Letters and EMails received
15 May 2000 - Source of the Thames
Hi there,
I just came across your website while researching information on the source of the Thames. I wonder if you knew who owned the meadow where the monument is located? I am hoping to film there in June-July but am not having much joy finding the owner..... any help greatly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Saul Clackson , Director , RIGHT NOW 2 , Oxford English Video
Thanks for you message Steve, in fact I have found the owner, a chap called Roger Butt who lives in Coates. cheers, Saul
Dear Mr Marsh,
May I compliment you on the Kemble Web Site? My wife and I had thought we would go to Stratford; however, having visited Kemble via the internet, we would prefer to visit your village and Cirencester. We will be in London in April. How do we get to Kemble by train or bus? The British Rail site gives no details. Can you provide us with schedules that will leave London early and return to London late? From Kemble, how do we visit Cirencester: train, bus, hired car?
I would greatly appreciate any help you may be able to provide.
Ira Block 406 Pine St Madison, Ga 30650/USA
22 Dec 2000 - Search for Atkins relatives
Dear Steve
We hope you may be able to assist in our search for our lodgers cousin who moved to Kemble approx 3 weeks ago and is thought to be running a hotel/b&b/inn? Their names are Sandra and Shaun Atkins. They are from South Africa originally. Any help would be appreciated, being a small village maybe you know of these new comers. Thank you in anticipation.
Lynn and Kev Jones
25th Jan 2001 - Ken and Carla Kemble California
Hello Steve,
We have enjoyed viewing your wonderful web site this evening. We had been to Kemble several years ago. I believe that it was Easter time 1985 and it was pouring down rain. At the time, there was an artist cooperative holding an art exhibit and sale in Kemble House. The entire downstairs walls were covered with paintings. We were very happy to purchase a water color painting of Cirencester by D.D. Saville. He also sent one to us of Kemble House. Mr. Saville lived at 6 Shepherds Way in Cirencester. He would be quite elderly now. We hope to be able to visit Kemble in the near future with our family, as our daughter and her husband will be living in London. They have been transferred by his company. We had found the Kemble Airfield site in the past but never your site. Will be happy to share it with the rest of the family. Thank you for such a very wonderful and well done informative site on the village of Kemble and it is especially interesting to us. From this village is where my husbands family came.
We have a large Genealogy of most all of the Kemble's in America. I was put together over years by a retired music professor from Washington State by the name of Kemble Stout. His mother was a Kemble. Many Kemble's changed the spelling of their name to Kimble, Kimbel, Kimball, etc. WE are just one family in the book descended from William and Elizabeth Kemble. Mr. Kemble came from Kemble there, and one written piece says that Kemble may have been in Wiltshire. I also looked at a site and read about Ven. John Kemble. Can find it at 'John Kemble martyr' I believe. He is listed under the Oates Plot. He too came from Kemble it says. I will copy for you the information from the book for you soon for your interest on our Kemble family. AS for the Kimball piano, I don't know anything about its beginnings. Kemble Stout is now in a retirement home in Seattle and I must call him. There are several Kembles in the book along with the family of Fanny Kemble the famous English actress who married the rich American land owner. A new book has been published by Simon and Schuster with the name of Fanny Kemble's Cicil Wars by Catherine Clinton. She is an American with a Ph.D. from Princeton who has studied Fanny Kemble for the last 25 years. No, Fanny is not related to our Kemble side. At one time, her family owned Covent Garden. You know that you live in a very interesting place. You would love to see the Kemble book, I am sure. It's quite interesting. Are you also into the history of e/. Have you lived there very long and is Kemble where you family if from? I also found a site by Steve Martin at Cotswold Maps. You may know him. We live near to Napa in Northern California. And as I told you, our daughter and two sons and husband will be living in London. I hope to introduce them to Kemble soon and again visit.
Sincerely, Ken and Carla Kemble California
12th December 2001 - Memories of living near the source of the Thames
I came accross your excellent site whilst idly searching the Net for anything to do with "The Source of The Thames".
My interest stems from the fact that my late grandmother, Mrs. Eleanor Nash, lived for many years in Thames Head Cottages (no.2 the oldest!) which overlook the field leading to meadow to where the source is located. I remember when the old "Father Thames" statue used to be there. I spent many happy childhood years staying with my "Gran" during family stop overs and school holidays. I well remember the number of visitors searching for the "source", who would often knock on Gran's door asking for directions! Often, we would walk across the fields to go there or, (as a young boy then!) to "watch the trains". Yes, there used to still be steam trains in those days! I recall my Uncle taking me over in summer evenings to watch the return of the "Cheltenham Flyer".
Also, weather permitting, my Uncle, Dad and I would fly model aero planes in the field and, quite often would spend a good while retrieving them from the trees when they went astray!
