Johnson Batchelor
The following is taken from a memoir written by Mr Batchelar when he was 86 and living on Brockham Green. Mr Batchelar was born 22 March 1801 Betchworth, the son of John and Ann and he was to die 18 March 1890 aged 89 years.
The extract:
Now that I have attained to the good old age of 86, my grandchildren seem to have a particular wish for me to note down many little incidents that I can remember through this long life from my boyhood up to the present time. I have not the least objection to do so, to the best of my abilities but I fear I shall not be able to make such a good job of it, I know I shall not be very interesting or amusing and so dark that I can't see the lines, now midday but hope to be excused, being troubled with a nasty complaint called Exsmoore, which seems to take the thoughts of that irritable feeling itching which gets almost like a charm.
I being more at home than at school, I never had much schooling, and the first school that I went to was a Dame School, a Mrs James Harmans. Her husband was called Scotch Harman a labouring man, this I should say was 80 years ago. The next was a very good school kept by a Scotch man and again I was more at home than at school. The school stands now where it stood 80 years since, in Betchworth Common Fields, the only school at the time for Brockham, Leigh, Buckland, Headley and Walton that is a good school, the master's name was John Oliver, and he was Parish Clerk besides. The school has been very much enlarged since and is now a Board school.
All the Gentleman's Head Gardeners were all Scotchmen. I forget all their names, Elmslie, Gill, Button, Gibson and Coshpool.
I believe we found our own books and we paid 8d a week for being taught. This master was Steward to Chas Henry Bouverie Esq. at Betchworth House but he was an unprofitable servant he proved to be.
Then came Henry Goulbourn Esq. who was father to the present Col. Goulbourn, owner and occupier of Betchworth House.
In order to be able to bring to my memory any matters respecting the affairs of the Inhabitants I shall take the Chief of the Inhabitants as they come along. I shall begin at the top of Brockham Hill.
The name of Sir Benjamin Brodie the owner and occupier of the estate called Brockham Warren, built by Mackey Brown Esq. who I believe occupied a post in the House of Commons I believe sold it to John Hackblock Esq. who made the present carriage road at the side of the hill from Dorking and Reigate main road, through the fir plantation, that I remember the trees being planted, near 80 years since. Mr Hackblock sold the estate to the first Sir Benjamin Brodie, who I believe was Serjeant Surgeon to the present Queen of England and Empress of India. The second Sir Benjamin Brodie was the Professor of Chemistry at the Oxford University.
I now come to a small cottage now in the occupation of Martin Burberry. I can remember the family 70 years ago the name of Blackbird who had a most unfortunate daughter, She was very deformed in the feet. She was obliged to walk as it were toes over toes, the feet turning in one over the other. She was in the family way and at last the man agreed to marry her and they were married at Betchworth Church and the next morning a child was born. She squinted and altogether she was quite an object to look at, all this I remember well.
The law in cases like this is now very much altered. If a man refused to marry the girl, he was taken up and sent to jail till the child was born, then she had to swear the child and he the man would be allotted £2 for the lying in to pay and from 2/- to 2/6d per week till the child was 14 years old, and the man set at liberty, with instructions to pay the money up to a certain time and if not paid would be sent to jail again, perhaps if it was a gentleman's child, they would double the amount or make him pay down a lump sum.
I never heard of what became of this Blackbird family, there is none here now, or for many years.
Now I come down the hill passing the two cottages at the side of the Dorking and Reigate main road, the name of Whiting and Sadler. (From the 1881 census, James Whiting, wife Hannah and son George, aged 7)
To John Tate's at Pudding Hole his house (Pudding Hole in the 1881 census, labourer in the Brick Yard) one half in this Parish and the other in Dorking Parish. 70 years ago was the name of Budd, it's on the south side of the South eastern line and South Side of the Dorking and Reigate Road.
