The Life and Times of Arthur Henry Austen

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Rev Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh, Rector of Winterbourne 1875-1890 has always been something of an enigma in this Gloucestershire village, for he documented much of the life of Winterbourne but left little information about himself. This history draws together information from many sources and will be revised from time-to-time during ongoing research.
We acknowledge the generous help of:
Joanna Bailey, Winterbourne Parish Records
Ray Bulmer, Frenchay Museum Archives
Peter Delaney, Wargrave Local History Society
Mrs S M Farley, Hampshire Record Office
Penelope Hatfield, Eton College Archives
Denise Hope, Meran, Italy
Pauline and Patrick Currie, Suffolk
John Bosher,Vancouver BC
Gabriel Lyneham, Lambeth Palace Library
Mark Priddey, Oxford Record Office
Michael Riordan, St John's Oxford College Archives
Christine Seabridge, Rolls-Royce Technical Library
The British Library
The English Cricket Board
Wargrave Branch, Royal British Legion
Sussex County Cricket Club

Sources used:
Winterbourne, Gloucestershire
Dr CHB Elliot
History of Winterbourne
HWN Ludwell
The Book of Wargrave
Rosemary Gray, Sue Griffiths
Alumni Oxoniensis: the members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886
J Foster
Alumni Cantabrigiensis: a biographical list of all known students, graduates and holders of office at the University of Cambridge
J A Venn
Register of Admissions to King's College Cambridge, 1797-1925
John Withers
St John's College Biographical Register, 1775-1875
Mrs V Sillery (1987)
Crockford's Clerical Directory
Winterbourne Parish Registers
The Times

A potted Family History

Our Rector was born Arthur Henry Austen (Leigh was added a year later!), a great-nephew of Jane Austen, and his family history really begins in the 1700s.

Rev Thomas Leigh married Jane Walker. They had three children:
James Leigh, Jane Leigh and Cassandra Leigh.
» View the family tree
» View the family timeline

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James Leigh when age 21 was bequeathed the estate of his great-uncle Thomas Perrot so changed his name to Leigh-Perrot. James Leigh Perrot married Jane Cholmeley but there were no children. He died in 1817.
Cassandra Leigh married Rev George Austen (Rector of Steventon).
They had eight children, including Jane Austen and James Austen.
Rev James Austen married (Anne) Mary Lloyd and had two children:
Caroline Austen born 1805(author of "My Aunt Jane Austen") and James Edward Austen born 1798 (author of "Memoirs of Jane Austen")
All of this is well-documented in the "Book of Wargrave" and by Deirdre Le Faye in "A Chronology of Jane Austen and her Family 1700-2000".

Jane's nephew James Edward Austen married Emma Smith on 16 December 1828 when he was 30 years old.
They lived at Tring Park, and James Edward Austen was curate of the local church. Their first children were born at Tring: Cholmeley, born 26 September 1829, Emma Cassandra born 24 May 1831, and Charles Edward on 30 June 1832.
The family then moved from Tring park to Speen in Berkshire.
Spencer was born at Speen on 17 February 1834.

A Birth

Their fourth son was Arthur Henry Austen born 28 February 1836 also at Speen.
Here's a copy of his birth certificate, which shows that he wasn't born Austen-Leigh. He came into the world as plain Arthur Henry Austen!

Nanna made copious notes about family life. Arthur Henry Austen appears among over 51 names in a list of "Nanna's Grandchildren".

Elder brother Cholmeley Austen, (Amy)Emma Austen, Charles Edward Austen, Spencer Austen, Mary Augusta Austen-Leigh and Edward Compton Austen-Leigh are amongst the other grandchildren listed here.

When Jane Leigh Perrot died in 1836, James Edward Austen inherited the Leigh-Perrot estates, including the family home "Scarletts", and he took the name Leigh when their fortunes changed. The family moved to "Scarletts" in 1837 when Arthur Henry was only one year old, and this is when he became known as Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh.

It seems that Spencer Austen may have been renamed Spencer Leigh in January 1837 when he was 3 years old.
The rest of the children were born at "Scarletts":
Mary Augusta was the first Austen-Leigh, born on 2 February 1838 and Edward Compton was the first male Austen-Leigh, born 1 May 1839; Augustus was born 17 July 1840; George Raymond 20 December 1841 but he died at "Scarletts" on 4 July 1842 and was buried at Knowl Hill. William, the youngest of the ten children was born on 11 May 1843.

Education

James Edward taught all the boys Latin and Greek daily for half-hour before breakfast and two hours after. Emma taught them mathematics, and they had a tutor for other subjects.
Arthur Henry went to Cheltenham in 1849 at 13, where he won a maths prize.

The Bishop offered James Edward the Parish of Bray, one of the richest livings in the Diocese, and the family moved to Bray at the end of 1853.

Oxford College Days

Arthur Henry matriculated at Balliol College Oxford on 30 May 1855 and in 1857 won a Craven Scholarship. He was in the college rowing eight.

