Family of Frederick George CURRELL and Anna Elizabeth DREW

Head Gardener at the Wilderness, owned by William Morris. He is not the arts and crafts William Morris but owned a house in London (Kensington) and a house in Norfolk. The Wilderness had to produce fruit and veg for the London House. Thelma (Charter) remembers being allowed into the fruit cages and being able to help herself. There were also big greenhouses with exotic fruit and grape vines. Mr. Morris had a pair of houses built in Cemetery Road (now Norton Road) for Mr. Currell and for his coachman. Mrs. Currell was William Morris's Housekeeper and so in charge of the cooks and house maids- apparently it was a substantial establishment. Know he was FG from 'Birthdays Book' but don't 100% know this was Frederick George. 1901 census mentions him as Frederick G. Currell Have a 'birthday book' given to FG Currell on his birthday in 1886. His birthday is shown as 14 Feb. 1901 census gives age as 39. Birth certificate confirms the above.e 'Wilderness'. For extra background see the anecdote under Effie Currell. Lucy May Currell (Bonfield), Marilyn's grandmother used to talk about these gardens and Thelma Bonfield (Charter) still does. Apart from the ornamental gardens there were apparently huge nets for soft fruit. Thelma talks about her grandfather catching her and her cousins under the fruit nets- "I see I've got some little birds in my nets" is the quote. They were apparently allowed the run of the place. There were greenhouses with grapes, peaches and nectarines. William Morris had a 'Town House', a house in London and the gardens at the Wilderness had to supply the fruit and vegetables to the London House. May and Thelma talk about huge baskets of fruit and vegetables being taken to Baldock Station to be taken to London. The Wilderness was taken over by the government during the Second World War and afterwards became a Government Training Centre. The gardens became the Park/Recreation Ground that you see on the left as you drive into Baldock from Letchworth. Census lists Frederick G. Currell as head of the household and gardener, domestic and caretaker-in-charge. Age 39, born at Nortonbury, Hertfordshire. Wife and 4 children listed- see individual details. Shown on the 1871 census, aged 9, and a scholar, living with his parents at Norton Bury (next house is Norton Mill).Born in Norton. Two sisters, Susan Fanny and Clara. Shown on the 1881 census aged 19, living with his parents in Norton Bury and working as an undergardener. Shown on the 1891 census aged 29 living near Radwell with his wife and one daughter and working as a gardener.n the family that he trained at Windsor Castle. The censuses all show him living at Radwell/Nortonbury or Baldock but his wife's 'residence at the time of the marriage' was shown as Egham Hythe, presumably in the parish of Staines. This is less than 6 miles from Windsor, so he may well have spent time at Windsor- where/how else would he meet a Norfolk girl?

Roger Balsom tree

Housekeeper at the Wilderness- married to the head gardener. Marilyn remembers her Aunts (Effie and Jean[Georgina]) talking with her Grandmother. May have been known as Marie- pronounced Mahri. We found her exact name from a hymn book. An inscription in the hymn book says "To Anna Elizabeth Drew with the Reverend E J and Mrs. Alvis' good wishes. East Winch August 1877." Inscription in the hymn book says "To Anna Elizabeth Drew with the Revere Marilyn (Charter/Balsom) remembers her grandma as dying when she was three. We have the Indentures dated 11 Oct 1839 of James Drew, son of John Drew, both of Ashwicken, Norfolk. The indentures apprentice James to Luke Grimes of Gayton, Norfolk as a cordwainer- a high quality shoemaker. Ashwicken and Gayton are next to each other, 5 miles east of Kings Lynn with a mile and a half between them. Following the acquisition of Anna Drew's mariage certificate we think that James was Anna's father. Census transcription has rendered as Bluncken but we are confident that it is Ashwicken. Also she is noted in the family bible as born 31 Oct 1864. Shown on the 1901 census as Anna E. Drew, aged 37, from Ashwicken, Norfolk. Under occupation the official has started to write caretaker but stopped at Caret and has not filled in worker. Shown as living near Radwell (and close to Norton Mill) with her husband and baby daughter Georgina Clara. Georgina's aunt was Clara. We cannot categorically prove that Anna was confirmed but we have a hymn book dedicated as follows. The inscription in the hymn book says "To Anna Elizabeth Drew with the Reverend E J and Mrs. Alvis' good wishes. East Winch August 1877." Looks and sounds like a confirmation present- even if not provable- Anna would have been 13 years old. aged 7 in 1871 Working with sister Lucy. The two remembrance cards in the Crew family bible were addressed to Miss Drew, East Winch, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. This is perhaps the exception that proves the rule. Anna Drew appears twice in the 1871 census, once in East Winch at her father's house and once here, at her grandfather's house.

Roger Balsom