The postal numbering system for Thames Head Cottages is the wrong way round! "No.2" is actually the oldest and dates back to the 17th century. I believe it was once known as "Wharf Cottage" and was the canal keeper's residence during its active years. "No.1", (Mr & Mrs Cooper) which adjoins it and is higher up and closest to the road and canal bridge, I think, dates back around 150 years, but I'm not certain of its actual age. Both cottages were modernised in 1973. "No.2" up until that time had no inside toilet or bathroom! Indeed, mains electricity was only provided in 1960; Paraffin oil lamps used to be the only source of light apart from one electric "emergency" light in the kitchen which could was powered by a petrol generator in the outhouse. Some of its character was inevitably lost in the modernisation although some features such as the old beams in the living room were retained. Other recollections of the area are of Kemble station, again in the late days of steam and after the diesels took over. I remember there used to be a line from there to Cirencester which in the '60's was served by the very first "rail car", a single diesel passenger unit. However from Thames Head, the more usual way to Ciren was either by car or the No.32 Bristol bus which would be caught from Coates corner! I still have family contacts in the area. My Uncle, Robin (Ron) Nash worked for many years as a civilian aero engineer at RAF Kemble and now lives with his wife just outside Cirencester.
In her latter years, due to failing health, my Gran, Mrs. Nash spent longer periods during the winter months staying with my parents in Cornwall and only returning to Thames Head in the spring, until her death at the age of 89 in 1994. I believe her cottage is now occupied by an employee of the landlord (Phillips?) , who also, in reply to one of your correspondents e-mails, owns the "meadow" in the fields where the Thames source stone is. It's quite a few years now since I visited the area, but still have may fond memories.
I shall be visiting my Mum in Cornwall over Christmas and I know she has many old photographs of the "Thames Head" area. If you are interested, I shall ask her if I can borrow a few so that I can scan them and forward them on to you? In the meantime, keep up the good work on your web site!
Regards, David Weaver West Calder West Lothian.
15th Jan 2002 - Visit to Kemble Railway Station
Steve,
Thanks for posting the Kemble train station pictures. It is such a quaint little town.
I was on business at RAF Fairford earlier this week, and in spite of the recent rail news, I ventured to take the train to Heathrow this morning (and arrived on time). I saw your web site and decided to board the train at Kemble.
After living in Germany for a year and a half I've become accustomed to the Deutsche Bahn ambience. While standing on the platform at Kemble Station, I almost could believe I was standing in Shining Time Station.
I do have a question if you know the answer. I don't recall the two tracks converging to one under the tunnel. Is that really the case?
Thanks again.
Cheers, Cliff Dungey
9th Apr 2002 - Remember the Miles Family?
Writing this on behalf of my boyfriend's father, I would be grateful if you could put it on the Kemble website.
Stan & Gertrude Smart got married in Kemble Church on 14th March 1942 and have recently celebrated their diamond
wedding anniversary. They now live in Basildon, Essex but always remember their links with Kemble.
Stan was a boyhood friend of Douglas Miles and stayed with him several times in the 1940s. Douglas's father was
verger of Kemble Church during this period and the family lived in a cottage in Church Road.
Douglas now lives in Australia and Stan is in touch with him. However, Stan (aged 81) would like to find anyone who
remembers the Miles family, especially the verger, or perhaps Kathleen, his daughter, who became the post-lady for
Kemble.
Please reply by e-mail to me and I will pass information on to Stan.
Regards Mandy Bennett Admin Assistant, PD Factory Europe Tel: 8738 1091; Fax: 8738 7112 e-mail: abenne34@ford.com Mail: GB15/4A-L02A
11th June 2003 - Kemble Family in Vancouver
Dear Mr. Marsh I must thank you for your the information on your site that is most fascinating to me and my family. Most fascinating to myself as I am a descendant of Steven Kemble who is just one son of John and Sarah Kemble whom parented the rest of the Kembles who were popular on the English stage some 200-250 years ago. I am always finding new information about the origins of our family to pass on to my son Matthew, who is, at eight years old, the current end of our line of descent. There is of course an abundance of information about the Kembles, that has either been passed down through the family or is in publication. We have several family artifacts and objects of interest detailing the history of the Kembles on the stage, but there is little information as to the actual origin of our name. I am not certain whether the Kembles who we descend from actually came from this region. In fact I understood they came from "nearby" Hereford. Being born and raised in Vancouver British Columbia we are far removed from our roots, thus, your site is, as I stated before, most fascinating. I have travelled your region before and unfortunately did not visit the town of Kemble. You can be sure that in the near future we will be doing so.
Sincerely, Roger T. Kemble, Gabriola Island, British Columbia Canada
17th June 2003 Ewen Warf
Dear Mr Marsh, it was so nice to find your website of Kemble, the interest being that I was able to look around the village where my Grandmother was brought up. She lived at Ewen Wharf. Her two brothers who also lived there were killed during the war, the memorial outside the church bearing their names G and H Ingram. It was very pleasing to see where they all once lived. My Grandmother moved to London when she got married. I expect there are distant relatives still living around Kemble today. Irene
11th Jan 2004 - Memories of Kemble Airfield (click here for full transcript)
My father was stationed at the Airfield from mid 1941 to the end of the War and for much of the time was in charge of the Fire Section. He died just over a year ago, but eighteen months or so before I recorded his recollections of his time at Kemble, the transcription of which is attached. A copy was also given to the members of the present Fire Section when my brother and I visited with my Dad in September of 2002. During the time Dad was serving at Kemble the family home was in Poulton where my twin brother and I were born. I hope this may be of interest. Regards, Mike Smith
27th Oct 2007 - Search for 'Hobbs' relatives from USA
If you have any knowledge of the Hobbs Family, who used to live in Kemble from 1625, then their relatives in North Carolina (USA) would love to hear from you via their email address erh252@gmail.com.
