Two Books on Evan Morgan- as Lord of the Lies by Will Cross

February 3, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Two Books on Evan Morgan- Lord of the Lies 

Sketches of Evan, Viscount Tredegar

‘Lord of the Lies’

As seen by friends, foes and lovers

William Cross

This new work from Lord Tredegar’s biographer william cross sets the mould

for understanding Evan Frederic Morgan (1893- 1949), eccentric Welsh aristocrat,

notorious homosexual, congenital liar & fantasist, the last Viscount Tredegar, of

Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales. Here is the actuality about Evan recalled

by those who knew him, friends, foes & lovers. In this selection the contributors

are Evan’s crowd, some habituds at Tredegar House during Evan’s tenure. Story

tellers include Cyril Hartmann, Robin Bryans, Charles Graves, Desmond & Shane

Leslie, Alan Pryce-Jones & Henry Maxwell. This is a short run title offering frank

descriptions, candid opinion, rare personal reflections & colourful anecdotes to

shed light on Evan Morgan’s twisted personality.

Newport historian, Jim Dyer, provides a nostalgic Introduction.

First Published 4th December 2017

Limited Copies remaining.

Also on Amazon

ISBN 10 1-905914-46-6

ISBN  13 978-1-905914-46-3

Full Colour £10.00  Black and White £7.00

inc P&P  UK only

Published by W P Cross

Book Midden Publishing

Contact

Will Cross

58 Sutton Road Newport Gwent NP19 7JF

Second More Sketches book to be published Summer 2018

See below

More Sketches of Evan,Viscount Tredegar.

Lord of Lies

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Membership

January 23, 2018 by Leave a Comment

MembershipBecome a Friend

Membership is open to all who wish to support the aims of the Friends. We hope you will complete the application form on the membership page.

When you become a friend, you will receive a membership card, free parking in grounds for  four hours per day, four newsletters a year

Activities

  • Winter talks in the Morgan Room
  • Giving help with fund-raising activities
  • Visits to other historic sites

To print membership form please Click Here

If you are unable to see the membership form after clicking the above link

you will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer or laptop

Adobe Reader (Click Here to Obtain)

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Book by Will Cross – Evan, Lord Tredegar, Final Affairs

June 8, 2017 by Leave a Comment

“Evan, Lord Tredegar: Final Affairs

The Aftermath: The Welsh Peer Poet

& Pleasure Seeker” : By William Cross

ISBN 9781905914326

£8.00 inc p&p. UK only. Direct from the

Author or on Amazon. Limited copies

Available until end of July 2017 only

The  Highlights of the book

12- page Introduction “ The Rise and Fall of the Morgans

of  Tredegar House”

40- pages of correspondence from  National Archives

records on the proposed sale of the Tredegar  Estates,

including attempts to have the National Trust take over

the property in c1950

The Newport  District Valuers’ Report of the state of

Tredegar  House in 1950 with details of all rooms, grounds,

& history

 

The complete 12 page Catalogue for the sale of Honeywood

House, Rowhook, Dorking the last home of Evan Morgan

and his mother, Katharine, Viscountess Tredegar

 

Photographs from Honeywood House, including the prized

Chinese panels owned by Evan Morgan

 

A short tribute to Katharine, Viscountess Tredegar

 

6 -page narrative (with unique photographs ) of House parties

and guests at Tredegar House in the 1930s

 

Contact / Enquiries William Cross  williecross@aol.com

Filed Under: Book List Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Walsall man in service at the home of Lord Tredegar

April 3, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Thanks to the Black Country Bugle for permission to use this article

 

Walsall man in service at the home of Lord Tredegar

By Black Country Bugle User  |  Posted: July 03, 2008

At the end of Queen Victorian’s reign, at the time of her death in 1901, it was recorded that there were 1.7 million women and 140,000 men still employed in domestic service. The great Victorian Age had given the upper and middle class levels of society a considerable amount of wealth, and the tradition of maintaining a house full of servants continued throughout the nineteenth century, and didn’t fall out of favour until after the First World War.

Almost every family history investigation reveals ancestors who were domestic servants at some stage in their lives, and in 1914 domestic service was still the largest single occupation for women. Houses of various sizes would employ as many servants as required to meet the needs and demands of the head of the household; the bigger the house the more servants there would have to be. It had always been the policy to employ new servants from locations at least 30 miles away, for it was feared by those who had the most to lose that younger servants especially might go running home at the first opportunity and spread unwanted gossip. To this end prospective employers advertised the positions available, rather than pass on any vacancies by word of mouth.

