Thursday, February 26, 2009
Great Uncle Reuben and Nymans.
There have been lots of good things today.
I'll begin with the genealogy highlight.
I have often said, that much as I like to keep adding names to the family tree of bygone times, I really would like to know the people who continue the family line now. Bill comes from a big family and luckily we know of many of his cousins and second cousins. But there are many hundreds that we don't know; and it is hard to know where to find them.
Where are all the descendants of his great aunts and uncles? They are probably not very far away. How sad that we might pass them in the street and not know.
Today we seem to have confirmed the existence of the son of Bill's great uncle Reuben.
Roger has helped in taking up the search of the missing Ellis branch of the family and he learned more of some of them in the early 1900s.
And he had contact through Genes Reunited from Len.
Today Len confirmed that his father (Reuben) is the son of Abel Ellis (Bill's great grandfather) and has copies of certificates that he will send us.
The next thing is to meet this man, who we were completely unaware of.
Great Uncle Reuben appears on the 1901 census and Uncle Bill had some vague memories of the man, working as a carter on a farm in Ifield. Len was born in Ifield - but Uncle Bill never recalled his name.
I think Len now lives in the Chichester area.
Bill continues in the bathroom - a bit of paint on the skirting boards, filling in holes where things had been taken down from the walls and some fresh varnish on the wood round the bath.
I am truly grateful - but glad we went out soon after.
Later in the day I began to fear a cold was breaking. My head ached, my throat was sore, my lips and eyes were sore. Then I realised that it was a reaction to the chemicals in the paint and varnish. So good to have been out for a while.
We went out to the nearest National Trust property to our home - Nymans. It is about 3 miles away.
I had been there before and loved it. I was sure Bill must have been too - but he never had and so he viewed it for the first time today. It won't be the last time that's for sure. It is lovely and deserves to be seen regularly throughout the year.
Nymans was bought by the Messel family in 1890 and with the head gardener, the owner set to work to create a garden.
A mock Gothic house was built in the 1920s.
This later was largely ruined in a fire in 1947.
The house and garden has been in the hands of the National Trust for 50 years.
The ruined house. I remember those window spaces being full of wisteria blossoms. We must be back again to see that this year.
The impressive tree catches the eye at every turn.
Cyclamens add bright colours. 
The pathways round the southern and eastern sides give lovely views across the surrounding Sussex landscape.
I'll begin with the genealogy highlight.
I have often said, that much as I like to keep adding names to the family tree of bygone times, I really would like to know the people who continue the family line now. Bill comes from a big family and luckily we know of many of his cousins and second cousins. But there are many hundreds that we don't know; and it is hard to know where to find them.
Where are all the descendants of his great aunts and uncles? They are probably not very far away. How sad that we might pass them in the street and not know.
Today we seem to have confirmed the existence of the son of Bill's great uncle Reuben.
Roger has helped in taking up the search of the missing Ellis branch of the family and he learned more of some of them in the early 1900s.
And he had contact through Genes Reunited from Len.
Today Len confirmed that his father (Reuben) is the son of Abel Ellis (Bill's great grandfather) and has copies of certificates that he will send us.
The next thing is to meet this man, who we were completely unaware of.
Great Uncle Reuben appears on the 1901 census and Uncle Bill had some vague memories of the man, working as a carter on a farm in Ifield. Len was born in Ifield - but Uncle Bill never recalled his name.
I think Len now lives in the Chichester area.
Bill continues in the bathroom - a bit of paint on the skirting boards, filling in holes where things had been taken down from the walls and some fresh varnish on the wood round the bath.
I am truly grateful - but glad we went out soon after.
Later in the day I began to fear a cold was breaking. My head ached, my throat was sore, my lips and eyes were sore. Then I realised that it was a reaction to the chemicals in the paint and varnish. So good to have been out for a while.
We went out to the nearest National Trust property to our home - Nymans. It is about 3 miles away.
I had been there before and loved it. I was sure Bill must have been too - but he never had and so he viewed it for the first time today. It won't be the last time that's for sure. It is lovely and deserves to be seen regularly throughout the year.
Nymans was bought by the Messel family in 1890 and with the head gardener, the owner set to work to create a garden.
A mock Gothic house was built in the 1920s.
This later was largely ruined in a fire in 1947.
The house and garden has been in the hands of the National Trust for 50 years.
Snowdrops of many types carpeted ground under the trees.
The entrance to the walled garden.
The ruined house. I remember those window spaces being full of wisteria blossoms. We must be back again to see that this year.
The impressive tree catches the eye at every turn.
Cyclamens add bright colours.
Soon there will be carpets of daffodils. The camellias have started to bloom and the rhododendron buds are bulging and will soon burst into flower.
The head gardener might not have planned the fungus - but they are still fascinating.
Nymans has had only 3 head gardeners in the last 120 years.
Each one seems to want to stay and watch their plans grow and reach fruition.
The pathways round the southern and eastern sides give lovely views across the surrounding Sussex landscape.
We loved the turreted hedges, forming a sheltered area.
Watch out for more Nymans pictures - it is destined to be a favourite place to drop in to walk and explore. It will become "our" garden.
I yearn to see it in summer under blue skies.
In March the non destroyed part of the house is open to the public and we will learn more of the Messel family.
We had thought of having a cup ot tea and a little something in the cafe. But as we were only 3 miles from home realised we should get back and put the kettle on for ourselves.
Cafe treats can be saved for another day.
Bill is making tea now. Good - this allergic reaction is making me feel really thirsty.
Good night.