This is the email I received from Ed Hobbs in October 2007.
According to the information I have, my
ancestry is from your town. The forward to the Hobbs Family Tree
from Northeastern North Carolina by Betty Smith Hobbs lists Kemble,
England as the home of Abraham Hobbs I who was born there around 1625 A.D.
The forward to the Hobbs book, by Oliver K. Hobbs, includes the following
paragraphs:
Abraham's family
sided with King Charles during the English Revolution. The family had a
hard
time after the King was assassinated
but managed to get by fairly well until a few years before the
rebel government was overthrown.
Abraham grew up and married during that time. In the mid
sixteen-fifties, it became common for
those who served the King to be killed by highway robbers.
Abraham's father was one of those
killed and his mother, who was related to the Bishop at Oxford,
arranged for Abraham to go to
Virginia where the Governor was a Loyalist.
After getting established in America,
Abraham went to England to bring his family to America.
When he arrived, he found that his
wife had died. He married again before returning alone to
America where he helped to survey the
NC-VA line.
He acquired land west of the Sandy
Ridge in Perquimans County, North Carolina north of Catherine
Creek (Warwick Swamp). (Apparently
this was in the Selwin area of what is now Gates County.)
It may have been ten years before he went to
England again for his family.
Abraham found conditions quite
different in England from those existing there during his previous
visit. Oliver Cromwell was dead,
Charles II was no longer exiled and Abraham's family members
were no longer out of favor with the
government. All four daughters by his first wife were grown
and had no desire to come to America.
He did, however, bring his wife, who he married on the
previous visit to England, and young
son, Abraham II, born during his absence, back to America
with him.
Abraham I was a gentle man who was
well liked by almost everyone. Four more children, two girls
and two boys, were born to Abraham I
and wife #2 after they moved to Carolina.
In regards to Kemble, there is a statement to
the following:
After the death of
wife #2, Abraham I married a lady twenty or more years younger than he in
whose
home they lived until he died. She
was a very devoted wife who made him happy and took
exceptionally good care of him as he
grew old. She enjoyed his stories and he often told her about
his childhood. She was especially
fond of stories he repeated that were told to him by his mother
and sisters as they relaxed by a
spring near their home, the source, from which the Thames grew into
a mighty river where it flowed
through London to the sea.
During the last few weeks of his
life, Abraham I became too weak to wait on himself Wife #3
seldom left his side and did
everything she could to make him comfortable. She could not, however,
grant his deathbed wish to lie on the
grass beside the spring, where he enjoyed so many happy hours
in his youth.
Abraham I had close kin in Virginia
and New England from his mother's as well as his father's side
of his family but no brothers or
sisters. I have been unable, however, to learn his mother's family
name. He was supposed to be kin to
Thomas Hobbes though he spelled his name differently. Guy's
books included one that referred to
Thomas Hobbes as the Father of Philosophy.
I was curious if there are any members of the
Hobbs family living in the area near Kemble today.
It would be interesting to be able to contact them via email (erh252@gmail.com).
Looking for families "Lock" and "Baker" from 1900s
Hi
I wonder if you can direct me toward someone that may help me with my
family tree. I found on the kemble website a mention of Mr Lock in the
1920's who lived in Vicarage Lane and wondered if this was a relative.
I have started to trace my family history and discovered that my
grandmother (now deceased) was born in Kemble in 1899. Her name was Faith
Lock and her father was John Lock.
She lived at 127 Vicarage Lane Kemble with her father and mother Mary. She
also lived with her step brothers and sisters, Arthur H Baker, Charley
Baker, Louise Baker and William J Baker, from Mary's first marriage to Mark
Baker. When Mark died my great grandfather John married his next door
neighbour Mary. My granny also had brothers by the name of Frederick Lock
and Ernest Lock.
Although this seems like I have gained a lot of information already I know
nothing about my grannys family at all before this 1901 census. My father
who is 85 cannot remember anything at all!
If there is someone that you know that could help I would be very
appreciative.
Thank you
Nicola Smith
smithnicolahelen@aol.com
21st April 2008 - American Connection
My name is James
Kemble and I know my surname is a locational name, meaning "one who
came from Kemble". It has been a long-time dream to come and see
the village and see what is there. I was so excited when I
accidentally discovered your website. I copied many photos for myself
and even the map showing all the road names. I much have spent over
three hours mauling over the site and the photos, plus reading all the
articles. The village is "sort of a ancestral place" to me.
I am so exstatic you have done this wonderful site.
Thank you very much and I will check more in the future for new photos and
information. And I still want to come there in person not only to
see, but stay over night and drink and taste the village food as well.
Even go to the Thames and cup my hand to drink the water where is is
still clean and you cannot walk on top of it.
Sincerely,
James A. Crowley Kemble
American Kemble Family Genealogist