In response to my blog of 1st August “Barry Turton” in which I mentioned the pantomime at Bristol South Baths and one of the numbers, "Open the Door, Richard" Giles Oakley has contacted me with the history of this song which I recall from the 1950s but in fact goes much further back.

Giles says it is “an old African American vaudeville comedy routine from the mid-1930s created by a man called John 'Spider Bruce' Mason, later turned into a hit record by Dusty Fletcher in the '40s. It was one of the biggest hits of the era, covered by many different jazz and rhythm & blues artists, becoming so popular at one point in February/March 1947 no less than five versions of it were in the 'Billboard' Race Records charts simultaneously, including Fletcher's original together with brilliant versions by Jack McVea, Count Basie, the Three Flames and Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five. I would guess that it was the latter recording that made the biggest impact in Britain since Jordan, the biggest selling black artist in the USA in the '40s, had several of his humourous 'jump blues' recordings issued here. (I was amazed to find one of his Decca 78s amongst my grandmother's classical music collection in the 60s).  The alto-sax playing Jordan was also very popular in the Caribbean and perhaps West Indians settling in Bristol spread the word. I would imagine that Bristol as a a port city was where many American records entered the UK, brought in by sailors in exactly the same way as happened in Liverpool, as attested by John Lennon and many others.

“I had no idea I'd get onto such a topic when I entered your site, my interest being based on family history. My mother's family, nee Martin, came from Bristol in the 19th/early 20th century, and before that an Oakley ancestor owned Pen Park House in the 1830s.”

Giles’ account intrigued me, as did his Bristol connection. Of course, I had no option but to look for the Oakley ancestor! Pen Park, the mansion house was an imposing Georgian pile in extensive grounds built mid to late 18th century at the end of Charlton Road near Westbury on Trym. The house was burnt in 1961 and again in 1964. It was finally demolished in 1969 and a photograph of the frontage is in Reece Winstone's “Bristol as it was: 1960-2. The name lives on in Pen Park Road and (of course) Pen Park Hole! This cavern boasts the earliest caving fatality in Great Britain and Ireland, one Thomas Newman, who on March 17, 1775 fell to his death whilst trying to plumb its depth.

Major P.J.R. Waller, MBE, DL, JP in a letter to the Western Daily Press on May 30, 1956 says “it might amuse you to know that the oldest house near the traffic lights at the Southmead end of Pen Park Road was an isolated gamekeeper’s cottage in my father’s boyhood. I myself shot partridges close by. Also one walked to church in Henbury down country lanes in the 1940s. My great great grandfather was an ironmaster and owned the Eagle Steel Works in Bristol” (another story for investigation perhaps?) “and in the 1850s or so decided to become a country gentleman. He sold the steelworks and bought Pen Park.  All that is identifiable now is a Wellingtonia tree. I have childhood memories of cider making, hay making, an old home with no electric lights ever” (so do I – it was next door to where I lived as a child in Victoria Park, Kingswood!) “and well water until 1937 and very primitive sewage arrangements. Yet in the 1850s an enormous amount of money had been spent and it was the acme of luxury.” 

The Oakley dwelling had been advertised for sale in June 1841, and in response to this information, Giles emailed again attaching more details and a rough copy of the will of his ancestor, Richard Oakley of Pen Park. Richard was…….

…….“the (much richer) older brother of my Great Great Great Grandfather George Oakeley, a yeoman farmer who seems to have emigrated at some unknown date and fallen on hard times in Nova Scotia ('my poor afflicted brother...' named in a codicil of his will dated  March 23, 1832) Richard was born and buried in Wigmore in Herefordshire. How he came by Pen Park isn't clear, possibly by marriage. His first wife, perhaps a Frances Banner, died (in childbirth?) and he then married Mary Banner in 1810, presumably a sister or cousin. There is a memorial to Richard in Wigmore church put up by his widow, Mary. I have never quite sorted out all the relationships, which straddle across into Lambeth in London and Kent as well as Herefordshire and Bristol. What adds to the confusion is that there is more than one Richard Oakley around at that time.”

“I inherited a lovely Roman intaglio ring via my father and great aunt which originally belonged to Richard. It's setting is Georgian, but the engraved image is of the Goddess Hope, an early Christian symbol, as in 'Faith , Hope and Charity'.”

