Bygones and Essex Tales Archives - Phoenix FM

I was delighted once again to be joined today by local historian, Margaret Mills who this week looked at the life of one Arthur Prior, a one-time owner of Hylands House in Chelmsford, who it seems financed the building of a church in Galleywood.

Being the chief benefactor, it was only natural that he would be the guest of honour for the first service conducted there.

Unfortunately it seems that he was so offended by the sermon delivered on that day that he refused to darken their doors ever again!

If you missed what Margaret said, you can catch bit all again here: –

I very much hope to have the pleasure of your company once again next week,

The post Sermon at Galleywood infuriates benefactor appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For this week’s historical feature, Margaret looked at one of her predecessors, an Essex historian, who in 1858 produced a HISTORY OF ESSEX, which was provided in instalments.

Born in Ingatestone in 1805, his name was DUFFIELD WILLIAM COLLAR.

Well before starting his research into Essex history, he started out as a shoemaker, which would no doubt stand him in good stead later in life.

But before that he obtained employment with a Chelmsford based publisher, Meggy & Chalk, who’s office was next door to the Chelmsford Chronicle, with whom he would eventually become reporter.

During his time at the Chronicle, he realised that there was a huge demand for information on local history, so in 1858, he launched his HISTORY of ESSEX.

In order to research the historical facts he was reporting he actually walked to every town, village and hamlet in Essex, also visiting every Grand House.

If you missed what Margaret told me today, you can listen again here: –

Hope to see you once more next week,

The subject chosen for this week’s feature by Margaret Mills, was one Frank Osborne, a gentlemanly highwayman, far removed from the archetypical highwayman such as Dick Turpin.

Indeed he had actually been born into a very wealthy family of goldsmiths in Colchester, but after amassing huge debts from gambling, in about 1680, he turned his attention to robbing people aiming to take their valuables to the near continent.

It was for this reason that he operated on the roads between Colchester and Harwich. Initially this proved to be quite lucrative until around 10 years later, he moved his area of operation to Hounslow Heath.

This proved his undoing because in 1690 he was finally run to earth, caught and in September of that year, executed, aged at just 29!

Listen again here, if you missed what Margaret told me today: –

Hope to see you once more next week,

Her name was MARGARET SCOTT, although she was normally known by her married name – MARGARET GATTY.

Her heyday was 1842-1872 during which time she penned some 24 books.

Rather than aiming to entertain or capture her readers’ attention, Margaret’s books were were primarily intended to teach lessons and morals – she was after all married to a curate from Burnham-on-Crouch, where she herself had been born.

Shortly after her marriage she moved with her husband to Sheffield.

If you missed what Margaret said, catch it all here: –

Scott

For today’s historical feature, MARGARET MILLS looked at the lost Spa at Wanstead, well perhaps “looked” is probably not the right word to use as right now there’s no chance of locating the spa as it really has been lost!

Don’t even think about trying to find it yourself as you’ll just end up just wasting your time.

Indeed given that no one can find it, one has to wonder if it ever existed in the first place, so probably best just to listen to hat Margaret  to;d me today by clicking on the link below: –

Nevertheless I very much hope to have the pleasure of your company next week,

Today Margaret Mills looked back at the unsuccessful plans announced by the council in Leigh-on-Sea back in 1898, to market the town as a health resort.

As hinted the plans came to nought and were eventually abandoned 10 years later.

You can listen to what Margaret had to say in more detail here: –

See you again next week,

The subject chosen today by Margaret Mills concerned Hawkspur Camp which had been established in Great Bardfield specifically for young men evacuated from London during the war.

Listen here to what Margaret had to say about this establishment: –

I’ll see you again next week,

The post Hawkspur Camp – revisited appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For her trip back into history, this week, Margaret Mills took us back to the 11th June 1910 when headlines in the Evening Express that day included items guaranteed to set pulses racing,  such as news that just outside Epping Railway station a return ticket to Penzance, a piece of rope, a flat iron and a gentleman’s hat were found in the undergrowth.

Riveting stuff!

It was also reported that a smartly dressed man wearing a hat, had also been spotted emerging from the long grass.

It seems that the incident was regarded as of sufficient interest to warrant an in depth police investigation with police officers arriving in some strength.

It was apparently considered of sufficient concern that a doctor was also asked to attend.

If you missed what Margaret told me today, you can listen again here: –

Can you imagine anything like this happening today?

I very much hope to see you once again next week,

The post Headline news from 1910 appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For her trip back down into history, MARGARET MILLS took us back to the year 1897 when the country was busy celebrating the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Unfortunately celebrations in Essex were brought to a standstill during the afternoon of the 24th June when parts of our county were struck by a Tornado,  resulting in damage amounting to some £100,000 – a huge sum in those days, made worse by the fact that at that time there was no insurance cover available.

The area around Ingatestone was particularly badly affected by the conflagration but much of the county was affected, the storm finally easing off some way passed Colchester.

If you missed it you can listen again here to what Margaret told me on this subject: –

I very much hope to have the pleasure of your company once again next week,

The post The Essex tornado of 1897 appeared first on Phoenix FM.

For her historical feature today, Margaret Mills took time out to look at the life of an Essex benefactor, Mary Bosanquet Fletcher, who lived in the mid 18th century and opened her own home to help homeless people – a kind of one person Dr Barnadoes!

If you missed what Margaret said, catch it all again here:-

The post Mary Bosanquet Fletcher appeared first on Phoenix FM.