Charles F. Barnes
I first encountered Charlie Barnes in the pages of "Great Ryburgh", and whilst the complete history is available on this site, I reproduce the relevant chapter to introduce him to you:
An internet search has intermittently produced information and the first ports of call were the Census returns where we meet John and Mary Baker in 1881. They were then living in a caravan not far from the Manor House, near to the school and described as a Hawker and wife. This must have been a reasonable sort of caravan as besides the Bakers it also provided accommodation for Sarah Wilkinson, a general servant and two boarders John Ashley and Thomas Sprags, described as Hawker's Assistants.
By 1891 Mary Ann, aged 54, has been widowed and she is now described as a Propr. of Roundabouts. John Ashley is still lodging with her and she has but one assistant 19 year old, Ryburgh born Julia Amelia Hannent who we later find married to William Albert Nelson at St Andrew's on 18th November 1893.
The next appearance of "Ma. Baker" turned up when a cottage in Station Road was being renovated. As an oven in the old fireplace was being opened up, a small container with a piece of paper was discovered:
It would seem to read:
Nov. 15.1895. This was put in here by John Curson's Mistress (.) Charles Barns. Land Lady Widdow Baker/ Pony Circus Proprietor.
This places the household precisely at what is now 25 Station Road
The next question was to find out where Charles had come from and again the Census tells a lot, but since Charles was never living with the family at any of the Census return dates, it was at first all a bit hazy. His parents Christopher Barnes and Emma Sly were "Travelling Hawkers" who in 1881 were living in Docking with three children, in 1891 they were in Horsford "Travellers with Vans" and with seven children, the youngest two being Susannah and John.
Charles' date of birth varies with each census between 1872 and 1875 but 1874 coincides with an Erpingham Disrict birth registration in the 3rd quarter of 1874. Holt is in this district. In 1881 he is marked as a "visitor" at the house of his Uncle Charles Jex and Aunt Georgina Sly in Little Bull Street in Holt the same town where he, like his mother and two of his siblings had been born. His 72 year old grandmother Ann Sly was also living there. Ten years later 17 year old Charles is a showman's assistant with William Cheeseman and his family in Fincham. Cheeseman was a name recalled by Hugh Tatham in connection with Ryburgh Fairs and we must assume this is what brought him to Ryburgh at some point between 1891 and 1895 when he is lodging with Mary Ann Baker.
Two years later, in the second quarter of 1897 Charles Barnes aged around 25 married 59 year old widow, Mary Ann Baker and I assumed had continued in the showman/amusement business until Mary's death. That however turns out to be not quite the case. Nevertheless, Mary Ann Barnes was buried at Ryburgh on October 16th 1919.
Peace
In
loving
memory of
Mary Ann BARNES
the beloved wife of the late
John Baker
who departed this life
October 14th 1919
aged 83 years
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
By 1901 the business was clearly growing and the household had grown to include Charles' brother John aged 14............" steam organ engine ---------" and sister, 13 year old Susannah................"sweets and coconut stall attendant", Eliza Rush, as servant and "Shooting Gallery attendant" plus two lodgers working at the maltings as labourers.
The British Newspaper Archive comes to the rescue once again providing much information of his traveller-showman career:
Eastern Evening News:- April 2nd. 1904:
The Era:- February 1906:
Norfolk Chronicle:- Saturday 11th November 1905:
Norfolk News:-Saturday May 5th. 1906:
Music Hall and Theatre Review: - 30th. August and 6th. September 1907:
Norfolk Chronicle:- Saturday May 9th. and in this expanded version from The World's Fair May 16th. 1908:
The World's Fair goes on to illuminate his career through report and advertisement:
Saturday 01 February 1908
FOR Sale, 1 Petrol Motor Car to carry six, nearly new; 2 large Trumpet Organs, 1 Road Packing Truck, 1 Warwick Bioscope, nearly 3,000ft. Films, 2 Bass Drums, 2 Side Drums, 6 Bottom Shutters for centre, new; 1 Ice-cream Stall, twisted brass rods, Freezer and Tubs complete, several Sets of good Rounding Boards, about 30 Wood Horses, good Organ Engine and Boiler. Would Sell or Exchange for anything useful in travellers' goods. One Electric Motor, Resistant Frame, and Switch: suit large organ. Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh. Norfolk.
Saturday 20 June 1908
FOR Sale, a Juvenile Roundabout, consisting of 5 carriages holding, 4 children
each; was new up first time this Easter: everything complete for £10 cash.
