An updated blog on Jack Phillips - well it is 100 years on
By Mary BJohn George (Jack) Phillips, 1887 - 1912
Chief Wireless
Telegraphist
on the Titanic
Godalming
Museum and Godalming Town Council Collection
This oil painting can be seen in the Museum, and was painted by Ellis Martin from a photograph taken by Jennie Stedman of Farncombe.
Early Life and Career
John George Phillips, known as
“Jack” was born in Godalming, Surrey, on the 11th April 1887 at
11, Farncombe Street. He was
the son of George Alfred Phillips and his wife, Ann (née
Sanders). They came from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, from a family
of weavers. In 1881 the family lived in Deptford Lower Road,
Rotherhithe, and George was listed as a draper, with this wife
and twin daughters, Elsie and Ethel aged 7, born in
Kent.
They moved to Godalming c.1883 when they are listed in the Godalming Directory living in Farncombe Street. His father was manager of Gammons, a draper’s shop owned by the Gammon brothers. The family lived above the shop, and Jack was born there in 1887. The house no longer remains. The 1911 census shows that there were five children born to George and Ann but only three survived. His twin sisters never married.
Jack attended a local private school in Hare Lane run by Fanny
Stedman. He then went to the St John’s Street School next to
the Parish Church of Farncombe, St John, now the Farncombe
Day Centre. As a young boy Jack sang in the choir at the Parish
Church where there is a brass memorial plaque.
Photograph courtesy of John Young
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Photographs courtesy of Hugh Turrall-Clarke
Jack was later educated at the Godalming Grammar School, now the public bar of the Red Lion Public House under the headmaster Mr. Charles Elworthy; seen here on the left hand side of the pub.
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In 1902 on leaving school he worked at the local Post Office (now the HSBC Bank) in the High Street, as a telegraphist. Here he learned Morse code under the postmaster, Mr Walter Richard Williams, until March 1906.
In 1906 Jack joined the Marconi Company’s Wireless Telegraphy Training School at Seaforth Barracks in Liverpool. On completion of the course, he headed the list of successful candidates in the Postmaster General Examinations. In August after finishing his training he was posted as Junior Wireless Officer on the White Star Line vessel, Teutonic.
During the next three years he served on various liners, including the Lusitania, Mauritania, Campania, Oceanic, Corsican, Canada, Victoria, Danube, and Pretorian.
In 1908 Jack was transferred to the Marconi Transatlantic Station at Clifden, a high power transmitting station on the west coast of Ireland in County Galway. He spent three years at Clifden, working as an operator transmitting and receiving messages to and from the Marconi sister station at Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
In 1911 he left Clifden and returned to sea on the Adriatic. In March 1912 he was sent to Belfast to take up the post of Chief Wireless Telegraphist on the new White Star Liner, Titanic, then being fitted out at the Harland and Wolff shipyard. Lord Pirrie was Chairman of Harland and Wolff, and had bought Witley Park, near Godalming, in 1909.
RMS Titanic
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Jack was appointed Chief Wireless Telegraphist on the new, "unsinkable" luxury Titanic, with Harold Bride as his junior operator. The wireless equipment on board was the most modern and most powerful of any merchant ship then afloat.
Godalming Museum Collection
It had a range of 250-400 miles in daytime and at night, when conditions for transmitting and receiving were more favourable, it occasionally spanned 2,000 miles. It is recorded that Jack had confided in a friend that while he was proud to be chosen to serve on the Titanic he would have preferred a smaller vessel. Jack expressed a dread of icebergs.
In the 24 hours preceding the fateful collision with an iceberg on the 14 April 1912, the two wireless operators had been busy repairing a fault in the transmitter. As a consequence, Jack had very little sleep before commencing his watch from 8.00pm to 2.00am. It was in the hours preceding the collision that the liner achieved its highest speed of 22.5 knots. Thus, on impact, the iceberg inflicted considerable damage to many of the watertight compartments, causing it to sink at the bow.
Jack was sending personal messages from the passengers to America - this was his job with Marconi - when he was first instructed by the captain to advise other vessels in the area of the collision with the berg. Due to the much publicised and widely believed claim that the Titanic was an unsinkable ship, almost all on board carried on as before and other ships receiving this message did not immediately prepare to head for the given position of the stricken liner. However it was soon realized that the Titanic was sinking and Jack was instructed by Captain Edward Smith to send out CQD messages requesting immediate assistance from all vessels in the area. Later Smith requested Jack to change the message to SOS.
