News

Martin Shaw Trust

The Martin Shaw Archive is now with the British Library and the Cobbold Family History Trust is pleased to have received a copy of the Martin Shaw Trust Friends’ first newsletter, produced for the trustees by Isobel Montgomery Campbell.

Dr Martin Shaw OBE FRCM (1875 – 1958) married Isobel’s grandmother, Joan Lindley Cobbold (1890 – 1974). The first newsletter tells of Martin’s collaboration with Edward Gordon Craig (1872 – 1966) when they shared a house in Hampstead and of the extraordinary search for his birthplace. Isobel can be contacted on isobel@redcatlighting.co.uk

Robert Henry Wanklyn Cobbold (1892 – 1915)

This picture of the Eagles Society of St John’s College, Cambridge (1914) includes RHW Cobbold at the left end of the middle row. From the King’s College Choir School he won a scholarship to Marlborough (C3 1906) and went on to St John’s in 1912. He joined The Rifle Brigade and was killed in Flanders on 9th September 1915.

His younger brother, Edgar Francis Wanklyn Cobbold (1895 – 1916) joined the Cheshire Regiment and later the Royal Flying Corps and died flying near Beauchamps on 12th January 1916.

Both are commemorated in the Memorial Hall at Marlborough and in the church at Earls Barton where their father, Rev. Robert Russell Cobbold (1853 – 1925) had been Vicar.

Rose Hill Branch Library

Papers which came into the hands of the Trust recently reveal that of the �£328 raised in 1905 for the building of the library £100 (30%) was given by Felix Thornley Cobbold. Sadly it is now threatened with closure.

New Margaret Catchpole Display at the Reg. Driver Centre

The inaugural weekend is 8th – 9th – 10th April but the display will stay in place for 2 years.

A letter, as shown below, has been sent to people on our mailing list who were thought to be within easy reach of the Reg. Driver Centre. For the benefit of others it is repeated here:

Dear Family Member or Friend,

New Margaret Catchpole Display at the Reg. Driver Centre

I thought you would like to know that the Cobbold Family History Trust is providing a new 14 panel display to mark the 250th anniversary of Margaret Catchpole’s birth in1762. It will be installed in the Reg. Driver Centre in Christchurch Park, Ipswich (IP4 2BX, 01473 252435) and will remain in place for two years.

Seven panels are devoted to the story of Margaret Catchpole, based on Richard Cobbold’s novel, and the other seven are split between Felix Thornley Cobbold (1841 – 1909), donor of Christchurch Mansion and the Cobbold family’s involvement in Ipswich Town FC and over 260 years of brewing in Ipswich.

The inaugural weekend will be April 8th-10th and the Mayor of Ipswich is expected to unveil the display at 10am on April 8th and it is likely that the new Blue Plaque to Felix Thornley Cobbold will be dedicated at the same time. For the inaugural weekend only, the original Richard Cobbold watercolours (for his novel) will be on show together with two albums of original Elizabeth Cobbold (1764 – 1824) scissor-cut paper Valentines. To accompany these, again for the weekend only, there will be a live demonstration of paper-cutting by the well known Suffolk Artist, Lois Cordelia (who uses a surgical scalpel) and her mother, Erika who uses Scherenschnitt (Scissor-cutting), exactly the method used by Elizabeth Cobbold nearly 200 years earlier.

At this time of the year the Centre is open daily from 10am to 4pm and I will be there the whole weekend. Refreshments will be available from the café in Christchurch Mansion.

May I suggest that for those of you within reach half an hour in the Centre and an hour in the park would make an excellent interlude in your hectic lives and of course it would be a pleasure to see you.

With very best wishes,

Anthony.

Antique Collecting

The February issue containing Adele Mallen’s excellent six-page article on Elizabeth Cobbold (1764 – 1824) and her scissor-cut paper Valentines, 12 of which are illustrated, was published as mentioned last month and copies are available for purchase in the Books for Sale section of this website

The Reg Driver Visitor Centre, Christchurch Park, Ipswich

The new display featuring the Margaret Catchpole story which the Cobbold Family History Trust is providing to help enhance the Visitor Experience in the Reg Driver Centre will be inaugurated during the weekend of April 8th, 9th and 10th. The Keeper will be there all three days and original Richard Cobbold watercolours and Elizabeth Cobbold scissor-cut Valentines will be on display over the weekend.