Reason for selling: Too many things.
Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh. Norfolk.
Saturday 05 September 1908
FOR sale, a nearly new, handsomely-carved Set of
Rounding Boards, 2ft. deep, 6ft. long; cost £24, sell for £5 cash.
Apply C. Barnes, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 29 May 1909
WANTED To Buy for cash, suitable for a new novelty just coming out, I want a 35-key Paper Organ with plenty of Paper; in good order. Send lowest price and all particulars in first letter.
Address—C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 31 July 1909
FOR Sale, a good Piano Barrell Organ, ten tunes; just been thoroughly overhauled;
price £5. Apply—C. Barnes, Steam Circus, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 28 August 1909
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR.
FIRST WEDNESDAY IN SEPT.
Ground To Let for anything. No one Barred! For particulars apply to Sole Lessee:
C. BARNES, RYBURGH NORFOLK
Saturday 08 January 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, the well-known Norfolk Roundabout Proprietor is progressing as favourably as can be expected after his recent severe operation which was performed at his Ryburgh residence by the two Fakenham doctors (Messrs. Fisher and Palin), who state that he will not be able to resume his usual occupation for some time.
Tuesday 15 March 1910
Sales by ROBERT W. BELL.
TO-MORROW.
GREAT RYBURGH.
Opposite the School.
TO SHOWMEN, CARTERS, AND OTHERS.
ROBERT W BELL is favoured with instructions from Mr. Chas. Barnes to Sell by Auction.
on WEDNESDAY. MARCH 16th. 1910,
BROWN MARE. quiet and good worker. BAY MARE. BLACK PONY, 12hh. excellent. Lorry. to carry 30 cwt. ditto to carry a ton, Butchers Trace Cart, Cob-size Gig also Norwich Car. Small Governess Car. Large (Power) Corn Mill. Set of Roundabouts for 20 persons. New Chip Potato Saloon. 3 Wagons suitable for Fowls houses, Wood Horses, 2 Piano Organs 2 Gents’ Cycles. Wood. Old Iron, and other Effects.
Sale to commence at 2 o'clock Auctioneer's Offices-Fakenham, King's Lynn and Hunstanton
Saturday 20 August 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, steam circus proprietor, Ryburgh, Norfolk, attended the Barwick Park Flower Show on Friday last. The living van was paid a visit by some light-fingered gentry, and a bag of money, nearly the whole proceeds of the summer's work, has disappeared, and no clue has as yet been obtained. The matter is in the hands of the police.
Saturday 20 August 1910
GROUND TO LET
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
the First Wednesday in September.
Room for Everyone No one Barred.
One Hundred Acres like a Bowling Green.
For further particulars apply to the lessee,
C. BARNES, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 03 September 1910
Miscellaneous Wants
NOTICE to Showmen, Machine Men, and all Others who have any Brass or Metal to Polish. your whole Machine can be polished in half-an-hour Fair Morning to look like new by RADIO, the New Polish. No Paste to buy. For particulars apply to C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk Stamp for reply. No machine man has ever seen or used the like before - it's marvellous - no labour required.
Saturday 22 October 1910
Mr. C. Barnes, steam circus proprietor, Great Ryburgh, Norfolk, having finished touring for the season was helping his men to unpack his roundabout waggons when, for some unaccountable reason he slipped and fell, breaking his right leg in two places. Drs. Fisher and Palin, who attended him in his recent operation, were quickly in attendance, luckily being in the town at the time. The patient is progressing as favourably as can be expected.
Saturday 24 December 1910
Mr. Charles Barnes, of Ryburgh, who had the misfortune to break his right leg in two places on the 18th of October, is now getting on the way to recovery, having had other serious complications during the time, pleurisy, appendicitis and stoppage of the blood vessels, wishes to thank all for their kind inquiries. His doctor says he may get up for Christmas, but it will be some weeks yet before he will be able to do any hard work.
Saturday 22 July 1911
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
the First Wednesday in September.
GROUND TO LET
for anything.
NOTE.—No Ground will be Reserved for
anyone unless a Deposit is sent with the application.
Apply Sole Lessee, C. BARNES, Ryburgh Norfolk.
