Some of you may remember, about a year or so ago, we had a small thread going about the origins of the school and the family that built it (the Labouchere family).
I know history doesn't float everyone's boat and many find it very dull and pointless, however I also know that some of you, like me, are interested in it.
I've been trying to research it now for almost two years I suppose, and have found out quite a lot of information, mostly from very carefully-worded search enquiries via the internet. I also recently dropped in at the Somerset County Records Office in Taunton and saw a few documents there relating to the sale of Quantock Lodge in 1920, one a sale catalogue (old name for an estate-agent's brochure - somewhat comically, the language used by estate agents over 80 years ago is pretty much identical to that used today!). Although I wasn't able to take it away or get a copy of it, I was able to quickly jot down the key parts, including the number of rooms that were in use for private and servants quarters, and what their main purpose was, and what they were called (if anyone is interested I'll write it up and post it here)
The family line of (Baron Taunton) Henry Labouchere, who had Quantock Lodge built, stopped with him, as he had three daughters and no sons. The line of his brother, John Peter, father of Baron Taunton's nephew Henry du Pre Labouchere, continues to this day.
I've managed to contact the present-day family, and we're now in regular contact, exchanging of information about what we've found out about the family and the buildings they owned. One member in particular who now lives in France is very knowledgeable about the entire English branch of the family (he has the task of family historian) and has given me a wealth of information that I'd previously been unable to find out. Apparently I'd found out some things that they didn't know, and they've even asked me if I'd like to assist them in their future research (not sure what I can contribute, mind you!)
One thing I hadn't realised is that the house was not actually a primary residence for Henry Labouchere and his family, they continued to live in London for most of the year and only spent the summers at Quantock Lodge. At some point after Henry's death in 1869, it became the principal residence of the Stanley family (Earls of Derby) whom Henry's eldest daughter Mary Dorothy ('Mimi') had married into. It was her second son, Edward Vesey Stanley (their eldest son Henry Thomas was killed in the Boer War) who finally sold the house and all its treasures.
Call me a nerd/geek/whatever, but I have to say I find it quite exciting and strange to be in contact with the great, great, grand-nephews of the family whose name and family crest I used to wonder about whilst there over thirty years ago.
Bri |
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