Billy at Hampton Court

Early in 1895, Billy was fortunate to get a job on the maintenance crew at Hampton Court Palace in Kingston, London. The job lasted for eight months, a comparatively long run for a journeyman painter at that time. He enjoyed the work and his surroundings at Hampton Court. Most of his work was in the ‘grace and favour’ apartments that made up a large part of the Palace complex. But he also worked on the main building from time to time. Billy took lodgings locally and got to know the surrounding communities of Kingston, Teddington and Richmond well. He made friends with his fellow painters and spent much of his free time in their company. He also met up with some of the servant girls working at the complex. The following year, Billy was taken on once more at the Court and worked there for another eight months. Billy maintained strong interest and affection for Hampton Court throughout his life. In his retirement and well into his eighties, he enjoyed giving presentations to community groups on the wonders of Hampton Court.

Monday 25th March 1895
Started off from Epsom in search of work this morning. Walked to Surbiton and tried there without success then on to Kingston-on-Thames. Promised a start there but went on to Hampton Court Palace to see Pictures etc. and found Jim Garman and Harry Farrant working there. They advised me to ask the Foreman for a start which I did and got on without any trouble. Spent the evening with them and took lodgings as Mrs Rogerson's, 8 Creek Cottages East Molesey.

 
Hampton Court Palace, 2008.
 

Tuesday 26th March 1895
Started at HC Palace [with] Joe Dorey & Co., Brentford, [working] with Harry Farrant in the apartment of the late Mrs Ward Hunt.[1] Think I shall like the show. The foreman (Phil Taylor) seems to be a decent chap[2], very different to the last one I had.
 

Friday 29th March 1895
Harry and I took away from our job to go to the Pavilion in the Home Park facing the river – just right to see craft going down for the race.
 
Saturday 30th March 1895
Paid up at 1 p.m., had dinner, cleaned up, and went off to see Boat Race. Walked through Bushey Park[3] to Teddington Station and booked to Mortlake. Arrived at the “Ship” to find it too crowded to see anything so ferried over to the meadows on the Chiswick side and from there had a splendid view. Oxford won by 2½ lengths, much less than was expected , but the race was nothing compared with the other sights. After it was over, walked to Kew Bridge, had tea, took tram to Richmond, had a walk through and then by Bus to Kingston. Stayed in and about the market till nearly 10 then took bus back to Hampton Court.
 
Monday 13th May 1895
Went to work in Lady Walpole’s apartments with Reuben Lowter.
 
Monday 27th May 1895
Finished at Lady Walpole’s and went with Alf Pierce to [work on] Whites. Tennis Court at Hampton Court Palace.
 
Tuesday 28th May 1895
Finished at Whites and started in the apartments of Princess Frederica of Hanover.

 
         Grace-and-Favour apartments at   Hampton Court.

Friday 31st May 1895
Helped Bill Rogerson varnish his staircase paper after tea, Still working with Alf Pierce in Princess’s apartment.
 
Saturday 1st June 1895 [A visit from Mother][4]
After dinner met Mother and Fred at station. Got them some dinner then took them through State Apartments and Gardens. Went to Kingston for tea. After a walk to Surbiton Prom and Canbury Gardens, took bus home and left Mother at Mrs Rogerson’s. Fred came back with me.

 
Canbury Gardens and bandstand, Richmond, 2009.

 
Sunday 2nd June 1895
Fred and I got up, had breakfast at Coffee Shop, called for Mother about 10.30 and walked through Home Park to Kingston. Took bus to Richmond via Ham and Petersham. Had dinner then tram to Kew Bridge. Had a stroll round the Green then to Kew Gardens. First time I was there. Fairly enjoyed it. Came back to Richmond for tea then to the Hill and Terrace Gardens. Very beautiful place, grand view. Took train to Teddington and through Bushey Park to Molesey Lock. Stayed there for a time, watching the boating, then took Mother “home” nearly tired out.

 
     Molesey Weir and Lock, reproduced from Billy’s copy of The Queen’s London, 1876, p. 231.