From this time onwards Jack stayed at his post, sending out the distress calls, advising on the latest position of the Titanic, urging and convincing other ships to assist in the rescue of those taking to the boats. Jack stayed at the transmitter while Harold Bride put a lifejacket on him after the captain gave the instruction, "Every man for himself" and had personally thanked the two wireless operators for their perseverance. Bride was sent off by Phillips to save himself, while Jack continued transmitting. It was as a consequence of his total devotion to duty that Jack Phillips lost his life and has since become widely admired. It was this bravery and persistence which reduced the magnitude of the disaster in respect of lives lost. Jack's last message was picked up by the Virginia of the Allen Line at 2.17am, and the Titanic foundered at 2.20am. After this incident everyone adopted SOS as the primary distress call.
Phillips Memorial
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Photographs courtesy of John Young
The Phillips Memorial Cloister, a garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll, with a magnificent brick cloister 80 feet square designed by Hugh Thackeray Turner, was laid out, built and opened exactly two years to the day after the sinking. The memorial is situated between the River Wey and Godalming Parish Church in the Phillips Memorial Park.
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Within the cloister, the Wireless and Telegraph Company commissioned and had erected a memorial stone tablet to the perpetual honour of this brave man, who died four days after his 25th birthday, leaving behind a lasting example of putting lives of others before one's own.
Godalming Museum Collection
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Photograph courtesy of John Young
Godalming Museum Local Studies Library
Open from Tuesday to Saturday from 1pm - 4pm or by prior arrangement
Ellis Martin's portrait of Jack Phillips, commissioned by Godalming Grammar School after the tragedy, is on display in the local history galleries.
At Godalming Museum Local Studies Library you can study publications on the Titanic, including a facsimile of the 1972 page report of the formal investigation of the sinking in 1912. The library collection includes images of, and information about, the Phillips Memorial in Godalming, which was designed by Hugh Thackeray Turner, with the gardens laid out by Gertrude Jekyll. The Post Office Telegraph messages sent to the Phillips family from the Marconi Company after Jack’s death can be seen.
You can learn about local people connected with Jack Phillips. You can read about two local people from Witley who were on board the Titanic. Lucy Snape, a stewardess, who lost her life, and Walter Henry Nichols, a steward who survived.
There will be an Exhibition in Godalming Museum from the 6th March 2011 until the 12th May 2012 marking the centenary of the loss of the Titanic, and Jack Phillips, the Chief Wireless Telegraphist who grew up in Farncombe.
School Loan Boxes about Titanic and Jack Phillips will be available.
Godalming will be marking the centenary with celebrations; please watch this space.
© Trustees of Godalming Museum 2011
Godalming Museum Local Studies Library - John Young
Photography courtesty of John Young
John Young is a volunteer working for the Museum with a considerable interest in Jack Phillips, and all aspects of Godalming History. He would be very glad to hear from you if you have any information relating to these subjects, or if you have any questions about the article. He is available for talks and slide shows.
Please e-mail
godalming.museum@waverley.gov.uk
Links: http://www.hf.ro/ The RMS Titanic Radio Page
Jack Phillips and the Titanic
By Mary BJack Phillips and the Titanic
At Godalming Museum Library you can study a wide range of publications on the Titanic, including a facsimile of the 972 page report of the formal investigation of the sinking in 1912. Ellis Martin's portrait of Jack Phillips, commissioned by Godalming Grammar School after the tragedy, is on display in the local history galleries. The library collection includes images of, and information about, the Phillips Memorial in Godalming, which was designed by Hugh Thackeray Turner, with the gardens laid out by Gertrude Jekyll.
John George (Jack) Phillips, 1887 - 1912
Early life and career
Jack Phillips was born in Godalming, Surrey, at 11 Farncombe Street, on 11 April 1887. As a young boy Jack sang in the choir at the Parish Church of St John the Evangelist, where there is a brass memorial plaque. He attended the school next to the church and later was educated at the Godalming Grammar School, now the public bar of the Red Lion Inn. On leaving he worked at the local Post Office (now the HSBC Bank), as a telegraphist, where he learned his Morse code.
In 1906 Jack joined the Marconi training school at Liverpool and, on completion of the course, headed the list of successful candidates in the Postmaster General examinations.
Jack was considered a serious man who stood high in the confidence of his superiors in the Marconi Marine Company. He progressed steadily to the top of his chosen profession and served on the ocean-going liners Teutonic, Lusitania, Mauritania, Campania, Oceanic, Corsican, Canada, Victoria, Danube, Pretorian and Adriatic. He spent three years at Clifden, a Marconi high-powered transmitting station on the West coast of Ireland.