I heard my Oldest Brother and My Uncle speaking of their walking the bounds they had to go through Tate's house and then they had to cross one arm of the River Mole, which caused a little amusement as once the Boat Capsized and Caused them to have a good drenching but none was drowned. The men would catch a Boy and bump his bottom against a tree if they found one on the boundary line to make them Remember the Place again.
The next place that I shall mention is Mr Daniel Ockleys, lies on the east side of the road, leading from the hill into Brockham, on the North side of the River Mole, and opposite is now called the Lodge, belonging to a lady the name of Anning formally called the Hodgman's when Mr Thomas Dod had it as a farm house 80 years ago. (Note there is a Dodd's Park off Wheelers Lane - spelt differently)
After him, Captain Morris, the old poet, who now lies buried in a tomb on the east side of Betchworth Church, with a neat iron railing round it. The house formally belonged to the Morris family, Col. and Captain John they were great friends of the Duke of Norfolk. The old poet Captain Morris belonged to the Beefsteak Club, he wore a blue coat with Gilt Buttons with a Gridir on crest on the buttons.
After the Morris's, I think was Templar Esq. Then I think William Bennett Esq. a Quaker who had a pair of emus and hatched some young ones, the first ever hatched in England. This was about in 1849 or 50 I think. Mr Anning purchased the place. Mr Anning died (1881 census, James, aged 48, a Produce Broker.) and left a widow, one son and three or four daughters (1881 census, 6 daughters).
The Road leading from the Hill, Dorking and from Betchworth formerly ran through or between Anning's and Oakley's. Mrs Anning's Grounds entrance, where the Chief entrance is now to the house, it ran in a direct line to the river within three feet of it, then with a sharp turn to the right within about fifty yards of the bridge then turn up over the Bridge into Brockham this Road was Cutting from the entrance of Mrs Anning's premises, I should say the bank on either side was 10 or 12 feet deep to the bed of the river in a direct line with the road, from the side of because my mother said when she was a girl brought up at Brockham she recollected seeing a boy in a flood time cross the river with a sack of flour on his horse's back and the people shouting to the boy to sit fast. I think when he got to the end of this deep cutting the water took the horse off his legs, so that he could not turn him over the bridge, but do the best he could to cross the water to the other side, they could only see the boys head and the horse's at one time.
I should say this was 90 years since I have been down this Old Road many times and turned to the right and over the left onto the bridge into Brockham.
The Duke of Norfolk bought part of Mr Ockley's garden that abutted up to the then Captain Morris's premises and made a straight road to the bridge as it now runs and put a gate to stop the Cattle from straying up into the Common Fields, I remember there was only a Hedge east and West of Morris's premises and the people used frequently to trespass by going over these hedges and go to the side of the river from one bridge to the other, this being the nearest cut to the Boro, or from the Boro to Betchworth instead of going round over the Green. I remember my father having an order from the Duke of Norfolk to put up a palisade fence on each side of the new road on Captain Morrises and Mr Ockleys also I remember having an order to put up a high fence exactly as it is now to enclose the east side of the Captain's premises, once as near as I can recollect it was about 1812 or 13. Father had an order to put up a palisade or two for the Duke to see how it would look, and it happened to be on Betchworth Club Day in the morning about 70 years ago, but here has been a new fence put up since. I remember same sort. The other part of Mill Hill belonged to the estate as far as the Gates on the Hill leading to Betchworth Church.
Now I am over onto the south side of the River Mole on the North side of the Green. In a cottage lived Richard Laker, a gardener to Mrs Anning, where a man the name of Gransby a very fine looking man, a fondling, next Henry Andrews a gardener; Wm. Ayres commonly called Butty Ayres an old Veterinary Surgeon and Blacksmith. The next is a villa in which lived William Rose Esq. the owner and occupier of this Villa, and owner of the two cottages afore mentioned he was the Phleizer at No I Pump Court Temple, London. He died at Brockham 11th February 1845 aged 79 years who now lies buried in Betchworth Church Yard. On the left hand side of the footpath leading to the Church from Brockham. He was Great Grandfather to the children I am now writing my Recollections for.