Prior to 1891 Frederick Tippett, a working class mon from Walsall, who may well have already been an experienced domestic servant, was hired to work at Tredegar House in Newport, South Wales, the home of Godfrey Morgan Lord Tredegar, a peer of the realm. He had joined a domestic army of 24 which included 15 women and nine men, living and working in the House. Eliza Cook was the housekeeper, a battle-axe of a woman in her sixties, who originally came from Swindon, Wiltshire. She had worked for the Morgans for years, and like so many domestics of her ilk had dedicated her life in service to others and was never married.

Eliza Cook may well have been the person who agreed to take Frederick on, as hiring and firing was one of her main duties. She was also a shrewd woman and didn’t necessarily employ girls who were too young or had no experience of domestic service at all.

In 1891 the youngest girls living and working at Tredegar House were Elizabeth Hillier aged 20 from Cardiff, and Mary Williams, also 20 from St David’s, Breconshire. The youngest male servant was Frank Sloman from Dorset, who was 19 years old.

Frederick Tippett was single [aged 30 in 1901 census] and although his job title isn’t known, he was most likely employed as a footman, with his duties clearly defined. He would have been a subordinate to the butler and if there was more than one footman, could have been placed in a ranking system according to height, size and good looks. Most were over six-feet tall, but additional inches could add additional income.

Often footmen were matched in size to maintain conformity in their joint appearance, and they were trained to act in unison. Frederick would have had a great many duties, ranging from seeing the head of the household and guests into their carriages on departure and receiving them on their arrival; polishing the household copper and plate; waiting at the table; and cleaning knives, cutlery, shoes and boots. Other duties at various times included trimming lamps; running errands; carrying coal; lighting the house at dusk; cleaning silver and gold; answering the drawing room and parlour bells; announcing visitors; waiting at dinner; attending the gentlemen in the smoking room following dinner; and attending in the front hall as guests were leaving. His uniform would have been white tie and tails with brass buttons that were most likely stamped with the Morgan family crest.

In 1891, the same time as our man from the Black Country was employed at Tredegar House, one of the servants wrote a letter to a friend, who was also a servant at a house in North Wales. Extracts from the letter give an indication of what the daily routine below stairs was like, particularly in the kitchen …
“There is a man in the kitchen who prepares and cooks all the meat, he’s the butcher. Then there is a man in the scullery, also a woman kept for washing up, and two still-room maids, and a woman comes every day to bake the bread. So there are five in the kitchen and two regularly in the scullery. I am afraid Miss Brown that sounds very much like a fairy tale, but when I tell you there are fourteen cold meats sent up every day for my Lord’s luncheon including four or five hot dishes, you will understand there is some work to be done in the kitchen alone. ”

For his service to Lord Tredegar, Frederick would have been paid £20 – £40 per annum, worked virtually every day from early morning till late at night, and only enjoyed some leisure time on a Sunday afternoon, or an occasional half day which was a reward if his work was deemed satisfactory and his behaviour conducted without blemish. Christmas at Tredegar House for Frederick would have been busier than ever. But come Twelfth Night he and the other servants would have been able to let their hair down and enjoy dancing and general merriment in the servants’ hall until the early hours. But woe-betide any who had too much to drink, for their duties started again at 6am the same morning.

Filed Under: Former Tredegar House Servants and Estate Workers Stories Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Day Trip to Charlecote Park Warwick

April 3, 2017 by Leave a Comment

DAY TRIP TUESDAY 13TH JUNE 2017

Our summer day trip this year is  to  Charlecote Park, Wellesbourne, Warwick. Charlecote Park has been the home of the Lucy family since the 13th century.   It is  a magnificent  Tudor  mansion  beside  the River Avon, on  the  foundations of  an  even earlier medieval house.

Queen Elizabeth I is known to have visited the house, and stayed in the chamber that now serves as the drawing room.

The Lucy family came to England as supporters of William the Conqueror, and the family has owned’land at Charlecote since 1247. Sir Thomas Lucy (1532-1600), the builder of the current house, was a magistrate under Elizabeth 1. In the course of his duties he was responsible for prosecuting local families with Catholic sympathies, including the Arden family, William Shakespeare’s maternal grandparents.

