Chase School Pupils in the 1890’s

Contributor: Libby Birts.

My father, Charles Clutsom*, is on the front row 3 in from the left as you are looking at it. His sister, Ethel Clutsom, is in the second row 2 in from the right.
I am trying to research my father’s childhood. His father was a head gardener most of his working life and mainly worked on big country estates. I assume there was an estate in or near Tidenham.
My father was in his sixties when I was born, hence the date anomaly!!
I would be very interested in any information you might have relating to that time in Tidenham.
The family moved from Tidenham to Norfolk in the 1890’s when my grandfather took up the position of Head gardener at Taverham Hall. Such a big move – I would love to know how that came about!

Libby Birts

*Charles Clutsom was born in 1886 in Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire, Wales.
**In the 1891 Census Charles was aged 5 living with his family at The Chase, Tidenham, Chepstow, Gloucestershire.
His sister Edith E. Clutsom was aged 2 and recorded as being born at Tidenham.
Another sister Ethel was aged 6. This will date the photo to approx .1895?
The head of the household in 1891 was John Clutsom aged 30
Pricinpal nearby houses listed in the Gazetteer of England and Wales from 1895 are listed as Tidenham House, Tutshill House and Sedbury Park.
Source: FindMyPast.

*Comparison with other photos of the features of the Chase School building on this web site does give a good match with this image.
**Looking at the image of the original Census record, their home looks to be near Dennil Hill.

A nearby resident Thomas Brett Cowburn had several servants and was ‘living on own means’ – so may well have also had a gardener. He died in 1892.
In the 1881 Census he was listed as ‘Major & adjutant of volunteers (volunteers ? month rifles)’ and his residence as Dennil Hill HO, Tidenham.)

In the Monmouthshire Beacon of August 19 1893, J Clutsom is mentioned several times as gardener for Mrs Cowburn, Dennil Hill.