RMS Titanic
Jack was appointed Chief Wireless Telegraphist on the new, "unsinkable" luxury RMS Titanic, with Harold Bride as his junior operator. The wireless equipment on board was the most modern and most powerful of any merchant ship then afloat. It had a range of 250-400 miles in daytime and at night, when conditions for transmitting and receiving were more favourable, it occasionally spanned 2,000 miles. It is recorded that Jack had confided in a friend that while he was proud to be chosen to serve on the Titanic he would have preferred a smaller vessel. Jack expressed a dread of icebergs.
In the 24 hours preceding the fateful collision with an iceberg on the 14 April 1912, the two wireless operators had been busy repairing a fault in the transmitter. As a consequence, Jack had very little sleep before commencing his watch from 8.00pm to 2.00am. It was in the hours preceding the collision that the liner achieved its highest speed of 22.5 knots. Thus, on impact, the iceberg inflicted considerable damage to many of the watertight compartments, causing it to sink at the bow.
Jack was sending personal messages from the passengers to America - this was his job with Marconi - when he was first instructed by the captain to advise other vessels in the area of the collision with the berg. Due to the much publicised and widely believed claim that the Titanic was an unsinkable ship, almost all on board carried on as before and other ships receiving this message did not immediately prepare to head for the given position of the stricken liner. However it was soon realized that the Titanic was sinking and Jack was instructed by Captain Edward Smith to send out SOS messages requesting immediate assistance from all vessels in the area.
From this time onwards Jack stayed at his post, sending out the distress calls, advising on the latest position of the Titanic, urging and convincing other ships to assist in the rescue of those taking to the boats. Jack stayed at the transmitter while Harold Bride put a lifejacket on him after the captain gave the instruction, "Every man for himself" and had personally thanked the two wireless operators for their perseverance. Bride was sent off by Phillips to save himself, while Jack continued transmitting. It was as a consequence of his total devotion to duty that Jack Phillips lost his life and has since become widely admired. It was this bravery and persistence which reduced the magnitude of the disaster in respect of lives lost. Jack's last message was picked up at 2.17am and the ship foundered at 2.20am.
The Phillips Memorial
The Phillips Memorial in Godalming, a garden designed by Gertrude Jekyll, with a magnificent brick cloister 80 feet square designed by Hugh Thackeray Turner, was laid out, built and opened exactly two years to the day after the sinking. The memorial is situated between the River Wey and Godalming Parish Church. Within the cloister, the Wireless and Telegraph Company commissioned and had erected a memorial stone tablet to the perpetual honour of this brave man, who died four days after his 25th birthday, leaving behind a lasting example of putting lives of others before one's own.
For the 90th anniversary of the loss of the
Titanic, in April 2002, Godalming Town Council
refurbished the Phillips family grave of Jack's father, George,
and his mother, Ann, and twin sisters, Elsie and Ethel, in the
Old Cemetery, Nightingale Road. In the centre of a six foot
square curb all in white marble, is an obelisk in the shape of
an iceberg, a fitting memorial to Godalming hero Jack
Phillips.
In 2011 the Phillips Memorial is being renovated again so that
it looks perfect for the 100th anniversary of the sinking
of the Titanic in 2012.
© Trustees of Godalming Museum 2010
Godalming Museum Local Studies Library - John Young
James Edward Oglethorpe and Georgia, USA
By Mary BJames Edward Oglethorpe and Georgia
At Godalming Museum Library you can study a wide range of
publications on James Edward Oglethorpe and on the early years
of Georgia. The ephemera, photographs, prints and drawings
collections include items relating to the General and to
Westbrook and its subsequent life as the Meath Home. The
following article gives an overview of the life of General
Oglethorpe and more information about items relating to him in
the collections.
James Edward Oglethorpe and Westbrook Place, Godalming
The Manor of Westbrook
In July 1688, Sir Theophilus Oglethorpe purchased the Manors of Westbroke and Binscombe, and the house known as Westbroke Place.
