The following paper, researched and compiled by Mrs Anna Philpott of The Glen, Seaton Hole, has been published by the Axmouth Vale Historical Association in ***** (publication and date).
Seaton Hole Part 4. Just “The Glen”
The Thorp Family Years 1911-1928-1980
The Thorp family’s link with Seaton, lasted 69 years from when Richard Thorp (1830-1914) son of William Thorp farmer & brewer, a retired stockbroker bought “White Cliff Glen” prior to auction in July 1911, until his daughter Margaret’s death in 1980. Known as “Peggy” she left by 1928 after both she and her brother were married but returned in 1940, to live at Hayne House, Bunts Lane for 40 more years. By October 12th 1928, a Mrs. Fletcher of The Glen (a tenant maybe) was advertising for an “experienced cook” in the Exeter & Plymouth Gazette.
Richard Thorp’s paternal forefathers were yeoman farmers from Howden, East Riding, Yorks., but his mother Frances was born in the shadow of the Tower of London where his great uncle was the renowned Baptist reformer, Rev. Abraham Booth, of nearby Goodman’s Fields. Church-going also figured strongly in the lives of Richard’s great grandparents, his great grandfather Joseph Sargeant being a churchwarden and overseer at nearby St. Botolph’s. Unsurprisingly therefore, “the Thorp family went to church (St. Gregory’s) on Sundays. He was a large man with a voluminous white beard. He made a habit of timing the sermon and if he thought it was too long or boring, he would stand up, produce a large, white handkerchief and give a loud trumpeting nose-blow. Auntie Peggy found this so embarrassing that she cringed below the level of the pew and hoped nobody would see she was present” (M.G.Thorp)
While achieving success as a stockbroker, Richard enjoyed world travel for recreation often accompanied by his first wife Helen nee Eyre (1822-1892) of Lee, Kent a surgeon’s daughter whom he married in 1855. He kept a precise record of the many places visited, from his first trip overseas to France at 17 yrs., until he was in his 80’s e.g., Russia, Istanbul, the W. Indies and Guatemala.
After being widowed in 1892 aged 62, in 1897 he was married again aged 67 yrs., at Lee, Kent, to Clara Emily nee Soper (1868-1923) known affectionately as “Mamie”.
Third owner from 1911 of White Cliff Glen.
Richard Thorp (1830-1914) before growing his voluminous beard.
Richard’s 29 yr. old wife (38 years his junior) went by her middle name Emily and signed herself C. Emily Thorp (ref.1921 census) as her mother was also called Clara. Emily was daughter of his old friend and neighbour in Lee, Kent, Henry Coles Soper, a silk merchant & holder of the Freedom of the Company of Weavers. The Sopers’ company wove the silk for Queen Victoria’s wedding dress. The Kentish Mercury reported that for her wedding, Emily was attired in white satin trimmed with Honiton lace…her Honiton lace veil being her mother’s gift; that “she wore a diamond bracelet” a present from the groom; and that for their honeymoon they travelled to the Riviera.
Thus Richard became a father late in life. He travelled abroad less, following the birth of their son Sydney and daughter Margaret in 1898 & 1899, enjoying instead long family holidays taken at Seaton, where in June of 1902, his diary records they rented “Cedric Villa”. Why Seaton? Most likely, because Emily’s mother, Clara Claxton nee Dommett (1845-1899) was born and raised at nearby Chard. Emily’s grandfather, William Dommett,‘thrice mayor’, established and owned “Dommett and Canning”the firm of solicitors laterknown as “Canning and Kyrke”. Not by coincidence were the Thorps friends of the Mayos of the local firm of solicitors & (?) of “The Castle” then of “Beyrout” on Beer Road, Seaton.