The next is John Woodman formerly Wm. Felton, next Mrs Alexander, Sawyer; Parfeet now Isaac's, Lesney and others.
Next Mr Wm. Smith a New Built (1886) public House called the Royal Oak, the next was the Old Royal Oak, (From the 1881 census, the Oak was run by Henry Unwin, his wife and daughters, aged 20 and 17) the licence being transferred to the new one now let to Mrs Wait for a Lodging House, formally kept by Mr John Bower nearly a century ago when he built it. The next (the Meadows) Sir Ashley Cohen formerly E. Noy Esq. the next the Methodist Chapel formally under a trusteeship of the Burberry family, and now Thos. Goble and others.
The next is Mrs Robertson (Old Inn Cottage) her husband was for many years in the Custom House in London owner and occupier formerly Mr Thomas an old Shipwright, but before him was Mrs Reynolds a Good old Lady, reckoned to be very charitable leaving a gift of 2/6 yearly to old women.
The next is the old public house, the Duke's Head, lately let to a man the name of Covey formally James Street 70 years ago, with many others since.
Now I commence on the west side of the Green the Chapel Ministers House (River Cottage) Mr Bittle Aubonet. And now next (Providence Cottages) (Providence Place, 1881 census) Mr G. Sherlock, T Risbridger, (1881 census, Thomas, a tailor, aged 60 and his wife and son) T Streeter (1881 census, Edwin, aged 28 a boat maker, employing one person, Mary, 33, and son aged 4 and Mm. Streeter) Wm. Waterer, (1881 census, a labourer on the roads, aged 75, his wife and grand daughter, aged 11 and a lodger, a Blacksmith.) or Taylor, (1881 census, Mary, aged 64, a former beer house keeper) called Bank.
Next Mr Baker (Birch Cottage) formally seventy years since the Revd Chas Smith a Desenting (sic) Minister the Father of Chas. Smith Esq. a Solicitor of Reigate, who was twice elected mayor of Reigate who filled the office with Great Dignity and Honour who I believe is now dead.
The next is the Grove a Mr Orme Esq, a private Gentleman was occupied 70 years since by Mr Fox a farm bailiff to the owners Henry Peters Esq. of Betchworth Castle about 70 years since. He was unfortunate in his management; too many winners and foolish fancies - such as offering to give a load of manure for a load of couch to plough into the land, it was reported that he lost £3000 for the Old Squire and it was said that Fox died in the Croydon Workhouse, of course Mr Peters could not keep him any longer, poor old man. I went to Mr Oliver's school with his daughter. The next (Brooklands) is Mrs Bowman whose Husband (1881 census, Henry, a retired architect) bought the estate of Mr Sherwood of Ludgate Hill, who nearly rebuilt the house and Mr Bowman added Greenhouses, Conservatories and it formally belonged to Mr Richard Noble some 70 years ago.
The next (White Lodge) is Mr (Richard) Reeves formerly Captain Young, built by Mr Ray, the owner.
The next (North View) is a small cottage occupier Widow John Harman. (1881 census, a retired farmer, aged 83, wife, aged 57) formerly the Ditch ran in front of the house, then occupied by the name of Harry Lee had to cross the ditch on a board.
Next is Mr James Bowyer (1881 census, wife Rebecca, nephew, Cuthbert, aged 17, daughters Harriet, aged 3 and Annie, aged 1 and three servants) formally Mr John Harman Baker, Tailor and Grocer. He was father and grandfather to the late two John Harmans.
Next is Mr Mark Elson (Rose Cottage1881 census, aged 64, employing two men and one boy, wife Ellen) wheelwright, formally Miss Niblet of Dorking who married Mr Thomas a Shipwright.
