Nanny Barbara - A few additional Photographs

I believe this 'French Class Book' was used by Barbara in order to learn French.  It certainly wasn't new when she used as it as it was published in 1882 

This is a photograph of Auffay Village near Chateau Bosmelet today

Auffay Village near Bosmelet

Beautiful post card sent to her sister Eleanor date unknown, but obviously travel to France imminent.

Update from James Lander

"Re postcard sent by Barbara to her sister Eleanor, asking for a temporary loan.  You captioned it "date unknown" ... but can I point out that the "still at Lees Place." is the home of Diana de Bosmelet's (nee Mathias) father in London, so the card certainly dates to after the time when she was hired by Diana as a nanny.  The tone of the postcard makes me think that "until I get over to France" refers to her planned return to France after a brief trip accompanying Diana and the infant Gentien to London."

Postcard to Eleanor by artist H Vincent Anglade 1938

Circa 1930 Barbara astride her father's motorbike and sidecar taken at Greenside

These final photographs are 1930s old negatives brought from Aunt Eleanor's house, I have managed to restore some of them to a reasonable state. 

Old 1930s Negatives

Circa 1930 L-R Eleanor aged 18 , Barbara aged 26, Lady Unknown

Barbara with unknown friend where or when unknown

The final photograph is a delightful french doll now owned by Barbara's daughter.  

Nanny Barbara - Barbara's Life Post War

I am indebted to my Aunt Eleanor for keeping all the photographs and pieces of paper sent to her by her sister Barbara. Even this 78 year old crumpled piece of paper containing a recipe for "Christmas Plum Pudding 1939 for 2 Puddings" has been brought to life because Barbara decided to add a few words at the very bottom. 

"I made these puddings myself and were jolly good.  The Baron received his, and he and his comrades sang God Save The King and drank the Baroness and my health."
  
Marvellous!

This pudding was made and eaten only a few months before Barbara and Diana and the children ran for their lives.  

I don't have any information as to where Barbara went when she got back to England, I can only assume that she travelled back to 16 Milton Street Greenside, County Durham to be cared for by her parents and sister.  

When Barbara was well enough she again travelled to the Derby area probably to work again, perhaps even becoming nanny to some of the "unknown" little girls in the photographs posted earlier.  

Eventually Barbara met and married Wilfred Bull (Bill) and had children of her own, Ann born 1944 and Barrie 1947,which would make Barbara about 40 when she had her first child. 

Barbara with Ann 1944

Here is a photograph taken circa 1970 with Barbara and her family, and my family all together at Aunt Barbara's. She always made us very welcome.  Barbara would be around 62 at the time.

Bottom Row R-L Bill Bull (Barbara's husband) Jean Stafford (my mother) Dorothy Tweddell (nee Stafford my sister) Norman Stafford (my father)     Middle Row R-L Barrie Bull (Barbara's son) (me Pauline Tweddell nee Stafford) Ian Tweddell (my sister's husband) Barbara Bull (nee Stafford)   Back Row R-L Ann Buxton (nee Bull Barbara's daughter) Ray Buxton  (Ann's first husband)  My husband taking photograph (my sister and I married brothers)


Barbara and Bill worked hard, he was a civil servant and they also owned a small-holding next to a canal, the house was called the Potlocks.  My sister and I had some lovely holidays there with our parents and our cousins. A few years ago Barbara's daughter Ann visited Bosmelet.

Barbara had a long life, and died in 1997 at the age of 93 in a nursing home near Truro close to where she had previously lived with her son Barrie and his wife.

Nanny Barbara - Diana's Life Post War

I understand Diana de Bosmelet stayed on at the Chateau after Pierre abandoned her and the children - living in what was left of the Chateau she became "the constant gardener" as a means of healing herself, but her biggest achievement was her determination (using her inheritance) to rebuild Chateau Bosmelet. 

It is hard to believe that it was ever in this state, when you look at it today. She must have used very skilled artisans to carry out such a fantastic restoration.

Chateau Bosmelet after WWII

Chateau Bosmelet Today

Diana died at the age of 78 in July 1987

What a Herculean achievement and what a legacy to leave her children.

Her son Robert became Baron Bosmelet, and continued her work.  He died in 2012, leaving his wife Laurence to continue his work, together with their children Elodie and Gentien. http://www.rouentourisme.com/chateaux-manors/chateau-de-bosmelet-4182-en/

With grateful thanks to Yolanda Chetwynd, (Pierre and Diana's grand daughter) who has written a fascinating history of the Bosmelets, http://www.yolandachetwynd.com/GNFiles/.  This history enabled me to put 'flesh on the bone' of Aunt Barbara's time at Chateau Bosmelet.

Nanny Barbara - Pierre's Life Post-war

Pierre Soya Bosmelet fought the German invasion in 1940, and by 1941 he had joined the Free French forces in London under General Charles de Gaulle, who promoted him to the rank of Captain. He went on to serve in West Africa from 1942-1944.  

