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The Knight Family lived at Museum Cottage from 1905 to 1918

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Fred Knight (1870-1946)

Fred was born at Winterborne St Martin, more commonly known as Martinstown, on 13 May 1870 and was baptised there on 6 November 1870. His parents were groom Thomas Knight (1831-1888) and Maria Knight nee Hawker (1831-1920) who lived at Ashton Farm Cottages. Fred had eight older siblings and two younger ones.

In April 1891 Fred aged 20 was shown as an agricultural labourer.

On 19 October 1896, Fred aged 26 married Annie Day at Corfe Castle. Fred’s occupation was shown as groom and gardener as too was his father’s. Annie was the daughter of clay miner James Day (1838-1896) and his Povington-born wife Rosanna Day nee Ridout (1840-1927). Although Annie’s age was shown in the register entry as 28 she was actually 30.

Fred and Annie had four children:

• Freda Irene Knight (1898-1996) – known as Irene
• Laurie Eileen Knight (1901-1982) – known as Eileen
• Vivian Arthur Knight (1904-1939)
• Frederick Cecil Knight (1908-1994)

In April 1901 Fred, Annie and Irene were living at Rowden Lodge in the Hartley area of Plymouth, Devon. Rowden was the home of Colonel Walter William Marriott Smith (1846-1944) who had connections to Winterborne St Martin. Fred was employed as groom and gardener. Their second daughter was born two months later.

Rowden later became a 22-bed women’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre known as Longreach but the charitable company running it went into voluntary administration in 2019. The original office/coach-house block has recently been converted to flats but the main house has now been demolished to make way for six new units. By 1904 the Marriott Smith family had moved to 4 Penlee Gardens, now one of Plymouth’s most exclusive streets.

By September 1904 Fred was a coachman at Devizes, Wiltshire living at Braeside Lodge. The family had now grown to five in number following the birth of son Vivian. Braeside House was home to elderly widow Mrs Caroline Kate Wynell-Mayow (c.1825-1912). It is now a licensed wedding venue and education centre.

Fred and family then came to Tyneham and took up residence in Museum Cottage. Fred was coachman for the Bond family for 14 years.

The 1911 census taken at Tyneham on 2 April showed Fred senior aged 40, Annie aged 45, Irene 12, Eileen 9, Vivian 7 and Fred junior aged 2.

The following year the children attending Tyneham School were photographed and three of the Knight siblings were captured on camera.

The last of the coachman to inhabit the Museum was Frederick Knight, its occupant for over fourteen years. He sadly brought the brougham and pair out for the last time om my wedding day, a month or so before the shadows of the first World War descended on the country.

Lilian Bond

In 1918 the family moved to Povington.

In June 1921 Fred senior 52, Annie 57, Vivian 17 and Fred junior 13 were living at 61 West Street, Wareham. Fred senior was a gardener working for Mr. Cottee, the auctioneer.

In September 1939 Fred and Annie were still at 61 West Street, Wareham. Irene and husband Thomas were living with them.

Fred senior died in June 1946 aged 76 and was buried at Wareham. His widow Annie died in September 1954 aged 89.

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Freda Irene Knight (1898-1996)

Freda, known as Irene, was born on 4 August 1898 at Winterborne St Martin (Martinstown). She was baptised there exactly one month later on 4 September 1898.

After leaving Tyneham School, Irene first worked in the Rectory at East Lulworth and later secured a job with ladies’ and gents’ outfitters Bussey & Son at 3 North Street, Wareham, cycling to and from Tyneham every day.

In June 1921 Irene was employed as a nurse for the Lockett family at 64 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London SW13.

Sometime between 1921 and 1930 Irene is understood to have married Thomas Chase.

From 1930 to 1936 Thomas and Irene were living at 89 Gunterstone Road, Fulham, London W14 along with two other families. They then moved to 34 Holland Villas Road, Kensington, London W14.

In 1939 Irene and Thomas were back in Dorset living with Fred and Annie at 61 West Street, Wareham.

Irene died in 1996 aged 98.

The elder girl has often spoken to me of her happy childhood memories, her consolation in the troubles of her later life.

Lilian Bond

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Laurie Eileen Knight (1901-1982)

Laurie, known as Eileen, was born on 17 June 1901 at Plymouth and baptised on 4 August 1901 at St Pancras, Pennycross.

After leaving Tyneham School, Eileen worked in the dairy at Tyneham Farm.

In June 1921 Eileen was a live-in servant for Wareham butchers Mrs. Mary Warren and son Ralph at 4 South Street, Wareham

Eileen married Maurice Stanley Chappell (1895-1950) in 1925. In September 1939 Maurice was employed as a slaughterman and they were living at The Square, Corfe Castle with son Ronald Stanley Frank Chappell (1926-2001).

Maurice died in 1950 and in 1951 Eileen married Philip Charles Chant (1907-1982) who was divorced from his first wife Marjorie Chant nee Platts (1908-2000). Eileen and Philip lived at 158 East Street, Corfe Castle. Philip died on 31 August 1982 aged 74 and Eileen died just over two months later on 6 November 1982 aged 80.

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Vivian Arthur Knight (1904-1939)

Vivian was born in January or February 1904 at Gussage All Saints. He was baptised at Devizes, Wiltshire on 4 September 1904.

Apparently Vivian had trouble with his lungs in early life and was only able to attend school part-time.

He attended Tyneham School but was nor present in 1912 when the whole school photograph was taken.

In June 1921, Vivian was a motor engineer working for Mr. Stroud at Northport, Wareham.

Vivian died on 8 September 1939 aged 35 and was buried at Wareham.

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Frederick Cecil Knight (1908-1994)

Fred was born on 8 June 1908 at Museum Cottage. Fred’s first real memory was the oak tree planted in 1911 to commemorate the coronation of King George V. Fred left Tyneham School in 1918 when the family moved to Povington and he then attended school at East Lulworth until 1920. His final two school years were at Wareham.

I don’t think I had any interest in school, I’d rather have been outside in the woods with the birds.

Fred Knight 1993

In 1933 Fred marred Ivy Adelaide Burgess (1908-1991). Ivy was born at Wareham on 27 September 1908 and baptised there on 31 January 1909. She was the daughter of blacksmith James Henry Burgess (1868-1939) and his wife Lily Burgess nee Skinner (1876-1959).

In September 1939 Fred and Ivy were living at Ivydene, West Walls, Wareham. Fred was a plumber & pipe fitter and in the Auxiliary Fire Service.

Fred retired in 1973.

Ivy died in 1991 aged 82 and her ashes were buried in Tyneham churchyard.

In 1999 Fred’s childhood memories of Tyneham were recorded in ‘The Rooks in the Elm Trees‘ by Jenny Elmes.

Fred died on 21 March 1994 aged aged 85. His ashes were buried in Tyneham churchyard.

Fred and Ivy had two sons. Younger son Ron sadly died in 2021 and his ashes are now understood to be buried at Tyneham.

Fred was a frequent visitor to Tyneham on Sunday afternoons back in the early 90’s. He used to turn up in his Austin 1100 and make his way down to the school where the range wardens had set up a chair near the fire for him (in winter we used to light it). He would sit and regale to visitors or anyone who would listen his memories of the village. If it was a quiet day he would come and plonk himself down in the duty warden’s Land Rover and have a pipe while chatting about days gone by. He was very excited when he told me about a book he was having written about his time in the village ! (Recorded and written by Jenny Elmes). RIP Fred.

Chris Strowbridge, Range Warden

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Page last updated: 6 September 2023