Most exciting of all, that weekend, is a live paper-cutting demonstration by a most talented mother and daughter team. Lois Cordelia, the highly regarded Suffolk artist (who has an exhibition, Black Gold in London until the end of February) will demonstrate paper-cutting by scalpel whilst her mother, Erika Bülow-Osborne will show Scherenschnitt, the traditional German scissor technique favoured by Elizabeth Cobbold herself some 200 years ago. Shown here is Erica’s silhouette interpretation of how Elizabeth might have looked.

The display will remain at the Reg Driver Centre for at least two years but the inaugural weekend is certainly a Cobbold occasion not to be missed so please put it in your diary now.

THE COBBOLD LION….Embroidered

The Trust has been advised that Signature Embroidery and Garment Print, ‘phone 01858 575087, www.signatureembroidery.co.uk is set up to embroider the Cobbold lion onto any garment you choose to send. The finished article is shown below and our thanks go to John Cobbold who made it possible.

MEMORABLE MEMBERS

We celebrate the arrival of 2011 by the addition of “Memorable Members” to the website. These brief biographies (which also appear on members’ individual cards in the family tree) record memorable rather than famous lives. They are shown in two groups, Cobbolds and Kinsfolk and we shall be adding to them in the future. Biographies are one of the most interesting parts of the family tree and indeed of the whole website; but they are also the most time consuming to produce, so any visitor who is able to provide us with a brief biography (200-500 words) or a published obituary of a family member is warmly encouraged to contact the Keeper please.

Click for Memorable Members
Have a look now

JULIAN FELLOWES

The Trust offers its congratulations to Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning writer and actor who created (amongst many others) Gosford Park and Downton Abbey on his ennoblement on 19th November 2010.

ANTIQUE COLLECTING

It is now confirmed that Antique Collecting, the journal of the Antique Collectors’ Club will publish, in its February issue, a six page article written by Adele Mallen at the Trust’s request, on Elizabeth Cobbold’s paper-cut Valentines. The journal is available by subscription only but the Trust will have some copies which will be offered for sale next month on this website. The number of copies will be limited so tell us if you want to book one in advance. It is a very good article with colour illustrations.

GONVILLE & CAIUS COLLEGE QUINCENTENARY DINNER, 2010

The Trust has in its archive a 78 page, leather bound, gold blocked book dedicated to the life of John Caius, written in commemoration of the four-hundredth anniversary of his birth. This book was given to R F Cobbold (1857-1945, Caius, 1876) at the commemoration dinner held in hall on 6th October 1910. His grandson Anthony Cobbold (Caius, 1955) attended the Quincentenary dinner in 2010 in the same hall. No book this time but a very nice photograph instead.

The Reg Driver Visitor Centre, Christchurch Park, Ipswich

The Trust is preparing a semi-permanent display to be installed in the Visitor Centre in Christchurch Park. Whilst we are still at the design stage it is decided that half the display will be devoted to the Margaret Catchpole story and the other half will be divided between Felix Thornley Cobbold, the Cobbold Brewery and Cobbold participation in Ipswich Town Football Club.

We expect to hold an ‘Opening Weekend’ on April 8th, 9th and 10th next year which will also feature the Richard Cobbold Watercolours, the Elizabeth Cobbold Paper-Cut Valentines and a live demonstration of scalpel and scissor paper-cutting. If that sounds interesting please put the date in your diary and watch this space for further details.

Orford & District Local History Bulletin

The autumn 2010 issue (#15), published by the Friends of Orford Museum, is a Special Margaret Catchpole issue. It is an excellent read and highly recommended. Its 35 pages include a large number of illustrations, the cover picture having been gladly provided by the Trust. Copies are available on loan from the Trust or to purchase for about �£5.50 (if not previously sold) from the Editor, Jane Allen on 01394 450789.