Next Mr Stephen Powell, formally his uncle Wm. Powell, both shoemakers 50 years ago next was Mr Parker, adjoining tenants. (Rickstones was once two houses)
The next is Mr John Belchambers, (1881 census, age 39, wife Mary Ann and son John, aged 6, three grocery assistants, one clerk, and one servant) dealer in Provisions, Grocer, Tea Dealer, Pork Butcher, Baker occupier and owner. The Post Office formally Mr Peter Hoare, same trade 80 years ago. He was called Donkey Hoare by the Vulgar.
The next is four cottages, (Church Cottages, demolished in 1968) the names now is Mrs Richard (1881 census, Elizabeth) Bishop, Mrs Joseph (1881 census, Sarah, aged 59, a charwoman) Lindsey, John Fuller, plumber and painter, formerly Richard Wood, J Boltwood, John Smith and Dame Wright.
Next Widow John Worsfold, (The Chemist Shop, 1881 census, Hannah, a widow, aged 51 and two daughters, Eliza, aged 25, and Lavinia, age 23.) schoolmasters.
Next is Arthur Batchelar, (1881 census, farmer of 103 acres, employing six men and one boy. Age 50, wife Katherine and daughter Grace, age 19) formerly George Tickner
Next is Widow Gray (1881 census, Maria, age 56) (Hope House) next Mrs Maskell (Denmark House), then used to be Rumbsy a shoemaker next Martin Ellis and Thos. Burberry, (1881 census, Brewhouse farm, Gardner, Domestic Servant, age43, wife, Maria, aged 33, daughter, Kate, age 7) next the Farm Yard, A Batchelars,
The next Johnson Batchelar, (1881 census, a retired tailor and grandson Arthur, aged 16) self, owner and occupier the next Thos. Risbridger, Shop and Tailor
The next is the Yew Tree Cottage was occupied by Mrs Elson (White House) who has just left thorough getting married to a builder the name of Laughton living at Eden Grove, Holloway, now Alfred Sasetus Mackrell (1887 and 8).
The next is Mr Balchin the Butcher new built house on purpose for him, opposite the pond, south end of the Green.
The next is a double cottage Mrs White, a widow and next Richard Humphrey, sexton and clerk. (1881 census, a tailor, wife Mary and grand daughter age 9, born in the East Indies), then some cottages (Brookside Cottages) belonging to Mr Sherlock on the other side of the road, same side as the Smith's and Wheelers Shop.
Mr Sherlocks House (Whiteways 1881 census, George, The Smithers, employing three men and two boys. Grace his wife and four daughters, Jessie, Florence, Lilian and Alice) then Dakers Park then Mr Henry Dods (1881 census, a retired farmer, son aged 44, housekeeper, Kezia - his step daughter, aged 53 and one servant) who rents the Park and House, once the residence (Brockham House) of the Revd. John Miller, the first Clergyman that came to preach in the new church 1845 at Brockham. Miss Joyce next, formerly Mrs Daniel Ferrard next George Parfeet formerly Roberts a Blacksmith 70 years ago or more.
Richard Worsfold or John, worker for 60 years at Pondtail Farm, then came his son Richard a labourer, next George Rose, Daniel Dolly, John Stilwell, (Dells Cottage).
Now on the opposite (Wheelers Lane) Kensett Esq. formerly Mr. Wm. and James Skilton wheelwrights and Mr Thos. Skelton a carpenter. I can remember his great grandfather living there a Wheelwright (Wheelwrights Cottage).
Next Lady Way who erected a Girls Orphan School. Next Mr Pullen a Blacksmith, formerly Thos. Haybittle, since dead, February 1888.
The next is a newly built Board School for Girls and Boys the master Mr Owen a good master and organist at the Church.
The next is the Vicarage. This was built for the Revd. Frances Cameron who married his servant Hannah Dale, who went to live at Crowerts near Hastings and Battle
The next is the Revd A.B. Cheales gardener. On the east side of the Green (Vicarage Cottage), Isaac Bishop, formerly Mr Edward Worley, a Corn Dealer 60 or 70 years ago, he was killed by a boar on the Green. The boar bit him trough the top part of the thigh and he soon bled to death. The boar belonged to Mr Howard at Court Lodge Farm, it was killed immediately.
