Reverend William Robson

The REVEREND WILLIAM ROBSON

Vicar of St John’s Church at Lacey Green from 1898 – 1922. Report by Joan West

The Rev'd William Robson and his wife moved into Lacey Green Vicarage in 1898

He was the chaplain of the newly formed Church’s Boys Brigade. Click 1895 Church Boys Brigade. As vicar he was a Trustee and one of the managers of St. John’s School.

This Article consists of 4 reports

REPORT 1

Extract from the autobiography of Charles Ede ( see 1908 Charles Ede ) living at Parslows Hillock 1900-1909

REPORT 2

The Later Life of William Robson researched by Miles Marshall

REPORT 3

The Life History of William Robson researched by Laurence Rostron

REPORT 4

The Properties of William Robson researched by Joan West

See also 1905 Burgess Church Window. Letter in Church Magazine

See also 1905 Forest Church Window. Letter in Church Magazine

See also 1905 Marriage at Lacey Green. Report in Bucks Free Press

IN THE BEGINNING

REPORT 1 by Charles Ede

“Now my father wanted to find a church to go to.  He also wanted me to see the school that I was to go to.   He had heard they were nearby.   Father and I walked a mile, when we turned left and commenced to go down the village of Lacey Green.

CRACKED VOICE

“A single bell rang – it sounded like one that sheep have round their necks.   We got to the church and the service began.   Certainly a nice organ and expert player, but when the long thin parson began to speak, his voice was so cracked we could hardly understand him.  It was said he had been thrown off a tram that had tipped over.

"OLD TIN RIBS"

My father was most particular when speaking of him or any other parson.  It was always ‘His Reverent’.   I preferred “old tin ribs’ as we children named him”.

REPORT 2 by Miles Marshall researched in 1986

LOST CONGREGATION

“The story of William Robson is a sad one.   Some say that it was due to an accident of some kind that first he lost his health and then his wife, who left him to return to Cheltenham.   He seems too, to have lost his congregation which dwindled away to almost nothing.

NANCY HAWES CARES

He was still tall but a thin nervous old man who had developed a terrible stutter.   He lived alone in the big kitchen of the old vicarage, ministered to solely out of the kindness of her heart by Miss Nancy Hawes who had been a much-loved teacher at the school.   A gifted musician, she taught the piano and was the Church organist for 46 years.  She is reputed to have made the old Samuel Green organ sing as no-one else before or since.   She alone took pity on the old man and helped him.

REPORT 3 The Life History of William Robson. research by Laurence Rostron

William Robson was the son of James and Margaret Robson of Binchester Hall Farm in Byers Green near Bishop Auckland, Durham. They had three children - the other two being:

1.     Elizabeth Jane Robson – born in1861 and who remained a spinster until she died in 1938.

2.     James Robson – born in 1862, educated at Durham University, married with 2 children and became the Vicar of All Saints Church in South Shields. He died in 1938.

William Robson was born in 1866 and the records show that his father died one year later in 1867. He appears to have been Curate in Harton  in 1888 - 90, in Brighouse in 1890 – 92 and High Wycombe in 1893 – 1896 before becoming the Vicar of St John’s in Lacey Green in 1897.

In 1893 he married Frances Anne Beatrice Craven born near Manchester.  She was the daughter of Frederick Craven who was a wealthy owner of a calico printing business and who lived in Thornbridge House near Ashford.

By the time of the 1901 census William Robson and his new wife had settled into the Vicarage at Lacey Green and it is thought that it was at about this time that they started to plan and subsequently build the indoor tennis court in Church Lane.

Whilst it is clear that the Robson family were not poor, it is also clear that they were not wealthy. At this time Margaret Robson, William’s mother was living with her daughter at Malton Colliery in Durham. Whilst his mother was living on her “private means” his sister was working as a housekeeper for the colliery owner.

It is possible to speculate that the finance for the new indoor tennis court was probably provided by his wife’s family. Her father had died in 1894, a year after she married William Robson and it appears that he left over £60,000 which today would probably be worth over £3million and whilst it is unknown how this was shared out among the family it is possible that part of it was spent on the tennis court.

Additionally, apart from purchasing the site for the Indoor Tennis Court, he made significant investments in property in Lacey Green including, amongst others, Lane Farm and Wimble End in Church Lane.

The 1911 census shows them still living at the Vicarage in Lacey Green with 2 servants but no children.  He continued to live there until he retired in 1922 although it is rumoured that his wife moved to Cheltenham some years before he retired but there is no hard evidence to support this.

William Robson appears to have joined his wife at 6 Imperial Square, Cheltenham in 1922 and stayed there until he died in 1931. His wife died there in 1935.

