The War Years: Episode Zero (Context)

In the Shadow of the Abbey

The War Years episodes are part of the series In The Shadow of the Abbey, telling the stories of the Bisham Estate . They recount life in Bisham Village in the difficult aftermath of WWI (1918 – 1924). They are based mainly on the delightful Bisham Parish reports which were published in May each year covering all aspects of village life over the previous 12 months, including Bisham Primary school, the Institute, the Church and the gentry. The reports were written by the Revd William Farrer, the much loved vicar of All Saints Bisham. This was a time when there was no state support for those in need and villagers were called to account for their absence from church on Sunday, by the Lady of the Manor on Monday.

Reverend William Farrer was born in Marylebone in 1851, he married Edith Sophia Marson, also from Marylebone in the summer of 1880 in London and in 1883 they had a son, Harold Marson. At that time, being a clergyman was regarded as a very respectable profession.

The right to appoint a vicar to the living of Bisham, the advowson, lay with The Lord of the Manor, Sir Henry Vansittart Neale. Revd Farrer was appointed in 1899, he had a family connection, being related to Sir Henry’s mother which may have helped him secure the position. He had also been the curate of the parish in 1875-77. Bisham Vicarage is a large traditional brick Victorian house on the banks of the Thames next to the Church of All Saints Bisham, the Primary school, and just a short walk across the lawns to the Abbey itself where Sir Henry and Lady Mary lived. Revd Farrer and his family stayed in Bisham Vicarage for 35 years. (Revd Farrer is voiced by Nigel Greenwich.)

Sir Henry inherited the Bisham Estate in 1892 from his father Edward Vansittart Neale who was considered the father of the co-operative movement. Edward had started to sell off parts of the estate as soon as he inherited it in 1885. However he also made improvements to the village housing and founded the Bisham Village Institute. Sir Henry was a popular squire, he married Florence Eddis in 1887, became chief clerk at the Admiralty and was knighted in 1902. Find out more about them in the History of the Abbey section. Extracts from Lady Florence Vansittart Neale’s diary (voiced by Shirley Jenkins Pandya) and other documents add to the story.

The War Years series was devised, researched and written by Sheila Featherstone Clark. Thank you to everyone who has shared memories and documents with me and encouraged and helped me make this happen, you know who you are. I hope you enjoy the result.

The backing music is Shine by Herb Wiedoeft and the Cinderella Roof Orchestra from 1923 from Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Brunswick matrix 11192-11195. Shine / Cinderella Roof Orchestra ; Herb Wiedoeft," accessed November 12, 2020, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.php/matrix/detail/2000246833/11192-11195-Shine.