Samuel Westmacott – A Pioneer of Swindon nonconformity

Reading between the lines of this fulsome obituary Samuel Westmacott sounds a force of nature with strong opinions and not afraid to voice them. He was even temporarily expelled from the Methodist church on the issue of “original sin”…

The Late Samuel Westmacott – A Pioneer of Swindon nonconformity.- A funeral sermon in memory of the late Mr Samuel Westmacott, of New Swindon, who died on the 17^th ult., at the age of 63 years, was preached recently in the Regent Street Primitive Methodist Chapel, New Swindon, to a large congregation, by the Rev. T. Pinnock, of London

Taking for his text II. Timothy iv., verses 7 and 8, “I fought the good fight,” the rev. gentleman preached an excellent sermon, and in referring to the life of the deceased Methodist, said Mr Westmacott was converted when 19 years of age. He had lived in Swindon nearly all his life, only removing on one occasion to Purton for a short time, and had worked earnestly in the cause of Methodism.

He was a long way in advance of his time, not being prepared to adopt the theology of the Church, and consequently he and several others with him were expelled for a time, the question on which the expulsion took place being “original sin.” Deceased was a man who held very strong views, and sometimes in expressing them he unintentionally wounded the feelings of even his dearest and strongest friends. But under his rough exterior there was a warm heart, which those who knew him well at once recognised.

Mr Pinnock mentioned that he himself was the minister at Swindon when that chapel in which they were then assembled was built, and he had no hesitation in saying that had it not been for the efforts of Mr Samuel Westmacott the church would not have been built at that time. At a meeting in the year 1875, when the proposed erection of the church was discussed, the members of the committee, to the number of 24, decided to postpone the erection of the building, and they were just about to close the meeting when Mr Westmacott rose and presented the matter to them in a different light to what they had seen it before, and by the sheer force of his will converted the meeting to adopt his view of the matter, and they resolved to proceed with the building at once. And whilst the church was being built Mr Westmacott rendered great assistance, both personally, financially, by his counsel, and in every possible way.

Extracts from the Swindon Advertiser, Saturday, October 31, 1891.

Samuel Westmacott died aged 63 years at 30 Bridge Street. He was buried on September 21, 1891 in plot E8399, a grave he shares with his wife Ann who died in 1908 aged 79.

The military service of the Rodway and Sellwood families, Gorse Hill

Image of Chapel Street, Gorse Hill published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

The lives of the ordinary people of Swindon never cease to amaze me. When I began researching the Rodway and Sellwood families of Gorse Hill I discovered a combined military history spanning almost 70 years.

Ellen Rodway was born in 1856 in Newport on the Isle of Wight, the daughter of Joseph Rodway, a soldier who served in the 28^th Regiment of Foot from 1843 to 1864. In 1861 Joseph was serving in St. Helena, Coast of Africa, where Ellen’s brother, Joseph Thomas and sister Jane were both born before the family returned to England. By 1871 Joseph Rodway and his family were living in Barton St. Michael, Gloucestershire and in 1881 they were in Stratton St. Margaret where Joseph, the former soldier, worked as a railway porter. And we tend to think people didn’t move about much in the old days!

Joseph Thomas Rodway would later enlist in the Royal Marines, serving for more than 20 years. His son, William John Rodway, aged 16 in 1911, was a soldier in the Kings Royal Rifles and on census night of that year was staying with his uncle William Rodway at 126 Chapel Street.

In 1881 Ellen Rodway married Henry Sellwood who had recently retired from B. Brigade R.H.A. (Royal Horse Artillery) aged 24 and was described as a Royal Hospital Pensioner. Henry settled down to a job in the railway factory and married life in Gorse Hill.

In 1891 the couple were living at 116 Chapel Street with their four children, Henry 9, Joseph 6, Rosa 4 and one year old Robert. By 1911 they had moved to 95 Edinburgh Street, which remained their home until Ellen died in 1940.

Henry died in 1918 and was buried on October 17 in grave plot B2850 joining two of the couple’s sons – Robert Charles who died in 1907 aged 19 and Joseph William who died in 1914 aged 28.

Ellen died on May 7, 1940 at her son’s home in Broad Street aged 83 years old. Her funeral was reported in the North Wilts Herald. She was buried on May 11 and joined her husband and two sons in grave plot B2850.

