Though not a building of great architectural merit. Mount Albion House has a history of considerable interest spanning almost two hundred years.It was built in 1798 by a local miller, John Marshall, whose mill stood a little way from the house, at what is now the top of Albion Road. For the first load of wheat purchased from a Mr Blackburn of St Peter's, the owners paid nearly 120 guineas (£126). But the price left so little profit margin after its manufacture into flour that they decided to pull the mill down in 1810. It was re-erected on the West Cliff and it is very likely that the mill which stood in Grange Road until 1930 was the one removed. The site is now called Windmill Parade.
This is a from series of local history articles written by Don Long who died recently I shall be putting up more, to celebrate the memory of this well known Ramsgate historian.
Re: Gibson v D'Este
ReplyDeleteThe Liberty way that Donald Long mentions was along side what is now Victoria Road, being between Victoria Road and Mount Albion House. This was the 'Liberty way' which was the boundary between Ramsgate and St Lawrence.
When she lived there, Lady Augusta didn't like the right of way running right in front of her house. She therefore came to an agreement with the two parishes to pay an annual rent of five shillings (split equally between the two parishes) in return for being 'allowed' to stop up the path running through her land. The closure wasn't by right, but by permission, and it gave the parishes the power to demand this to be reopened on seven days notice if so required.
After her death, her daughter Augusta Emma D'Este, arranged for the estate to be broken up into parcels of land for building.
Mount Albion House and some surrounding lands were purchased in 1838 by Magnus Gibson. In May 1839 Gibson received a demand for one of the payments of 2s 6d. He received another demand for 2s 6d in January 1840. He refused to pay either of these .... which led to a dispute between him and the parishes about their right to pass over the liberty way (and hence through his land).
Victoria Road should *probably* have ended up being layed out on the line of the Liberty Way - but instead apparently ended up a few feet to the south west. With the liberty way probably running along Gibson's property boundary being partly on his land and partly on Victoria Road.
Gibson wanted to revoke the contract of Mount Albion House and get his money back. The case ended up first as a case in Chancery and later on appeal to the House of Lords.
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For no particularly good reason, I researched this dispute last year and went through all of the court reports concerned!
I'll write up the history of this in more detail if anyone is interested ...
Thanks Gerald, interesting dispute, it would be worthwhile to get your research into print, best way to preserve it for future generations.
ReplyDeleteSophia Cheesewright (pupil in 1851) is my Great-Grandmother. Has anyone done any research on the school during this time. Was it a boarding school? When class of pupils attended. Is there any records remaining of the school during the 1850's. Any information would be very helpful. babs.partington@btconnect.co.uk
ReplyDeleteThanks!