Draper Family

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The Draper Family lived at ‘Sheepleaze’ on the cliffs above Worbarrow Bay

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Warwick Herbert Draper (1873-1926)

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Warwick lived at Bedford House, Chiswick. It was later home to Sir Michael Redgrave.

Warwick was a British barrister and self-taught draughtsman/artist. He used the pseudonym “Watchman.” Also notable for his sketches (made as a 17-year-old student) of the Eiffel Tower under construction.

Warwick married Grace Devitt (1874-1923) in July 1896.

Warwick and Grace had three children:

• Philip Draper (1902-1979)

• Christopher ‘Christo’ Draper (1905-?)

• Mary Grace Ritchie nee Draper (1907-1965)

Grace died on 3 May 1923. The stained glass window in Tyneham Church was dedicated in her memory.

Warwick died in 1926. At the time of the evacuation, Sheepleaze was held in the joint names of Philip and Mary.

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Philip Draper (1902-1979)

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Philip was born at Chiswick on 30 September 1902.

Philip attended King Alfred School, Hampstead from 1915 to 1919. He received private tuition from 1920 to 1921. He attended C. and G. (Engineering) College from 1921 to 1923. From 1923 to 1925 Philip was a Technical Apprentice at John I. Thornycroft and Co. Ltd. at Southampton. Philip later joined the Shell Oil Company.

Philip married Jane Esther Lawson (1904-1985) in 1929. They had two daughters.

Philip fought hard to regain Sheepleaze using a wide range of influential London friends. In the 1970’s he became a leading figure in the Tyneham Action Group‘s campaign to get the Army out of the Tyneham valley so that its former residents and families could have the option to return.

Philip later lived at Shipstal Cottage on the Arne peninsular. In 1961 he constructed a sea wall, groynes and a slipway there. Philip died in 1979.

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Christopher ‘Christo’ Draper (1905-?)

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Christo was the author of a number of children’s books.

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Mary Grace Ritchie nee Draper (1907–1965)

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Mary was born in 1907. She married structural engineer James Ritchie, known as Jim, in 1934.

Mary & Jim had a daughter Meg and a son John.

Mary & Jim were offered the Coastguard Cottages at Kimmeridge in the early 1950s, first as a holiday home, then for son John permanent till the 1970s.

Mary lived at Eyot Cottage, Chiswick Mall until 1965. She died on 9 April 1965 at Nuffield House, Guys Hospital, London Bridge.

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Page last updated: 3 July 2021