Ellen’s mother, Kate Rodway, died at 44 Chapel Street in 1901. She was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on May 7 in grave plot A317, a public grave. Her husband, that old soldier Joseph who served in the 28th Regiment of Foot for more than 20 years, died at 126 Chapel Street in 1910 aged 84 and was buried with his wife on September 3.

Mrs E. Selwood

The funeral took place on Saturday, of Mrs Ellen Selwood, of 95, Edinburgh-street, Swindon, who died on 7 May, at her son’s home, 66 Broad-street, a few days before her 84^th birthday. The service at the *Russell Memorial Church was conducted by Rev. Burgin, who also officiated at the interment in Radnor-street Cemetery.

Chief mourners were: Mr F.R. Selwood (son and daughter), Mr W. Rodway (brother), Mrs C.D. Love (granddaughter), Mrs. E.M. Selwood (daughter-in-law), Mr T. Robins, Mrs E. Bell, Mrs. L. Scott, Mrs M. Griffiths.

Funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. A.E. Smith and Son, 24, Gordon-road, Swindon.

North Wilts Herald, Friday, 17 May, 1940.

Image of Cricklade Road, Gorse Hill published courtesy of Local Studies, Swindon Central Library.

*The Russell Memorial Church was built in 1890 on the corner of Cricklade Road and Edinburgh Street. It was named after Thomas Russell the early missioner.

Ethelwyn May Collett – wife of the GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer

Charles Benjamin Collett – GWR Chief Mechanical Engineer 1922-1941

It is relatively easy to find out a great deal about Charles Benjamin Collett, OBE, Chief Mechanical Engineer at the Great Western Railway.

He has gone down in history as a well-respected, modest man who designed the iconic fleet of “Castle” and “King” Locomotives yet lived an unassuming lifestyle alongside the railwaymen and their families in the railway village.

Charles and Ethelwyn Collett’s home in the railway village

He was born on September 10, 1871 the son of journalist William Collett and his wife Mary. He was educated at the Merchant Taylors School Charterhouse Square and later studied at the City and Guilds College of London University. He was articled as a pupil to Mr Joshua Field, of Maudslay, Sons & Fields Ltd., London before joining the GWR in 1893 as a junior draughtsman. He then became assistant to the Chief Draughtsman and in 1900 Technical Inspector and later Assistant Manager. By 1919 he was Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer before succeeding George J. Churchward as Chief Mechanical Engineer.

Rather less is known about his wife.

Ethelwyn May Simon was born in 1876 the daughter of Henry Simon, a Congregational Minister who served as Pastor at Westminster Chapel from 1876-87, and his wife Annie.

Charles and Ethelwyn married at St. George’s Church, Bloomsbury on November 4, 1896. It is said that the couple were very devoted and that Charles was greatly affected when Ethelwyn died in 1923, the year in which he launched the record breaking Caerphilly Castle Locomotive.

Ethelwyn was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on March 23, 1923. Charles purchased two grave plots numbered Section A2517 and A2518. However, it seems unlikely that his intention was to be buried with his wife when the time came as a note in the burial registers reveal that Ethelwyn was buried in the centre of both graves.

Radnor Street Cemetery Jon stands at Ethelwyn’s unmarked grave

Ethelwyn lies in an unmarked grave, which is probably what Collett wanted. He lies in an unmarked grave in Gap Road Cemetery, Wimbledon, which he shares with two other unrelated persons. Apparently, he requested that his grave should also go unmarked.

Elm Villa and Marlow House

Two interesting properties, long since demolished, and the story of one woman who lived in both of them – Adelaide Carlton.

Messrs. Bishop and Pritchett are favoured with instructions from Mr C. H. Barker to sell by auction, at their Sale Room, Regent Circus, Swindon, on Monday, September 28^th, 1903, at Seven o’clock in the evening …

Lot 2 – The substantial stone-built residence, of roomy accommodation, known as “Elm Villa,” Wellington Street, Swindon, with flower garden and lawn, a useful shed with paved floor, off which are harness room and well-fitted stabling, having a loose box and three stalls with loft over, a large coach house with loose box, and a yard with good entrance from Merton Street.

