Charles Kingsley

[Richard]

.

[Andrew]

Hello

I found the Eversley history page of this website by chance. I am researching my family tree and the following information might be of interest. Some time ago I discovered that my Great Great Grandfather George Chaplin (the Chaplins were a prolific family from 1580's up until the 1870's when they moved to Reading) and his wife Susan were groom and domestic servants to Charles Kingsley at the Rectory. He was also Kingsley's gardener. He is mentioned in Rose Kingsley's (Daughter to Charles) book Eversley Gardens and Others, 1908, as that dear old man who used to deliberately chop off the tops of flowers he didn't like. I am also fortunate to have a b/w photo of my g/g grandfather standing next to one of Kingsley's horses outside of the rectory stables (which are still there today). The photo is about 1860-70, I think.

Lastly, the original manuscript of Kingsley's The Water Babies was given as a gift we believe by Rose Kingsley to one of my great aunts in the 1890's. That particular aunt died in the 1930's, but another aunt remembers seeing the manuscript as a child - it was by her account, beautifully decorated in the margins with Kingsley's sketches. I have never been able to track this down at all. I have searched numerous national archives, but nothing. I am sure it is quite priceless!

Any way, althought the above is a little self indulgent, I thought it may may be of interest.

Yours
Andrew Chaplin.