In 1857 Arthur Henry played First-Class cricket for "The Gentlemen of England" and for "The Gentlemen of Berkshire" 1860-1872. He came from a famous cricketing family - all the Austen boys were notable scholars and won cricketing blues. His father, James Edward, often lead the family team in matches such as Maidenhead v. eleven Leighs.
Here are the career statistics for Arthur Henry and his older brother Spencer (later Chairman of Sussex County Cricket Club)

Arthur Leigh He played for "The Gentlemen of England" in 1857. His record is given as: Arthur Henry Austen Leigh Born: 28 February 1836, Speen, Berkshire Died: 29 July 1917, Reading, Berkshire Major Teams: Gentlemen of England. Known As: Arthur Leigh Career Statistics: FIRST-CLASS (1857 - 1857) M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Batting & Fielding 1 1 0 34 34 34.00 0 0 0 0 O M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ Bowling - - - - - - - - - -

Spencer Leigh Spencer Austen Leigh Born: 17 February 1834, Speen, Newbury, Berkshire Died: 9 December 1913, Frog-Firle, Alfriston, Sussex Major Teams; Sussex. Known As: Spencer Leigh Also Known As: changed name from Spencer Austen in January 1837 Batting Style: Right Hand Bat Career Statistics: FIRST-CLASS (1857 - 1866) M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St Batting & Fielding 13 21 2 209 42 11.00 0 0 4 0 R W Ave BBI 5 10 Bowling 14 1 14.00 1-9 0 0

It is reported that a man travelled from Bristol to see Spencer in action as he had a reputation for making centuries.

Arthur Henry was awarded his BA (2Hons Lit Hum, 1^st Law) in 1859 and became a Fellow of St John's College.


The 1861 census shows that Arthur Henry, now aged 25, was living at 1 Frogfirle just south of Alfriston in East Sussex with an aunt, Caroline Austen, aged 55, and brothers Charles (28), Spencer (27) and Edward Compton (21). They had five servants, including a groom and his wife.

His brother Cholmeley married Melesina Mary Trench on 7 January 1864 in Westminster Abbey.

Arthur Henry became a deacon 18 December 1864 and a priest in 21 December at Church of Christ, Marylebone.

Arthur Henry's College Testimonial

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Revessedo admodum in Christo Patri Samueli Diocesis Nomine in Episcopo Cum Arturus Henricus Austen-Leigh A.B. Collegii divi Joannis Baptista Socius diaco- natus ordinem ambiens, literas nostras testi- monales de vita sua laudabili morumque probitate concedi sibi petient, nos ex personali nostra scientia testamur praedictum Arturum Henricum Austen-Leigh, quamdiu apud nos commoratus est pie sobrie et honeste vitam suam instituisse: quod vero ad religionem spec- tat, quantum scimus aut conjiciendo assequi possumus, cum nihil unquam scripsisse, docuisse vel tenuissi nisi quod Ecclesia Angli- cana approbat ac tuetur. In cujus rei testimonium sigillum quo in hac parte uti consuevimus affiscimus et manus nostras masentibus apposuimus Coll D Jo.Bapt xxxxxxx Novembris die 15o 1864 P Wyntor, Praes Edwardus Palin S.T.B Henricus L Mansel S.T.B Jacobus B Gray, A.M. Art:Deo: F A Powys S.T.B: Art:Deo:

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which translates roughly as:

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To the very Reverend Father in Christ, Samuel, in the Episcopal name of the Diocese: Since Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh, B A, Fellow of the College of John the Baptist, is seeking deaconal orders, and they want our testimonial letters concerning his praiseworthy life and the honesty of his manners to be handed on, we, from our personal knowledge, testify that the aforementioned Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh, for as long as he stayed with us, conducted his life conscientiously, soberly and honestly; in his attitude to religion, to the extent that we can know and understand through taking counsel, he never wrote anything, taught anything or held any view, except what the Church of England approves and upholds. As we are accustomed as our proof in this matter, we make our mark and put our signatures to the aforementioned testimony in this place. Coll D Jo.Bapt xxxxxxx Novembris die 15o 1864 P Wyntor, Praes Edwardus Palin S.T.B Henricus L Mansel S.T.B Jacobus B Gray, A.M. Art:Deo: F A Powys S.T.B: Art:Deo:

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He was awarded his MA in 1866, and became a curate 28 June 1867 at Bray (his father's parish)

The 1871 census showed Arthur Henry living at his father's vicarage in Bray with brothers Edward Compton and William and in September 1871, Arthur Henry and the two brothers went to the famous spa town of Meran in Hungary. They stayed at Hotel Erzherzog Johann.

Postcard view of Meran, Hungary.

Postcard of Hotel Erzherzog Johann, where the Austen-Leigh brothers stayed.

During Sept 1871 the following clergymen were also in Meran:
Rev J H Dundass, staying at Hotel Hassfurther
Rev Temple and family, staying at Hotel Hassfurther
Rev Edward Seymour of Dublin, staying at the Hotel Erzherzog Johann.
Rev Edward Sanderson of London, staying at Erzherzog Johann.
Rev W Brookes, an English vicar from Hyeres in France, staying at Erzherzog Johann.
Mr John Haiman, priest

Other English guests at Erzerzog Johann during September 1871
Mr Ch T Mitchell, lawyer
Mr Ch J Neal, of Kingsdon
Mr Walker Woodhouse
Mr W Jerdene Braikenridge
Mr William Slater, Notary
Mr Edward Henry Hamp, solicitor, Bedford
Mrs and Miss Hunt, Surrey
Miss Whitaker
Mrs Peck, Miss Ada Drew, and Julius C Drew
Miss Skelton
Capt and Mrs Humphreys

Postcard view of the Winter Promenade.

