|
|
THE BRONTES OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE
?
The remarkable Gatty family of Ecclesfield
A VISITOR TO ECCLESFIELD VICARAGE in 1866, who did not know anything of the family living there, could be excused for thinking that he or she had stumbled on a writers' colony. The mother might have been observed editing contributions to a new children's magazine, Aunt Judy's Magazine, of which she was editor. The father might have been seen writing what he called a 'supplemental' chapter to a new edition of Joseph Hunter's History of Hallamshire. Their second eldest daughter, Juliana, still in her mid-twenties, may have been writing the latest instalment of her story Mrs Overtheway's Remembrances which she was to publish in her mother's magazine in the following year. At least another couple of daughters might have been seen checking proofs for the mother and the sons of the family might be in their rooms writing songs, poems and plays.
But these were not full-time writes but the vicar of an enormous parish, a vicar's wife, and sons and daughters, the latter in practical terms unpaid curates who carried out a diversity of parish tasks on behalf of their father.
The Gatty parents, came to Ecclesfield in September 1839. Alfred Gatty, with his new wife, Margaret, had come to a very large parish covering 50,000 acres or nearly 78 square miles. Gatty was succeeding his bride's uncle.
Alfred Gatty was born in London, the son of a solicitor, and educated at Charterhouse, Eton and Oxford. He was to remain vicar of Ecclesfield until his death in 1903 at the age of 89. He recorded details of his long incumbency at Ecclesfield in his A Life at One Living (1884). He is best known as the reviser and editor of the definitive editions (1869 and 1875) of Joseph Hunter's History of Hallamshire (first published m 1819).
Margaret Gatty was the daughter of the Rev. Alexander John Scott, Lord Nelson's chaplain at Trafalgar, and later vicar at Southminster in Essex and Catterick in the North Riding. Mrs Gatty, was multi-talented and had a much wider literary reputation than her husband. She was a landscape artist, an authority on sundials, an expert on seaweeds, but above all a writer for children in which capacity she had a world-wide reputation and readership. She is best known for her Parables from Nature and her editorship of Aunt Judy's Magazine (from 1866 until her death in 1873). She was compared in her lifetime to Hans Christian Andersen.
Dr and Mrs Gatty presided over a family of four sons and four daughters of rare talent. Two of the Gatty sons were knighted: Alfred Scott-Gatty (b.1847), who was also an accomplished composer, became Garter King of Arms at the College Arms and played a leading part in the organisation of King Edward VII's lying in state and funeral and King George V's coronation; and Stephen Herbert Gatty (b.1849) was a colonial high court judge serving in among other places the Leeward islands, Trinidad, the Straits Settlements and Gibraltar. Another son, Reginald, rector at Bradfield and then Hooton Roberts, was an outstanding amateur archaeologist and collector of old oak furniture and a fourth son, Charles, was an author, newspaper editor and museum curator.
But it was their second daughter, Juliana, who gained greatest renown. She had an even greater literary reputation as a children's writer than her mother. She wrote more than 100 stories, most of them first published in her mother's magazine, many of them inspired by the Ecclesfield countryside and its people. She published her first story in 1861 at the age of nineteen. In 1867 she married Captain (later Major and eventually Colonel) Alexander Ewing. In her lifetime, Juliana Ewing was compared to Lewis Carroll and Robert Louis Stevenson, was much admired by John Ruskin and Rudyard Kipling, and her books were printed by the tens of thousands. Baden Powell took the name 'Brownies' for the junior branch of the Girl Guides from the characters in one of her stories.
There are remarkable similarities between the backgrounds, interests and the talents of the Gattys and the Brontes. The Gattys deserve to be better known. We aim to redress the balance.
NEW BOOK
THE REMARKABLE GATTY FAMILY OF ECCLESFIELD
by Joan and Mel Jones
on behalf of Chapeltown & High Green Archive
Alfred and Margaret Gatty arrived in Ecclesfield in September 1839 where Alfred had been appointed vicar. Thus began a long association with the parish of Ecclesfield which lasted for more than 63 years and ended with Alfred's death in 1903. But the family influence extended far beyond the parish boundaries. Margaret became a children's author of the first rank and an impressive marine biologist. Alfred also became an author and editor of some renown, best known for his revised edition of Joseph Hunter's History of Hallamshire. The Gattys also raised a very talented family of four boys and four girls. Two of the sons, Alfred and Stephen, were knighted and one of the daughters, Juliana, became even more famous than her mother as a children's author. This copiously illustrated book tells the Gatty family story.
... Writing stories, poems, songs, carols, engaging in amateur theatrical gardening, botanising, sketching, learning their lessons, visiting the old and infirm, going to parties and dances, receiving distinguished visitors, and suffering from agonising toothache and suspected smallpox.
... Meet this busy Victorian vicar's family as the children grow up in a literary and artistic household nurtured by parents - ' the Governor' and 'dear old mum' - whose interests went beyond the confines of the vicarage and the parish to the publishing world of London; to the children in Great Ormond Street Hospital; and even to the home of Tennyson, the poet laureate. The children then embark on their equally interesting adult lives as professional writers and editors, clergyman, musical composer, herald, colonial judge, wives and mothers - all recorded in detail in diaries, letters, drawings, paintings, photographs and published work.
Full-colour covers; 96 pages of fascinating detail; copiously illustrated with 100 illustrations including family photographs and drawings and water-colours, many never previously published.
Green Tree Publications 2003. ISBN O 9521733 5 5. Price £8.95.
NEW by post from Chapeltown & High Green Archive, 4 Kirkstead Abbey Mews,
Thorpe Hesley, Rotherham, S61 2UZ.
Telephone 0114 - 2451235. Cheques payable to Chapeltown & High Green Archive.