In 1866, the Sherborne Mercury had reported on the fashionable wedding of Emily’s mother, Clara Claxton Dommett with Henry Coles Soper, held in Chard Parish Church on Aug. 30th. .Her lovely ..dress was of rich corded silk with a handsome lace veil; her wedding procession included 8 carriages with grey horses and outriders; and bells rang merrily throughout the day until the couple left for London en route for Switzerland. One of the wedding guests on that sunny day was solicitor George Trenchard Canning, William Dommett’s partner (another mayor of Chard more than once). However, after William retired in 1878 and by William’s passing in 1881, George T. Canning was in partnership with Emily’s uncle in law, Col. Arthur Venables Kyrke, (b. Flint,North Wales) also ‘thrice times Mayor of Chard’.
Arthur Kyrke, arrived at Chard a 19 yr old articled pupil to solicitors Dommett & Canning in about 1874.He became joint owner and married his boss’s daughter (Emily’s aunt, Annie Upham nee Dommett) in 1880. Friends of the Chappells of Bindon House, the Kyrkes lived at Snowdon House, Chard, latterly at ‘Crossways House’ Tatworth, where they died within a few hours of each other in 1921. The Kykres had six children – Emily’s Kyrke cousins, with whom she was friends all of her life. Another reason why she knew the area before Richard bought The Glen.
Emily’s cousin Dora Violet Venables Kyrke on Seaton Beach c 1901- 1904
In 1910,11 yr old Miss Margaret Thorp was a little trainbearer at the Brompton Oratory wedding of Violet Kyrke with William Hope Nelson. The guests included Hon.& Lady Bowes Lyon and Sir Wilfred and Lady Peak. Lt. Col. Vernon Venables Kyrke and Gerald Venables Kyrke a solicitor,were among the mourners at Emily’s funeral service at St. Gregory’s, in Seaton on Oct. 22nd 1923, which took place only two years after the deaths of their parents, Emily’s Aunt Annie, and uncle, Col. Arthur Kyrke (reportedly a supporter of Beer Harbour).
Topical rumblings in 1912, a year after the Thorps’ purchase of “White Cliff Glen”. The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette reported on July 6th that : Messrs Purves of Exeter wrote informing the Council it was their intention to apply…to supply electric light throughout the district in the autumn; also, that the SUDC Lighting Committee recommended two lamps (gas) be placed on Beer Hill ; on Sept. 20th that a visitor of London who bathed insufficiently clothed within 200 yards of a public place at Seaton was fined £1 and costs; on October 10th that Mr. W. G. Gould expressed the opinion Seaton ought to be allowed a continuous telephone service.
On Feb.17th 1914, the Western Times reported that: ‘During the past week gales have been blowing at Seaton causing very rough seas, which have damaged the walk considerably at Seaton Hole and carried away the beach’.
On June 14th 1914 four months later, Richard Thorp passed away aged 84, at his house in Putney (he had first shared with Helen) three years after his purchase of the 15 room “White Cliff Glen”. One month before the outbreak of WW1. He was a trustee of St. George’s Hospital when living in Putney and in his will he bequeathed £200 to the Stockbroker’s Benevolent Fund of which he was chairman for some years.
Richard’s 1867 Stock Exchange membership application
Miss Mary A.E, Rowland,43 (also known as Polly) was the only daughter of Beer born mariner & boatman turned boarding house keeper, Jacob Leyman Rowland and his wife Mary Boalch nee Pyle, of 4, Seaview Terrace, Seaton. Back in 1881, the Rowlands had lived round the corner nearby in Beer Road at “Alma Cottage” between “Beyrout” to the west (when the latter was run as a lodging house) and Blachford Cottage to the east. It was living at Blachford Cottage, that Emily’s widowed maternal grandmother, Mrs. Elizabeth Dommett nee Wheaton, died, aged 71 yrs. on Nov.9 th.1880. The Rowlands may have known Mrs. Emily Thorp nee Soper from when she was a child and visiting. In her old age Miss Rowland returned to Alma Cottage.
Just “The Glen”. It was duringthe Thorps’ 20-30 possible years of ownership, that the name of the house began to appear without the prefix “White Cliff”, when mentioned in newspapers for example. Then, in 1923, their son Sydney became 5th. owner of “The Glen” on inheriting it from his mother. In 1924 he purchased the freehold from Lord Clinton, though the Clintons continued to enforce their covenants (controlling development of the site) for a further 40 yrs.