These managers residences or villas (Marlow House is on the left) were built to the north of Swindon Station. Similar houses had once stood adjacent to the Railway Village but were demolished in the 1870s.

Images published courtesy of STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway

Adelaide Carlton’s last resting place with her husband Samuel in Radnor Street Cemetery.

Private Francis James Gleed – Royal Army Medical Corps

456089 Private Francis James Gleed of the Royal Army Medical Corps died on October 28, 1918. He was not killed in action, neither did he die from wounds or disease, but he did die as a direct result of his military service.

Francis James Gleed was born in 1893 the third of four sons of blacksmith striker Thomas Gleed and his wife Elizabeth. Unlike his two elder brothers, Francis did not follow his father into the railway works but instead took up a tailor’s apprenticeship.

Francis enlisted in Swindon on May 11, 1915 in the Royal Army Medical Corps and was posted with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on November 30, 1915. His military service would last for 3 years 199 days, most of it spent in Egypt. Francis continued to serve in the 231^st F.A. before being transferred to France in May 1918. Three months later he was granted 14 days leave to the UK, the last time he would see his family in Swindon.

His medical notes detail the nature of his injury which occurred in March 1916 when he was loading an ambulance train in Minia Station, Egypt. He was working with a bearer party when he strained himself, causing a hernia. An operation was successfully performed, but Francis complained of a recurrence in October 1918. After wearing a truss with unsuccessful results he was admitted to the 32 Casualty Clearing Station and then transferred to the 54 Casualty Station before being moved to the 7 Stationary Hospital where he died on October 28, 1918. His cause of death was an inguinal hernia caused by a weakening of the muscles in the lower abdomen.

Francis James Gleed was buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille on the northern outskirts of Boulogne. The inscription on his headstone as submitted by his mother Elizabeth reads – Life’s Work Well Done Life’s Race Well Run Life’s Crown Well Won Now Comes Rest

In 1921 Thomas Gleed took receipt of his son’s 1914-1915 Star Medal followed a year later by his British War and Victory Medals.

On April 22, 1919 Francis’s personal effects were returned to his family. They were listed as follows:

Letters

2 religious books

Valet safety razor in case

Metal cig. Case

Pipe

2 titles

Purse

2 wallets

Photos

Note book

P. cards

Safety razor & blades in tin box

Defaced coin 5 cts coin ½

However, there was something of far more significance that Elizabeth wanted returned. She acknowledged receipt of the above mentioned items and wrote:

There is my sons 2 pairs of scissors one large and one small and a pen knife white handle – should be pleased if you could find it and send it on. Yours truly E. Gleed.

The scissors were possibly tools of his tailoring trade tangible reminders of the son she had lost and the career he had pursued at home in Swindon.

Francis James Gleed is remembered on the Gleed family headstone in Radnor Street Cemetery.

“Say what sons & brothers should be. They were.”

Hubert John Deacon – jeweller and watchmaker

Image of Hubert John Deacon published courtesy of Deacons website

I’m sure the name Deacon will be familiar to many, but did you know Hubert John Deacon was also a leading figure in the Baptist Church, Swindon.

The jewellers at 11-13 Wood Street was founded in 1848 by George Deacon who was later joined in business by his two nephews Hubert and Joshua.

Hubert John was born in Trowbridge in 1846 and joined the business in the late 1860s, during what was a period of considerable expansion for the family firm.

In the online company history Hubert is described as an entrepreneurial figure. He was the first President of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce in 1893 and was responsible for supplying Swindon’s first public clock on the Town Hall. He also brought the plot of land on which Deacon Street was built and named in his honour.

By 1881 he and his wife Susan had moved in over the Wood Street shop where they lived with their six children, cousin William Nash who was a watchmaker apprentice, Ann Shackleton, a jeweller’s shopwoman and two young servant girls. The Deacon children would eventually number ten. The youngest, a daughter was named Dorothy Decima.

Hubert was succeeded in the business by his only surviving son George. Today the family firm is in the hands of Richard Deacon and his sister Sara, the 6^th generation

Image of Deacons store published courtesy of Deacons website

Death of Mr H.J. Deacon

50 Years a Resident in Swindon

Public Activities

The death took place on Thursday at Margate of Mr Hubert John Deacon, who was associated with the public life of Swindon for over half a century. Mr Deacon, who was 81 years of age, had been in delicate health for some time, and succumbed to an attack of bronchitis.

