General Chat

chuffed!).

Once upon a time there was a family story handed down that two sisters owned a hotel by the Thames, it was told that they were two 'Budd' sisters who never married and hence became known as the " two buds who never blossomed". An attempt was made back in the early 1900s to gain whatever was left in 'chancery' from a case involving the compulsory purchase of their hotel ( for local redevelopement)...nothing came of that.

But the story lingered that one sister wished to marry ''beneath her' (the waiter) and the other's fiance ( a sea captain) on hearing this took off in disgust ...they both remained single.

Today tracing my gt gt grandmother's name, just by chance I have found her sister Ms Budd, living with the two ladies (in fact named Kemp) , she was their niece it seems. and they are indeed hotel keepers of the aforesaid hotel, and later after that had been demolished, a licenced premises elsewhere. ( and that's still there! )

I am really pleased to have found more than a grain of truth in the old story :))

xx

And with it a good excuse to visit a lovely pub! Don't know where you live, Rose, or whether you ever go to the Records Office at Kew, but this could make a jolly little weekend away - start at the Records Office, pop into Kew Gardens and out onto the riverside where you will see the London Apprentice on the other bank. Sometimes in the summer there is a ferry running across. Then from there down to Hampton Court (where Harriet was born) and, having had a walk around the "village", visit the palace. Better still, do it all during Flower Show week and you can tick that box too!!! Really enjoyed your story.

I'm pleased for you Rose : ))

It's always wonderful to find the facts behind that sort of family tale......good for you xx

I have just spent 4 hours looking for my gt gt grandmother's baptism details... I have found her two brothers, and her mother's burial details, which is good... but I am intrigued to know how she managed to get her middle name... it wasn't given her at birth, but there it is loud and proud on her wedding and death certificates, lol

I am so pleased for you.... I love a little bit of family fable turning into reality!

Love

Daff xxxx

I don't live near, Aveyronnaise, but I will definitely have to take a trip down there later this year :) various branches of the family all from the same area so will need a few days and lots of note books lol

Thanks Amanda, it was pure luck that in looking for Ms Budd after her father died she turned up with her mother's family , and that name I only found today :)

xx

Thanks Daff :)) hope you find an answer also

xx

If I were still there I would offer to show you around! We lived in Richmond until last year when we moved to France. Hope you have a wonderful time - the Records Office alone could last you a good few days!

Well done with your find RR - we go to Kew Gardens occasionally easy to get to from here but have not yet ventured to the Records Office - so we could maybe meet up again down south!

There will be plenty of 'buds in the spring' ! Tra-la!

J*

I lived 5 mins from Kew Gardens for the first 3 years of marriage and used to take my baby daughter into Kew Gardens regularly and it cost me 1p entrance fee. How times have changed!

Wish I'd been doing my tree then, with the Records Office within walking distance!

Enjoyed your story too, Rosebud x

Just come across this , which i think might well be reference to the father of the two Kemp sisters mentioned :))

"IT is scarcely necessary to inform any person acquainted with the localities of Teddington lock, that the above named view is sketched from Nature. The figures in the nearest punt are portraits.

The gentleman wearing the travelling cap, who has a bite, is an angler well known at Teddington for his skill in barbel fishing, and to the Hampton Court coachmen from the numerous baskets of fish which he sends to London during the season as presents to his "friends", — who never fail to thank him openly for his dish of "delightful barbel", and to rate him soundly behind his back for putting them to the expence of carriage for "a parcel of good-for-nothing fish that are not even fit to give to the cats".

The fisherman who holds the landing net ready to introduce the "bearded gentleman" to the company in the punt, is old Kemp, "a very nice man for a small angling party", and as decent a fellow to hire a punt of as any in Teddington."

from

http://thames.me.uk/s00330.htm

which is a great mine of info, stories and photo's.

~~~~WAVES

IT WAS GOOD TO MEET YOU ROSE XX

ooh yes please Mac that would be lovely :))

xx

Great story/find Rose. Don't you just love it when the jigsaw starts to fit? :-)