James Edward Oglethorpe born 1696
Theophilus had returned to Godalming and, in the late autumn of 1696, took the oath of loyalty to William III. The year was also marked for Theophilus and Eleanor, by the birth of James Edward Oglethorpe, their tenth and last child, on December 22nd 1696. He was born in London, and christened the following day at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Church by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Oglethorpe as the soldier
He had been enrolled into Queen Anne's 1st Regiment of Foot Guards when only 10 years, but this was mainly a ceremonial regiment. Oglethorpe had some education at Eton and in 1714 entered Corpus Christi. He entered the military academy at Lompres, near Paris, and in 1716 war between the Turks and Austrians gave him the chance to enroll with the Austrian Imperial army under Prince Eugene of Savoy. As a young man he served in Germany and Hungary under Prince Eugene, to whom he was secretary and aide-de-camp. He fought in 1716 at the battle of Petrovardin, and in the siege of Timisora. In 1717 he fought the Turks at the battle of Belgrade.
This painting of Oglethorpe as an aide-de-camp hangs in Solomon's Lodge, the Masonic Lodge in Savannah that Oglethorpe was to be a founding member.
Picture courtesy Ed Jackson University of Georgia
Oglethorpe inherits Westbrook Place and Manors of Westbrook and Binscombe
In 1718, as the sole remaining son, Oglethorpe came into his inheritance at Westbrook, at the age of 22. His five brothers had all died, three in infancy. His four sisters were all still alive.
Oglethorpe as an MP, prison reformer, and philanthropist
At the age of 25, in 1722, he became in his turn a candidate for Parliament, and was elected Member of Parliament for Haslemere, following his father, and two brothers. He continued to serve being successful in the elections in 1727, 1734, 1741 and 1747 but lost is seat in 1754.
As a Member of Parliament, Ogelthorpe campaigned for prison reform. He gathered together a band of like-minded Parliamentarians, and pressed for the formation of a special committee to draw up suitable legislation - the committee was formed and Oglethorpe became its Chairman in 1729 - to enquire into the state of the British prisons. The group held many meetings most of which took place at Westbrook, and the house became noted for social and political gatherings. A measure was duly introduced into Parliament, which resulted in an improvement in prison conditions, the release of many short-time debtors and the removal of some of the worst warders and overseers.
Oglethorpe as a horticulturalist
Oglethorpe built a massive wall up the terraced hill on his property and planted a great vineyard along it. The warm spell of weather in 1730 coincided with the installation of the vineyard at Westbrook, and it is on record that the vineyard flourished for some years, yielding a plentiful supply of grapes, sufficient for wine-making. A visit by Dr Richard Pococke in November 1754 found at 'General Oglethorpe's there is a vineyard, out of which they make a wine like Rhenish'.
Oglethorpe conceives the idea of a colony in America
Oglethorpe conceived the idea of founding a thirteenth British colony in America, and as a home for poverty-stricken Britons and European refugees, and a place of religious tolerance. It was a philanthropic move but also it was seen as a military tactic to protect the established colonies of New Bern and Charleston (now North and South Carolina). Oglethorpe formed the Georgia Society in 1730. Members petitioned 'that the cities of London, Westminster, and parts adjacent, do abound with great numbers of indigent persons, who are reduced to such necessity as to become burthensome to the public, and who could be willing to seek a livelihood in any part of his majesty's plantations in America, if they were provided with passage, and means of settling there'.
The official charter to establish the colony was signed on the 21 April 1732 by King George II to 'the Trustees for establishing the Colony of Georgia in America'.
Oglethorpe may have ascertained that the mulberry tree flourished in the area where he contemplated setting up the new colony, and so he trained many of his prospective settlers in the care of the silkworm the winding preparation and use of the silken etc. For this purpose he brought over a number of experts from Italy to train his workers. He also had experience of growing vines at Westbrook Place and Godalming already had a thriving woollen industry on which the prosperity of the town depended. He chose his settlers wisely including all trades and professions to establish a working colony of people.
The first 115 settlers sailed with Oglethorpe in 1732, on the 17th November, from Gravesend in the ship 'Ann'. The families consisted of the mid-age range 30-50 with husband and a wife and with 1-4 children. A full list of the settlers, their names, ages, families, trades and professions can be seen at http://www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/lists/ under Georgia Settlers.
The First Journey
It took them two months to reach Charleston, South Carolina, on the 13th January 1733. Oglethorpe scouted ahead for a suitable location for a settlement and found Yamacraw Bluffs on the Savannah River in Georgia. He returned for the colonists and they reached the site on the 12th February 1733 (new style), and set about laying out a rectangular plan for their town of Savannah in the new colony of Georgia. In the summer of 1733 more colonists arrived, including Moravians in 1735. As well as enlisting fresh settlers for the new colony Oglethorpe returned to England in May 1734 to raise further funds for extending his work in Georgia.
