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Chapter Ten
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PERCY WILLIAM LEA 1885 - 1969
SELINA ANNIE NICHOLLS 1881 - 1968
Percy William Lea, the youngest child in this family, born on 19th April 1885, has not left too much information of his youth for us to ponder over - but he did leave an abundance of photographs, mostly taken with other members of his family at Stonehouse Court where he and his wife Selina lived and worked for at least sixty years. Stonehouse is only a few miles from the Stroud valley in Gloucestershire and nestling close to the beautiful Cotswolds.
The magnificent Manor House, now a prestigious hotel, has changed very little over the years and is mentioned in the Doomsday book in 1086. It is a grade two listed building and has a long history of illustrious names that have occupied the house since its beginning. First known names were that of William De Wo, a cousin of William the Conqueror. In Norman times the house came under the control of the Clare and Gifford families and then on to the Earl of Pembroke. Other names associated with Stonehouse Court are that of John Maltravers and the Earls of Arundel for at least one hundred and fifty years. With the demise of ownership by the titled gentry the house was eventually bought by Mr S. Arthur Winterbottom, a wealthy local businessman for whom Percy Lea and his wife gave a large portion of their lives in his service. Percy was head gardener and Selina worked in the big house. Their relationship over the years developed into a close friendship and in their twilight years they relied upon one another for companionship.
All my grandfather’s brothers were excellent farmers and gardeners, but Percy it would appear had an exceptional talent. He looked after six acres of gardens and greenhouses and grew willow bat trees in the rear garden which were cut to size and sent away to be made into cricket bats, then exported all over the world.
It has been related that such was the honesty of Percy that he would rather put his hand in his pocket and pay for fruit and vegetables from a shop for friends and family than to give what he would say ‘was not his to give’ of the produce he had grown in abundance for his employer.
Percy and Selina lived at times in the big house, but most of their time at Stonehouse was spent in the coach house that stood at the side of the Manor and was often accompanied by the Winterbottoms there in the evenings. Mr Winterbottom was the first to pass on and his wife often volunteered her wish to follow her husband before Percy and Selina so as not to be left on her own.
Photographs show most of the family visiting Stonehouse over the years, confirming what has been said of Percy and Selina being a very agreeable and family loving couple.
Percy died on 4th January 1969 at the age of 83 years; the funeral was held at St Cyr’s Church, Stonehouse, followed by cremation at Cheltenham. Selina had died just three months before him on 8th October 1968.
Percy and Selina
Percy with Selina, Auntie Edie, Dennis and Annie.
This photograph was taken at Stonehouse Court, Gloucestershire, in one of many family get togethers that seemed to be a regular occurrence.
Willow Bat Trees at Stonehouse Court being cut ready for the production of cricket bats
Percy and Hilda Bosley at Stonehouse Court, 1964
Ernie Johnson, Annie Lea, Violet Johnson, Selina, Edie Humphris and Percy
Edmond Bosley, Selina, Percy, Annie, Willie, Ernie, 1955
Ernie, Jock, Selina, Percy, Winnie, Annie, Hilda (Jock’s wife) and Edmond Bosley, 1955.
Taking photographs of family visits was, it seems, very important as so many of the occasions were recorded over the years.
Percy and Selina on a visit to Edmond Bosley and Winnie, his wife, at Minehead. Winnie was Percy’s Sister.
Percy, Selina, Violet Johnson, Edie Humphris (Percy’s Niece), Annie Lea and Ernie Johnson
Titles Preface Chapters: 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
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This page was last updated on 10th April 2007.