Saturday 12 August 1911
WANTED to Buy, second hand Music for 87-key Gavioli Organ "God Save the King." --C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk
Saturday 29 June 1912
FOR Sale, Showman's Big Drums, nearly new; set of 16 set of 16 Rounding Boards, several Organ Engines, small Cinema Machine Projector, set of 6 Swings (juveniles),
or would exchange for films.—Address: C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 06 July 1912
FOR Sale, one set of Juvenile Swings (six boats), for £6. Also other useful Showmen's Goods cheap, having received notice to quit our present premises, must clear out. —
Address for particulars, C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 03 August 1912
WANTED, a Centre-engine Driver for Switchback Gondolas. Sober, Steady, Reliable: one that can take full control when the proprietor is (often) away on other business. State full particulars, wages, &c in first letter. Three days' silence polite negative.
Address C. Barnes, Switchback Owner, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 26 October 1912
The death took place on Sunday last, at Docking of Mr. George Barnes, after a short illness. The deceased was a brother of Charles Barnes, switchback proprietor, of Gt. Ryburgh, and was in his employ as centre driver. He leaves a widow and three children to mourn his loss.
Saturday 08 March 1913
WANTED, a real, live, honest sober Centre Driver for a Switchback
Single. Apply by letter, C. Barnes, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 24 May 1913
WANTED, & Centre Driver for Switchback, first-class machine, single man, honest and sober; send full particulars in first letter; new machine, ready middle June ; silence polite negative.-
Address: C. Barnes, Switchback, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Saturday 24 May 1913
MR. Charles Barnes wishes to thank the person who so kindly oiled his Dynamo Belt at Yarmouth Easter Fair, and if he would send his present address to Ryburgh he would be suitably rewarded.
Saturday 09 August 1913
FIRES IN SHOWLAND.
Anyone sending a penny stamp for reply,
CHARLIE BARNES of Gt. Ryburgh, will be pleased to give any Brother Traveller Information how and where to get their goods insured against Fire
Saturday 16 August 1913
GROUND TO LET
- AT -
HEMPTON GREEN FAIR,
First Wednesday in September.
NOTICE.—All old and new tenants requiring ground must send deposit and space required before September 2nd. Address all letters to the Lessee— C. BARNES, Ryburgh, Norfolk.
Briefly returning to the pages from F.H.Tatham's "History" at the top of this page we read: "About 1910 or 1911 the "fair" boys and Ryburgh lads had a free fight on Rush's meadow, and so Rush would not let the "Gant" people on the meadow again." When we read the following, one can speculate whether this was actually a copycat riotous event or perhaps this was just a preventative measure on Fred Rush's part having heard of the trouble in Suffolk?
THE MORNING LEADER. LONDON. Saturday. 28th October 1911
FATAL FREE FIGHT.
ACCUSED SHOWPEOPLE FOUND NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.
At the Suffolk Assizes yesterday Robert John Gray, showman, Mrs. Lavinia Wheatley, and Samuel Minto, showman, were acquitted of the charge of murdering Samuei Davey at Walsham-le-Willows. Gray was found guilty of unlawful wounding, and sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The two other prisoners were discharged. The trial was a sequel to a free fight be tween the showpeople and villagers of Walsham-le-Willows. The prisoners visited the village in connection with the Oddfellows' Fete and Gala held on 3 July. Shortly before midnight there was a disturbance which arose through a dispute with a showman who was collecting money on the roundabouts. The dispute culminated in the showman taking off his coat and threatening to fight. This was the signal for a general disturbance, which developed into a free fight. There were about 100 villagers, and they adopted a very menacing attitude towards the 30 or 40 showpeople, who defended themselves with wood, brass, and iron. Gray, Wheatley, and Minto disappeared behind the shooting galleries, and afterwards appeared armed with rifles, which all three were seen to use. Among those shot was the man Davey. A bullet hit him in the thigh, and afterwards glanced into the body, causing injuries of which he died in Norwich Hospital. The defence alleged that the crowd were very menacing, and threatened to burn the showpeople's Vans. Gray said he picked up the rifle and fired it over the heads of the crowd to frighten them. The other two prisoners denied using rifles. After a consultation between the judge and the counsel for the defence Gray pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and the other two prisoners not guilty.
Saturday 04 November 1911
MR. R. J. GRAY
AND MRS. WHEATLEY'S
THANKS TO OUR READERS.