At the time, Edward Compton was an Assistant Master at Eton. The half started before the end of September so Edward Compton could not have been there for a TB cure. So were they all taking the Italian Grand Tour? Was it a convenient stop on the way home from somewhere else in Italy? Was it part of Arthur Henry's Craven Scholarship? Was he carrying out some function for the Anglican Community in Meran? Was he working with the SPG?
Or was it to visit someone else taking the cure? In the Meran Evangelical Cemetery is buried George Hodgson Wayte, and like Edward Compton and William was an Eton and King's College Cambridge man!
But the link appears to be that George's brother William Wayte was Assistant Master at Eton 1853-1875, during EC AL's time as Assistant Master. So current research is exploring that they may have planned to meet up in Meran with William Wayte and George Hodgson Wayte.

Arthur Henry's BD was awarded the following year in 1872.
His father James Edward died 8 September 1874.

Nomination to Winterbourne

1875 was Arthur Henry's final year as Fellow of St John's College, Oxford.
St John's College bought the advowson of Winterbourne in 1773. This gave them the right to appoint the Rector of the parish when there was a vacancy and it was normal in these circumstances to give preference to any Fellow of the College who wished to have the appointment.
This interesting snippet was found in the Victorian County Histories:

St. John's College, Oxford, are Patrons who always present the oldest Batchelor to the Living.

but as the source of this ancient article about the history of Winterbourne church has been discredited (transBGAS vol. 98 1980, 95-97) further advice was sought. The archivist at St John's College explained that when a college living became vacant it was offered to fellows of the college (who could marry once they left the college) in order of seniority. By the late nineteenth century reforms at Oxford meant that the fellows did not always take up the livings and so they were offered to former members of the college who were in Holy Orders.

His nomination by the College Fellows as Rector of Winterbourne was recorded in St John's College Register in scant detail. In the minutes of a meeting of the Fellows on 14 October 1875, the College Register simply records that Austen-Leigh was nominated to the Rectory. He was present at the meeting and didn't talk on the subject - so presumably it was a ratification of an earlier decision.

Mr A Leigh nomind to Winterbourn Mr Austen Leigh was nominated to the Rectory of Winterbourn. (vacant by the death of Mr F Burges)

Arthur Henry and Frank Burges probably knew each other as their fellowships overlapped, so Arthur Henry may well have known about Winterbourne. However, he may not have wanted the post at Winterbourne in particular. It may be that he wished to resign his fellowship for a well-paid living (it is likely that the attached stipend made it impossible to continue as a Fellow of the College). The college owned many livings, and it may be that Winterbourne was sufficiently rich and became vacant at the right time for him. Kelly's Directory for 1870 valued the living as £845:

The living is a rectory, yearly value £845, with residence and 90 acres of glebe land, in the gift of St John's College, Oxford, and held by the Rev Frank Burges, BD, of St John's College, Oxford

The minutes also record a dispute between the College and Bristol Grammar School:

Trustees of the Bristol School. A correspondence between the President and the Charity Trustees of Bristol Grammar School, on the subject of the Examination for the Bristol Scholarship, having been read, Fr Adams moved, and it was agreed, "that the College shall "only acknowledge the receipt of the protests of the Trustees "and the Headmaster of Bristol School"

St John's College Oxford was founded by Sir Thomas White in 1555 and he decreed in the College Statutes that two fellowships were to be reserved for boys from Bristol Grammar School, who became fellows as soon as they matriculated at Oxford. This custom continued until 1881.

A newspaper cutting about Arthur Henry's nomination to Winterbourne was found amongst the papers of his mother, Emma, annotated in her hand "from "The Guardian" October 20 1875":

Ecclesiastical Intelligence PREFERMENTS AND APPOINTMENTS. Rev. A. H. Austen-Leigh, B.D., Fellow of St John's College, Oxford; Rector of Winterbourne, Gloucestershire. Patrons, the President and Fellows of St John's.

Arthur Henry wrote this letter to his Aunt Caroline in May 1875 describing an unsuccessful attempt to trace some family history. At the end he mentions what is probably a reference to his nomination to Winterbourne.

18 Radnor Place          May 28. 1875  My dear Aunt Caroline  I have been staying for  a day or two with the L.Cures  in Essex, & on my way back I  thought I would stop at Epping    search the Registers & Monuments  myself to see if I could find  out anything more about  Mr Lloyd, or rather his wife.  My researches were not crowned  with much success, & all  memory of the family had long  "faded from the circle of the  hills"; so that not even the  old clerk of 80 years & upwards	retained any the tradition of an  incumbency that terminated  more than 100 yrs ago. The Church,  with its old red brick tower, & in  part with very old oak seats,    the red sounding board over  the pulpit, seemed all that  was old enough to have seen  the wigged dionie of Queen  Anne's time; & if the latter  could have spoken all it had  overheard it could have  repeated the sermons of which  we have the bare catalogue.  The Registers however showed  that there were several sons. They contained
the Baptisms of George, Stevenson,  John, & Nowes 1719 - sons John Lloyd  Vicar & Isabella his wife.  The Burials of  Charles, son of John Lloyd Vicar    of either George or John - I forget which  also of  John Lloyd Vicar Oct 8. 1753    of Mary, widow of John Lloyd late Vicar  Feb.12. 1762  This looks like a second wife; but  I could not find the burial of  Isabella nor any marriage of  John Lloyd. There was no  monument, though I looked at  all both inside & outside of the church	There was also the burial of a  brother of the Vicars - and in  one place the signature of  Wm Lloyd. Curate.  Could Isabella Mrs Lloyd have been  a Miss Stephenson?  You have of course heard that  a house has been taken. I have  not been all over it, but I approve  of what I have seen, & I think  the situation a very good one.  I remain  yr Aff nephew  A. H. Austen Leigh

All the Austen-Leigh boys signed family letters formally, with initials and surname!

