Isaac Hitchman of Blenheim House, Harwell, was an immensely heavily built man, and particularly proud of his family, especially his sons, who were all big men. He had thirteen daughters and eight sons. The sixth son, Walter, was born in 1868, and was a well-known figure in the village for many years.
Figure 6.7 Blenheim House, home of the Hitchmans.
On Sunday evenings Isaac Hitchman and his family would all attend church as choristers and bellringers, but like all good fathers then, Isaac required his family to go straight home and sing several hymns before retiring to bed himself. On a summer evening they would sing in the summerhouse in the orchard at Blenheim House, and as they all had very powerful voices, they could be heard all over the village. When this mission was completed, the boys’ time was their own; they would be able to have their fun and a drink at the local Queen’s Arms (in 1985 the Kicking Donkey); they all had great thirst and were no mean drinkers. For many years, Isaac Hitchman was parish clerk, local undertaker, builder, and leader of the church bellringers. He died in 1902 aged seventy-nine. At his funeral, his coffin was made and carried by his sons, the bell was tolled by one of them, and a “muffled peal” was rung by six sons after the funeral ceremony; only one son was absent, serving his country in South Africa.
Harwell has always been noted for the excellence of its choir, and not less for its bellringers. Walter Hitchman first joined the choir at the age of nine, twelve months before he became a pupil at Mr Wood’s school for boys in School Lane. At the same time, (1891) a band of “change ringers” was formed by his brother, Isaac Hitchman junior. The bells had been rehung two years before in 1889 by Bond & Son, of Burford, Oxon. This band of ringers was a first-class group, and they joined the Oxford Diocesan Guild of Change Ringers in the same year.
In 1894 the Harwell Ringers accomplished their first outstanding performance when they rang a “Date-touch” of 1,894 changes of Minor, conducted from the tenor by Walter Hitchman. Although the bells of St Matthew’s Church sometimes rang badly, they were always admirably struck by the local band, composed of the Hitchmans: Isaac, Lewis, Walter, Vincent, Richard and Albert, assisted by Alfred Thomas, the late landlord of the White Hart Inn, Alfred Bosley, Thomas Hughes, and other noted men.
In 1896 Walter was made Parish Clerk (ecclesiastical), although for several years he had become accustomed to the work by serving as deputy to his father. During the 1914 – 18 war, Walter Hitchman was a “Special Constable” in the village, and no ringer was “dodged the column” at that time. He was awarded the King’s Medal, which he well deserved.
Comments
- Isaac Hitchman
Angie Bishop (nee – Hitchman) –
22 May 2014I believe that Isaac Hitchman was my Great-Grandfather. One of his sons was called Harold who was my Grandfather. Harold had 4 children – Pearl, Daphne, Vincent and Dawn. Vincent, or Wint, as he was fondly called was my father. Sadly he passed away in 1999.
As we grew up he told us many stories of his childhood, growing up in Kings Lane. He mentioned a swimming pool in The Cleeve, his time at the local school and the many canings he recieved. He was very proud to be a ‘Tabby Cat’ from Harwell.
KEITH HITCHMAN says
I think that Isaac Hitchman was my Great-Grandfather. One of his Sons Charles Robert Hitchman Married Ada Palmer. They had 2 Sons Douglas and Victor. Douglas was my Father. Can anyone collaborate this please?
Peter Jefferies says
I remember Wint Hitchman. As a group of fourteen/fifteen year old teenagers we would gather in the outside shelter attached to the side of
The Chequers. Although Wint was a little older than us I have fond memories of him as a great character. I was born in 1944.
Bob Bristow says
Isaac was my great Grandfather his daughter Sarah Ellen my Grandmother. Along with her sister Lucy she went to London and both married railway men.
She always claimed that the move away for them and their sister Elizabeth meant they did not contract TB as the boys did.
Isaac died at The Berkshire Asylum, Cholsey family folk lore tells that he was working on one of the wells discovered at the White Hart and fell down it sustaining serious head injuries from which he died, but I have never been able to confirm this.
Sarah apparently ran the White Hart and after his death she ran a carriers business before she married William Palmer.
Jardine, (Jack ) King says
Isaac was my great grandfather. His daughter Elizabeth, my grandmother, went into service in a big house in London but fell pregnant, seduced so family lore has it, by the son of the master of the house. She returned to Harwell in disgrace and married Hubert King, her cousin. They had 9 children most of whom remained in the village. Elizabeth lived there until her death in the eighties.
I can verify that Isaac died after falling down a well as its part of King family lore as well. Our version is slightly more grizzly however. If I am correct Berkshire Asylum was the Fairmile Lunatic Asylum. As a result of the head injuries sustained Isaac became violent and attacked Sarah attempting to kill her. King legend has it that he died chained to his bed.
I hope that’s not too upsetting.
Jack King