In a letter to Mr. Jack Barron, who has been of great assistance in the recent case, Mr. Gray wishes him to convey to all travellers his gratitude to them for their great help and assistance to him in his trouble. On behalf of Mrs. Gray and himself, he thanks all travellers for their timely and generous help, and adds a word of gratitude to the editor of the World’s Fair for the publicity given to the case. Mrs. Wheatley, in a letter to us, writes wishing to thank every traveller, through the World’s Fair, for their great kindness, help, and sympathy. Äfter being in prison four months and four days her innocence was proved. She wishes especially to thank the following :—Mr. C. Thurston. Mr. J. Barker, Mr. T. Wortley, Mrs. H. W. Lutering, Mr.. J. Crighton, Mr. A. Crighton, Mr. J. Dutton (Castle Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds), and F. Mellor.
Earlier in the year, Charles was one of the contributors to and promoter of the "Defence Fund"
Saturday, July 22nd, 1911.
Mr. C. Barnes writes :—
I bave read with interest Mr. Thurston's letter, and I think that all travellers might help a little towards the defence. Please accept the enclosed P.O. for 10s. from Charles Barnes and 2s. 6d. from Ted Thompson, both of Ryburgh in aid of the defence fund.
£ s. d.
C. Barnes, 0 10 0
Ted Thompson. 0 2 6
The research got really exciting as I came by 2 photographs, both copies of originals, in quite close succession. They depict C. F. Barnes' Showman's Engine, "Royal Hunter". In one of the photos, seated at the controls might be Charlie Barnes together with his little brother John, or perhaps another brother William? The other is dated 1904 and the Royal Hunter is being dug out of the sand at the Burnham Overy Regatta Fair.
Charles is possibly on this one too, 3rd from the left.
Clearly, this was not an insignificant operation and I set about searching various sources of showground history and came across the following at the National Fairground Archive: I have received permission to publish a thumbnail of the photos here, but there is no permission to reproduce them further as the licensing of these images is the only way that the Archive is funded. Click on the links to take you direct to the Archive where you can view them at a reasonable size:
“Reproduced with permission of the University of Sheffield”
Charles Barnes' Motor Switchback Ride1908
“Reproduced with permission of the University of Sheffield”
The 1911 census shows that the business has now extended into contract carting. There are still two boarders, one of whom works in the business and now two domestic servants, Eliza Rush still being with them and another, Sarah of the same surname. It is not clear what the connection is between these two women and the Frederick Rush and family who kept the Boar just a few houses along, from 1881 -1912, certainly Census birthplaces do not connect them without further investigation.
The year 1911 has produced another link with Charlie Barnes in the form of the postcard below. It is the message on the reverse of this and the addressee rather than the image that is of interest. It was sent from Yarmouth by CB to a neighbour opposite. The house being at the end of the pathway leading to the cottages behind the school, the same place that the shooting gallery was set up during the village fairs:
It is thought that "Wissie Nelson" may have been Amy Emmeline (Molly) Nelson younger daughter of George Nelson and Clara Fox and who would have been aged 7 when this card was sent. A comparison of the handwriting on the card with the handwriting of Charles Barnes on the 1911 Census return seems quite a convincing case for this CB being Charlie Barnes.
In August 1914,The World's Fair again provides the information for the next page of Charles' life history:
In August 1914, Charles Frederick Barnes decided to sell up the showman's side of the business. Marriage to widowed boss, Mary Ann Baker being the means by which he had a business to sell. Charles Barnes is listed on the Roll of Honour in St Andrew's but he is not identified with any regiment and consequently very difficult to trace. Though he was in his early 40's , he quite possibly joined up to fight ,but I have found no definitive proof. A "hunch" that he might be a Packing and Loading Private T4/ 216823 Charles F Barnes of the Royal Army Service Corps would have put his travelling showman’s skills to good use? But there is no proof, unless of course that his British War and Victory Medals are still held the in family? Suffice it to say, at the moment we have lost all trace of him in Ryburgh by 1914......but he does appear in Brancaster!
At the point I thought we'd drawn a blank, I chanced upon Jenny, Australian author of an Ancestry Public Member Tree. Much of the following is thanks to her research and a willingness to share copies of marriage and death certificates, for which I am most grateful:
Two years earlier in Brancaster on May 4th. 1912, 86 year old widower, Elijah Sutherland (of independent means) married his 29 year old housekeeper, Rose Loose.
On 9th Feb 1914, Rose gave birth to a son Herbert Elijah and on August 11th. his father Elijah died leaving an estate of £30,428-0/-5d. Probate was granted to widow Rose and Herbert Stanley Duffield, Grocer.