Tradition says that William Shakespeare was once caught poaching deer on the Charlecote Estate. This tale may well be true, as the estate lies close to Shakespeare’s family home at Stratford. The story goes that Shakespeare was forced to flee the area to avoid prosecution by Sir Thomas. The young playwright escaped to London and the rest, as they say, is history.

Eating and shopping: The Orangery serves a range of meals and light snacks. The Servants Hall gift shop and Pantry  shop  sell a range  of specific and  locally sourced produce.   Picnics welcome.

We will be leaving Tredegar House Car Park at 9.15am prompt. Arriving At Charlecote Park approximately 11.30am.

ADMISSION  PRICES –

  1. House and Garden including coach……………………………………..£24.60 each
  1. Coach only for National Trust members……………………………….£14.60 each

BOOK EARLY SO AS NOT TO BE DISAPPOINTED.

BALANCE REQUIRED NO LATER THAN_ 6 WEEKS PRIOR TO TRIP –

3RD  MAY 2017.

Contact Judith Rice:

judith.rice@friends-of-tredegar-house.co.uk

Filed Under: FOTH Events Tagged With: , , , ,

EVAN MORGAN’S ROLLS ROYCE FOUND IN USA

February 7, 2017 by Leave a Comment

From Will Cross and Monty Dart (and sincere thanks to Glynn and Nick Williams)

Will Cross, biographer of Evan Morgan informs us:

“When an e-mail (last Autumn) began “This is in strictest confidence!” the hair on the back of my neck began to rise a bit. When the plea for secrecy

adds, flatteringly “I’m certain you’re the best person to assist!” then the

narcissism of the writer inside me is all ears.

The item was a piece of breaking news that the source (a journalist)

understandably wanted to keep others mitts off from knowing the full details of the story until he was ready to reveal it to the world.

As the disclosure is now released into the public domain, I’m authorised to let the proverbial cat out of the bag! The subject is Evan Morgan, 4th Lord Tredegar, spendthrift, poet and playboy.

The latest news story is not about Evan’s darker frailties none the less the

story is a wonderfully interesting piece, especially as I (and I know there are many others too in the Friends of Tredegar House ) who remain hopelessly devoted to Evan Morgan, Lord Tredegar, and just about everything connected to him and his contemporaries.

Evan was of course  also known as Viscount Tredegar the last but one  of the coal baron Morgans to make Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales, UK their family seat and main homestead.  The House (currently undergoing extensive repairs to the roof) now survives and thrives in the hands of the National Trust. Evan is one of the treasures of Tredegar House when (and if) some of the guides and volunteers recount accurate and reliably sourced stories about him.

The newest Evan Morgan revelation is highly amusing after the discovery of one of Evan’s Rolls Royce motor cars in the USA.

The e-mail advised:

“A friend has bought a Rolls-Royce first built for Lord Tredegar in 1936. It’s in the United States and undergoing some very traumatic/dramatic changes – which with hindsight are in keeping with the dynasty – and the car will be unveiled soon.

As a journalist, I am producing an editorial for magazine/print use and have lots of technical history for the vehicle but am desperately seeking relevant images and pertinent details.”

The journalist at the centre of the enquiry introduced himself as Glynn Williams, MBE, a name well known in the motoring world and a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

I replied to the e-mail from Glynn saying that I would be delighted to help if I could and (to ensure more certain additional support) I summoned up a Tredegar House insider, my writing partner Monty Dart – who knows the machinations of Tredegar House and its people, and who strives to maintain integrity on Morgan family facts.

Monty and I did just that immediately, we orchestrated a trip for Glynn and his wife “for Evan vibes” and photographs around Tredegar House and grounds, including, the stables/ garages and forecourt where the fleet of Evan’s cars  were once housed –  Monty’s husband Tom Dart joined us too and added his own expertise.

According to the late George Evans (who was chauffeur to Evan from 1941-45) “Lord Tredegar had two Rolls Royces, a Hotchkiss   and a Daimler … also a Ford van for picks ups and shopping.  Evan had motorcars too including an old Vulcan model.