Marriage

Mary Violet Hall-Say was born in Swaffham, Norfolk, but lived in Bray. The 1871 census records Mary Violet, aged 12, as living with her family at Water Oakley, Minden Road, Bray. Arthur Henry met Mary Violet while he was a curate in his father's parish in Bray, and they married. At the time of their marriage, Mary Violet appears to have been 17 and Arthur Henry 41.
The wedding took place at Bray Church in Berkshire on 26 April 1876 and was reported on Saturday in the Reading Mercury and a local paper. The best man was older brother Spencer, and the officiating clergy were his younger brother Augustus and the Vicar of Bray.
These newspaper cuttings were found in the diaries of Arthur Henry's mother, Emma.

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MARRIAGE OF MISS HALL-SAY. Among the noteworthy events of the week has been the marriage of Miss Mary Violet eldest daughter of R. Hall-Say, Esq., to the Rev. Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh, son of the late vicar of Bray. The ceremony was performed on Wednesday last, at Bray church. Thither several hundreds of residents in and around Maidenhead made their way in the sunshine, and the village put on a festive aspect. The church had been tastefully decorated, and a pretty arch of evergreens had been erected at the entrance to the churchyard. It was inscribed on one side "May they be Happy" and on the other "God bless Them." The sacred edifice was crowded, and the marriage ceremony was followed with much intentness. The bridal party consisted of the bride, her father, the bridegroom and his best man (Mr. Spencer Austen-Leigh), and nine bridesmaids. On their reaching the church, the organist, Mr E Harding, played an appropriate selection. The bride was given away by her father. The service was choral, and there were present a large number of past and present members of the choir. The hymns were 356 and 357, from "Hymns Ancient and Modern," The officiating clergymen were the Rev. Augustus Austen-Leigh and the Rev. W. B Hole, Vicar of Bray. After the signing of the register in the vestry, the bridal party left the church, the organist playing the Wedding March." The bride was in a handsome dress of white satin, with wreath of orange blossoms and tulle veil; and the bridesmaids in ecru satine, trimmed alternately in blue and pink. The bridesmaids were the three sisters of the bride, Miss Langworthy and Miss Alice McNaught (her cousins), two nieces of the bridegroom, Miss K and Miss E Austen-Leigh, Miss Thomson, and Miss Haig. After the ceremony the bride and bridegroom were requested to pass on foot through the churchyard to their carriage, and the bride's train was held by two children, her younger bridesmaids, Miss Kathleen Austen-Leigh and Miss Hilda Hall-Say. They returned to St. Ives Place to breakfast where about 70 sat down. The bride and bridegroom received from a large circle of friends a great number of very valuable presents. Among them were some beautiful gifts of plate and Dresden china. They left about 2:30, amid showers of satin slippers, rice, and flowers for Twyford, en route for Oxford and the Lakes.

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BRAY CHURCH.-On Wednesday last, the Rev. Arthur H. Austen Leigh (son of the late Vicar of the parish) was married to the eldest daughter of Richard Hall-Saye, Esq., of St. Ive's-place, Maidenhead. As the bridal party entered the Church, Mr. Ernest Harding, the organist, played selections from Mendelssohn's Clari" &c. The service, which was choral, was con- ducted by the Rev. Augustus Arthur Leigh (brother of the bridegroom), assisted by the Vicar, the Rev. W. B. Hole. The bride was given away by her father. On the bridal party leaving the Church the organist played the "Wedding March." There was a choice display of flowers, and at the entrance of the churchyard a hand- some evergreen arch was erected. The bride was attired in a handsome dress of white satin, with a wreath of orange blossom and tulle veil. The bridesmaids, nine in number, wore ecru sateen, trimmed alternately in blue and pink. The party retumed to St. Ive's Place to break- fast, where upwards of seventy guests sat down. The bride and bridegroom, who received a great number of valuable presents, left for Oxford, amid the congratula- tion of their friends, about three o'clock.

and of course, Nanna added the marriage to the list in her ledger!

Life in Winterbourne

Six months after the start of married life in Winterbourne, he wrote the following letter to his mother Emma on 24 October 1876. Sadly she died later that year. It describes rehearsals for one of their first public engagements in Winterbourne - the school concert - and telling of other events in the village.
It is difficult on the original to make out the word on line 3.