There is a lengthy report in several local newspapers in 1916 of a court case of a claim for damages by a tenant of the Sutherland estate against Elijah's executors and Rose in her own right . Herbert Duffield did not appear, but Charles Barnes turns up as a witness. We learn from this that he had been employed by Elijah, and was now confidant and advisor to widow Rose. He appears to have carried out substandard building work to estate property that was a subject of the claim by a Mrs Wright whose husband had previously carried out estate work. The judgement was against Rose Sutherland, although for a reduced amount from the original claim and gave rise to this closing paragraph which had been headlined thus:
CURIOUS ACTION OVER A TENANTS AGREEMENT. STARTLING SCENE IN COURT
“Before his Honour had left the Bench there was a very painful scene in Court, caused by Mrs Sutherland, the defendant, who during the hearing of the case had been seated in Court close to the plaintiff and her witnesses. When his Honour informed Mr Rentoul the question for the Court was “how much” she began a running fire of comment at the expense of the plaintiff, which increased in violence. Mr Leonard Hill who had been instructing her counsel left his place at the solicitor’s table in an endeavour to quieten her, but she refused to modify her attitude and stood up in court gesticulating. Judgement had been given when a scuffle ensued. Mrs Sutherland appeared to be about to attack the plaintiff and her witnesses but her solicitor noticing her menacing attitude stepped between her and Mrs Wright and prevented actual violence by grasping her firmly by the arms. Mrs Sutherland struggled to free herself swaying to and fro. The Judge intervened with the remark, sternly expressed,; "Give that woman into custody it she can’t behave herself" Thereupon Mr. Barnes jumped forward, and.catching Mrs. Sutherland round the waist carried her, with assistance, from the Courtroom.”
Fast forward to Nottingham in March 1918 and the registration of the birth of a son, Derrick Sutherland Barnes to "Rose Barnes , late Sutherland ,formerly Loose. Father Charles Barnes, Retired Bricklayer" Not withstanding the fact that they were not married and Mary Ann Barnes, then 82,was still alive, it seems increasingly unlikely that Charles had also been serving King and Country during the War years.
The 1921 Census makes all clear and finds Charles Frederick Barnes Sutherland , together with now wife Rose ( as of March 1920 when takes on the extra surname) and two sons living in Southend at the Kursaal Ground and is described as an "amusement caterer".
For those not in the know, the Kursaal Ground was home to Southend's celebrated amusement park that operated in various guises from the late 1880's until the 1960's.
In this new persona Charles Barnes had acknowledged all the children by the propriety of name changes and additions. However, examination of the 1921 Census entry for Herbert Elijah Sutherland shows an intriguing alteration:
Herbert died on Active Service in the Middle East in 1943 and is buried in the Beirut 1939-45 War Cemetery. Rose also erected a memorial stone at Brancaster where his name is also on the War Memorial.
Derrick Sutherland Barnes born in Nottingham on March 14th 1918.
Betty Rose Barnes Sutherland was born in 1924, the birth being registered at Rochford, Essex.
She married in 1946 in Fakenham and lived in North Lynn at the time of her mother Rose's death.
With her legacy, Rose had the business of the Brancaster Estate to manage and can be seen in the local press to be quite an influential and forceful presence in Brancaster. She not only bought and sold property, but also purchased for £6250, the title that made her Lady of the Manor of Brancaster around 1922. With his newly acquired status in 1927 she gave the Royal West Norfolk Golf Club notice to quit the links that were upon her manorial lands!
Charles and Rose continued in the amusement business together after their marriage, both at the Kursaal Ground and the Fairground on Canvey Island. Press coverage of various events suggest that it was Rose, just as at home in Brancaster, who was the boss.
Fairgrounds then were not necessarily the safest of places, as this report of a tragic accident on one of their rides shows:
Essex Newsman -Saturday 14 August 1926:
FALL FROM CHAIR - PLANE
At an inquest at Rochford on Saturday on James John William O'Hara, 22, clerk, Westcroft Square, Hammersmith, who died in
Rochford Hospital following a fall from chair-plane at a fair at Canvey Island, Dr. Newey said deceased had a multiple fracture
of the lower jaw, a fracture of the upper jaw, and other injuries. An operation was performed, but he collapsed and died.
A post-mortem examination revealed a fracture of the base of the skull. Charles Mead, Wainfleet Street, Earlsfield, said he was
sitting quietly in one of the chairs of the chair-plane, and deceased was in the chair in front. All of a sudden, as they were going
round, deceased and the chair fell, together with one of the chains by which the chair had been suspended. Witness examined
the chain afterwards, and found that the hook which held it to a bar at the top had opened sufficiently to allow the hook to come
out of the hole. Mrs. Rose Sutherland, the proprietress of the chair-plane, broke down when called. She stated that her husband
examined the machine each day to see that everything was in order. Shown the hook, witness said a good deal of strain must
have been put on it. The Coroner said his verdict was that deceased died from shock following an operation rendered necessary
by the accident, and the accident was no doubt due to the hook being open. There was no evidence of such negligence as would
justify him in making any observation at all.