REPORT 4

THE PROPERTIES of William Robson.    research by Joan West

He acquired an orchard by now belonging to Mary Grace adjacent to the north-west end of Church Lane.   There was a foot path that led to it from the Vicarage.   Here he built an indoor tennis court.

Jesse Hawes shoemaker’s work-shed across Church Lane from the church was removed from near the path to the new tennis court

The following properties, purchased by William Robson were all in Lacey Green

December 9th 1901 Conveyance. Peter Tyler Floyd conveyed to the Reverend William Robson for £60 (This conveyance is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

Schedule. All that orchard or meadow land, adjoining to a close. now or late of William Stone on the N or NE and to a lane or passage there South or South West, containing one acre two roods twenty-six perches, formerly in the occupation of William Floyd afterwards by David Floyd and now in the occupation of the said Peter Floyd. To hold the same in fee simple subject to the succession duty (if any) to become payable on the decease of Dan Floyd of Lacey Green in respect of his life interest in the premises here conveyed as mentioned in a conveyance dated the 19th day of June 1885 made between Dan Floyd of the first part, Arthur Floyd of the second part and Peter Floyd of the third part. Witnessed and Signed.   see Peter and Ann Floyd

December 9^th 1901.  Lane Cottage, Church Lane, conveyed to Wm. Robson by Mrs. Sarah West for £60

December 9^th 1901.   Park Cottage, Church Lane, conveyed to Wm. Robson by Mrs. Sarah West for £60

December 23^rd 1901.  Orchard, Church Lane, conveyed to Wm. Robson, by Mary Grace(site of tennis court)

December 23^rd 1901.  The middle cottage of Wimble End conveyed to Wm. Robson by exec of John Payne.

December 23^rd.1901.  The west cottage of Wimble End conveyed to Wm. Robson by Dan Floyd.

TENNIS COURT BUILT

On the site of the land purchased from Mary Grace, William Robson erected an indoor tennis Court. It measured 35.5 metres by 61 metres. It was for the personal use of his wife and himself. It was constructed in brick with skylights in the roof. The wooden floor was 'sprung', made of narrow boards to a very high standard, painted green with a special non-slop surface. Due to their poor health it became unused and fell into disrepair.

September 11^th 1909.   Lieu de Repos (Ardengrove) conveyed to Wm.Robson by execs.of Uriah Dell

September 11^th 1909.   Wayside Cottage, Main Road, conveyed to Wm. Robson by execs. of  Uriah Dell

1910                       1,Belle Vue Cottages, Main Rd, conveyed to Wm Robson by execs, Rebecca Carter Dell

1910                       2,Belle Vue Cottages, Main Rd, conveyed to Wm.Robson by execs, Rebecca Carter Dell

September 9^th 1911.   Lane Farm, Church Lane, conveyed to Wm. Robson, from execs John Forrest £1640

September 9^th 1911.   Land & hereditament adjoining Lane Farm

September 9^th 1911.   Land on the Main Road. 3 acres

Extract from DECLARATION 25th February 1921 by William Robson. (This document is archived in Lacey Green Village Hall)

I The Reverend William Robson of Lacey Green, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby solemnly and sincerely declare as follows :-

December 1901 I purchased from Dan Floyd shoemaker, certain property known as Wimble End Cottage No 1

In the same month on 9th December 1901 I also purchased of Sarah West certain other property described as "All those two several cottages with the gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging situate adjoining, known as Wimble End Cottage No 2 and Wimble End Cottage No 3

On 5th February 1921 I contracted with Guy Fletcher Luther a Major in His Majesty's Army for the sale to him of certain freehold property by the description of "All that dwelling house (formerly three cottages) known as "Wimblehurst" with the garden thereto belonging.

I having converted what were formerly three cottages into one dwelling house and since such conversion have named the house "Wimblehurst"

I make this declaration conscientiously believing the same to be true and by virtue of the provisions of the Statutory Declartions Act 1835. William Robson

SALES.    (The Reverend William Robson left Lacey Green in 1922).  

February 25^th 1921     Wimble End formerly Wimblehurst. Wm. Robson sold to G.F. Luther, for £1000

December 14^th 1921    No 1 Belle Vue, Wm. Robson sold to James Lacey

December 14^th 1921    No 2 Belle Vue, Wm. Robson sold to James Lacey

November 26^th 1924.  Lane Farm, Wm. Robson sold to Albert Stevens for £1350

October 21^st 1926.      2 pieces of Land, Wm. Robson sold to The Lacey Green Allotment Society for £.