Oct 24. 1876  My dear Mamma       I hope you are comfort  -ably settled in again in London,  and that you found Wxxxxxxx  upon the whole a pleasant  residence. Perhaps it would  have been cold in this more  wintry weather. The first  cold has, as usual, brought  me a touch of rheumatism, but  not very bad. It suits Violet  who has been particularly brisk	& active the last few days.  She is much occupied with  practising for our school  entertainment on Monday  next; & this morning Mrs Richards  came to luncheon with two  friends to practise the duet  she is going to sing with Violet.  She & Maud had been practising  glees with the choir. Maud is to  take the solo in the Chough & Crow,  but the glee is a great deal too	ambitious & ought not have  been chosen.  They got through their songs at  Winterbourn Down the other night  very well, accompanying one another  Violet was very nervous, but both  she & Maud were much applauded.  Yesterday they went to Mrs  Callaghan's to hear a performance  of the Musical Society of the  neighbourhood, consisting of  several ladies and gentlemen. I only  came in for the last piece, something  by Leoly which was very pretty
nicely sung. At the end  we were elected members:  chiefly I believe because they  wanted gentlemens voices &  fancied I sang!  On Friday last Violet & I  heard the Messiah at Bristol.  I was more pleased with it  than I could have thought  possible. Titicus, Albani,  Isebelli & Patey were the  female singers - all capital  especially Isebelli: Cummings  Lloyd & Maybrick, the men	were hardly equal to them I  think. I do not think however  that Titicus is quite what she  was when I used to go to the  opera 14 years ago. I was much  struck with "For unto us" "These  Same Shepherds" "He shall feed his  flock" "Come unto me" "He  trusted in God" & the Hallelujah  Chorus.  I seem to write about nothing  but music, but the piano here  is never silent now. Maud is  always at it when she is not drawing	and when she is, Violet has a  turn.  One day last week we dined  at the Caves whom we had  not yet seen. One lady I sat  next began talking to me about  Willie & she turned out to be  Lady Eustace Cecil. She was  pleasant but far from pretty.  Her husband was there, and a  Lord & Lady Hatherton, also  Mr & Mrs Perry Watlington, I took  Mrs P. W. into dinner.
We saw some very fine Photos. after  dinner which Mr Cave had brought  back from Egypt.  Mr Say left us on Wednesday  in last week. I think he liked  his visit & admired the place.  We took him a drive one day  to Clifton, & I walked with him  other days. One evening Mrs  Burges and her brother came to  dinner, & behaved very well.  We played at the round games  with letters that Willie handed on  from Julia.  Miss Langworthy is coming here	on Friday & she & Maud will  go back together. One evening  we are going to take her to  dine at the Edwd Burges.  Maud not being ask will be left  at home. Tomorrow Violet & I  dine at the Fox's.   Violet has been making new  acquaintance with Mrs & the miss  Greenstreets & likes them. The  two miss Gs came here to luncheon  one day & they had a drive  with V & M. They seem ladylike  unaffected girls, & have been	work  well brought up: they look  very hard & are I fear poor.  I have heard today that  Mr Hart is going to leave town  next week for his new living  Bentley nr Ipswich, & that  a testimonial has been being  got up for him. No man  ever more richly deserved one.  I am sorry for xxx sake  that he is going to leave town
Wednesday  A contract for the work at  the church has been accepted  though not yet signed.  It is intended to commence  at once, & the Church will  be closed probably during  the 3 winter months,  which considering its situation  is not a bad time.  The belfry is already	under repair. The beams  are found to have been in a  very unsafe condition.  I shall soon have a printed  appeal about the Church  out & will send you one.  We shall want from 7 to  800 pounds I reckon.  The contractor is a man  in the village.  Where is Charles?	We have had a lovely day  and I have been a foot  the whole of it. I am very  busy having the dead wood  cut out of the trees here.  Two men have been at it 3 days   only done half: & then there  will be another week nearly  at the apple trees.  I remain  yr affectionate son  A. H. Austen Leigh

All the Austen-Leigh boys even signed letters to their parents formally!

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Here's the programme for that Winterbourn School Concert on Monday 30th October 1876, mentioned in the letter, where Arthur Henry did a reading and Violet sang a duet.

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Living in the Winterbourne Rectory

The present rectory was built by Mr. Whitfield, rector, who borrowed the money for the purpose from Queen Anne's Bounty, and was completed in 1834, the year of his death. The main approach to it was from Church Lane. Mr. Austen-Leigh made some additions to the house. (Eliot 1936)

Life in Winterbourne through the pages of the Parish Records and the Parish Post

During his time in Winterbourne, Austen-Leigh founded the village allotments, extended the Rectory, extended the Primary School and built St.Michael's Rooms. We can learn more by looking through the pages of the parish magazine - the Parish Post.

Parish Post 1878, January. St Michael's, Winterbourne. NOTICE. This Magazine will be published every month in the parishes of Winterbourn, Winterbourn Down, Frampton Cotterell and Coalpit Heath. The outside sheet will contain parish notices, one page given to each of the four parishes. The contents of the Magazine will supply much pleasant reading. The low price at which it is offered will put it within the reach of all, even of children. ADVERTISEMENTS will be admitted at a small cost. THE MAGAZINE May be had of Mr Rickards, Schoolmaster, and Mr Jones, Chemist, Price 1d a number, or 1s for the year.

Dorothy was born in 1878 and baptised at Bray, not Winterbourne:

Parish Post 1878, MARCH. St Michael's, Winterbourne. Sold by Mr Rickards, Schoolmaster, and Mr Jones, Chemist. 1d a copy. 1/- for the whole year. Rector, AH AUSTEN LEIGH. BAPTISMS.-In the parish Church - Ellen Skidmore. At Bray - Mary Dorothy Austen Leigh.

Donations to the New Schoolroom - The Rev & Mrs A.H. Austen-Leigh, £100. Sir Greville Smyth, Brt, £25. W.G. Tanner, Esq, £25. C. Austen-Leigh, Esq, £5. Mrs Callaghan, £5. Mr S.W. Matthews, £5. J. Bush, Esq, £2.2s. W. Austen-Leigh, £2. Miss Crockford, £2. Dr E. Crossman, £2. Mrs Hall Say, £2. Mr E. Eden Jones, £2. Mr Jeffery Matthews, £2. Mr R. Howse, £1.1s. Mr M. Smith, £1.1s. Rev F.E. Warren, £1.1s. Miss M.A. Austen-Leigh, £1. Mr & Mrs C. Sargent, 10s. Mr P. Rodman, 5s. Diocesan Ass'n, £31.10s. National Society, £20. Collections, £20. Total £244.8s.2d.