The next is a new villa built by Mrs Ada Hope, (North and South Lodge), occupied by the celebrated perfumeries Masters Gosnell of Piccadilly. This villa stands nearly on the site of a very old house and noted for its architecture. It has been sketched by every artist in England, often two or three at a time.
The adjoining villas look north and south on the village green, occupied by H. R. Kempe Esq., the new church warden. The road leads to Court Lodge Farm, part of Mr Kemp's garden is on where formerly stood the old Butchers Shop, (1881 census, Balchins, Richard, wife Jane and eight children) close to the Pound formerly occupied by Mr Richard Burberry in the last century and great part of 1886. I ought to mention the names of the last tenants who lived in the ancient building who were Joseph Budd and his sister Susan, George Barns, Mrs James White Hilton and family George Waterer, Richard Dolly and family.
(According to J.B. James, Skilton was the Wheelwright in Wheelwrights Cottage when Sherlocks were at the Smithers.
Miss Joyce's house included a Blacksmith's. Where the (Surgery, now Builders) was a Blacksmiths called Pullen. On the far side of the Duke's Head was yet another Smithy)
Mr Balchin having left his old shop, I have penned a few lines of Friendly Welcome to him and his family on his coming to reside near me on Brockham Green:
Johnson Batchelar (sic)
If you view this beautiful Green around
You will find the Butchers old Shop is now pulled down
Where now this business over 100 years has been carried on
And the last Old tenant is gone to reside near the pond
In a well built house a Good Situation
Expressly built to suit his own occupation
On the 7th of March he made a Start
And I wish him success with all my Heart
His house and his shop so clean and so neat
And airy with all, it's bound to be Sweet
His Weights and Scales are just and true
So honour to Richard Balchin to whom all Honour is due
Death Rate in the Daily News June 20 1888. The Death rate in London again declined last week and was only 14.2 per thousand or lower rate than in any week since Sept 1885.
Same date. Between the 1st April and the 10th instant the Exchequer Receipts amounted to 17,288,943 as compared with 17,902,626 in the corresponding period of the last financial year and the expenditure of 17,309,570 as against 16,229,321£ on Saturday last the treasury balances stood at 4,012.170£ and on the same date last year at 4.619,649£
Now I come to the Church. This Church was built and endowed by Henry Goulbourn Esq. the eldest son of the Right Honble. Henry Goulbourn of Betchworth House, Chancellor of the Exchequer at his own expense, and endowed it with £40 a year. There was a great deal said about it before it was built such as where is the congregation to come from, even the Baptist minister said the Cattle ought to blow it down for robbing them of there (sic) pasture.
I as frequent attendant at Betchworth Church I often counted the number that used to attend the Church from Brockham on a Sunday to Church and it averaged about from 60 to 70 children and all. After the Church was built Henry Thos. Hope Esq. from the Deepdene came across to the church where he was taling (sic) that is Mr G Tickner and I. Mr Hope said he had a three quarter clock that he would give to the church if the inhabitants would like to accept of it, and he would I think he said give 10 or £20 toward putting it up and however he gave £30 in all for it. Cleaning and repairing it, but he said you have no stairs to get into the tower to wind it up, and Mr Tickner said we would soon find someone who would not mind being pulled up in a basket to do that. Mr Batchelar here would do that, I said oh yes if we can get the clock. Mr Freshfield made us a present of a bell a much larger one than the original one, and took away the old one. I cant (sic) recollect who put up the Stairs outside the tower to get into it. I mean who paid for it, however, we got the Clock the large Bell and an entrance into the tower from the outside. I think the Church could not of been built in a better situation for me. It did not obstruct my view in any way, I said to Mr Daniel Ferrard, something about the church, as she (sic) says you are like all the rest, you are too late you lock the door now the Horse is stolen, it could not be a better place according to my idea, but she did not know what I was going to say, so I said nothing, further she expected that I was against the Church being built where it is, because it took away the view of the Hill from her house and premises. She was altogether against the Church. I know the first Sunday that it was opened for Service the 12th day of January 1847 when the bell began to toll for Morning Service, I opened the front door, and saw the Revd. John Miller walk down the middle of the Green straight to Mr Rowerth the Churchwarden with his Black silk gown on. I thought what a fine sight it was to see with the bell tolling, it gave me such a thrilling sensation that it quite moved me to tears. I could not help myself. There seemed to be something Grand about it for Brockham, and that dawned on her, good for the rising generation I can't possibly describe my feelings at the time, after Mr Millar then the Revd. Frances Cameron then the Revd. Berryman. Alan Cheales succeeded the Revd Frances Cameron who is now the present Vicar who is a good man out of the church as well as in. He is a Great Rose grower and successful prize taker.
