the Catholic faith shortly before he died.
The younger generation of Curries only lived in the property during the summer months, and the grounds were sometimes used for political fetes and garden parties. During the first world war, the house was offered by the family as an auxiliary hospital.
The house was demolished in 1926, and the grounds were replaced with new housing with a house named Coombe Moor occupying the site of the old property.
Showing political allegiance has changed over the years. I can’t image anybody having a temple containing a bust of Vince Cable, Jeremy Corbyn, or Theresa May, but who knows what goes on in the back gardens of suburban Malden and Coombe.