5.4.1924
Major Sydney Richard Thorp (1898-1967) educated at Cheam and at Marlborough College from 1907-1915, was 16 ½ when his father died. He left school early to enter the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, before being signed up with the 23rd. Division of the Royal Field Artillery as a 2nd Lieut. on April 2nd.1915. Though wounded in France early in 1916, he thankfully survived WW1 and, as evidenced by his photo album* saved from those years, from July 1917 also served at Gaza in Palestine as a Lieutenant with ‘The Gunners’. Sadly, when Sydney’s mother Emily (who had been unwell for a year or so) passed away, at “The Glen” in October 1923, his album places him out in Western India at Campbellmore, close to the Haro River, now Attock, Pakistan. He missed her funeral but would meet his future wife, Elizabeth Margaret de Moraville (1906-1959), later to become an artist, in 1926 when serving out in Central India, at Jhansi.
On May 16th. 1926 Sydney was promoted to Captain, while stationed in the vicinity of Kakul, Saugar, Jhansi and Gurmal and before his marriage, in 1928. Like Sydney’s sister, his fiancée was known fondly as “Peggy”. After their wedding, Peggy’s mother hosted a dance for 100 villagers at the de Moraville’s family home, Wallingford Lodge, near Reading.
From Nov. 1st.1932, Sydney served as Adjutant to the 66th S. M. Field Brigade of the RFA under Col. C. A. H. Fairbank for three years, based in Bristol. Then in 1935 he was promoted to Adjutant Major and posted to Khomaksor, outside Aden in the Yemen, where his photos show troops had the opportunity to play polo and sail, during the build up to WW2. Sydney was secretary of Aden Yacht Club, maybe having learnt to sail at Beer, as his nephew Jeremy Gurney later would in the 1950’s? At home in England Sydney and Peggy’s three eldest sons, Richard, Martin and Charles, were born between 1931 and 1937.
18 yr old 2nd Lt. Sydney Thorp second from left
A “Trench Martar Jan.1917*
Sydney retired from the Regular Army in 1937, but re-enlisted a year later with the T.A. under Col. Fairbank, his erstwhile C.O. He commanded the 249th Battery of the 80th Anti -Aircraft Regiment, Berks., until May 1st.1939.When WW2 broke out, he moved with Col. Fairbank to serve as Assistant Secretary to the Air Force Association and Glos. Territorial Army, engaged e.g.in defence of Filton Airfield and B.A.C. Whether still owner of The Glen or not, in 1939 Sydney bought a country residence with 7 ½ acres north of Bristol, only to be posted to Scotland. There, as Acting Lt. Col. Thorp he was in charge of an anti -aircraft battery. When Rudolph Hess was parachuted into the area in May 1941, Hess was immediately captured by Sydney’s soldiers and handed over to the police. The Thorps’ 4th son Rupert was born in 1942.
Emily Thorp, Sydney and his sister Peggy’s mother, continued to live at “The Glen” after she was widowed. Once “Peggy” her daughter, then aged 15 yrs., left her ‘young ladies’ boarding school believed to be “The Links” at Eastbourne, mother and daughter both became active members of the local community. On Tues. Aug.22nd.1916, a mere 5 ½. yrs. after the travesty of the Finch Bares’ evangelical music playing and bell ringing caused such concern (described in Seaton Hole Part 3) a remarkable fete was held in the grounds, raising funds for Seaton War Hospital Depot & Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club by kind permission of Mrs. Thorp. How opinion and enjoyment of music making differed, as local residents warmly welcomed the sound of piano keys being played outdoors, to accompany dancing on the lawn at the well supported and lively fete. On Friday August 25th 1916 the Exeter and Plymouth Gazette published a long description of events (including string concerts) with Mrs Thorp putting the ‘services of herself family and friends at the disposal of the committee’. They raised £110.9s.10d gross – £100.1s.2d, minus expenses of £10. 8s. 4.d
- ‘a fine string band discoursed music on the lawn’ with violins, cello & piano –Thomas Durrant, Organist Axmouth’.