The next is Court Lodge House, the Residence of Mr Hatch what is termed a gentleman Farmer Formerly Mr Wm Tickner and a dozen before him. Since my memory and while my Father was building this house, I can remember the Mrs Constables from Horley, Millers attempted to Row in a small open boat into London, by the River Mole when it was over flown being a Great Deal of Rain when they came to the bridge opposite they were obliged to get out of the Boat and Drag it Round at the end of the Bridge, the arches being full, they had a young gentleman in the boat with them; a large Newfoundland Dog with a net covering, I should think this was for anyone to lay hold of if he went to the rescue if anyone fell overboard. However in going along under Box Hill the boat capsized when the poor young man floated under a stump of a tree growing out of the bank he was sent their (sic) that is to Messrs. Constables to get an insight of the milling trade. His father was a city merchant.
I think of those houses as I walk along they have a tale of their own to tell, there was the old Coutrt Lodge House my Father pulled down. I once remembered well and the old tenant Mr Unwins as he gazed on the ruins, he heaved some deep sighs and groans, he thought of the haunted old house when he saw the human bones, they were dug from under the stairs, and I make no doubt whoever it was, they were buried without funeral rights or prayers, Mr Unwins thought of his predecessory, and the mysterious tales that were told that he was not only a farmer but a daring highwayman bold. His high bred riders he kept in the dark and never to see the light the better to train them for their desperate deeps when seeking there (sic) pray (sic) at night, and whatever became of him I have never heard him named.
Perhaps like Jerry Abershaw died an ignominious death without remorse or shame. Miss Priscilla Wakefield writes in the new London, speaks of Wimbledon Common, as a spacious track of land on which highwaymen used formerly to perpetrate their midnight depredations hence. She add like house or Heath, on the opposite side of the River it was once deformed by a hideous range of Gibbets the reproach and disgrace of a civilised country from those body was here suspended on the ignominious tree as unworthy of heaven and of earth was one Abershaw who by his depraved deeds have been the terror of the metropolis and its vicinity. Jerry Abershaw was executed in August 1795 on Kennington Common the daring spirit which he manifested on his way to the gallows was the subject of general conversation near his gibbet was a caricature of Pitt and his duel with George Finlay the latter levelling his pistol at the spare form of the Premier was represented as exclaiming its as well to fire at a darning needle. Wimbledon as we have seen was Pitts favourite suburban walk. The Joke is that he chose it out of sympathy for that Jerry took purses with his pistols and Pitt with his parliaments, the one instrument being not much better then the other, but the highwayman did not confine themselves to midnight depredations.
Of course I can well remember their (sic) being so much talk about Jerry Abershaw being hung in chains on Wimbledon Common and we was that alarmed that they was troubled to make us go by ourselves and at the same time it was thought the Farmer was a highwayman at the court Lodge. We used to often heard of foot pads being taken up for Highway Robbery by stopping people and their carriages on the high road in a most daring manner with their pistols in hands.
I Johnson Bachelar having got so far in my road to my last home, I think I can't do better than sit down and commit to memory what I have seen as well as I a can, it may be amusing to some of the rising generation