Ernest Edwin Coltman's loose ends

So, a couple of weeks ago I shared with you the story of a deed box, and the man it belonged to, and ended by saying there were a few loose ends to tie up. Well, what follows is the story of one of the sisters of Ernest Edwin Coltman.

1863 saw the birth of Henrietta Coltman, daughter of Huram and his wife Eliza, and older sister to Ernest Edwin. Henrietta was born while the family were probably living on Derby Road, where her father was an engine smith, and had three older siblings, John Charles, Eliza Ann, and Huram jnr.. Sadly, only a few months after Henrietta was born, young Huram, aged only 2, died. Another three siblings were born – Florence Mary in 1865, Ernest Edwin in 1867, and Walter William in 1869.

By 1871, Henrietta now aged 7, was one of the six Coltman children living with their parents on Nottingham Road, where the family were joined in 1873 by another daughter, Clara. On the 1881 census return, the family, except Florence Mary, had moved to Island House on Granby Street, and father Huram is a mechanical engineer employing 13 men and 1 boy. Another move sees Henrietta, now 27, living with her parents and three younger siblings, Ernest Edwin, Walter William, and Clara, on Meadow Lane. 

In September 1892 comes the sudden death of Henrietta’s mother, Eliza, aged about 61. On 4 October 1898, Henrietta, daughter of Huram and Eliza, and sister to Ernest, was admitted to Royal Holloway Sanatorium by request of her father, Huram. Henrietta was single, aged 35, a Baptist, and had been living at 119 Park Road, a group of houses known as Auckland Terrace, until she was admitted to the hospital.

The Royal Holloway Sanatorium at Virginia Water, Runnymede, was funded by Thomas Holloway, an entrepreneur, and philanthropist who also funded the creation of Royal Holloway College, which is now part of the University of London – and a place with a Loughborough connection, through Avery Woodward. Of course, the redbrick and Portland stone used in the construction of the sanatorium, which was designed by William Henry Crossland, and opened in 1885, is also very familiar to those of us connected with Loughborough. The sanatorium was a private hospital, so patients (or their relatives) paid for their care and treatment. Today, the hosptial building has been converted into town houses, called Virginia Park.

It is sad to report, that as far as I can tell, Henrietta spent the rest of her life in the sanatorium, where she died on 7 October 1915. Probate was granted to her brother, Ernest Edwin, and her effects were £955 11s. 6d.. Henrietta was buried in the Christ Church in Virginia Water.

On a more cheerful note, Ernest Edwin Coltman seems to have been something of an horticulturalist – as were some of his family – at least, that’s what we might think without reading the newspaper report carefully! The 39th annual exhibition of the Loughborough Chrysanthemum and Fruit Society took place in the Town Hall, on Saturday 8th November, 1913. According to the ‘Melton Mowbray Mercury and Oakham and Uppingham News’ printed the following Thursday, there were fewer entries than in previous years, and most entries were from local people. As well as members of the Coltman family, names like Farnham, Proudman, Tyler, Palmer, de Lisle, Hallam, Widdowson etc. are also familiar to us today.

In this particular show, Ernest Edwin seems to have been competing against his own younger brother, Walter William, who at the time was mayor of Loughborough. Walter took first prize for his neat arrangement of chrysanthemum groups, and first for his circular group of chrysanthemums, to Ernest’s 3rd place in the latter. Ernest, however, came first for his bush chrysanthemums, second for his table group of chrysanthemums, and first for his single variety of cooking apple. Ernest was also second with his salvias, and second with his single flower chrysanthemum plants.

I do suppose, however, that since Walter William was mayor, and was the person who actually opened the show, for him to win more than he did might have seemed like favouritism on the part of the judges. Those judges for the blooms were Mr W. Weston (of Kingston, but I'm not sure if that's Kingston on Soar, or a different Kingston) and Mr G. Brown of Aston Hall, while the judges of the fruit classes were Mr Jamieson and Mr A. McVinish, both of Beaumanor. 

But what of Ernest the gardener? Well, according to the show results, Ernest wasn’t necessarily gardening alone, as in brackets after some of his successes, it mentions who his gardener was, and there was more than one – in one case, this was H. Wye, and in another a person called Tyler. But, not to worry as this seems de rigour as Mrs Peacock’s gardener was A. Harris, Farnham’s was H. Salter, Proudman’s was F. Bray, and de Lisle’s was S. Preston! And Mr J. T. Smith, another winner, actually had a nursery on Derby Road! 

To be fair to Mr Smith, at the start of the First World War, he opened his nurseries to the public with a view to collecting money for the war effort. In all, he opened 19 glasshouses to allow people to see his show and single chrysanthemums, apparently one of the finest collections in the district. As if so many chrysanthemums weren’t enough, there we also carnations, bouvardias, cyclamen, and begonias to see. The viewing was open for a couple of days, and who should visit on the first day, but Mrs Florence Coltman, wife of Walter William! Over two guineas was given to the Belgian Fund, and one guinea to the fund for our Indian troops’ comfort.

I've written about chrysanthemum shows before, so you can read more about some of the earlier local chrysanthemum shows on the blog.   

Do please pop back to the blog for more about another Ernest Edwin Coltman loose end!

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posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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