2019/88

This glass ink well is engraved on the top and base with a 24-point star. The edges are ridged, with twelve sides on the base and eight on the lid. The lid is hinged, with a brass ring. Manufacturer and place of production are unknown. Believed to belong to Dr William Savory.

1 ink well: glass, metal

Museum Object Entry Form – ‘Museum Name: MUSEUM OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE // Received from: [...] // Address: ... // Tel No: ... // Owner (if different): // Address: // Tel No: // Description of Object/Collection: 2 x PICTURES BELIEVED TO BE OF THE MEDIC WILLIAM SAVOURY [sic: Savory]. RESCUED FROM BETWEEN SPRINGS AND MATTRESS OF A BED. HE HAS THE CHARACTERISTIC AUBURN HAIR ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAMILY LINE. // 1 x OAK COFFER BEARING HIS NAME + KEY // 1 x CARRIERS BOOK (1857 -) BELONGING TO THOMAS FAMILY IN THICKET LECKHAMPSTEAD (ROSEMARY'S MOTHER WAS A THOMAS) // 1 x GLASS INKWELL. REPUTED TO BE WILLIAM SAVORY'S // ROSEMARY'S AUNT ELLA MARY SAVOURY ('GODDARD') INHERITED GOODARD'S FARM IN LECKHAMPSTEAD IN LATE 1920s HAVING PREVIOUSLY LIVED AT THE DOCTOR'S HOUSE IN BRIGHTWALTON. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF THE LAST WILLIAM SAVOURY. THEY MOVED BECAUSE THE FAMILY FELL ON HARD TIMES (REASONS UNKNOWN). HER MARRIED NAME WAS FORD. // MISC PHOTOS OF THOMAS FAMILY (CARRIERS) + OF LECHMAPSTEAD 1911 CORONATION GATHERING // Reason for Entry: Donation Signed R. Williams 16-07-15 // Additional Agreement (Donations/Sales Only): Owner Signed R. Williams 16-07-15 // Museum Signatory: Signed Oliver Douglas 16/07/15, Email, Donor to Ollie Douglas, 6 March 2015 - 'Hi Ollie, // I managed to find out a few facts about William Savory. I can't be 100% sure they are accurate, so if you need to use any of the below, please check them against your records, you have access to a lot more information than we do. // First of all, in our family there are at least six William Savory people. My mum has a book entitled The Life of William Savory, Surgeon of Brightwalton by George C. Peachey, (J.J. Keliher, 1903). I will definitely read that book as I am now very interested in this part of our family tree. // A short article on Wikiedia/Brightwalton mentions // "In about 1715 the Savo(u)ry family moved to the village (of Brightwalton) from nearby South Moreton. The Savorys were wheelwrights, but William Savory (1768-1824) from a third generation of the family, was apprenticed to David Jones, an apothecary in Newbury, Berkshire. Aged 20, Savory "walked the wards" of St Thomas Hospital and Guy's Hospital in London. He learned surgery, physic (medicine) and midwifery from the leading practitioners of their day, including the surgeon Henry Cline and physician William Saunders. Some of his student notes and his commonplace book survivie. Savory became a member of the Company of Surgeons and initially practiced in Newbury. Following bankruptcy in 1795 he re-settled in brightwalton, where he remained for the rest of his life, passing the mantle to his son, William Savory (1793-1856) who studied at the London Hospital in Whitechapel." // As mentioned before, Williams Savory (1793-1856) had one child, a daughter called Ella (Mary Ella). She married Edwin Ford and they had 6 children. // Their 4th son, Percy, James Ford, married Marjorie Thomas, his boss' daughter. They had 2 daughters [...] // Percy James Ford was a groom and a carter. The day book we mentioned belongs to Mr Thomas, his boss and father-in-law. It covers the period 1897-1898. // [...] // Two other books that could be of interest are // "Leckhampstead Village, yesterday and today" by Elizabeth Vera Setchell, 2010, A5, 290 pp // "Brightwalton a Downland Village" Paperback - 20 Dec 2002, by June Osment', Email, Donor to Ollie Douglas, 27 Februrary 2015 - 'Mr Douglas // Following your colleague's phone call to my mother yesterday, please find attached a photo of a solid oak chest, currently stored in her house in Durham. // Solid oak chest (c.1840) // 52 inches long, 24 inches wide, 32 inches high (including 4-inch legs) // We also have the below items, please let me know if they are of interest to you. // 1) Percy James Ford's Day Book, containing details of the items he transported. Percy James Ford was one of Williams Savoury's 6 grandchildren from his daughter Ella Mary. // 2) Glass Ink Well - with "Dr Williams Savoury" inscription // Looking forward to hearing from you regarding potential collection dates', Letter, Donor to the Archivist, 6 January 2015 - 'Dear Archivist, // My husband died recently and we are having o disperse his collections to various museums etc. and whilst rereading a book called 'Brightwalton', a Downland village by June Osment, I realised that an oak coffer and two oil paintings belonged to Doctor William Savory my great grandfather 1800-61. His name and date are carved in the side of the chest or coffer and the oil paintings, although in poor condition are the only ones known of him. Would you be at all interested in these items? I understand you have or hand his 'Day Books'? // My sister and I were born in Beckhampstead Thicket and then lived with my Granda Ella Mary Savory. Our teaching [forts?] were in Leicester and Durham, where I still reside. // Yours sincerely [...]'

Glass, Metal