The entire Austen-Leigh family were generous in their support of the people of Winterbourne. The list of donors above included brothers Charles and William, sister Mary Augusta and mother-in-law Mrs Hall-Say. Brothers Augustus and Edward Compton also donated to Winterbourne appeals.

Winterbourne Registers recorded the baptisms for Violet Winifred and Honor Caroline, and the planting of some trees:

12 Oct 1879 bap Violet Winifred bn 28 Aug Arthur Henry & Mary Violet Austen Leigh W'bourn Rectory, Rector, AH Austen Leigh

November 1880 Arthur H. Austen Leigh - Rector - planted some Junipers, Irish Yews & Cypress trees along the Churchyard wall on either side of the gate, and between the porch and the Manor farm. The Holly hedge round the Furnace House having been planted the year before.

8 May 1881 bap Honor Caroline bn 28 March 81 Arthur Henry & Mary Violet Austen Leigh W'bn Rectory Rector AH Austen Leigh

A few days after Honor Caroline was born there was a Day of Intercession for Foreign Missions.

On Rogation Tuesday, May 24 1881, A.H.Austen Leigh, being Rector, and Samuel G Matthews & Walter Fisher being Church wardens, there was a special service in the Parish Church at 7 oclock in the evening, to pray for Gods blessing on the crops & the Parish, and also for the advancement of the Missionary work of the Church, that day having been recommended by the Bishops of Church to be observed as a day of Intercession for Foreign Missions

Living at the Rectory at the time of the 1881 census were:

Arthur H. AUSTIN LEIGH M 45 M Speen, Berkshire Head Rector Of Winterbourne Mary V. AUSTIN LEIGH M 22 F Swaffham, Norfolk Wife Mary D. AUSTIN LEIGH 3 F Winterbourn, Gloucester Daur Voilet W. AUSTIN LEIGH 1 F Winterbourn, Gloucester Daur Caroline AUSTIN LEIGH 1m F Winterbourn, Gloucester Daur Ellen H. HALLSAY M 44 F Haigh, Lancashire Mother In Law Gentlemans Wife

The following servants were listed as living at the Rectory in the 1881 census:

Mary Ann PORTSMOUTH M 45 F East Meon, Hampshire Sevt Cook (Dom) Margarett JAMES U 21 F Maidstone,Kent,England Servant Nurse (Dom) Emily M. GRAVEST OR GRAVETT U 25 F Epsom, Surrey Servant Parlour Maid Louisa F. LANG U 20 F Bradford Abbass, Dorset Servant House Maid Mary E. TUGWOOD U 14 F Boveney, Buckingham Servant Nursery Maid William PORTSMOUTH M 40 M Salford, Surrey Servant Coachman (D) Hannah HORSMAN M 55 F Thornbury, Gloucester Servant Monthly Nurse

Was this the living quarters for some of the servants?

The Stables

In 1882 a water surveyor wrote 'Some years ago it was proposed to supply a portion of Bristol with water from the Frampton Cotterell iron mines, which are in the Pennant, and the analysis made of the water showed it to be of good quality'. Subsequently a Frampton Cotterell iron mine was acquired by the West Gloucestershire Water Company. Bristol Waterworks laid a ten-inch water main in Winterbourne High Street in 1890, although main drainage was not laid in the High Street until 1954 and in Green Lane/Swan Lane in 1964.

So in Arthur Henry's time at the rectory, this pump was their source of fresh water!

Here are details from the baptismal register for James Edward, Lois Emma (she later wrote four novels) and Lionel Arthur:

23 July 1882 bap James Edward bn 11 June 82 Arthur Henry & Mary Violet Austen Leigh Winterbourn Rectory Rector AHA Leigh

12 Aug 1883 bap Lois Emma bn 10 July 83 Arthur Henry & Mary Violet Austen Leigh Winterbourn Rectory Rector AH Austen Leigh

1 Nov 1886 bap Lionel Arthur bn 22 Sep 86 Arthur Henry & Mary Violet Austen Leigh W'bourn Rectory Rector AH Austen Leigh

Arthur Henry and Mary Violet eventually had eight(?) children.

In April, 1883 Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh went on holiday, and left the Churchwardens' Accounts and other documents at Winterbourne Court (the old Manor House) for safe keeping. In the early hours of 2nd April 1883, a fire destroyed the building and many important details of church life went up in smoke (note in Parish Records). Where he went on holiday is not known, but we know that the following year, the Arthur Henry spent five weeks away from Winterbourne

Parish Magazine. 1884, JUNE. St Michael's, Winterbourne. The Rector will be away from home for 4. or 5 weeks after Trinity Sunday. During his absence the Rev WA Moberly will be resident at the Rectory.

and the family went on holiday to Bournemouth.
Bournemouth is a resort town with a short history, and it did not have a newspaper until 1858. This was the Bournemouth Visitors' Directory which luckily for our researches consisted mainly of lists of visitors!

The entry on page three for Saturday July 26 1884 reads "Mrs Day, Rev AH and Mrs Austen-Leigh and family, Mrs Taylor" staying at the West Cliff Hotel, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth.

June Bisp's grandmother, Rose Bignell, née Skidmore, worked at Winterbourne Rectory as a nursery maid to the Rev. Austen-Leigh's children. When they went away, she went with them and always spoke of going to Eastbourne for holidays. This engraving of Cornfield Terrace found amongst family effects may well illustrate the actual place where the family used to stay in Eastbourne. 12 and 21 have been annotated on the picture.