The idea that Richard Oakley married two sisters is possible but unlikely. Marriage to a deceased wife’s sister was within the “prohibited degrees” and not permissible in Canon Law up to 1907.  Until 1835 such marriages were not void but could be voided by legal action and any one likely to be found out would be reluctant to take the chance. It appears that Richard’s first marriage which has not yet been found was either to a Frances Swayne or Frances Banner. There were five children of the marriage of whom only one daughter and a son, Edward Banner, survived. Richard’s first wife died giving birth to Edward and the boy’s second Christian name suggests that if she was not a Banner, at least she was connected to the Banner family. Richard’s second marriage to Mary Banner of Broadstairs took place on the Isle of Thanet in 1810. In a newspaper announcement he is described as a solicitor.

It maybe that Richard and Mary Oakley moved into Pen Park following the death, announced in the Bristol Mercury on March 8, 1819,  of John Lambert, esquire. This gentleman, described as “formerly of Pen Park, Gloucestershire”, was a retired solicitor who died at his lodging in North Parade, Bath. Alas the famous waters could not save him,  but at the age of 81, he had had, certainly for those times, “a good innings” as my Dad would have said.  Mr Lambert’s chief claim to fame was that “he was master to the unfortunate Chatterton.” Thomas Chatterton

He was evidently the attorney to whom Chatterton was apprenticed aged 14 in 1766 and the above is said to be a likeness of the young Chatterton. In the famous “dead” portrait of the poet by Henry Wallis, the model was the actor George Meredith.

As to Richard Oakley, he was living at Pen Park when the marriage of his only daughter Frances to Dr Robert H. Graham of Bath by the Rev Carrow MA took place at Westbury on Trym on September 18, 1827. It was announced in the press a few days later.

We can perhaps deduce that even at that stage Richard did not altogether approve of the match, though maybe gritted his teeth and smiled for show. By the time he made his will, 17th March the following year, it is clear that all was not well. He did not care at all for his son in law and the substantial sum left to Frances by way of annuity was “ not to be subject to his (Doctor Graham’s) debts, control or interference.” Graham was provided for however with a life interest should he survive Frances. The business of Frances’ inheritance took up much of the testament so that the other items almost seem tacked on: a bequest to his son, Edward Banner Oakley when he should reach the age of 26; mention of his “excellent and dearly loved wife” who had been “amply provided for under a will of Mrs Thompson”; his sister Elizabeth and brother in law Benjamin Hills whose children, Richard’s nephews and nieces, unnamed, were to be rewarded with 10 guineas each.

With the drafting of the will approved,  the scribe put down his quill,  the lawyer waited and his satisfied client rang a bell summoning three members of staff waiting patiently, even apprehensively, in the corridor. John Ham, the footman, Philip Mears, the coachman, and Elizabeth Ackland, a housemaid, all dutifully bowed or bobbed, signed as witnesses and the business was complete. It is nice to catch this glimpse of the below stairs staff at Pen Park in this way.

By July 24, 1828, relations between father in law and son in law had deteriorated further. Richard Oakley felt obliged to add a codicil to his will.

“in consequence of the unworthy treatment my daughter has received at the hands of Dr Graham I do hereby revoke the bequest of a life estate interest in the event of his surviving my daughter and revoke power of appointment given him amongst the children of their marriage and entirely exclude (him) from any meddling in my affairs.”

It  would be interesting to know whether Robert Graham was the villain he seems. Whatever “the truth” a son and daughter Joanna and Gerald were born of the marriage. The son, Gerald Graham won the VC in the Crimean War!

Following the worry about his daughter’s happiness, Richard seems to have found solace in gardening. At the Bristol Horticultural Show in June 1829 he won second prize for his grapes and went even better in August the same year, being placed first for his artichokes.

Richard died at Wigmore, Herefordshire on November 17, 1832, though he is stated in the Gentleman’s Magazine notice to be of Pen Park, near Bristol.  There is a memorial plaque at Wigmore erected by his widow Mary who died July 3, 1838 at Oswaldkirk, Yorkshire.

A Thomas Cobham esquire was living at Pen Park on December 29, 1838 when the birth of his daughter was announced. Sadly, this baby, Blanche Elizabeth died aged 10 months in November 1839. The birth of another daughter was announced on July 11, 1840.  Thomas Cobham did not stay long. He moved with his family to Devon and Pen Park was put up for sale in 1841.

The above is merely a summary of the genealogy of the Oakley family and their connection to Pen Park. If anyone is related to this family which belongs to Wigmore, Lambeth as well as Pen Park, Bristol I will be pleased to pass on further information.

