Hertfordshire Leaders

Social & Political

Ernest Gaskell

Published Solely for Private Circulation at Three Guineas

Printed by The Queenhithe Printing & Publishing Co Ltd,, London

Undated but probably late 1907

An examination of this book immediately identifies the market. It is aimed at the kind of person who wants to have an impressive looking book on display, and who can boast that they are in it alongside with Earl This & Marquess That. Typically there is a two page sycophantic biography, in most cases with a photographic portrait. The biographies are arranged in social status order which gets the titled gentlemen (there are no ladies) to the front and while there is a contents list (in the same order) the pages are not numbered & there is no alphabetical index - making is hard to find anyone apart from the Lords towards the front. Whatever else the book is good for, the organisation makes it useless as a practical contemporary work of reference. The contents list given here has been produced by scanning the original contents list, numbering the entries, and then sorting into alphabetical order - with the nobility whose title is different to the family name first.

There is another interesting feature. While the binding looks posh, it is not very robust because each entry has been printed on a separate sheet, with the portrait attached if there was one. As a result individual pages can easily drop out and I would not recommend photocopying from the volume for fear of damaging it. This method of binding raises an interesting possibility. All that was needed to add a new person to the book would be to print an extra page, add an extra line to the contents page and reprint and you could produce a new individual version of the book including a biography of the latest "subscriber". It may therefore be worth checking whether all surviving copies are identical.

An online search shows that there are four copies at HALS, and copies at the Hertford, St Albans & Watford public libraries. There are also copies in the British Library, the Bodleian Library and the Guildhall Library.

So who was Ernest Gaskell?

Apart from providing a name the book gives absolutely no information about the author, or where he was situated. However a check of COPAC shows the following publications - in virtually all cases the date given is approximate.

Aberdeenshire & Perthshire leaders : social & political

1910

Ayrshire & Renfrewshire leaders, social & political

1911

Cheshire leaders, social & political

1906/9. 

Cumberland & Westmorland leaders : social & political

1910

Derbyshire leaders : social & political

1907/8

Devonshire leaders, social & political

1907

Durham leaders, social & political

1908

Fife & Forfarshire leaders : social & political

1911
Hampshire leaders, social & politica  

Hertfordshire leaders, social & political

1907/8

Lanarkshire leaders : social & politica

1911

Lancashire leaders : social & political

1907/8

Leaders of Cornwall : social & political

1910

Leaders of the Lothians - social & political

1911/2

Lincolnshire leaders, social & political

1907

Norfolk leaders : social & political

1907

Northamptonshire leaders, social & political

190-?

Northumberland leaders : social & politica

 

Oxfordshire leaders : social & political

1907

Perth & Aberdeenshire leaders : social & political

190-?

Renfrewshire & Ayrshire leaders. Social & political

1908

Shropshire leaders, social & political

 

Somerset leaders, social & political

1907/10

South Wales Leaders, social & politica

 

Suffolk leaders, social & political

1910

Surrey leaders : social & political.

1908

Ulster leaders, social & political.

1914

Westmorland & Cumberland leaders : social & political

1910

Worcestershire leaders, social & political.

1907/8

Clearly what we have is a significant publishing activity which (bearing in mind the uncertainty caused by undated books) suddenly started in about 1907 and continued until about 1910.

Three somewhat similar high cost low circulation books had earlier been published in Hertfordshire. These were Hertfordshire Men of Mark, by Truman Press, 1887, Hertfordshire County Homes published in 1892 from the Hertfordshire Standard offices (editor Truman Press), and Hertfordshire Leaders by Charles A Manning Press, 1894,

If we look at the publications by C A Manning Press we get the following (at least some of the dates are approximate):

Berkshire leaders, social & political 1905
Buckinghamshire leaders : social & political 1905
Cheshire leaders, social & political 1899
Devon & Cornwall leaders : social & political 1896
Durham lives, social & political 1897
Hampshire & Isle of Wight leaders, social & political 1903
Hertfordshire leaders  [not listed on COPAC] 1894
In the verdant west 1890
Liberal leaders of Somerset. 1890
Lincolnshire Leaders, Social & Political 1894
Norfolk notabilities 1893
Somersetshire lives. Social & political  
Suffolk celebrities 1893
Suffolk leaders : social & political 1906
Warwickshire lives 1894/5
Westmorland lives, social & political 1895
Worcestershire lives, social & political  
Yorkshire leaders, social & political [Volume 1] 1892
Yorkshire leaders, social & political [Volume 2] 1893
Yorkshire leaders, social & political [2nd edition] 1908

Not only do many of these books have similar titles, but they were published between about 1890 and 1908, and there is evidence that work had just started on 2nd editions (Somerset, Suffolk and Yorkshire). In addition at least some of the books were printed by The Queenhithe Printing & Publishing Co Ltd,, London. It would therefore seem that in about 1907 there was a change of editor (and possibly ownership) of the business of producing these books, but with the same printer.