Diana and the children joined him in a life that was hard and food was very basic. Tragically in 1943 Gentien died, probably from what is now known to be Tuberculous Meningitis. 

They returned to France whereupon in 1946/47 Pierre abandoned his wife (wives) children and mother and returned to West Africa, not returning to France until 1960.

Pierre had a daughter Helene and son Robert with Diana de Bosmelet and also had two daughters, Monique and Beatrice from his first marriage to Genevive Berard in 1929. 

Marriage of Baron Pierre Soya Bosmelet to Genevive Berard in 1929

Pierre died at the age of 80 in 1986. 

Nanny Barbara - What the German's did next

The German army, on occupation of the Chateau, began building a V-1 Launching Pad.

The V-1 was essentially a flying bomb that was powered by a single jet engine and carried a 1,870lb warhead. If launched from northern France it could travel at 400 mph with a range of up to 150 miles. It contained a device that counted the revolutions in a tiny propeller in its nose, and when it reached the number calculated to have brought it over its target the engine cut out and the missile fell to earth, detonating on impact.

A Flying bomb in flight, as seen by the gun camera of an intercepting RAF fighter aircraft, moments before the fighter destroyed the V-1 by cannon fire

However, due to intelligence relayed to Britain from the French Resistance, the launch site and other launch sites, never became operational as the RAF bombed them 28 times between December 25th 1943 and June 1944.

This is a picture of the sad state of Bosemelet after the war.

..

Nanny Barbara - Bosmelet and the German Occupation

I have loaded these photograph previously but the date they were taken is important. The baby, Helene Soyer de Bosmelet was born at the Chateau in 1940, Gentien was born in London. 

When these photographs were taken, Britain and France were already at war with Germany - war was declared on September 3rd 1939. 

About 4 months after this photograph was taken, Diana de Bosmelet fled the Chateau to Marseilles with her baby and 3 year old Gentien, before the Germans occupied the Chateau. The family reunited and escaped, travelling through the South of France to Spain, eventually arriving at Lisbon Portugal.

1940 Helene's Christening with Gentien aged 3 and mother Diana de Bosmelet in the grounds of Chateau Bosmelet.

1940 Pierre de Bosmelet in the Uniform of First Lieutenant of The French Army 

What happened to Barbara? She, also had to 'run for her life.' It is not known how she managed to escape.  At this time it was known that Dieppe (the nearest port to Bosmelet) was blockaded so it just wouldn't be the case of travelling to the nearest port and getting the first boat available, the route was filled with terror and danger, German soldiers, artillery and bombing. 

I remember my Aunt Eleanor telling me that by the time Barbara arrived back in England she was in a terrible state. Eleanor said "Barbara had a break-down."  

Here is an example of refugees crowding the deck of HMS Venomous as it drew away from Boulogne on the 21st May 1940 "They were fired at by two German planes. They were told to lie down, and the British Sailors fired back and drove off the attacking German Aircraft." 

21st May 1940 HMS Venomous -  refugees leaving Boulogne for England 

I can only assume this would be similar to the way Barbara managed to escape back to England.

Sadly (like most people) I just didn't have the sense or take the time to ask Eleanor or Barbara about this terrifying ordeal.

Eventually the Baron, Baroness and their two children, Gentien and Helene escaped to Hollywood. This is a newspaper cutting of their arrival, after a fearful year of trying to avoid capture. 

   

Nanny Barbara - Gentien

Written on the Back of this 1938 photograph was "Gentien in the South of France".  It would seem the family were on holiday. What a lovely photograph of a very happy little boy, and a very doting Nanny.

The following photograph could also have been taken in the South of France, Gentien looks about the same age.  He is held by his Uncle David Mathias, just to the left can be seen his mother Diana Baroness de Bosmelet.

Information from James Lander

"The family made a trip to the South of France in April 1938, and some of the photograph of Barbara with Gentien probably relates to that trip.  Another diary entry on 10th April 1939 said "Nanny left for holidays a week ago", so perhaps that was Barbara taking a brief trip to England".

"There was another family trip back to England for Diana in mid-May,1939 but on 22nd May she was back in France and wrote in her diary "Nanny has gone to her French lesson".

Original Gentien with Uncle David Mathias circa 1938

Restored Sepia

Restored Black and White

By the time this photograph was taken Barbara would have been Nanny to Gentien for over two years.  I am grateful to the Baron's granddaughter who suggested this may have been a playful prank played for Gentien, as we think the Baron maybe wearing Barbara's glasses.

Circa 1940 Barbara Gentien and Baron Pierre Bosmelet

More up-to-date picture of doorway

Nanny Barbara - The Chateau and Grounds

Chateau de Bosmelet is a rare example of pure Louis XIII architecture set in 10 acres of woodland.  Built in 1632 and still stands at the apex of 300 year old lime tree avenues planted out to French classical garden designs by Colinet in 1715.

