A Nod To Brent - a friendly thread, filled with frivolity, cream teas and pasties. Longing for the happy days in the South Hams 1947.

[Welchester]

Hers is a branch of the Molesworths of Pencarrow.

 

Not the Molesworths of st custards?

[Oldddudders]

ISTR there is a Molesworth St in Wadebridge, site of a former LC?

[St Enodoc]

A heart warming story on the original edition of that book.In the early 90s my late father was searching for a copy long before Ebay existed or I had a computer. A chance chat with a bookseller , Nigel Bird, at Warley and he agreed to do a search for him/us.I'd forgot about it when s phone call said he had one.We gave him it as a Christmas present and my fathers face was a picture on receiving it.Even my late Gran had a read and was pleased to find a photo of someone she knew in it from the Kingsbridge booking office.

In my experience Nigel Bird is probably the best specialist railway bookseller around (usual disclaimer).

[Captain Kernow]

In my experience Nigel Bird is probably the best specialist railway bookseller around (usual disclaimer).

Does he know the Molesworths of Haverfordwest?

[Edwardian]

Sadly, not St Custards, though obviously required reading when She was a Gal. There is, or was, an Anglo-Irish Molesworth clan, but I don't think they're anything to do with the Wife either.  Her family is definitely related to the Pencarrow line, which is still going, I believe.

 

Interestingly, I understand that another forebear of hers had a hand in the Cape to Cairo railway through East Africa, you know, the Lions of Tsavo and all that.  Not sure on the details.  Pa in Law, it happily turned out, is quietly interested in railways, including the Great Western.  He used to travel by train between Brixham and his school in Taunton in the '40s and '50s.  I discovered this when, during a period working abroad, we dumped a load of stuff at the In Laws, including my railway books.  I understand that my Father in Law worked through the lot.

[St Enodoc]

Does he know the Molesworths of Haverfordwest?

Not sure, but he might be a kinsman of the Haverfords from West Molesworth.

[Captain Kernow]

Not sure, but he might be a kinsman of the Haverfords from West Molesworth.

You might be right, but I pity him, if he is. The Haverfords were banned  for life and all subsequent generations by Henry VIII from ever owning trousers.

[Mallard60022]

Did the Molesworths have anything to do with Moleskin Trousers or am I getting confused again?

Quackers.

[petethemole]

Did the Molesworths have anything to do with Moleskin Trousers or am I getting confused again?

Quackers.

 

I'm upset now.

[Captain Kernow]

Did the Molesworths have anything to do with Moleskin Trousers or am I getting confused again?

Quackers.

I don't think so. Sir Percival Molesworth was the first person to petition Parliament to make the non-wearing of trousers by men a legal occupation.

[Edwardian]

Seems I need to delve further into the Memsahib's family history. 

 

As is fairly well known, the original Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway was constructed in the early Nineteenth Century under the aegis of local landowner and progressive politician Sir William Molesworth Bt.  This was long before the Withered Arm was even a twinkle in the South Western's eye and this little railway remained isolated from the national network for decades.  The South Western bought it to get a toe hold, but, if I remember aright, when the line was finally linked to the national system it was ironically to the Great Western. 

 

As I say, this is, I think, a fairly well-known history.  This is the family with whom my wife is connected on her father's side.

 

The East African angle may be a Red Herring.  Though my Wife's maternal line were ex pats in East Africa from the '40s, the Molesworth connection is Sir Guilford Molesworth, a notable Victorian engineer, who went out to inspect the line through Uganda in 1896.  Now this Molesworth is a scion of the Anglo-Irish branch, the Viscount Molesworths.  While I imagine that all Molesworths may be connected if we went far enough back, I am not aware of a close link between the Pencarrow family and the Anglo-Irish family.

 

I am sure you all felt you needed to know that, but I felt it incumbent upon me to correct any inaccuracies concerning the Mem's family, even though she will never read this.  Sometimes I find it hard to believe that Railways are in her blood.  I really do.   

[NHY 581]

I don't think so. Sir Percival Molesworth was the first person to petition Parliament to make the non-wearing of trousers by men a legal occupation.

My understanding of the subsequent ruling by Parliament accepted that there were occasions when men could be excused trousers. This included when entering certain public water closets in the Houses of Parliament. However this ruling was repealed following an unfortunate incident involved Sir Quentin Fitzpatrick, a bar of lavender soap, a wet floor and a wrought iron cubicle door handle.........

 

Rob.

[Mallard60022]

By gad Sir, one's spouse is descended from persons associated with the GWR? I must therefore challenge you (as on War and Peas), but, should you accept my challenge, you need to be informed that I have one of these.....

and my Second is  so even if you do inflict a wound I shall be very happy with my treatment.

I await your immediate response otherwise the challenge is withdrawn.

Captain Kernow 

 

Edited January 22, 2016 by Mallard60022

[Captain Kernow]

My understanding of the subsequent ruling by Parliament accepted that there were occasions when men could be excused trousers. This included when entering certain public water closets in the Houses of Parliament. However this ruling was repealed following an unfortunate incident involved Sir Quentin Fitzpatrick, a bar of lavender soap, a wet floor and a wrought iron cubicle door handle.........

