Ambleside’s first Photographer Active 1856-1894
Contribution from Cathy Wilson in New Zealand
Christopher Holden, brother of James Fawcett Holden,
died 5th July 1820, aged 20 years,
died 5th July 1820, aged 20 years,
At the home of Mr Giles Redmayne,
New Bond Street, London
GILES REDMAYNE
Birth
1792. Chr. 28 Feb 1793 at Ingleton, Yorkshire. Son of Giles Redmayne and Agnes Tunstall.
submitted LDS
1792. Chr. 28 Feb 1793 at Ingleton, Yorkshire. Son of Giles Redmayne and Agnes Tunstall.
submitted LDS
Sister
Jane. Chr. 7 Apr 1782 at Ingleton. Married William Marriner, 14 June 1802 at Ingleton. Their son, John Marriner (later Canon Marriner), b. 21 Apr 1805, Ingleton. Christopher Holden's brother, James was a witness at John Marriner's marriage.
source: IGI
Occupation
Mercer - Silk Merchant
Mercer -
London
Records of the Sun Fire Office indicate Giles was in London by 1816, at first in partnership with a Stephen Lewis and later with a Thomas Redmayne, possibly a relative.
Records of the Sun Fire Office indicate Giles was in London by 1816, at first in partnership with a Stephen Lewis and later with a Thomas Redmayne, possibly a relative.
Sun Fire Office
9 May 1816. Insured: Giles Redmayne & Stephen Lewis, 29 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, linen drapers & haberdashers.
10 Aug 1818. Insured: Giles Redmayne & Thomas Redmayne, 20 New Bond St, linen drapers & haberdashers.
27 July 1820 - as above
7 Feb 1822 - as above
27 Jan 1825 - as above
There are no further entries for Giles Redmayne, only the following for Thomas - 18 Jan 1828, Thomas Redmayne, 26 Fortress Tce, Kentish Town, Middlesex, gent.
source: Sun Fire Office records, Guildhall, - A2A
9 May 1816. Insured: Giles Redmayne & Stephen Lewis, 29 Henrietta St, Covent Garden, linen drapers & haberdashers.
10 Aug 1818. Insured: Giles Redmayne & Thomas Redmayne, 20 New Bond St, linen drapers & haberdashers.
27 July 1820 -
Victim of Crime
Giles was twice the victim of shoplifters as detailed in the Old Bailey transcripts below:
1. 1 April 1820 - trial held on 12 April 1820 of Eliza Lux and Elizabeth Topes accused of stealing 12 yards of ribbon, valued at 6s. Both found guilty.
N.B. Christopher Holden not mentioned. A witness, Bryan Charlesworth stated he was a servant to Messrs. Giles and Thomas Redmayne, who lived near Bond St. He appears to have been an assistant in their shop.
1. 1 April 1820 -
2. 9 Dec 1824 - trial held on 13 Jan 1825 of John Masters, aged 14 years. Accused of stealing 10 silk handkerchiefs valued at 50s. Found guilty and transported for 7 years.
I cannot yet establish Giles & Thomas's relationship, other than as business partners. It is likely they were relatives, but no record of a brother named Thomas can be found.
Marriage
4 Dec 1819, Kensington, London to Margareta ROBERY.
4 Dec 1819, Kensington, London to Margareta ROBERY.
Children
As per chart
As per chart
Brathay, near Hawkshead, Westmorland
Giles purchased the Brathay estate, near Coniston in 1833 from the Harden family. In 1836 he had built Holy Trinity Church at Skelwith. He endowed it with the interest of £1,000. The church, originally a chapel of ease to Hawkshead, was consecrated on Oct 1st 1846. The delay between erection and consecration may have been due to the legitimacy of the church (see William Wordsworth's letter to John Hudson, Feb. 1843).
Giles purchased the Brathay estate, near Coniston in 1833 from the Harden family. In 1836 he had built Holy Trinity Church at Skelwith. He endowed it with the interest of £1,000. The church, originally a chapel of ease to Hawkshead, was consecrated on Oct 1st 1846. The delay between erection and consecration may have been due to the legitimacy of the church (see William Wordsworth's letter to John Hudson, Feb. 1843).
Brathay Church was highly praised by William Wordsworth. The following is an extract of a letter from Mary Wordsworth (Willaim's wife), Feb 1844....."if ever you go to Redmain's (sic) shop in Bond St to buy yourself a silk handkerchief, you might please him by telling him how often the Poet blesses him for that holy deed of his, when he planted the Chapel on that rock."
It was at Brathay church that Gile's grandson, the surgeon, Dr Hugh Redmayne married Katherine Mary Bloomfied in 1883. For their marriage her elder sister Dorothy wrote the now famous hymn 'O Perfect Love'. This became popular when Princess Louise, daughter of King Edward VII and grand-daughter of Queen Victoria chose it for her marriage to the Duke of Fife.
Brathay estate contained a quarry and there is correspondence relating to iron mines, quarries, etc in the Furness estates papers 1826-1850 of the Duke of Buccleuch. "Quarries in the Manor of Hawkeshead including draft letters from John Cranke to Mr Oddie re Brathay Quarries, 1826; statement re holdings of Solomon Robinson of Ambleside in Flag Quarry at Brathay, 1840; agreement with William Parker and Isaac Parker to work Hodge Close Quarry, 1841; correspondence (2) and memorandum with Giles Redmayne re lease of quarries on land at Brathay, 26 Nov 1850"
source Furness estate papers - Cumbria Record Office, A2A
source Furness estate papers -
Later Years
There is a suggestion that Giles Redmayne returned to London in 1837 and lived thereafter on Highgate Hill. Certainly this is borne out by his sons entries in the 1881 census giving their birth places as Highgate, Kentish Town or just London, Middlesex. It is most likely Giles lived most of the time in London where he transacted his business and kept Brathay as his country estate, to be visited in the summer months.
There is a suggestion that Giles Redmayne returned to London in 1837 and lived thereafter on Highgate Hill. Certainly this is borne out by his sons entries in the 1881 census giving their birth places as Highgate, Kentish Town or just London, Middlesex. It is most likely Giles lived most of the time in London where he transacted his business and kept Brathay as his country estate, to be visited in the summer months.
Death
4 October 1857 at Brathay Hall
submitted to LDS
4 October 1857 at Brathay Hall
submitted to LDS
The Brathay estate devolved to Giles's eldest son, also Giles, who died in 1898.
Brathay Church as it is was
seen on Tony Richard’s site
with the scaffolding removed
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seen on Tony Richard’s site
with the scaffolding removed
Click here for today’s photos
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