RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Surrey => Topic started by: ChrisWd on Wednesday 08 June 16 12:09 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I'm trying to find out a bit more about this man.
Allan Ansell was born 1867 in Croydon, son of Henry & Catherine Ansell.
I can't find this Allan Ansell in either the 1891 or 1901 census returns but in 1911 he was living in Cheam in Surrey, having been married 23 years to a woman called Ellen and with a 21 year old son called John William. Ellen was born 1866 in Harleston, Norfolk, John William was born 1889 in East Ham. Allan Ansell had married Ellen Brown on 4th June 1887 at St Michael's church in Croydon.
The 1911 census indicates that he was a farmer although from that time he became more involved in property and real estate dealing & development and there are a number of land registration entries in his name reported in the London Gazette.
In 1920 he bought two farms in Rainham, Essex. A highway was completed in 1926 to by-pass Rainham which ran through Ansell's holding, but he laid out roads on both sides of it, and sold plots for residential houses which were said to be cheaper per square yard than linoleum.
In 1924 he acquired a 1,500 acres estate in Havering including the manor of Havering-atte-Bower. Indications are he was living at 'Priests', Havering Road in Romford around that time. His son John W. Ansell, a contractor, sold most of the 1500 acre estate in 1937.
Allan Ansell was killed in a car crash on 28th July 1933 when his car over-turned on the Kingston by-pass near Esher. The car in which he was travelling went out of control after striking a lorry. His chauffeur was also killed in the crash. I've not seen the full newspaper reports of his death and would appreciate if anyone can let me know if they contain any more information than summarised here.
At the time of his death he was living in Danescourt, Oxshott. Danescourt has recently been developed into a very upmarket housing estate and I've not been able to find any information on the property he actually resided in which I assume has long since disappeared.
Around the time of his death, I believe he took delivery of a supercharged Bentley sports car, one of the 50 original production Blower Bentleys. Bentley Motors service records indicate that the car was acquired in 1933 by famous Maidenhead motor dealer (Rolls Royce & Bentley) dealer R.S. Mead which would tie in with Mr Ansell's untimely death that summer. It is high likely R.S. Mead initially supplied Mr Ansell with the car from new as it was registered in Berkshire.
I've not been able to find the death date of Ellen, his wife.
His son, who I believe continued his business, died in 1960 at Leigh-on-Sea. The executor of his estate was Ethel Lilian Ansell, a married woman. I've not been able to determine the relationship between John William and this woman.
Any further snippets of information on the above would be greatly appreciated.
Regards, Chris
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What is your interest in this person? What is his connection to your FH?
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My interest in this person is finding out if he is the A. Ansell who owned the Bentley car. Only 50 such cars were ever produced by the factory and sold to the public.
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Hi
I am intrigued as I have seen your other 'Bentley' posts are you planning to make the information on these cars/owners available as a collection at some time
Rosie
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Doesn't appear to be anything to do with FH - more of a hobby post
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Doesn't appear to be anything to do with your FH - more of a hobby post
There is nothing unusual about researching something that interests us, I did some research into the folk that used to live in my house - the only connection to me is that we all shared the same address ;D
Sarah
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There are plenty of other 'hobby' posts on Rootschat especially on Armed Forces for example where people in Holland are researching Lancaster Bomber flight crews.
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Doesn't appear to be anything to do with your FH - more of a hobby post
There is nothing unusual about researching something that interests us, I did some research into the folk that used to live in my house - the only connection to me is that we all shared the same address ;D
Sarah
Ditto, researched my house built 1889, few spooky things, but after living 30 + yrs, same house, if I got a visit 😳 I know their names. 😜
Cas
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Doesn't appear to be anything to do with FH - more of a hobby post
I was just wondering if it was to become available as I have a friend with an interest in these old cars ;D
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Don't know if you have seen it but there is a report of the crash in The Times
Overturned Car Near Esher. - The Times - Tuesday, 1st August 1933; pg. 9; Issue 46511
A later article states he died at Kingson Hospital - Funeral at Putney Vale
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This is very much a personal interest project. I'm fascinated by these particular cars and the investigation I'm doing gives an interesting glimpse of a segment of social history between the wars. I'm happy to share more generally if anyone also has an interest.
I've seen parts of the newspaper reports of his death but not the full articles. I'll look for The Times article that you mention.
The probate calendar entry mentions he died at Kingston & District hospital, not seen mention of his funeral at Putney Vale.....thanks.
Regards,
Chris
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Hi Chris
Check with your local library as many offer access to the Times Online Archive at home to readers with a valid ticket.
Dawn
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Thanks Dawn......that's what I've just done. The Times article is interesting as it seems Mr Ansell was driving the car at high speed, overtaking two other cars, one of which was overtaking the other. A lorry was approaching in the opposite direction. It appears Mr Ansell's car skidded on the wet road, clipped one of the lorry's back wheels and then overturned into a field. The two occupants, Mr Ansell and his chauffeur, were thrown clear of the car which suggests it may have been the Blower Bentley which was an open top sports car.
Chris
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Hi Chris
I have sent a PM.
I can't see Ellen's death either.
Rosie
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Hi Chris,
I realise you posted this many years ago but I’ve only just found out recently that I bought one of Allen Ansell’s homes. I have the house deeds proving he was the original purchaser of my property. I can’t provide any light on the Bentley mystery but at least you know someone now who is connected to his past a little bit. If I can be of any more help I’m happy to. Cheers, Oliver.
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Thanks Oliver….sorry for the delay in getting back in touch.
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Doing some Googling I found this post. Not of any help in discovering if Mr Ansell was in a Bentley or not - newspaper reports say a Rolls Royce saloon - but the chauffeur, William Thomas Lionel Woodward Cloude, is buried in the churchyard of All Saints Birling in Kent. I have no interest in him but I was just going for a walk and saw his gravestone. Reading the newspaper reports of the time in 1933 the death rate on the roads was horrific and I can see why they introduced the driving test in 1935!
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Many thanks.
I assume William Cloude is the same chap as described here:
http://www.hertsatwar.co.uk/biographies/986077/william-thomas-louis-woodward-cloude
Regards,
Chris
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That's really interesting. Someone has done some amazing research there and he was lucky to have a surviving service record - I can't find any mention at all that my grandfather even served! It sounds as if he was at fault for the accident but we'll never know. It may have been simply be due to his boss being late for something and telling him to get a move on.
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From what I read it sounded like the accident was the result of reckless driving. Mr Ansell was driving and his chauffeur was the passenger. He tried to overtake two cars, one was already overtaking the other, with a lorry approaching in the opposite direction. Both were thrown out of the car which suggests to me it was an open topped vehicle.
Regards,
Chris
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None of the newspaper reports I've read said Mr Ansell was driving and as Cloude's son appeared as a witness to say his father had been driving since 1902 had a clean licence and was teetotal I assume he had been behind the wheel. A couple of reports say that the car was a Rolls Royce and one that it was a saloon. I imagine, depending on what damage had been done it, would have been quite possible for both victims to have been thrown from it considering the speed it was going.