Oglethorpe and Chief Tomochichi
Oglethorpe had befriended the Native Americans, and tried to understand and respect their customs. He developed a good relationship with the Mico, or Chief, Tomochichi, who was 16 years older.
Picture © Copyright: The Trustees of the British
Museum
When Oglethorpe returned to London he brought back with him ten Native Americans, members of the Yamacraw tribe - an outlawed tribe of the Creeks, - including the Yamacraw Chief, and his friend, Tomochichi, his wife, Scanauki, and his nephew and heir, Toonahowi.
They were taken to Whitehall and Eton, and many other places where they caused quite a stir. Unfortunately during their stay in London one of the Americans, Stimalchi, contracted smallpox. Oglethorpe's friend, Sir Hans Sloane, physician, came to minister to him but he died. He was buried in the graveyard of St John the Evangelist Church in Smith Square, Westminster. The Native Americans 'went to Mr Oglethorpe's in Surrey to dissipate their sorrow', and isolated themselves at Westbrook. Oglethorpe had them to stay at Westbrook for about four months. On one occasion, Oglethorpe caused a sensation in Godalming, by bringing his guests to dine at the White Hart Inn.
This postcard shows what the inn may have looked in c.1895. It
has "Old White Hart 1640" written at the bottom, but an earlier
inn "The Antelope" stood here from c.1570.
In 2006 it is no longer an inn.
Oglethorpe and the Wesley Brothers
Oglethorpe knew Rev. Samuel Wesley, and his son, Samuel, junior, the poet, who had been his friends. When Oglethorpe approached his old college, Corpus Christie, Oxford, for help finding a suitable minister for Georgia, three men, part of the Holy Club, were selected -Samuel's two brothers, Charles and John Wesley, and Benjamin Ingham.
The Next Two Trips
In October 1735, Oglethorpe left for Georgia for a second time in the 'Simmonds', with the Wesley brothers and Ingham. Charles Wesley became Oglethorpe's Secretary for Indian Affairs at Fredrica but left in July 1736 to return to England. John Wesley stayed on to found an orphanage, and became chaplain at Savannah but left in December 1737 to return to England, where he founded the Methodist Movement.
Oglethorpe captured St Augustine from the Spanish, and founded Augusta on the Savannah side, and Frederica Fort on St Simon's island. In November 1736, after one year, Oglethorpe returned to London to raise funds for the colony.
In 1737 he was given a commission as General and Commander-in Chief for his Majesty's provinces in South Carolina and Georgia. He returned for the third time in July 1738 with a volunteer muster of 600 soldiers. In 1739 war with Spain broke out.
Oglethorpe and 'Jekyll Island'
In 1742 Oglethorpe defeated the Spanish who occupied the islands of Guale, at the Battle of Bloody Marsh on St Simon's Island. His victory ensured that the Spanish were no longer a threat to Georgia and the British colonies. In 1743 Oglethorpe was promoted to Brigadier General (previously the title of General had been honorary).
He was responsible for the first English resident on the island of Ospo and changed the name to Jekyll Island. One of Oglethorpe's friends, Sir Joseph Jekyll, Master of the Rolls (1662-1738) had donated £500 towards the settlement and Oglethorpe commemorated this gift by naming the coastal island after him. Joseph Jekyll was related to Gertrude Jekyll, the well-known gardener, who lived in Godalming.
Oglethorpe finally leaves Georgia
James Oglethorpe finally left Georgia on 23rd July 1743, returning to England to face various charges laid against him by disaffected colonists and others; he cleared himself of much of the calumny attached to his name and secured at last the repayment of his own monies (some £66,000) which he had used in establishing the colony.
Oglethorpe married
In September 1744, Oglethorpe, at the age of 48, married an heiress, Lady Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Sir Nathan Wright of Cranham Hall in Essex, in Westminster Abbey. They spent their honeymoon at Westbrook, attended by a Chickasaw Indian Chief who had accompanied him to England. In due course the Oglethorpes settled at Elizabeth's home in Essex, and Westbrook saw little more of the Squire.
Oglethorpe's Signature
In October 1744 Oglethorpe signed a deed of counterparts of
conveyance of a small piece of land, which was adjoined to a
footpath leading from Mill Lane to Godalming Church. This, and
an earlier deed of 1734, are on display in the Godalming
Museum.