Other dates from his diary

A special service was held on Tuesday 21st June 1887 to mark the Queen's Jubilee:

The Queen's Accession, June 1837. Her Majesty's Jubilee, 21st June, 1887. A Form of Thanksgiving & Prayer to Almighty God, upon the completion of fifty years of Her Majesty's Reign; to be used on Tuesday the 21st day of June next, and certain other days as herein appointed, in all churches and chapels in England and Wales, and in the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. By Authority.

from the Frenchay Big Book 1887

Hambrook. The opening service and dedication of the New Sunday School and Service Room will take place on Wednesday evening, Dec 12th, at 8pm. The Sermon will be preached by Rev AH Austen-Leigh, Vicar of Winterbourne. The collection will be given to the Furnishing Fund, for the which about £ 10 is still required.

from the Frenchay Big Book 1888

Special Services were held on Thursday evenings at 8pm at Frenchay Parish Church during Lent 1890. Arthur Henry was the preacher on March 6th, and interestingly, his successor, Rev ATS Goodrick was the preacher three weeks later... one of Arthur Henry's last offices, and probably ATS Goodrick's first!

Frenchay. Lent, 1890. There will be Special Services at the Parish Church on Thursday evenings at 8pm. Preachers: Feb 27 Rev J Mackie, Rector of Fylton. Mar 6 Rev AH Austen-Leigh, Rector of Winterbourne. Mar 13 Rev FWF Bishop, Vicar of Winterbourne Down. Mar 20 Rev GH Jackson, Vicar of Tytherington. Mar 27 Rev ATS Goodrick, Fellow and Tutor of St John's College, Oxford. The offertories will be given to the Hospitals.

from the Frenchay Big Book 1890

WINTERBOURN PARISH MAGAZINE. APRIL 1890 My Dear Friends, Your kindness will give me an opportunity of saying good-bye to many of you in person, on Easter Tuesday; I hope also to say something of what is in my mind on the morning of Palm Sunday, and in St.Michael's Room on Easter Day, which will be my last Sunday here; but still I cannot write for the last time in our Parish Magazine, without assuring you that I leave Winterbourn with very many regrets. I have passed fourteen happy years amongst you; I have tried to do my duty as your Rector, and I have met with much help and kindness at your hands. For this accept my grateful thanks. I do not say that there have been no disappointments. I have failed in some things, where I hoped to have shown more power, and to have met with more success; and there are some who have deeply grieved me, by falling away from their early promise, and turning their backs upon my teaching and upon what I consider to be right and true. Still I feel that I have much to be thankful for, and I trust that I am thankful to God for whatever measure of success may have attended my ministry here, and for the atmosphere of kindly feeling and mutual respect which He has shed upon us. I hope that by midsummer, if not before, you will have another Rector, and that you will give him a friendly welcome, and show yourselves willing to work with him, ready to receive his teaching. Until then I am glad to think that the services at the Church and St. Michael's Room, will be carried on by one who is already known to you; and that the Sunday School, Clubs and Magazine will, thanks to voluntary help, not be allowed to drop. And now I wish you all good-bye. That God may bless all in this Parish is the prayer of Your faithful Friend, AUSTEN H. AUSTEN LEIGH. NOTICES - The Rev.C Pickels will have charge of the Parish from Friday, April 11th.

Rev C Pickels was the Organizing Secretary of the Church of England Temperance Society

FRENCHAY PARISH MAGAZINE. JUNE, 1889. On Sunday, June 2nd, the Rev C Pickels (Organizing Secretary of the Church of England Temperance Society) will speak specially to the children belonging to the Band of Hope, at the afternoon Services in St. Michael's Room.

WINTERBOURN PARISH MAGAZINE. APRIL 1890 There will be a meeting in the School on Easter Tuesday Evening at 8 o'clock, when Mr. and Mrs. Austen Leigh have kindly promised to be present, in order that the Parishioners may take a farewell of them. Tickets for admission to Parishioners must be applied for at the School, on Easter Monday, at 11.30. No one will be admitted on Tuesday Evening without a Ticket, and no Tickets will be given at the door.

WINTERBOURN PARISH MAGAZINE. MAY 1890 The Meeting at the School on Easter Tuesday, to present a testimonial and say goodbye to the Rev. A.H.Austen-Leigh, was well attended. The Chair was taken by Mr Marsh, and the presentation, which consisted of an illuminated address and a hall clock, was made by Dr. Crossman. Mr P Turner also presented an inkstand and pair of candlesticks, on behalf of past and present members of the Choir. The Rev Dr Belcher and the Rev F W F Bishop made speeches, and the Rev A H Austen-Leigh thanked the Parishioners in his own name and that of Mrs Austen-Leigh, for the kindness which they had met with during the 14 years' Rectorship in the Parish: mentioning especially the obligation he was under to Mr P Turner - his organist, to the Choir, to his schoolmaster - Mr Day and to his volunteer Sunday School teachers.

Move to Wargrave

The family left Winterbourne and Arthur Henry became Vicar of Wargrave 18 April 1890. The youngest son, Arthur Alexander was born in 1890. The 1891 census recorded the family living at The Vicarage, High Street, Wargrave, East Berkshire: Arthur Henry and Mary Violet, four daughters and three sons. There were seven servants: a 'lady help' (Alice Davison from Maidstone, Kent), nurse, cook, parlour maid, schoolroom maid, housemaid, and kitchen maid.

