Loosley House

Sir George Stephen born St Kitts, West Indies in 1791 lived at ‘Collins’ (now Loosley House), Lower Road, Loosley Row. He had purchased the property in the late 1830’s and later, also bought Collins Farm and Collins Cottage for his wife Henrietta’s relatives the Ravenscrofts.

Sir George Stephen, a Philanthropist, also took a prominent part in the anti-slavery movement, as did his father, James Stephen. He was a leading campaigner for the abolition of the slave trade. In 1838 he received the honour of Knighthood in recognition of his services in the cause of prohibition of all slavery.

In 1821 he had married Henrietta Ravenscroft and seven children resulted from the union. Two of their sons emigrated to Australia and in 1855 persuaded their parents to join them in Melbourne, Victoria — a step it is alleged Sir George Stephen never ceased to regret. He died at his home in Glen Huntley Road, Melbourne in 1879 at the age of 86. An obituary notice appeared in ‘The Argus’ Victoria, Australia on 21% June.

Son’s visit to Loosley Row in 1878

Sir George Stephen’s eldest son, James Wilberforce Stephen, his wife and daughters visited Loosley Row during a holiday to England in 1878.

During this time James’ daughter Katherine wrote to her aunt (her father’s sister): an extract of her letter, which describes a visit to Loosley Row, is shown below:

‘My dear Aunt

......Papa, Mama, Amy and I went to Princes Risborough early on Tuesday morning last and drove to a small hotel called the George. Then Papa hired a small wagonette and we drove to Collins. You should have seen how very excited Papa got at seeing everything.

When we got to Collins Papa went in first to ask Mr Bousfield if we might look at the garden and he said certainly we could.... Mrs Bousfield came as well and we went all over the garden....

it is so very pretty. Papa says it is exactly as it was when you (and he) lived there, except the trees are much bigger. Mrs Bousfield was so nice and showed us all over the house. We went into your little sitting room.......we saw Grandmama’s room and the little dressing room off it.

Papa was going to the farm next to see Master Gomm, when a very old man made a sign for us to stop. He said to Papa “Are you Sir George Stephen’s son?” Papa saw that it was Bliss and he was so very delighted at seeing Papa (& likewise). He got into the wagonette so we could talk better.

We then went to see Mr Gomm who nearly cried when he saw Papa, who asked if he remembered Uncle Raven driving the donkies and he laughed and said he did. Papa talked to him and a Mrs Thomson for a good while and Bliss’s daughter Betsy came to show us how she made lace. Mr Gomm wanted Papa to go and see his foundry and so we went: his son showed it to US.

….then we went to call on Mr Burgess and wife and daughter. They were very pleasant and showed us the church. We went inside where they now

have an organ.

On our way back Papa and Mama went to see Rueben Parslow and his wife Amy..... then we went back to the hotel and had dinner......

Identification of people referred to in the letter

Mr & Mrs Bousfield:

Occupants of ‘Collins (Now Loosley House) at that time were retired Vicar Alfred Bousfield and his wife.

Old man named Bliss:

Cannot positively identify this person, but the name could have been misheard and that he was a Willian Bass who lived in Loosley Row. He had a daughter, Elizabeth (Betsy?) who was a lace maker.

William Bass died later in 1878 aged 75.

Mr Gomm:

John Gomme of the foundry.

‘Uncle Raven:

Member of the Ravenscroft family, who once lived at Collins Farm and Collins Cottage, Loosiey Row.

Mrs Thompson:

Possibly, Widow Frances Thompson recorded in the 1881 ‘Census as Housekeeper at Loosley House.

Mr & Mrs Burgess:

William Burgess was the Vicar of St John’s Church from 1848 — 1880: his wife was Mary Anne. They once lived at ‘Collins’ (Loosley House’) where in 1850 their daughter, Annie Maria was born.

Rueben Parslow:

Rueben lived very near ‘Collins’ — a Chair Turner, who at the time of the Stephen family visit would have been about 65. His wife’s name was actually Emma, not Amy.

Australian descendant’s visit to Loosley row in 1993

In 1993, Katherine Stephen’s Great Niece from Victoria, Australia, during a holiday in England, also visited Loosley Row and was fascinated to find that the Forge/Foundry was still in existence and under the same family of Gomme.

NB: The original letter written in 1878 by her Great Aunt, together with other

letter and documents have been deposited in the Australian National Library.

In the document for the Emma Grace Foundation it mentions Emma Grace of Loosley House!!!

In 1939 and throughout the war, North Kensington Nursery School was evacuated to Loosley House, Loosley Row, the home of Mr and Mrs Ord Waite. See Joyce Waite.