Evan always had luxury cars, when not being driven about he drove himself albeit erratically, Toad of Toad Hall was more accomplished.  In 1920 Aldous Huxley portrayed Evan as the fictional Ivor Lombard in his novel ‘Crome Yellow’ whizzing round the country driving a car.

One servants story is of Evan turning up once at Tredegar House in a green sports car – which was too wide to be garaged – Courtenay (Evan’s father)  wouldn’t have it anywhere and the car was never seen again. Another servant said when Evan’s car came into the vicinity of the House it would be clocked at the front entrance gate, a telephone call would be put through from the Lodge to the Hall Boy, who would go upstairs on the roof and put the flag up, and so it was flying when Evan arrived.

The results of the incredible new work on Evan’s Rolls Royce are in the links at the end of this account, with splendid photographs from Nick Williams (son of Glynn) who was  invited out to Mexico and USA to witness the car’s transformation and report back to his father. Although the text is not without some howlers in places on the description of Evan’s persona the revamping of the car and Nick’s tantalisingly epic photographs of the inside and outside of the new vehicle are all that matters. Absolutely stunning shots.

The team of Sam and Derek Hard from Hard Up Garage, Street Toys in Juarez, Mexico and Michael Lightborne in Elpaso have executed an amazing, fearsome job on the motor, which was unveiled at the SEMA show in Las Vegas last year. Albeit purists will bury themselves in oil slicks over the fate of a Rolls Royce from1936, a vehicle that was Evan’s pride and joy ridden his faithful chauffeurs John (Jack) and George Evans. I think Evan would have been chuffed to run gunshot or ride side saddle with these clever guys, they reek of the very same spark, bravado,the same daring, the same bohemian qualities as our beloved Evan at his best and worst.

Stand by for further news if and when the car goes into a major auction in the USA. Who knows there may be a chance of the car being included in a UK sale or on display. I understand the prospects are being investigated.

What a dream just to have been involved in cleaning Evan’s mudguards or shining up the beautiful car mascot.

Either way we shall not see the like of it again.

Will Cross and Monty Dart

6 February 2017

https://nwvt.myportfolio.com/rolls-royce-rat-rod

http://cars.barcroft.tv/lord-tredegar-rolls-royce-rat-rod-sema-las-vegas-custom-car

Filed Under: The Morgan Family Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cyril Highman (1922 – 2016) Founder Member of Friends of Tredegar House

January 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

image001

Cyril Highman(1922 – 2016) – an   appreciation.

Cyril Highman, who died on 4th December 2016 after a long life well lived, was one of the founding committee members of the Friends of Tredegar House. He was a man of integrity, humour and kindness – and my uncle.

He began life in Tredegar and the family moved to Newport in 1932. Cyril attended Newport High School and at the age of 15 sat the  entrance exams for the Civil Service – something that his father decided would be a good career for him. It meant moving to London to take up employment in the Home Office. He would often talk about the fact that his father had decided his career. He had no complaints about that, saying that of course in those days a steady job, with a good retirement pension, was the dream of   many.

With the outbreak of the second world war, Cyril was keen to join up   and applied to the RAF to work as a radio mechanic. He was eventually released from his reserved occupation work at the Home Office in 1942. Most of his time in the RAF was spent at various stations in the UK working with radar, but his unit was sent to Germany at the end of the war. He was there for some months and the sights he saw made a very deep impression. He had loved German lessons while at school thanks to the teaching of Mr. Dawson and had had a German landlady  at the start of his working life in London.

On his return to the UK he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was sent to the sanatorium at Cefn Mabley, where he spent 18 months and where he met his wife (also a patient), my father´s sister Betty, who was a Newport  girl.

 

September 24th 1949 Malpas Church

Fortunately, Betty and Cyril both recovered and they were married in 1949 at St. Marys Church Malpas, Newport.

Much of their married life was spent in Walton-­‐on-­‐Thames to accommodate Cyril working in London, but the pull of returning to Newport was too strong to resist when a job possibility arose for him. On his return to Wales, Cyril became involved in various societies. He was the secretary of the Newport Civic Society for many years and   both he and Betty were keenly involved in the Friends of Tredegar House from the very beginning of the Society. He was meticulous in keeping records for the Friends and was secretary for a number of years. He had always enjoyed learning about local history and put this interest to very good use with these societies. He was also one of the first supporters of the Ruperra Conservation Trust.