He returned to his old school, St Peter's College, Radley on Sunday 3 July 1892 (the Sunday after the Annual Commemoration Day) to preach a sermon on Psalm xvi.6, "A Goodly Heritage". The » sermon was later published as an eleven-page book by special request (also as "A Goodly Heritage"). It was published by Parker and Co. London in 1892 and a copy is on deposit in the British Museum.

Arthur Henry was one of the first Wargrave Parish Councillors, elected 28 November 1894.

Only two photographs of Arthur-Henry have been found during this research - both featured in "The Book of Wargrave". This one shows him with the family outside the Old Vicarage:

left to right: Lois(b1883), Alexander(b1890), James Edward(b1882), Rev Arthur Henry, Dorothy(b1878), Honor(b1881), Winifred(b1879), Mrs Austen-Leigh, Lionel(b1886)

He retired from the parish at age 75, in 1911.
His last entry in Crockford's Clerical Directory (1917) read:

AUSTEN - LEIGH, Arthur Henry, 2, Southcote-road, Reading.-Late Fell. of St. John's Coll. Ox. Craven Scho. 1857, B.A. (2nd cl. Lit. Hum. & 1st cl. Law, &c.) 1860, M.A. 1866, B.D. 1872. U 1864, p 1865 Ox. f C. of Ch. Ch. Maryle- bone, 1865-67; Bray, Berks, 1867-74 ; R. of Winter- bourn, Glos. 1875-90 ; V. of Wargrave 1890-1911.

Arthur Henry Austen-Leigh died at his home 2, Southcote Road, Reading, Berkshire on Sunday 29 July 1917, aged 81 and his obituary appeared in "The Times", Tuesday 31 July on page 3:

REV. A. H. AUSTEN LEIGH. The death occurred at 2, Southcote-road, Reading, on Sunday, of the Rev. Arthur Henry Austen Leigh, B.D. He was educated at Oxford, where he won the Craven Scholarship in 1857, and took second class honours in Lit.Hum. and first class in Law, 1860, being subsequently elected a Fellow of St.John's College. He was rector of Winterbourn, Glos, from 1875-90, and afterwards until 1911 vicar of Wargrave. He was 81 years of age.

As for the rest of the family, in 1910 Lionel Arthur went to live in Victoria, British Columbia, until WWI, when he joined the Royal Field Artillery to fought in France as a Lieutenant with the British Expeditionary Force. He survived to return to Victoria.

Arthur Alexander was Captain 2nd/4th Battalion in the Royal Berkshire Regiment, was wounded in 1917 in France and killed in action during the closing months of WWI.

AUSTEN-LEIGH, Arthur Alexander. Captain 2nd/4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, killed in action in France 11th May 1918, aged 27. He was the youngest son of Rev. Henry Austen-Leigh, Vicar of Wargrave 1890-1911. He was in Canada when he volunteered in 1914 and was wounded in 1917 before being killed in the closing months of the war. He has no known grave but his name is commemorated on Panels 56 to 57 of the Pozieres Memorial, a village about 6 kilometres north-east of Albert.

from the Wargrave Roll of Honour; courtesy of Wargrave Branch of the Royal British Legion

Cholmeley died in 1899; Emma Cassandra died in 1902; Spencer died 9 December 1913 at Frog-Firle, Alfriston, Sussex; Edward Compton died 3 April 1916: William died 27 November 1921 at Roehampton: Mary Augusta died 1922 and Charles Edward died 1924.

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Postscript 1:
In 1988 » Centenary Celebrations were held commemorating St Michael's Rooms. One of his grandsons, Henry Jenkyns, attended.

Postscript 2:
Two books signed by Rev Arthur Henry and his wife were discovered in a box in a loft in September 2007. Here's the email announcing this exciting discovery.

----- Original Message ----- From: Pat Currie Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 6:13 PM Subject: A.H. Austen Leigh Dear Mr Kite, We have a Holy Communion book signed "Eliza Maggie Ingram from A.H. Austen Leigh 1897" and a book entitled "The Narrow Way" "Maggie Ingram from Mrs Austen Leigh - In remembrance of March 7. 1897". Maggie Ingram was born in 1882. Her father James was a "coachman" in 1881, and the family lived at Backsideans, Wargrave. I believe James died somewhere between 1891 and 1895. At some time, the family moved to Reading, and I have just discovered that Sarah, widow of James, married Richard Harry Potter in 1895. Maggie Ingram became Mrs E.M. Fuller in 1914, living in West London, and was the mother-in-law of my husband's late aunt. Before her marriage, Maggie travelled extensively in Europe and the USA from 1911 to 1914, in the company of Mrs Emily Crane Chadbourne, and whilst in London they lived at 7, Park Lane. Mrs Chadbourne was a friend of Gertrude Stein, and a sitter for artists such as Augustus John. We have only discovered the above information in the last two weeks, when we discovered a box containing postcards and the books mentioned, and have been searching for a connection ever since, which led us to your excellent web-page of the Reverend A.H. Austen-Leigh. Any further information would be gratefully received! Do you think it is possible that the Ingrams may have been employed by the Austen-Leighs? We have yet to venture into the loft at Hammersmith, and if I find anything else that sheds light on the mystery, I will let you know! In the meantime, I attach the signed pages from the Holy Communion - Simple Preparation and The Narrow Way books. Many thanks and kind regards, Pauline and Patrick Currie

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IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT ARTHUR HENRY AUSTEN-LEIGH OR CAN ADD ANYTHING TO THIS WEBPAGE
» I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!