- ‘dance displays from Misses Patty and Mary Mitchell
- ‘dancing in the evening on the lawn the grounds being illuminated by fairy lights lent by Mr. F. Akerman’
The fete held‘in the ‘grounds, gardens and house’ was opened by Lady Peek of Rousden Mansion. The Chairman of SUDC thanked Lady Peek; Master Hope Nelson 2 ¼ (son of Emily’s cousin Violet nee Kyrke) presented her with a bouquet; & T. W. Mayo Hon. Sec. of the Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club thanked Mrs Thorp.. before making a few remarks in defence of the Club. In addition, a world away from the fighting overseas that day, was a Fancy Stall run by Mrs. & Miss Thorp, tea on the terrace ditto; a Bran Pie and Tobacco stall by Mrs. Hazleden. Palmistry, Lady Sybil. A Nursery Rhyme display by children including Dinky and Aubrey Holmes and Noelle Nelson (another cousin’s child). Bowling organised by Messers Terrell, Forte & Lambert. Fish Pond in the Wood, by Miss Neville Mitchell. Weighing Machine, Master Geoffrey Mitchell & Messrs Gapper and Real. A Sealed Number raffle, Mrs. Bompass. Rifle range, J. G. Oldridge to name but a few. A Whist Drive arranged by Mr. F.L.Baker and won by Mrs. H.Cambridge and Mr. W. A. Dommett concluded the evening. The Gate Stewards were the Rev. Newman and Mr. A. Godbear. (Peggy’s son Jeremy Gurney, b.1934 thinks the gates were wrought iron).
Emily Thorp’s voluntary work, included her hosting another fund -raising fete in the Glen’s charming grounds late in August,1919, and she was appointed Hon. Sec. of both Seaton V.A.D. & of Seaton & Beer Nursing Association. Mrs and Miss Thorp ..acted as waitresses when two lively entertainments for wounded troops organised by Lady Peak, were held in Oct.1916 at the Town Hall, on the RSCPA Badge Day, to raise money for the War Fund for Sick and Wounded Horses. When a Bal Masque was held in the Town Hall, in Jan.1920, in aid of funds for the Town Association Football Club, for the first time the hall was lighted with electric light.The Bal attracted 110 dancers & dancing was kept up with much vigour until 4.00 a.m. …Mrs Thorp and others donated prizes for fancy costumes. In addition, Emily often entered flowers, fruit and vegetables from The Glen’s productive gardens in local horticultural shows, a practice continued later by her daughter Peggy, assisted by the family’s gardeners.
In 1921, Emily’s gardener was Seaton born 36 yr. old Samuel George Real, who lived in the three room “Glen Cottage” (site of The Dutch Glen) with his wife, Thirza Gertrude. nee Rowe. Thirza was a Beer fisherman’s daughter and granddaughter of Mary Chapple Westlake, a Beer fisherman’s wife. The couple had one daughter Margaret Jean Real, born in December 1916 when Samuel was away during WW1 serving with the RNVR aboard SS Vivid1. The Real’s traditionally styled, thatched home, or lodge, stood in the garden of The Glen beside the Beer Brook, near the entrance gates, before being lost to be replaced by The Dutch Glen.
Looking towards “Glen Cottage” from inside the garden of “The Glen” in about 1939
It is strange (though in this 1939 photo it appears to be an old building) ‘Glen Cottage’ is not listed separately from The Glen’s main house, with occupants including domestic gardener, until the 1921 and 1939 censuses.
Sydney R. Thorp and Peggy Gurney nee Thorp no longer lived at The Glen, themselves, both having married and moved away when the W. Morning News of June 6th 1929 reported:
‘Time was when Beer was attainable only by a very privileged few, those who were fortunate enough to possess carriages or sturdy legs. But now the ubiquitous motor coach affords the travel link and everyone who desires can go to Beer’.
This did not deter Samuel and Thirza returning to live at Beer where by 1939 the Reals were living at “The Margarets”, Cemetery Road, having perhaps named it themselves after their daughter who worked as a grocer’s assistant. Samuel was among the mourners at Emily’s funeral in Seaton, following her untimely death in 1923.