His fascination with technology – radar, hi-­‐fi equipment (building his own speakers at an early age) -­‐   also meant that he  was very  interested in computers. I remember that when he bought his first one he asked someone to come and tell him about the workings – and he meant  the  technical  workings  rather  than  how  to  operate  the machine! It was a wonderful form of communication for him in later years and he used to keep the family up to date with each other by passing on various emails we had written to   him.

We are fortunate that he decided to write his memoirs, (dealing with the years from 1922 – 1949)which make fascinating reading and are even more impressive as they were written when he was in his eighties without recourse to diaries or journals, which he never kept. He loved cycling, regarding it as one of the best forms of transport,   and his longest trip was from Barnes to South Wales over a period of two days in 1940. Music was another love, especially popular songs from the famous Big Band era of the 1940s.  He was a fine pianist himself. Cyril also enjoyed listening to Welsh hymn singing, no doubt due to his Methodist  background!

One of the letters of condolence after his death described him as a man with an ”historic memory, and a precise, properly concerned constitutionalist who would have made an excellent local government official”. In a way Cyril could be said to have taken on some of that  work in a voluntary fashion. Two examples are his involvement with   the Blue Plaques scheme for the Newport Civic Society and the fact     that he never feared to write to the South Wales Argus if he felt a point needed making.

His mental ability, kindness and humour were with him to the end. We will miss him!

Helen Davies

Many thanks to Helen for providing this lovely account of her uncle Cyril for Friends of Tredegar House

CPL Highman in Gatlow JUly 1946

Cpl. Highman in Gatlow July 1946

 

Filed Under: Your Stories Tagged With: , , , , ,

Burglary at Lady Katherine Morgan’s London Home

January 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

image004

A nurse employed by Viscountess Tredegar i(Lady Katharine Morgan) Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, stated at Marlborough Street yesterday that while she was sitting in the drawing room at 4.30 a.m. a man walked in. She gave him tea and talked to him until the police arrived. William David McCoy, 22, house porter, no fixed address, was committed for trial accused of burglary breaking and entering promises and stealing property worth £25.

The nurse, Miss Annie Fraser, said that McCoy put his head around the door and walked into the room. She got up and he said ‘I have broken into your house.’

‘I asked him what he wanted’ said Miss Fraser. ‘He said ‘I have been out all morning looking for a job, and I am so desperate and hungry. I want some food.’

‘I asked how he got in and he said ‘I got in through a window downstairs beside the kitchen. I saw a light upstairs and came to see who was there.’

‘I invited him in to have some tea. He said he would like some food as he was hungry. He smoked a cigarette. I went to the parlour-maid’s room and told her what had happened and asked her to inform the police. I came back to the drawing room and gave the man tea. We sat and talked a bit, and then the police arrived.’

Miss Fraser said that she noticed later that a silver box, a wireless set and a clock had been removed. These articles were worth £25. Drawers in the dining-room had been opened and their contents disarranged.

Police Constable Hickmott stated that McCoy said to him ‘I could have got away if I liked.’

image002

Filed Under: The Morgan Family Tagged With: , , , ,

Further Letters and Prose Pieces with Anecdotes about Evan by ~Will Cross

January 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Mann, Cathleen; Evan Frederick Morgan (1893-1949), 2nd Viscount Tredegar (2nd Creation); National Trust, Tredegar House; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/evan-frederick-morgan-18931949-2nd-viscount-tredegar-2nd-creation-156489

BOOK

by

Will Cross and Hon. Evan Frederick Morgan

Synopsis of the book.