This is a poster made for the 300th anniversary of Oglethorpe's
birthday depicting the portrait, which hangs in the Oglethorpe
University. The portrait was painted in 1744 and discovered in
England and taken to America to hang in the President's Office
at Oglethorpe University, Georgia.
Oglethorpe made General
On March 30th, 1745, Oglethorpe was created Major General, to serve under the Duke of Cumberland in the campaign against Bonny Prince Charlie and the Jacobites Oglethorpe's parents and sisters had been Jacobite sympathisers and this may have led to suspicions about his own loyalty. In December 1745 the General was court-martialed for "lingering on the road". A charge of which he was acquitted.
In 1747 he was promoted to Lieutenant General, but his career, as an active soldier was finished. In 1765 he was appointed General, and was the senior general for the whole of the British Army.
This is an engraving of a portrait of General Oglethorpe
after a sculpture by Simon Francois Ravenet (who also
engraved Hon. Arthur Onslow of Clandon and Sir Joseph
Jekyll).
Oglethorpe in Retirement
After his acquittal James retired more and more from public affairs and turned his interest to becoming a patron of the arts. On the 9th November 1749 the Honble. Lieutenant General James Oglethorpe of Lisle Street, London ('a Gentleman well versed in Natural History, Mathematicks and all branches of Polite Literature') was elected a Member of the 'Royal Society' in London. Also on the same date, Philip Carteret Webb Esqr., of Budge Row, London ('being a Gentm. every way qualified to be an useful and valuable member') was elected. Oglethorpe had a country home at Westbrook and Webb had his at Busbridge Hall, they were neighbours.
These two men were to meet again when they contested the Parliamentary seat for Haslemere. Webb along with James More Molyneux stood jointly for the election, building support by the conversion of leaseholds into freeholds, and were elected in April 1754, defeating James Edward Oglethorpe and Peter Burrel. Oglethorpe had held the seat for 32 years since 1722 and had seen seven parliaments.
It was at Oglethorpe's instigation, as one of the trustees and executors of his friend, Sir Hans Sloane, that the Government purchased the Sloane Collection, which became the nucleus of the British Museum.
Oglethorpe passes away in his 89th year
An old cartoon shows the aged General Oglethorpe, aged 88, just before he died. Underneath it is written that he was 102 (sic), said to be the oldest General in Europe, sketched from life at the sale of Dr Johnson's books, 18th February 1785, where he was reading a book he had purchased, without spectacles
General James Oglethorpe died on 3Oth June 1785, in his 89th
year. He had lived to a great age with a very fine and full
record of service to Westbrook, to the state of Georgia,
which he founded, and to his native country. He is buried in
the Chancel of All Saints, Cranham, near Upminster, Essex.
After Oglethorpe' Death
On Oglethorpe's death the estate passed to Christopher
Hodges, and he sold it in 1790 to Nathaniel Godbold, a
physician.
Westbrook Place c.1819
Godalming and Oglethorpe
Godalming Museum Library has books, pamphlets and ephemera about Oglethorpe, which can be used for research. This life size model of General Oglethorpe is sometimes on display in Godalming Museum.
The museum has a set of twelve Wedgwood plates featuring Oglethorpe and Georgia, which were donated to the Museum by Godalming Town Council.
Heraldic roof bosses in the nave of Godalming Parish Church
of St Peter and St Paul include the coat of
arms of the Oglethorpe family. Bargate stone from the
collapsed wall of Oglethorpe's vineyard was donated by the
Meath Home for the restoration of the church spire in
1986-88. There are memorials to other members of the
Oglethorpe family -Susanna who died in 1736, and Elizabeth
who died in 1742, both sisters, daughters of William
Oglethorpe, and cousins of Theophilus Oglethorpe, and who
came from Northgate Hall in Yorkshire. The State Flag of
Georgia, and a plaque celebrating the 250th anniversary of
the departure of Oglethorpe to found the state of Georgia,
and a chandelier given by Georgia in 1996 to celebrate the
300th anniversary of Oglethorpe's birth can also be seen in
the church.
http://www.godalming.org.uk/Oglethorpe.html
Oglethorpe Court
This plaque in Oglethorpe Court marks the 300th anniversary in 1996 of
Oglethorpe's birth
Friends of Oglethorpe - Is a link formed to foster
relationships between the State of Georgia, the cities of
Savannah and Augusta in the U.S.A. and Godalming. A delegation
from Godalming visited Augusta in 2003 for the dedication of
this monument of Oglethorpe.