Remembrance

Our usual tribute to the 48 lost Cobbolds appeared in the Daily Telegraph on November 11th and the Sunday Telrgraph on November 14th. (See King and Country)

It is the Trust’s intention, as in previous years, to place an announcement in the Daily Telegraph on Thursday 11th November commemorating the 48 Cobbolds who died in the two world wars. It is possible the commemoration will also be carried in the Sunday Telegraph of 14th November.

“COBBOLD In proud and grateful remembrance of the 48 Cobbolds lost in 2 world wars. www.cobboldfht.com”

Jan Talbot is the daughter of Primrose (Prim) Cobbold and an enthusiastic supporter of the Trust. Her husband, Col. John Talbot has recently made available a collection of historically important photographs assembled during the career of his father, Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Ponsonby Talbot, KCB, KBE, DSO (1884 – 1970). A British, understated humble man and a remarkable set of pictures.

Go to:

www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/cecil_p_talbot/vadm_sir_cecil_p_talbot_page_01.htm

It is of no particular Cobbold significance but your Trust Keeper and his sister in law were most fortunate to be invited to attend the Grand Nave Dinner held in Exeter Cathedral on 15th October 2010, in aid of The Third Millennium Campaign to secure the future of Exeter Cathedral. The evening was of such outstanding quality that it is difficult for the ordinary man to summon appropriate words of description. It was the epitome of all that is good and true and British as it brought together the best of music, food, wine and humour to elevate its guests to the heights of a seriously unforgettable evening. Just look at the setting…

In this column last month we reported that we had arranged for a Remembrance Cross to be planted at Westminster Abbey to commemorate the 48 Cobbolds who died in the two World Wars.

We have now been advised that our cross will be placed in Plot 264 which is shown on the plan reproduced below. The opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey will take place on Armistice Day, Thursday 11th November in the presence of a member of the Royal Family. Anyone planning to attend will need to be there before 10.30am.

We would dearly like a family member or friend to represent the Trust at the opening (or visit to view our cross shortly afterwards) and report back to us that they had found it. Anyone living in London like to volunteer? You don’t have to commit in advance but we would love to hear from you afterwards!

The rows and rows of crosses each with a Poppy are a moving sight.

Considerable additions are in the process of being incorporated into the family tree and plans are being developed for improvements to the website. As a result there is no Feature, no Cobblet, no Gifts and no other news this month.

DESERT ISLAND DISCS

Congratulations to our Patron, Lord Cobbold on his delightful participation in Desert Island Discs on 8th August. Many people contacted the Trust to say how much they admired him and how much they had enjoyed the programme.

BLUE PLAQUE

A plaque in recognition of Felix Thornley Cobbold (1841 – 1909) has now been installed on the Reg Driver Centre in Christchurch Park and he is prominent in the latest Ipswich Society leaflet.

FIELD OF REMEMBRANCE

The Trust has made another donation to The Royal British legion and arranged for a cross to be planted in November this year and in subsequent years in the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey to record the sacrifice of the 48 Cobbolds who died in two World Wars

COBBOLD SWIM SHORTS

Jack Wills, suppliers of high class trendy clothing to the ‘young’ have adopted the Cobbold name for a range of swim shorts. When we asked them why, they replied “Jack Wills is proud to be ‘fabulously British’. Many of the names of products reflect therefore British heritage and style. Cobbold, as we are sure you are aware is a very British name (eg. the Cobbold Commission headed by Lord Cobbold) and was chosen to be a product name among others!” We replied as follows:

“Your explanation of the name Cobbold was excellent. The justification for its use is even better than you realize. Lord Cobbold who headed up the Cobbold Commission was also Governor of the Bank of England and his son started the tradition of Rock Concerts at Knebworth which continues to this day. At a single stroke you have combined heritage and modernity!”

POEMS BY MRS ELIZABETH COBBOLD

We did not get it right under this heading last month. Apologies! We now think we have the full picture, so here it is:

There are in effect 3 editions to which we ascribe the names ‘Small Paper’; ‘Large Paper’ and ‘Illustrated’. ‘Small Paper’ measures 6½” x 4¼” and ‘Large Paper’ measures 8¼” x 5¼” and in every other respect they are identical even to the extent that they have been printed off the same plates. They were both offered by subscription and the subscribers’ list shows which size was selected by each subscriber.