Fairgrounds were sometimes also the site of illicit gambling activity and Rose, in spite of being a Lady of the Manor, could still fall foul of the Law:
Chelmsford Chronicle - Friday 26 August 1927:
DETECTIVE & "THE WINNER'
Mrs. Rose Sutherland, of the Fair Ground, Canvey Island, pleaded guilty at Southend County Bench on Wednesday to
permitting gambling in the arcade. Mr. H. J. Jefferies prosecuted; Mr. T. Lamb defended. Mr. Jefferies said the Chief
Constable had received instructions from the Secretary of State to take proceedings where it was supposed that
automatic machines were illegal. Def. Joslin said that on June 6 he was with P.s. Marriage at the Fair Ground on
Canvey, and in the arcade saw a crowd of boys round an automatic machine called " The Winner." It was being used
by a boy in Scouts' uniform. The machine was worked by turning handle, and if a dial stopped at an arrow two pennies
were returned. The boy had sixpence originally, and then he won ninepence. After allowing a smaller boy to have a try,
the other boy had a go and lost his ninepence. Mr. Jeffcries : I think you were more fortunate?—Witness : Yes. I put in 3d.
and got 4d. The Chairman: And then did you stop? —Yes. (Laughter.) Mr. Lamb suggested the case was not a bad one.
Immediately his client knew was doing wrong she had the machine packed up and sent back to the firm who had supplied
it, and who had previously assured her that it was not a gambling machine. Mrs. Sutherland said she bought eight machines,
and asked the firm particularly that they should have no gambling element about them. Defendant was fined £3/3/-, with £1/13/3 costs.
The last mention of Charlie Barnes in the press in Norfolk that I have found shows Rose very much running the show:
Lynn Advertiser - Friday 14 March 1930
A BURNHAM CINEMA
William Loveday, of South Creake was sued by Rose Sutherland, wife of Charles Frederick Barnes Sutherland,
of Brancaster, who claimed possession of a public hall used as a cinema at Burnham Westgate, together with
£l3 13s. rent, or meane profits at 13s. a week from October, 1929, to March, 1930.—Defendant did not appear,
and his daughter told his Honour that her father's nerves were greatly upset as a result of a case at Hunstanton
the previous day.— Plaintiff's case, presented by Mr. T. H. T. Case (instructed by Messrs. Mills and Reeve) was
that a previous tenancy of the place by the defendant was terminated and then the cinema was re-let to the
defendant on a weekly tenancy. Ultimately in consequence of defendant's conduct of the cinema he was given
notice again, but failed to give up possession.—His Honour made an order for possession and for the amount claimed.
Her two sons were to assist her in both sides of her business for a time after Charles' death which was registered
in June 1932 in Romford Essex.
The Manor of Brancaster is now run by the National Trust but in Rose's time she had other ideas:
Lynn Advertiser - Friday 11 May 1934
BRANCASTER MANOR ESTATE.
TO LET. ALL THE FORESHORE from Brancaster Staithe to Brancaster, etc. SITES for Bathing-huts, Ice-cream. Fruit, Tea-rooms. etc. One site for automatics. Or would consider a tender for the whole from a reliable person or persons. Apply by letter, MRS. ROSE SUTHERLAND, Lady of the Manor. BRANCASTER Norfolk: or "Beth Shan". - Canvey Island. Essex .
Charles was buried at Brancaster and later joined by Rose who died on Feb.2nd 1962 in Norwich. On her death
certificate, Rose is described as the widow of Charles Frederick Barnes Sutherland, Motor Engineer.
Photograph and other images courtesy of Jenny, Australian author of an Ancestry Public Member Tree
Since discovering the photograph above I have had the opportunity to visit the cemetery at Brancaster and take my own photograph. It shows the grave alongside the memorial to Herbert Sutherland referred to in the text above. It is very noticeable that due to a build up lichens, dirt and other acretions, it is barely possible to read Charles and Rose's inscriptions:
There is probably still more to discover about.this man and if anyone can help fill in any of the missing bits, particularly his WW1 contribution, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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