Charles Hay Walker
Charles Hay Walker (c1861-1942 )
c1861 Born at St. John, Canada, the son of Charles H. Walker and his wife Lydia Jane Fairweather (1836-1890)
1883 August 15th. Married(1) at Caerwent to Fanny, the second daughter of T. A. Walker, Mount Ballan, near Chepstow. Charles Hay Walker of New Passage. [1] 'The Severn Tunnel Works: A Happy Variation. Last week the wedding nuptials of Miss Fanny Walker, second daughter of Mr. T. A. Walker, the contractor for the Severn Tunnel Works, and Mr. Charles Hay Walker, of New Passage were celebrated at Caerwent Church. A general air of festivity pervaded the neighbourhood, and numerous festoons and triumphal arches were erected The bride, who was attired in white ottoman silk with veil and wreath of orange blossoms, was attended by five bridesmaids. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Tuberville Williams, M.A., Rural Dean, and vicar of Caldicot, assisted by the Rev. T. D. Jones, vicar of Caerwent. Mr. Thomas Walker accompanied the bridegroom as his best man, and the bride was given away by her father. Upon the conclusion of the ceremony the bridal party returned the residence of the bride’s father at Mount Ballan, where a recherche dejeuner was laid, the caterer being Mr. Fisher, of Gloucester. The wedding presents were numerous and costly. At the works at Portskewett a number of salvos were fired by the workmen in honour of the event, and as the train conveying the bride and bridegroom left the station en route for Chester for their honeymoon, a number of detonators were fired off.'[2].
1894 - C. H. Walker was an elected I.C.E. associate.
1901 Living at The Cliff, Eascliffe Promenade, Shanklin, Isle of Wight: Charles Hay Walker (age 40 born Canada), Civil Engineer and Employer. With his wife Fanny Walker (age 40 born Canada) and their eight children; Fanny L. Walker (age 14 born Barry, Glam.); Jane G. Walker (age 13 born Barry, Glam.); Thomas A. Walker (age 11 born Argentine Republic); Ethel M. Walker (age 9 born Beckenham); Ruth G. Walker (age 6 born Argentine Republic); Charles H. Walker (age 4 born Uruguay Republic); Robert H. Walker (age 1 born Norwood); and John D. Walker (age 5 months born Norwood). 13 servants.[3]
1902 Formation of C. H. Walker and Co Ltd
1911 Living at Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill, Croydon: Charles Hay Walker (age 50 born St. John, Canada), Civil Engineer. With his wife Fanny Walker (age 50 born St. John, Canada) and their six children; Ethel Mary Walker (age 19 born Bromley); Ruth Gertrude May Walker (age 16 born Argentine Republic); Charles Mary Walker (age 14 born Argentine Republic); Robert Harold Walker (age 11 born Croydon); John Douglas May Walker (age 10 born Croydon); and Jessie Irene Walker (age 8 born Croydon). CHW married 27 years and a total of nine children. 15 servants. [4]
1918 June 18th. Death of his wife Fanny of Falkland Park, South Norwood Hill, and of Frensham Hill, Farnham, who left £116,311 gross.[5]
1922 Married(2) to Grace Hampden Inskip. 'At Christ Church, Clifton, the marriage took place of Mr. Charles Hay Walker of Conchillas, Uruguay, and Miss Grace Hampden Inskip, O.B.E., fourth daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs James Inskip of Clifton...' [more including a picture of the couple][6]
One of his last ever recorded addresses was '9 South Stoke Road, Woodcoate near Reading.'[7]
1942 October 2nd. Died. of Wayside Woodcote, Oxfordshire. Probate to Grace Hampden Walker, widow, and the reverend Robert Harold Walker, clerk. [8] Estate valued at £83,544 gross.[9]
1944 Estate sale. 'Sale of the Village of Sudbrook. A large company attended the sale of freehold properties held at Newport by Mr John H. Rennie (Rennie Taylor and Co., Newport and Monmouth) which comprised the whole of Sudbrook village (excluding the G.W.R. pumping station) belonging to the estate of the late Mr Charles Hay Walker, whose father-in-law and uncle, Mr T. A. Walker, constructed the Severn Tunnel. Included were 118 houses, stores schools Post Office, institute, allotments and the dismantled Sudbrook shipyard producing a gross rental of approximately £2,874 per annum. The mission hall and manse were reserved from sale. The property as a whole was sold .... for £23,575...'[10] 'The owner was the late Mr Charles Hay-Walker, member of the firm of C. H. Walker and Co., Ltd., who were engaged on the construction of the Severn Tunnel and have been interested in the area ever since. It was the building of the Severn Tunnel which brought this village of Sudbrook into existence, for houses were built to accommodate the men engaged its construction. That was some 64 years ago.[11]
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ London Standard - Thursday 23 August 1883
- ↑ Gloucester Journal - Saturday 25 August 1883
- ↑ 1901 Census
- ↑ 1911 Census
- ↑ Western Mail - Saturday 09 November 1918
- ↑ Western Daily Press - Saturday 19 August 1922
- ↑ Institution of Civil Engineers Archives.
- ↑ Probate Records
- ↑ Western Morning News - Monday 18 January 1943
- ↑ Western Daily Press - Saturday 22 January 1944
- ↑ Western Daily Press - Monday 24 January 1944