Blackmore: Thomas Read Hull

Hidden grave of Thomas Read Hull

Received   1 February 2014

I wonder if you can advise me as to whether there is a memorial in the churchyard in Blackmore for my great Grandfather Thomas Reed Hull - who lived in Jericho house around 1900?

With many thanks

Charlie Hull

Replied   3 February 2014

Hello Charlie

Thank you for your e mail.  According to the parish burial register, Thomas Read Hull of The ‘Priory’ Blackmore was buried on 4 February 1915, aged 69. Other Hull entries in the register are:

Alice Janet Hull, of 38 Florence Road, Boscombe. Buried 28 June 1920, aged 44.

Alice Ellen Hull, “57 Drayton Gardens, Kensington (late of Blackmore)”, Buried 17^th Nov 1924, aged 77.

The whereabouts of their grave puzzled me. By chance or coincidence, I was visiting the Essex Record Office today and knew that it has in the archive a book of ‘Monumental Inscriptions for St Laurence, Blackmore’ (ERO T/Z 151/109) produced by the Essex Family History Society. It is dated 1997. There is another copy in the church safe which I saw about 10 years ago.  It gives the location of every grave and inscription to that date.  Your great grandfather is buried in a grave in a tight corner of the churchyard to the right of the public footpath which runs through it.  The graves are very overgrown.  I took a couple of photos before nightfall, and attach them.

The inscriptions, which I could not see, but were recorded by the EFHS as:

150 Kerb with corner post and large cross lying flat.

East end: Thomas Read Hull / born December 16 1845 died January 31 1915

North side: also his wife Alice Ellen Hull / born June 27 1847, died November 12 1924 /

151 Kerb with large cross lying flat [tight in the corner of the churchyard]

East end: Alice Janet Hull / born 26^th January 1876 died 23^rd June 1920.

For notes which I took at the ERO ten years ago, Mr J R Hull gave a strip of land 36 feet wide to the west of the public footpath, setting aside a plot for himself by the entrance.  This was in 1899. (ERO D/C/C50/2).

Photograph taken in Vicarage Garden
celebrating the restoration of
St Laurence Church, Blackmore

His name also appears as Chairman of the meeting held to elect and form a Parish Council on 4 December 1894. He did not become a Parish Councillor. (ERO D/P 266/11)

The third picture is dated 9 June 1902 which must have a picture of your relatives on it – probably at the centre. Please let me know if you recognise them.

I hope this is all useful. It has been interesting to fill some gaps.

Regards

Andrew

Received  4 February 2014

Dear Andrew.

Thank you so very much for this. I was delighted to receive this information - us armchair sleuths have a great deal to be grateful for to people like yourself.

I have a memory of visiting The Priory with my Father (Read Hull's grandson) - the house was then called Jericho and my father was brought up there with his sister by his paternal uncle and aunt. I don't remember finding the grave so your photos are indeed valuable to me.

I was aware of the splendid photograph - but only recently - and my brother thought I bore a striking resemblance to one of the maiden aunts. But that's brothers for you.

I intend to visit Blackmore soon so I will go and pay my familial respects to Great Grandad.

With very many thanks for your interest and time.

Charlie Hull