For many years Mr. Deacon carried on business as a jeweller and watchmaker in Wood Street, a business that was established by his uncle, Mr George Deacon, nearly a century ago. On the death of his uncle, Mr. Deacon succeeded to the business. His son, the late Mr. George Deacon, entered the business, but died at a comparatively early age, and it is now carried on by the widow, Mrs Mildred Grace Deacon, under the style of Deacon & Son.

The late Mr. Deacon first married Miss Lay, of Harwell, Berks, who predeceased him soon after they celebrated their golden wedding when they resided at “Grovelands”, Springfield Road. They had a family of two sons and eight daughters, and two daughters survive. Deceased married again when he went to Margate to reside.

An ardent worker for many years in connection with the Baptist Church in Swindon, Mr Deacon was a member when the old church was in existence at the corner of Bridge Street and Fleet Street. He took a prominent part in the scheme for building the Tabernacle 40 years ago, and gave liberally to the church funds. On the retirement of the late Mr. W.B. Wearing as superintendent of the Sunday School, Mr Deacon succeeded to that post, which he filled with success for many years. He was also a member of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland.

Interest in Public Work

Mr Deacon was associated with many enterprises in the town, notably the Swindon Permanent Building Society, of which he became successively vice-chairman and chairman, and witnessed a wonderful advance in that society as the town grew.

The public work and interests of the town always commanded his attention, and his greatest interest. He was for a number of years a member of the Local Boards, and afterwards of the District Councils of Old and New Swindon, and was also one of the first members of the Corporation, when Mr. G.J. Churchward was Mayor. He also devoted some years to Poor Law work as a member of the Swindon and Highworth Board of Guardians.

Of the Swindon Horticultural Society he was a great supporter, and his lovely garden and grounds at “Grovelands,” which he frequently lent for social gatherings in connection with churches in the summer months, were evidence of his love for flowers.

Mr. Deacon also interested himself greatly in the Victoria Hospital, with the establishment of which he was associated, as well as with its opening in Queen Victoria’s Jubilee year. For some years he was vice-chairman of the committee of management. He was one of the founders of the Old Swindon Traders’ Society, which was the forerunner of the Swindon Chamber of Commerce. Of the latter body Mr. Deacon was the first President. He was also a former chairman of the Swindon Plate Glass Insurance Society and for some years chairman of the Southern Laundry Company.

Bowls was his only out-door sport, though he did not play that extensively. He was a member of the Westlecott Club, and was instrumental in its formation.

In various other spheres the deceased did good work in the town.

Extracts from the North Wilts Herald, Friday, January 28, 1927.

This is the last resting place of Hubert, his wife Susan, their daughters Honoria Edith and Winifred Elsie and their son also named Hubert John. Susan died in Swindon in 1920 aged 73. Hubert died in 1927.

Charles and Annie Guley and their two soldier sons

Edward George Guley was born on January 25, 1895 and baptised at St. Paul’s Church, Swindon on July 7. He was the second son of railway carriage fitter Charles Guley and his wife Annie. In 1911, the last census taken before the outbreak of war in 1914, the family lived at 8 Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill. All three men in the family worked in the railway factory. Charles as a Railway Carriage Fitter, his eldest son Harold Charles Guley was 19 and employed as an Engine Fitter apprentice and part time student and Edward George Guley was 16 and a machine boy and part time student.

Both Charles and Annie’s boys enlisted – possibly together, and both served in Basra. Harold was nearly 24 years old, Edward was 20. Harold’s service records have survived but unfortunately Edward’s haven’t. Harold served in the Royal Army Service Corps and Edward in the 5th (Service) Battalion. Harold returned home to Swindon at the end of the war; Edward didn’t.

The First World War campaign in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq) cost 85,000 British casualties, one of whom was Edward George Gulley, killed in action on March 29, 1917.