Evan, Lord Tredegar  Further Letters and Prose Pieces with Anecdotes about Evan

This second literary compilation from Evan Morgan’s biographer William
Cross offers more interesting letters and several curious prose pieces
that adds weight to those already swept into the anthology “ Evan, Lord
Tredegar, Selected Letters, Prose and Quotations: The Mystic Muse of Evan
Frederic Morgan” ISBN 978-1905914-33-3, published in 2015.
Among the letters included are those to the Welsh artist Augustus John, to
The Archbishop of Cardiff, Francis Mostyn and to Marie Stopes who was
involved with Evan and others in the campaign to try to secure a pension
for Lord ‘ Bosie’ Douglas. Other nuggets include two odd-ball letters
featuring Evan from Aldous Huxley – his friend from the tragically
insecure days spent at Lady Ottoline Morrell’s Garsington Manor during
the Great War. Here too are the letters from Evan to Frances Stevenson,
David Lloyd George’s private secretary and mistress; Frances later dubbed
Evan “ a hopeless liar and thoroughly degenerate”. The new prose pieces
include Evan’s essay on “ Youth”, his personal views of what men and
women of the 1920s would have made the ideal Prime Minister’s inner
Cabinet, and a curiously vain piece about “ This Age of Vulgarity” as
well as an equally heady essay entitled “ I Believe in the Roman Catholic
Church”. Light relief is provided with a cache of anecdotes about Evan
some true, others that need to be treated with caution.
This very limited issue is a ‘must have’ title for Evan fanciers as well as
anyone studying the past, social history and eccentric personalities of
the era of the pre – WW2 world not only amongst the privileged classes.

 Copies available by post direct from author are £7.00 including p &p UK only. The book is also on AMAZON.  Limited Issue Signed by the Author.

ISBN 10 1-905914-38-5 ISBN 13 978-1-905914-38-8
Published by William P. Cross
Book Midden Publishing
58 Sutton Road Newport Gwent
NP19 7JF United Kingdom

evan 1

Filed Under: Book List Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Friends of Tredegar House Talks 2020

December 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 imagesPLEASE NOTE THAT

ALL TALKS ARE

CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

 2020 Talks

All Talks will be help at Duffryn Community Centre

Doors open at 7:15 pm

Entrance fee £2.50 for members £3.50 for visitors

Tues 31st March – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Neil Pritchard
Subject – There’s no Business Like Show Business

Tues 28th  April – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Olga Morgan
Subject – Humorous Talk

Tues 26th May – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Richard Jordan
Subject – The Other Glenn Miller

Tues 30th June – 7:30 p.m.

Speaker – Mary Tarling

Subject – Growing up in Ebbw Vale

 Tues 28th July – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Rosemary Scadden
Subject – On the Edge

 Tues 25th August – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Ally Gallivan
Subject – Blood Bikes Wales

 Tues  29th September- 7:30 p.m.
Speaker – Geoff Morgan
Subject – Reading His Unique & Humorous Poetry

Tues 27th October – 7:30 p.m.
Speaker -Paul Busby

Subject – TBA

Tues 27th October – 7:30 pm

St Cadoc’s Millennium Chimes

Hand Bell Ringers

————————————-

All Social events will be advertised in the newsletters

NEWSLETTERS(click here)

Filed Under: Friends of Tredegar House Talks Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Newsletters

November 5, 2016 by Leave a Comment

To view these newsletters you will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer or laptop

Adobe Reader (Click Here to Obtain)

Spring 1983 Issue No.5 Newsletter (click here)

Kindly provided by Cyril Highman – Addresses of Committee Members blanked out for Privacy Reasons

January 2019 Newsletter (click here)

January 2018 Newsletter (click here)

October 2017 Newsletter (click here)

July 2017 Newsletter (click here)

April 2017 Newsletter (click here)

January 2017 Newsletter (click here)

October 2016 Newsletter (click here)

Oct 2016 Article by Rhiannon Gamble N.T Property Operations Manager of Tredegar House (click here)

July 2016 Newsletter (click here)

April 2016 Newsletter (click here)

January 2016 Newsletter(click here)

Jan 2016 – Article by Linda Wigley National Trust General Manager of Tredegar House( click here)

October 2015 Newsletter(click here)

Oct 2015 -Article by Linda Wigley National Trust General Manager of Tredegar House( click here)

July 2015 Newsletter(click here)

April 2015 Newsletter ( click here)

January 2015 News Letter(click here)

January 2015 Insert(click here)

October 2014 Newsletter(click here)

Article by Adam Ellis-Jones National Trust Assistant Director of Operations( click here)

July 2014 Newsletter(click here)

Article by Joanna Cartwright National Trust Property Manager of Tredegar House( click here)

April 2014 Newsletter ( click here)

Article by Joanna Cartwright National Trust Property Manager of Tredegar House( click here)

January 2014 Newsletter(click here)

October 2013 Newsletter(click here)

July 2013 Newsletter(click here)

April 2013 Newsletter(click here)

Letter from Jo Cartwright Property Manager Tredegar House-April 2013(click here)