Whit Monday 3rd June 1895
Fred got up before me to go to Ditton Ferry. Afterwards called for Mum and walked over bridge to river bank. Sat on the grass watching the crowd. After dinner, saw Mum and Fred off at Thames Ditton Station then came back to Hampton Court. From there to Kingston Prom and back to Molesey to see the crush. Never saw so many people before. 40 Special[5] run to Hampton Court and nearly as many to Hampton. 58,000 paid for admission to Hurst Park Races and over 12,000 went through the Palace. Spent the evening at Lock.
 
Monday 17th June 1895
Went with Alf Pearce to a job at Barnshaw’s, Foreman Gardener, in the centre of Home Park
 
Sunday 23rd June 1895
In the morning Mr Pearce kindly took us over the Pavilion. Beautiful place, contains many fine pictures.
 
Tuesday 25th June 1895
Duc of Aosta married Princess Helene of Orleans[6] at St. Raphael’s Church (RC) Kingston. Very fashionable crowd there.
 
Wednesday 26th June 1895
Alf and I finished job at Barshaw’s today and started another at Clifford’s next door at Home Park.
 
Monday 8th July 1895
Alf Pearce and I working at Miss Mager’s. Tuesday, sent to Tennis Court[7] till dinner time and then to Pavilion.
 
Wednesday 24th July 1895
As we finished at Tennis Court yesterday, all were sent to Orangery. Alf Pierce, Bill Hall and I dropped in for the ceiling. Took us from 6 a.m. to 1 to distemper it.
 
Saturday 27th July 1895
Still at Orangery. Six chaps, including Jim and Harry got stopped today as work is getting scarcer here. Consider I’m very fortunate to be kept on.
 
Tuesday30th July 1895
Finished at Orangery. All went to work on windows of Great Hall (outside).
 
Wednesday 31st July 1895
This afternoon we were all caught “napping” by “Chart”. Fair capture, not one at work, ended by 3 (Joe Mosserop, C Wood and Reub Seuter) getting the sack straight away. Very narrow squeak for all of us. Phil[8] in a rare stew.
 
Thursday 1st August 1895
Started job at Bushey House this afternoon. Fine old house at present occupied by Le Duc de Nemeurs[9] who is allowing the inside to go to rack and ruin. Contains an enormous number of portraits of royalties, French etc.

 
Bushey House, Hampton Court.
 

Saturday 31st August 1895
Finished two sides of Bushey House and had to leave today on account of Monsieur Le Duc returning from France.
 
Monday 2nd September 1895
Started work about 11 at Fatham Lodge.
 
Monday 9th September 1895
[Still at] Fatham House. Phil gave me the hint to look out for another job today as they were about wound up, so decided to go to Yarmouth with Ted tomorrow.

• [1] Billy spent most of his time at Hampton Court decorating the ‘grace-and-favour’ apartments attached to the Palace..
• [2] Phil Taylor was to become a lifelong friend. Billy was to go into partnership with Phil’s son Ted just a few years later, a partnership that was to last until Billy’s retirement after WW2.
• [3] This seems to have been the common spelling for Bushy Park in the late 19th Century so we will stay with Billy’s spelling.
• [4] Billy’s Mother and his younger brother Fred took a few days holiday, caught the train up from Horsham, and rented a room close to Hampton Court so they could spend a little time with Billy.
• [5] This may mean 40 special buses or trains.
• [6] Princess Helene was daughter of the Comte de Paris and a direct descendant of Louise Philippe, King of France from 1830 to 1848. The Bourbon family had a number of residences in Richmond and Twickenham.
• [7] This, of course, is Henry VIII’s famous indoor tennis court at Hampton Court. Billy was painting it rather than playing on it!
• [8] Phil Taylor was Billy’s foreman and therefore responsible for the work of this group.
• [9] Louis Charles Philippe Raphael d'Orléans, duc de Nemours (October 25, 1814 – June 26, 1896) was the second son of the duc d'Orleans, afterwards King Louis-Philippe of France. He had lived at Bushey Park since 1866.
  
  
  
• Part 2: Billy at Hampton Court - 1896
  
  
  

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