[simonp]

Hi. Fascinating to learn the type of steam mower in the photo Tony G shared with the group. I would love to see the better picture of the mower in steam. Did it require coal to produce the steam and have a small furnace which needed stoking up. How long would it run on a firing up? So many questions. Sorry. I’m always curious. I only hoped to add some information to the discussion which would help. I’m guessing the man with the magnificent bowler hat must be someone like the land agent. It would be wonderful to learn the names of other characters in the photo. Yes, I am the author of the book about the remarkable Mary Alice Berners. What a character she was! Her father, of course, was Charles Berners. I have just written another book, “The Berners Family of Woolverstone”, which looks at the line of the Woolverstone Berners from around 1600 and one Josias Berners who bought shares in the New River Company in 1628 and a 25 acre farm in London, off what is now Oxford Street, in 1654. Two strands that generated considerable wealth for the family.

[simonp]

Hi. Thank you for the beautiful photograph of the group of people at Woolverstone. The comments were interesting. However, the identification of people in the photo is questionable. I believe the gentleman identified as Charles Berners, second from the left, is in fact William Messenger, head gardener at Woolverstone Hall from 1893. Charles Berners was born in 1842 and so would have been 52 at the time of this photograph. I would add that Woolverstone Park Cricket Club completed its first season in 1890, which is documented. I am unsure that the gentleman identified as John A Berners on the far right is indeed him. He was born in 1869 which would make him 25 at the date of this photo and somehow that doesn’t ring true. I have attached a photo of William Messenger. And a poor cropped copy of J A Berners from 1900. Should you follow this further, an England 11 v Woolverstone Park 1899, in Lords Archive, has William Messenger as an umpire.

Attachments:

1. 
2. 

[Author]

Posts