The 5th (Service) battalion were in action on the 25th January 1917 when they assaulted the Turkish front line, one flank of which rested on the Hai River which they had crossed only a month before. They took heavy casualties in this action. On the 25th of February they crossed the River Tigris and by the end of the month after hard marching they were 40 miles short of Baghdad. On the 10th March they made a night river crossing over the Diala River establishing a bridgehead and taking 120 prisoners in the process. The way to Baghdad was open and the battalion was the first to enter the city. At the end of March the battalion advanced on Turkish positions 35 miles north of Baghdad near Daltawa. They sustained heavy casualties in this attack. In April and May they continued the advance up the line of the River Adhaim with contact being made with the Russians operating from the Caspian Sea. They then took up defensive positions between the rivers Tigris and Adhaim, East of Samara. In early December they advanced towards Kara Tepe, with the battalion pursuing the Turks through Sakaltutan Pass. They paused at this point and ended the year reorganizing and training.

The Rifles Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum

Edward has no known grave and is remembered on the Basra Memorial. He is also remembered on a plaque raised by his colleagues in the GWR Works, which now hangs in the STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway

Annie survived the war and the loss of her son, but what was survival like for her? Did parents ever recover from the loss of their boys? I doubt it. Her husband Charles was buried in Radnor Street Cemetery on January 5, 1928 in plot D245 where Annie joined him on June 20, 1933.

Down Your Way – Old Town

The ‘fur coated women of Old Town’ received a bad press when the Swindon Advertiser interviewed local bus drivers and conductresses during the Second World War.

“They expect to be picked up and put down outside their own homes, regardless of the approved stopping places, take twice as long as the average passenger to leave the bus because they are too busily engaged in a conversation which almost monopolises the vehicle, and invariably need change from a half crown or a note,” reported the Advertiser.*

Read about some of the former residents of Goddard Avenue who were hopefully less annoying!

William Rowland Bird – chief chemist at GWR Works and Scout Leader

Phyllis Mary Peters – Railway Clerk

William Dorling Bavin – Swindon’s War Record

*Swindon at War was a series of articles published in 2011 sourced from the Swindon Advertiser 1939-1941 and compiled by myself.

Police constable Frederick Scammell and his family

Is this the original Bridge Street Club where Frederick William Scammell moved to when he left the police force?

Born in Donhead St Mary in 1872 Frederick was posted to the Police Station in Eastcott when he married Catherine Noad at Christ Church in 1897.

By 1901 he was serving in Shalbourne, Wiltshire. The couple had three sons Philip Edwin, Norman Robert and three weeks old Maurice Frederick.

Of these three boys two would enlist in the Wiltshire Regiment during the First World War. Philip, 19, was discharged just 13 days after he enlisted in Devizes in 1914, declared “Not being likely to become an efficient soldier.” Maurice died on January 14, 1917 in hospital in England. His cause of death was a fracture to the base of the skull, but it is not known how this happened.

But in 1901 this was all in the distant future for Frederick and Catherine. In 1911 Frederick was serving in Corsley Heath, Warminster. He was 38 years old and Catherine 37. They had been married for about 13 years and had 6 children who were all living.

Frederick died in 1918 when the burial registers record that he was Club Steward at the Bridge Street Club. He was buried on March 4 in grave plot C3468.

Catherine moved to Gorse Hill where she ran a shop at 147 Beatrice Street. She died at the Glenwood Nursing Home and was buried with Frederick on February 9, 1928.

Their son Philip Edwin, who was spared the ordeal of serving in the First World War, was buried with his parents in 1965.

Railway Stories

I’m having a rather expensive sandwich and a cup of tea (not many people drink tea now, I find it’s become an ‘old persons’ beverage) in a coffee bar which proudly boasts on the signage that it was ‘established 1999.’ It is situated in the former railway factory established slightly earlier – in 1843!

The model train has just done a circuit – a nod to the railway history of the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet Village. In all fairness there are plenty of reminders – machinery, overhead cranes and the war memorials to the railwaymen who gave their lives in two world wars.

There is still a generation of railwaymen around who can remember the Works when it closed in 1986 making 1,100 redundant. A far cry from the glory days of the 1920s when there were more than 14,000 on the payroll.

As I sit here enjoying my sandwich and (generous) mug of tea, listening to the hum of conversation around me, I think of all those men who spent a lifetime grafting within these walls.

You may like to read the stories of some of them – see below.