The ‘Illustrated’ edition is much larger being 9½” x 6½” and having 383 pages, two portraits and a number of drawings, and we suspect was released somewhat later. The owner of a copy of this book should now be able to identify its edition from the above description.

Whilst on the topic of Mrs Cobbold’s poems we should point out an error which is common to all editions. On page 4 in the memoir it states that Mrs Cobbold’s mother’s maiden name was Waller. This is incorrect; it was Burchet.

A THOMAS WOLSEY STATUE FOR IPSWICH

Wolsey was a great statesman and churchman and Ipswich’s greatest son. He was an early and enthusiastic advocate of humane education and it is fitting indeed that a statue to commemorate him is stand on Curson Plain. The appeal is in full swing and if you wish to contribute (as the Trust has) please make your cheque payable to The Ipswich Town Trust and send it to Fifth Floor, Grafton House, Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE. All donations are being personally acknowledged by the Chairman of Patrons: Dr John Blatchly.

POEMS BY MRS ELIZABETH COBBOLD

This book, published by J Raw of Ipswich in 1825, the year after her death, is quite well known to family members. What may not be so well known is that there were two editions. They have become known as 1st and 2nd though they were probably published at the same time. Her son, Richard seems to have been the driving force behind the publication.

The 1st edition was offered as ‘small papers’ and measured 6½” x 4¼” and included a list of 148 subscribers but contained no frontispiece portraits or drawings. The 2nd edition measured 9½” x 6½”, (‘large papers’) included a dedication to John Cobbold as well as the drawings and two frontispiece portraits

Up to page 192 both editions are virtually the same, but there the 1st finishes whilst the 2nd goes on to 383, the pages devoted to drawings not being numbered. The drawings themselves are worthy of more research on which we will report upon completion.

The Trust has just received a first edition (which surfaced in California) and the Cobbolds on the subscription list are as follows:

Cobbold, John, Esq. Holy Wells, Ipswich
Cobbold, John, Jun. Esq. Cliff, 2 copies
Cobbold, Mrs. Cliff
Cobbold, R.K. Esq. Eye
Cobbold, Rev. Richard, Ipswich
Cobbold, Mr. J.C. ditto
Cobbold, Mr. Thomas, Cotton, Norfolk
Cobbold, Miss H. Ipswich
Cobbold, Mrs. Savage, ditto
Cobbold, Mrs. William, Colchester.

END OF TERM REPORT

Naturally we are too modest to blow our own trumpet but the figures for ‘unique visits’ to our website have grown rather impressively. During 5 months in 2007 we averaged 1346 visits per month. For the same 5 months in 2009 our average rose to 10,331, an increase of 7½ times!

Last month we were welcomed into the top 100 not-for-profit genealogy websites by myheritage.com the global genealogy and family history website, and now display a badge to prove it! We are commended for frequent updating, high quality content, for offering something a bit different and for being extremely well designed (thank you Richard Henderson)

We do get a number of favourable comments (only one person has told us our site was rubbish) and we do seek to continuously improve it. Our citation reads:

15 generations of Cobbolds and who they married. Four and a half thousand names on an interactive family tree. A quite extraordinary family born in Suffolk flourishes world-wide.

Regular visitors will be pleased to know that last month we also turned down offers of paid advertising for gambling and speed-dating!

Cobbold’s Tales - A Musical - is back by popular demand!

Sadly this news arrived too late for inclusion last month and the event is almost upon us. Last performed in 2003 the synopsis is: “In 1828 the Reverend Richard Cobbold and his wife arrive in Wortham. They are despondent to have to left their cultural life in Ipswich and the poverty-stricken villagers resent them. Cobbold turns to his painting and writing for comfort, using the village and its inhabitants as subject matter. As time goes on, he creates an extraordinary record that describes the many dramatic and poingnant events in which he plays a major part and tells how he finally wins his way into everyone’s heart”.

Felix Thornley Cobbold’s long awaited and well deserved Blue Plaque has now been fixed in a prominent position on the Reg Driver Centre in Christchurch Park. See Feature May 2010