Links
For
further information please refer to the
following:
St Peter & St Paul Church www.godalming.org.uk/Oglethorpe.html
The Georgia Historical Society www.georgiahistory.com
Our Georgia History www.ourgeorgiahistory.com/lists
Friends of Oglethorpe www.friendsofoglethorpe.co.uk
University of Georgia www.cviog.uga.edu/search
© Trustees of Godalming Museum 2010
Godalming Museum Local Studies Library - Ann Laver
Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932
By Mary B
Gertrude Jekyll 1843-1932
At Godalming Museum Library you
can consult a wide range of published works on and by Gertrude
Jekyll, as well as her original notebooks and copies of the
garden plans in the Reef Point Collection at the University of
California.
The Museum Collection includes
paintings, drawings and other work by Gertrude Jekyll, as well as
memorabilia. Many of these items are on display in the Arts and
Crafts Gallery. The Museum Garden is a living exhibit - a copy of
a border designed by Jekyll for a house called Millmead in
Bramley. The following article gives more information about
Gertrude Jekyll and items relating to her in the museum
collection.
Early life
In 1848, the Jekyll family (Gertrude was the fifth of seven children) came to Bramley where they lived for 20 years. In 1861 Jekyll went to the South Kensington School of Art, studying the writings of Ruskin and the paintings of Turner. She painted her cat, Thomas, at the age of 26.
Oil painting by Gertrude Jekyll, 1869(Godalming Museum Collection)
Thomas in the Character of 'Puss-in Boots'
She travelled widely always
noticing the plants, landscapes and customs, painting in
watercolours and oil.
The Sun of Venice Going to Sea
Oil
painting by Gertrude Jekyll after Turner, c.1870
(Godalming Museum Collection)
Gertrude Jekyll's circle of friends was wide and influential including John Ruskin, William Morris, G.F.Watts (who came to live at Compton) and Hercules Brabazon Brabazon - a watercolour artist whose experiments with colour profoundly influenced her.
A love of gardens
The family moved to Wargrave, Berkshire, but returned to Surrey to live at Munstead in 1878. Jekyll and her widowed mother moved to a newly built house, and it was here that she found her love of creating gardens. In 1882 her mother gave her some land across the road, which she had bought, and which she hoped would be a home for her daughter after her death.
From her childhood, plants and flowers and their relationship with each other had fascinated Jekyll, as did the lanes, heaths and woods she loved to explore. The Godalming Museum Collection includes examples of her drawings in pencil (Almond Blossom) and pen and ink (The Lesser Trumpet Daffodil), as well as the watercolours illustrated here.
Iris Stylosa, Munstead 1882
watercolour by Gertrude Jekyll
(Godalming Museum Collection)
Besides painting, drawing and sketching Gertrude Jekyll became interested in embroidery, designing for friends.
Tulips, pansies, roses and poppies, watercolours and tracings for embroidery designs, by Gertrude Jekyll (Godalming Museum Collection)
Jekyll learnt the country crafts, mastering thatching, fencing, walling, carpentry and metalworking, and became a designer craftswoman. She made herself proficient in carving, gilding and inlaying; working in silver decoarated by embossing. Witley Church has a paten with a monogram and inscription commissioned from her in 1888 (currently on display in the Museum, as is a picture Jekyll made out of shells mounted on panelling from old pews taken out of Bramley Church).
Crafts and photography
She took up photography, which eventually enabled her to capture images when her eyes could no longer see clearly. Her extreme short-sightedness caused her to give up art and crafts, and further deterioration meant she concentrated on gardens.
Jekyll took an interest in disappearing crafts, collecting old household implements and recording their use. Her book Old West Surrey includes her photographs of illustrations and the old crafts and cottages she had seen in her travels around Surrey.
Edwin Lutyens
In 1899 Jekyll was introduced to the young architect, Edwin Lutyens, by Harry Mangles of Littleworth near Seale, a pioneer rhododendron grower for whom Lutyens had designed a gardener's cottage. She asked Lutyens to design a house for her in her garden. Jekyll and Lutyens explored the landscape and architecture of southwest Surrey in her pony cart. Lutyens designed Munstead Wood Hut in 1894 as a place where she could live until her own house was built. Her house, Munstead Wood, one of Lutyens' early masterpieces, was begun in 1896.
Jekyll became increasingly involved in the gardens Lutyens was designing for his houses, advising him on the materials to be used and supplying detailed planting plans. An example of their work together is Orchards in Munstead built entirely of local material: other examples of the partnership are at Tigbourne Court, Witley, and Goddard's in Abinger, where the Lutyens Trust is based.