A few weeks ago I was out with my daughter Celia and she pulled into a garage on Park Row for petrol. I noticed this plaque, on the wall: 

Though I once went through an “arty-farty” period and was vaguely aware of the actor William Macready that was about as far as it went. I was prompted, who knows through what agency, to take a photograph of the plaque. Having parked, we then strolled across the road to the Bristol University Theatre Collection (well worth a visit, especially if you have theatrical ancestors: http: //www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/) where I have every hope one day of discovering more about Lottie Moreton. (see previous blog about this unfortunate soubrette.)  

And that might have been that, except that I downloaded the photo and began idly to seek references to the “Macready Chutes”.

First up, 1841, and Sarah Macready, 50, “lessee of a theatre” was living in a lodging house in Queen Square, Bristol kept by Marianne Vickerman, aged 45.  Sarah, nee Desmond, an actress, was the second wife of William Macready, Manager of the Theatre Royal who had died on 11 April 1829, leaving her with “two orphans”.  (The famous actor William Macready was a son of the first marriage.)

The census of 1851 shows Sarah aged 58, “lessee of theatres” living at Walcot, Bath in the Assembly Rooms with her son in law James H. Chute, aged 41, who was proprietor of the establishment, born Stoke, Hampshire, his wife, (Sarah’s daughter), Mazzarina E., aged 26, born Swansea and their two sons William aged 5 and Henry, 2. A daughter aged 10 days was unnamed.

James Henry Chute and Mazzarina Emily Macready had been married at Westminster in the winter of 1844. Here then were the “Macready Chutes” of the plaque.

Sarah Macready’s obituary with details of her life and career appeared in the Bristol Mercury of 12 March 1853, her age given as 64.

I have so far been unable to locate the family in the 1861 census, but it is clear from advertisements that James Henry Chute was manager of the Theatre Royal at this time. On 2 June 1861 the “Royal Dramatic College” thanked him for donating a portrait of “W. Macready, sen., esq.”

James Henry took over the Princes Theatre in 1866. http: //www.its-behind-you.com/princesbristol.html 

In 1871, James Henry, now 60, “dramatic manager” and Mazzarina, 46, and five of their children between the ages of 20 and 6 years were residing at 2 Park Row, next to a school for the “deaf and dumb”. Henry, aged 2 in 1851, was now twenty two and an assistant house surgeon at the Bristol Infirmary.

Now here’s the surprise. Evidence of the voice from the ether that had prompted me to take the photo? Living with the Chutes was Julia Pillinger, aged 50, spinster, a music teacher. Visitors to this blog will know that I have studied, as far as possible, all the Pillingers in the World and though I can claim no specific relationship to Julia, she is as dear to me as all the rest. She will be found in my History of the Pillinger Family, Part 3, as a twig on the branch that came originally from Box, Wiltshire. Following the death of George Pillinger in Bath, his wife Julia decided to try her luck as a singer in Bristol. Her daughter, Julia junior was sent away to study music in London, one of the very few Pillingers who could boast any sort of education prior to the present era. On her return, mother and daughter set up a “School of Music” in Queen Square, at the same time giving concerts which are reported at length in the local newspapers of the day. I had been aware that Julia junior had lived with the Chutes, but had only noted them in passing, having no idea that they were so hugely important in the dramatic circles of Bristol. Thus from a lowly lodger, scratching a living as a music teacher, as I had imagined, Julia has jumped up the ladder of success in my estimation. And don’t forget Queen Square -  this must have been where Julia Pillinger, senior, apothecary’s widow and aspiring theatrical (by 1841, she was remarried to Richard Harris) struck up an acquaintance with Sarah Macready, the widow of an actor manager. And here’s another thing - Richard, was a “carver and gilder” surely this must mean that he made scenery for the Theatre Royal?  It seems the connection Pillinger-Harris-Macready-Chute continued for at least thirty years.     

You never know what you’ll find next. Family history is wonderful.

Julia Maria Pillinger died in the winter of 1876. Mr & Mrs Chute did not long survive her. Mazzarina died aged 54 in March 1878 of Bright’s disease and James Henry aged 67 of liver failure the following July. They were survived by six sons and three daughters, two of whom, George and James took over the management of the Princes Theatre.   

George Macready Chute and his wife Abigail Philomena were living at Cotham Gardens, Westbury on Trym in 1891. In 1901 they were in Sidmouth with their son Desmond, aged five. In 1911 they were in Folkestone whilst Desmond, now 15 was boarding at Downside School. Despite apparently no longer living in Bristol, George M.’s occupation throughout is “Theatrical Proprietor/Manager.” According to the plaque the family was associated with the Princes Theatre until 1931.