Chateau Bosmelet Today

Barbara with Gentien in the Grounds of Bosmelet circa1938

The 'Forecourt' today where the photograph of Barbara and Gentien was taken

Circa1939 Barbara on Horseback with the Orangerie in the Back Ground

The Orangerie dates from the 16th Century, the oldest building on the estate.  It was converted into the chaplain's house when the new chapel was built in 1779.

The Orangerie Chateau de Bosemelet

Circa1939 Barbara Stafford Riding in the grounds of Chateau Bosmelet

Barbara circa 1939 - Dressed for a ride

Nanny Barbara - Baron and Baroness de Bosmelet

Pierre Soyer de Bosmelet was born in Paris 1906-1986.  He became Baron de Bosmelet in 1929 after the death of his Uncle Adrien. He studied law in Paris and London becoming a Barrister specialising in Divorce and International Law. 

Captain Pierre de Bosmelet

Diana de Bosmelet nee Mathias 1908-1987 was Pierre's second wife.   She was born to wealthy, cultured Jewish parents who had settled in England. 

Gentien, Diana and baby sister Helene probably on her Christening Day

Nanny Barbara - 1937 Chateau de Bosmelet

Around June/July 1937, at the age of 33, Barbara travelled to London, where she was interviewed for the post of Nanny to a baby boy called Gentien,  This was the baby son of Baron Pierre Soya and Baroness Diana de Bosmelet (nee Mathias), of Chateau de Bosmelet, Auffay, Normandy, France.

In November 2018 I was contacted by email by Mr James Lander regarding research for his book on the family. He has firmed up dates and given a little more information on "Nanny Barbara" taken from the Baroness' diary which I will insert into the appropriate sections of the blog.  My thanks to Mr Lander. 


"Diana gave birth to Gentien in London on 25th June 1937 and by the 1st August she and the child were in France, and in a diary entry on 7th August she mentions driving somewhere in France with "Nurse and Gentien".

Original postcard dated 27th August 1938 sent by Barbara to parents

In case you cannot make out Barbara's writing -

"Dear Mother & Father

I hope you are both keeping and not missing Eleanor too much. The weather doesn't sound too good judging by the wireless. Could you send my Bank book to the bank in the near future as my checks now are going straight from one bank to another. Writing as soon as I can. I may be having Mr & Mrs Davidson calling to see me very soon. They are starting a holiday on Saturday

Barbara."

Barbara must have had a good relationship with Mr and Mrs Davidson for them to visit her, and undoubtedly they would also be interested in seeing the Chateau.

Nanny Barbara - Some of her Charges

When working away as a Nanny, Barbara regularly corresponded with her sister Eleanor and often enclosed pictures of the little one. Sometimes she wrote on the back of the photographs the names of the children, but unfortunately there are some she didn't, such as this one.

This is a very young baby, look at the beautiful clothes it is wearing it could even be its Christening Day. Again no name.

Barbara with Unknown Baby

One of Barbara's long term charges was a beautiful little girl called Philippa Davidson. A clue to where she lived is given by this lovely studio photograph of Philippa taken at the Derby studios of WW Winter founded in 1865 in Derby. Amazingly this photographic studio is still in existence, being the longest running photography business in Britain.

Philippa Davidson Original

Philippa Davidson Sepia

Philippa Davidson Less Sepia

WW Winter Photography Studio Derby

I think this photograph taken of Barbara with a little girl, wearing an exact copy of her uniform, could also be Philippa - again nothing is written on the back of the photograph.  

Barbara with Phillipa Davidson?

Again, this could be  Phillipa, well wrapped up playing with Barbara at the beach.  I wonder who took the photograph?

Barbara on the Beach with Phlippa?

This could also be Philippa, in the lovely hat and coat with her doll and pram.

Philippa Davison with her doll and pram?

This postcard sent from Sheringham on the 31st July 1931 some 86 years ago by Eleanor to her parents, mentions Jean, and we can see her in the following photographs. More than likely the photographs were taken by Barbara. The first one of 'Jean' having a pony ride on the sea front at Sheringham, being carefully held on to by Eleanor.  Eleanor must have travelled to Sheringham to stay with Barbara. 

Eleanor and Jean

Eleanor and Jean

There must have been a connection between Jean and Philippa, perhaps a family relation or family friend.


This postcard was sent from Waxham Hall around 1934 (dated through the Edward VII One Penny Red stamp).

Back of Waxham Hall Postcard

The postcard gets a little illegible near the end but I think it is as follows: -      

"c/o Mrs Harvey, Waxham Hall, Palling Norfolk.

Dear Mother and Father     Having a lovely holiday with the Babies.  Weather not bad, had two heavy showers yesterday, but very sunny in between.  Felt very tired and sleepy my first day here, my nerves seem better.  Would you try and send that letter which I had sent me.  While there may be a change if meeting that girl while I am here." 

I wonder what or if there was a "change"  

This photograph is of Henry Harvey, who would have been 8 years old at the time the postcard was sent, so more than likely he met Barbara.  Henry became a leading Norfolk Dairy Farmer who died at the age of 87 in 2011.