Helen Allingham, the artist, was to be a visitor to Munstead Wood
and painted a watercolour of her garden.
The South Border at Munstead Wood, by Helen Allingham
(Godalming Museum Collection)
On holiday Jekyll drew 'A silly gate made of nonsense tools' in her sketchbook.
She took an interest in disappearing country crafts, which led to her collecting old household implements and recording their use. Her book Old West Surrey includes her photographs of illustrations and the old crafts and cottages she had seen in her travels around Surrey.
Jekyll and Lutyens had the same sense of humour. Lutyens drew
sketches - of Jekyll whom he affectionately called 'Bumps' - 'the
mother of all the bulbs' referring to her figure.
She enjoyed sketching especially her cats, which were published
in a chapter 'Pussies in the Garden' in her book, Children
and Gardens.
Three Cats
Lutyens described her picture of three cats drinking from a bowl of milk as an "equicateral" triangle.
A wealth of knowledge
Jekyll's reputation as a plantswoman and garden designer had been steadily growing. Her circle included William Robinson (author of the English Flower Garden), Rev. Reynolds Hole (who wrote A Book about Roses) and G.F. Wilson, owner of the gardens at Wisley.
Jekyll wrote many articles for magazines and newspapers such as Robinson's periodical, The Garden, and Gardening Illustrated and Country Life. Her books, often illustrated by her own photographs and drawings, had a profound influence, direct or indirect, on garden design through the British Isles, in France, and particularly in the United States. Her books were concerned with garden ornaments and flower decoration in the home as well as the principles of planting, colour grouping and garden design. Everything was based on her own experience and showed meticulous attention to detail.
Her drawings give some insight into how she carefully planned her gardens. They are listed under house name of the garden, and also under various types of planting schemes e.g. peony borders, kitchen gardens, herb gardens, spring planting. Letters between client and Jekyll survive.
Copies of many of Gertrude Jekyll's Garden Plans can be studied in the Godalming Museum Local Studies Library, by courtesy of the Reef Point Collection, University of California
Her original planting notebooks can also be seen and include detailed lists of plants for particular gardens. Plants often came from her nurseries at Munstead Wood.
There are three collections in the Godalming Museum Local Studies Library:
-
The Gertude Jekyll Collection of Garden Drawings (Gertrude Jekyll Collection (1955-1), Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley)
- Correspondence between Gertrude Jekyll and Clients (Gertrude Jekyll Collection (1955-1), Environmental Design Archives, University of California, Berkeley)
- Original Plant List Notebooks (Godalming Museum)
Other interests
Locally Jekyll was prominent in the campaign to save the Old Town Hall (the Pepperpot) in Godalming from demolition. She designed the garden for the Jack Phillips Memorial Cloister in Godalming, and supervised the transformation of Hydon Heath into an accessible public memorial for Octavia Hill, one of the founders of the National Trust.
She took an interest in female suffrage, creating an embroidered banner for the Godalming Branch of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS).
Godalming Women's Suffrage Society Banner (Godalming Museum
Collection)
In the Arts and Crafts Gallery at Godalming Museum one can see her personal memorabilia, including a garden fork and shears, Gladstone bag, travelling desk and gardening boots (kindly lent by Guildford Museum).
Gertrude Jekyll's tombstone in Busbridge Churchyard, designed by Lutyens, is inscribed:
Gertrude Jekyll
Artist
Gardener
Craftswoman
Links:
The official
website of the Jekyll Estate http://www.gertrudejekyll.co.uk/
Surrey Gardens Trust http://www.surreygardenstrust.co.uk/
Surrey History Centre http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreyhistoryservice
© Trustees of Godalming Museum 2010
Godalming Museum Local Studies Library - Ann Laver
Gertrude Jekyll 1843 - 1932
By Mary BAt Godalming Museum Library you can consult a wide range of published works on and by Gertrude Jekyll, as well as her original notebooks and copies of the garden plans in the Reef Point Collection at the University of California.
The Museum Collection includes paintings, drawings and other work
by Gertrude Jekyll, as well as memorabilia. Many of these items
are on display in the Arts and Crafts Gallery. The Museum Garden
is a living exhibit - a copy of a border designed by Jekyll for a
house called Millmead in Bramley.
To find out more about this Surrey hero please join the
Supporters of Godalming Museum Group on this website and
read the article about her on a separate Blog which includes some
beautiful illustrations.