 

Rob.

I think it was Sir Tarquin Doolally Awaywiththefaeries Fitzherbert-Pieshoveller (Baronet) who cast the deciding vote in favour of all trousers requiring to feature at least one leg. An unfortunate over-indulgence involving two farm carts full of miniature pork pies was responsible for his early and untimely demise before the bill could become law, which was subsequently amended to require all men under the age of 40 to wear shorts when in the privacy of their own homes.

[Edwardian]

Rob, you conflate two distinct parties to that aforementioned unfortunate incident; Quentin Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzquentin.

[Mallard60022]

I think it was Sir Tarquin Doolally Awaywiththefaeries Fitzherbert-Pieshoveller (Baronet) who cast the deciding vote in favour of all trousers requiring to feature at least one leg. An unfortunate over-indulgence involving two farm carts full of miniature pork pies was responsible for his early and untimely demise before the bill could become law, which was subsequently amended to require all men under the age of 40 to wear shorts when in the privacy of their own homes.

You been eatin' special 'choccy brownies' (GF available at Potteric Carr YWT cafe) as well then CK?

Aston Villa.

[Captain Kernow]

By gad Sir, one's spouse is descended from persons associated with the GWR? I must therefore challenge you (as on War and Peas), but, should you accept my challenge, you need to be informed that I have one of these.....images (52).jpg

and my Second is Tina Hobley.jpeg so even if you do inflict a wound I shall be very happy with my treatment.

I await your immediate response otherwise the challenge is withdrawn.

Captain Kernow 

It cannot be denied (any more than it can be confirmed) that you may or may not have the seed of a verisimilitudinous notion, Esteemed Dr von Quackersdorf.

 

I do not require any further satisfaction, as I am content with that already in my possession.

You been eatin' special 'choccy brownies' (GF available at Potteric Carr YWT cafe) as well then CK?

Aston Villa.

No, just a filled roll from the Spar on Plymouth station.

 

Wolverhampton Wanderers.

[Edwardian]

The Mem has other Great Western associations, viz, a Paddington Bear Stare.

 

Not for the faint hearted.

[Mallard60022]

Plymuff Station once had proper job Buffets. I remember them well with Hales Individual Fruit Pies being available (yup, it's those pies again..........)

Spar........................ is there some sort of corner at North Road Station these days?

Ivor Dewdeny

[Captain Kernow]

Plymouth station these days features a proper buffett (aka 'Pumpkin' thingey), a WH Smith and a Spar shop, all accessed directly off the concourse, which itself is directly under the tower 'Beechings Folly'.

 

If you are brave enough to venture through the ticket barriers, there is also a small coffee-type vendoring place.

[Mallard60022]

Those Pumpkin thingys are good if you are a spotter at Donny. 20% off goodies. They also do a drinks stamp card; sixth one is free.

D. Ufflebag. 

[Tim Dubya]

type vendoring place.

 

Place or Palace?

[Edwardian]

The Vendorings, aren't they characters in a Dickens novel?

[Donw]

Seems I need to delve further into the Memsahib's family history. 

 

As is fairly well known, the original Bodmin & Wadebridge Railway was constructed in the early Nineteenth Century under the aegis of local landowner and progressive politician Sir William Molesworth Bt.  This was long before the Withered Arm was even a twinkle in the South Western's eye and this little railway remained isolated from the national network for decades.  The South Western bought it to get a toe hold, but, if I remember aright, when the line was finally linked to the national system it was ironically to the Great Western. 

 

As I say, this is, I think, a fairly well-known history.  This is the family with whom my wife is connected on her father's side.

 

The East African angle may be a Red Herring.  Though my Wife's maternal line were ex pats in East Africa from the '40s, the Molesworth connection is Sir Guilford Molesworth, a notable Victorian engineer, who went out to inspect the line through Uganda in 1896.  Now this Molesworth is a scion of the Anglo-Irish branch, the Viscount Molesworths.  While I imagine that all Molesworths may be connected if we went far enough back, I am not aware of a close link between the Pencarrow family and the Anglo-Irish family.

 

I am sure you all felt you needed to know that, but I felt it incumbent upon me to correct any inaccuracies concerning the Mem's family, even though she will never read this.  Sometimes I find it hard to believe that Railways are in her blood.  I really do.   

 

Sir I think you are in error the first connection of the B&W to other systems was to the GWR while the final connection was to the L&SWR when the North Cornwall Railway was finally completed.

These family connections can be quite surprising. I was at one time a regular at the model shop in Wyle Cop Salop. One day the proprietor introduced me to another customer who shared the same surname. There was only the two of us in that a huge area with that surname. A short chat revealed that our Great Granfathers lived very close to each other nr Colchester, so some family link was very likely. I was somewhat jealous of his railway connections his grandfather having been a driver on the LT&SR.

Don

[Mallard60022]

Challenge withdrawn; it's too dark now.

Dr Q