Army officer, Russell Gurney (1890-1947) a decorated veteran of WW1, had served in Kurdistan and at Khartoum and already held the rank of Major when he married Miss. Margaret (Peggy) Emily Thorp (1899-1980) in 1928. When WW2 approached, Col. Gurney commanded the Small Arms School, Netheravon, was posted to Malta, then back to serve as Major General, Director of Personal Services in the Dept. of the Adjutant General, at the War Office. London. Thence as Aide de Camp to the King. By 1940 with his family, sons Timothy 11, Jeremy 6 and his wife Peggy, now re- settled safely in Seaton, Russell commuted by train from Seaton to London and the War Office.
Margaret Emily Gurney nee Thorp of The Glen and later of Hayne House
Once more Peggy took part in Seaton’s war effort (as had she with her mother in WW1) This time she made camouflage netting and grew potatoes in their ½ acres garden at Bunts Lane.
Sadly, Russell died in 1947. Married 19 years and widowed for 33 years, Peggy stayed busy welcoming her sons’ local friends in for games of tennis and cards, with photography, sailing, needlework and gardening. She needed help with managing her large garden of flowers, fruit and vegetables as remembered by her son and gardener’s grand daughter
” I remember the Gurneys. I remember their mother well…. My grandfather …that was my mother’s father, he was a Batstone…used to garden for their mother “.Sylvia Aplin Beer 2021
Yes “Wilf (Miller of Beer) taught me to sail…….lived up Common Lane.
I also remember Jack Batstone very well – he used to cycle over from Beer to Hayne House every day, and did a fantastic job in the garden. The high spot of the year was the Beer Flower Show, in which he and my mother made a lot of entries – and also won a lot of prizes every year”. Jeremy Gurney, South Devon.2021
Though as yet unproven, various clues suggest that Sydney Richard Thorp, then ‘Captain’ continued to own and maintain The Glen (perhaps as a holiday home or for rental income) after he bought the freehold in 1924, married in 1928 and throughout his full-time army career involving service abroad. A local paper of 1929 reported his competing in a tournament at Seaton Tennis Club. Maybe Sydney still owned and let out his parent’s house until 1942. But by 1939, as WW2 loomed, another retired army major William Mowlds Robinson (1881-1954) moved his family from Salisbury to live at ‘The Glen’, renting it for 3-4 years. Here, his little daughter Jean would enjoy a “fairly quiet, simple and safe” life (ref. Jean Kreiseler. Seaton Hole Part 5) as had in WW1, The Glen offered sanctuary for the widowed Clara Emily Thorp.
Another clue as to how long Sydney Thorp owned the Glen. Sydney’s niece-in-law Bridget (wife of Peggy’s son Jeremy Gurney) has shared memories she has of her mother-in-law describing how when living away from Seaton (1928-1940) she would return “to look after The Uncles at The Glen”. Sydney and Peggy’s mother Emily had two younger brothers, Henry William Dommett Soper an accountant and Arthur Walrond Soper a G.P., both bachelors, who lived and died within two months of each other aged only 69 and 59, at Annerly, Penge, in 1937 and 1936 respectively. The Kent born uncles may have enjoyed use of ‘The Glen’ for holidays after their sister left it to their nephew Sydney. Their mother was of course being Chard born, the area, in which some cousins still lived, was known to them and would have been as familiar to them as had it been to their sister.
It has not as yet been established who, The Owners of The Glen were by Oct.12th.1943, but the Seaton Urban Council’s minutes record their surveyor as having been successful in applying for planning permission, to convert ‘The Glen’ from a family home into a block of 6 apartments with a flat roof. Seemingly Major Sydney R. Thorp was not the applicant. The questions are: was he owner until 1942/did he sell to its next mystery owner (as legend has it) the Admiralty?
*Many thanks are due to Rupert F. Thorp, 4th. and youngest son of Major S. R. Thorp for generously sharing much original material from his Thorp family archive.
To be revised and photos added
Thorp Family History 