Unidentified country house

[fred1951]

The couple went off back to China leaving the three eldest boys in England and just took the baby I was wondering if you think is the same family in the photo, it might have been taken in the summer of 1902 as they went back to China in the October.

[noytd]

I have now been in contact with the archivist at Howbury Hall.

The album is nothing to do with Polhill family and contains no images of any members of the family. Likewise Woodcote does not relate to the Polhill family and there is no mention of any property with that name within the area (estate) of the hall.

It is believed that the album relates to the family of James Edward Platt (1857-1928) who lived at Howbury between 1901 and 1903. Due to this narrow time period and the placing in the album of the wedding photo points to Elise Castelli (1876-1957) as being the creator of the album. As mentioned she married James Platt in 1901.

[Sc00p]

I have been looking and looking through the album for any further clues. Straight after the photos of the unidentified album appears a page showing another unidentified country house. It is a different house as its more gothic in look and has an extra level. However, a clue is provided with the initials HTM on the buckets. Presumably this house is somehow connected (whether by family or locality).

Bruntwood Hall, Cheadle before the chimney stacks were removed?
http://cheadlevillage.net/local-history/bruntwood-hall
https://cheadlecivicsociety.org/contents/en-uk/d287.html.

[fred1951]

Well spotted  and that fits in nicely with James Platt as he ran a racing yard stud farm there before moving to Howbury

[John915]

Good evening,

Not the same house I would say. The house in the OPs photo shows a large bay window between the the two gable ends. The windows in the gables have flat tops and no balustrade between the gables.

Bruntwood house has no bay window in that position but a small bay window on each end below the gables and a balustrade between gables either side of the dormer. The windows in the gables have arched tops.

If you go to the "Douglas Archives" there is a b/w photo of the house from the same era as OPs photo which shows it to be the same then as the modern photo.

I looked also at Abner House which is similar but still not correct.

John915

[arthurk]

John915 just beat me to it, but I was going to say more or less the same as he has about the bay window and the windows in the gables.

[fred1951]

Oh that's a shame I can see what you mean about the windows etc.

[arthurk]

If you're now looking at the Platt family, this site appears to have been created by a family member:
http://www.stanwardine.com/

It includes a biographical sketch of Major James Edward Platt at
http://www.stanwardine.com/genepic/Major_James_Edward_Platt_biography.pdf

I've skimmed through it and found references to Chesterfield Park near Saffron Walden (probably Chesterford), and Manton in Rutland, plus a few places in Scotland.

From a note at the end of the biography, it appears that the site owner might have access to many of the family records, and there's an email address for him. Over to you...

[noytd]

If you're now looking at the Platt family, this site appears to have been created by a family member:
http://www.stanwardine.com/

It includes a biographical sketch of Major James Edward Platt at
http://www.stanwardine.com/genepic/Major_James_Edward_Platt_biography.pdf

I've skimmed through it and found references to Chesterfield Park near Saffron Walden (probably Chesterford), and Manton in Rutland, plus a few places in Scotland.

From a note at the end of the biography, it appears that the site owner might have access to many of the family records, and there's an email address for him. Over to you...

Many thanks for the link and info. I have contacted the site owner and they have stated that no members of the Platt family appear in the album.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=784786.18

Upon a suggestion in this thread I have contacted Kent Archives who have confirmed they have first owner details on two cars that appear in the album. Hopefully I should get the registration details next week and fingers crossed a name that I recognise.

Polhill and Platt reliably ruled out, which takes the spotlight back to the Peck family.