January 2013 Newsletter (click here)

January 2013 Newsletter Pull out Section (click here)

October 2012 Newsletter(click here)

Letter from Jo Cartwright Property Manager Tredegar House- September 2012(click here)

July 2012 Newsletter(click here)

Letter From the Mayor Of Newport(click here)

April 2012 Newsletter (click here)

January 2012 Newsletter(click here)

National Trust statement insert for  January 2012 Newsletter(click here)

September 2011 Newsletter(click here)

May 2011 Newsletter(click here)

February 2011 Newsletter(click here)

Filed Under: Newsletters Tagged With: , ,

News from America

May 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment

News from America from Monty Dart

lady

image002         It is always thrilling when we greet our American cousins at Tredegar House and we love to hear their connections with the Morgan family. Readers of the website will remember the acquisition of Godfrey’s cigar cutter that turned up from South Dakota – see that article here

http://www.friends-of-tredegar-co.uk/?s=cigar+cutter

An interesting email arrived from Janice Fix – ‘I’m trying to find out information for my aunt who has a document that is a lease of property from Lord Tredegar what she says looks like it’s on vellum.

She spoke with someone from the local library and said that these documents were a dime a dozen. She said the lease is for property at 4 Gainsborough Street, Mile End, not sure if that is correct or if it is supposed to be near Tredegar Square.

I can’t locate anything near Tredegar Square.  She would like to donate it but not sure who to contact.  She doesn’t remember where the document came from or even that she had it.  If you would be interested in the document, please let me know and she would be more than happy to forward it to you.’

Thank you. Janice Fix

What was this document doing in America? It is sad that this document was described as ‘a dime a dozen’, someone had seen fit to conserve it but why?

Carolyn Fix goes on to explain how it ended up in her possession

The document in question is a deed of sale for a property Godfrey Morgan, Lord Tredegar owned in London dated 5th August 1862.

We know that the Morgan family owned property and land all over London.

terrace hous

             An example of the houses around Tredegar Square

 

lady

Carolyn Fix – Janice’s aunt

Carolyn is now coming up to 94 years of age and this is a photo of her in a WAC uniform as she was a WAC during WWII and is still active in meetings and luncheons for WAC Veterans. This is her story.

‘Sometime around the end of November, 1977, I went to the Estate sale of Cleveland Fisher in Manassas, Virginia.  I was interested in some books and bought a few in a box lot.  Since it has been some time, I believe the document was included in that lot from the estate sale.  We’re not sure how Mr. Fisher came to own it, but he was known to collect old things.’

INDENTURE

Lease 77 ¼ years to 1938 – 4 Gainsborough Road, Hamlet Mile End, Stepney, Tredegar Square to Widow Mrs. Sarah Broodbank

The document measures 26.5 X 22 inches on vellum (two pages).

‘I didn’t remember having the document until recently while looking for something.

My niece Janice Fix, of New Jersey, USA, looked up the names on the document and found that it was possibly related to the Morgans and Lord Tredegar and from there, she found Friends of Tredegar House and was in contact with Ms. Monty Dart.  We are happy and excited to have the document back where it belongs. We hope that the document is being enjoyed as part of the history of Lord Tredegar.’

Carolyn Fix of Vienna, VA, USA.

Looking at the area now it is filled with £1,50000 houses and there is even a public house named ‘Lord Tredegar’ though Gainsborough Road has since disappeared.

pub

 

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‘Portrait of Lord Tredegar on an inn sign in Lichfield Road. Lord Tredegar, formerly Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar, owned an area of land in the area. Between 1820 and 1832 buildings of a superior class were erected around what is now Tredegar Square. They still stand out from much of the surrounding housing. Lord Tredegar has a pub, a square and a street named after him, for there is also a Morgan Street nearby.’ From www.exploringeastlondon.co.uk

But what of Mr Cleveland Fisher – what connection if anything did he have to the Tredegar Estate?

The 1930’s USA census shows Cleveland Fisher lived with his parents in a house worth $3500 – check this site for values. https://www.measuringworth.com

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1930 Census – USA

He was born September 22nd, 1918. November, 1977 and passed away in Manassas, Virginia at the age of 59.

What was his connection if any to the Morgan family and Godfrey in particular? I’m still checking American newspapers and articles so watch this space.

Monty Dart

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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