June 2011

It appear that Ernest Gaskell was Carrie Amy Campion, who worked for Truman Press in Hertfordshire circa 1898 and as Mrs North, drowned in 1910, when living with Allan North (a.k.a. Truman Press. - See Truman PRESS, St Albans, Late 19th Century.)

March 2016

It appears, from her inquest,  that Carrie also published under the name of Allan North:

Derbyshire Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1909?
Herefordshire Illustrated Who's Who 1910?
Kent: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1907
Leicestershire and some Neighbouring Records: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 190-?
Middlesex: Biographical and Pictorial 1906
Rutland, Leicestershire and some Neighbouring Records: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial ?
Somerset and some Neighbouring Records: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1909
Somerset and some Neighbouring Records: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1908?
South Wales: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1908?
Sussex: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 1907
Wiltshire and some Neighbouring Records: Historical, Biographical and Pictorial 190-?
?  
THE RIGHT HON. LORD ALDENHAM, RA, J.P. 16
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CAVAN 5
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF CLARENDON, P.c., G.C.B., G.CV.O., M.A, LORD LIEUTENANT & CUSTOS ROTULORUM OF HERTFORDSHIRE 1
THE RIGHT HON. LORD EBURY 13
THE RIGHT HON. THE VISCOUNT ENFIELD, J.P., AM.Inst.C.E 9
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF ESSEX 3
THE RIGHT HON. VISCOUNT HAMPDEN 10
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF LYTTON, B.A. 8
THE MOST HON. THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY, M.A, C.B 2
REV. THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STRAFFORD, M.A 7
THE RIGHT HON. LORD STRATHCONA. & MOUNT ROYAL, G.C.M.G., F.R.S., LL.D., P,C., D.L. 17
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF STRATHMORE, D.L., J.P. 4
THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF VERULAM, C.C. 6
   
JOHN HIGGINS ALLEN, ESQ., M.A 114
CHARLES CARRICK ALLOM, ESQ 81
JOHN ATTFIELD, ESQ., M.A., Ph.D., F.RS., F.LC. 71
THE HON. FREDERICK WM. ANSON, J.P. 24
THE REV. CANON R1CHARD APPLETON, M.A 100
WILLIAM AUSTIN, ESQ. 87
HENRY WILLIAM CLINTON BAKER, ESQ., J.P., C.C. 101
SURGEON-LIEUT-COL DANIEL BARLEY BALDING, V.D., JP., F.R.C.S. 97
THE HON. COPLESTONE RD. GEO. WARWICK BAMPFYLDE, JP., D.L 25
EDWARD EXTON BARCLAY, ESQ., M.A., J.P., M.F.H. 68
LIEUT.-COL. HUBERT F. BARCLAY, JP. 63
REV. CHARLES PARKHURST BAXTER, M.A 103
CHARLES H. BELSEY, ESQ., JP. 94
JULIUS BERTRAM, ESQ., B.A., M.P. 39
DAVID AUGUSTUS BEVAN, ESQ., JP 85
MAJ.-GEN. THOS. SCOVELL CHAS. BIGGE, CB., J.P 35
WALTER REGINALD BLACKWELL, ESQ. 84
REAR-ADMIRAL JOHN EDRIC BLAXLAND 36
BRAMWELL BOOTH. ESQ. 110
COLONEL GEORGE WILLIAM BORRADAILE, CB. 42
PERCIVAL BOSANQUET, ESQ., JP., D.L. 51
SIR SAMUEL BAGSTER BOULTON 34
THE REV. HUMPHREY FREDERICK HERNE BURCHELL-HERNE, M.A., J.P., C.C. 72
CHARLES BUTLER, ESQ., FR..G.S., J.P., D.L. 49
EDWARD HILDRED CARLILE, ESQ., M.P., J.P. 38
THE LORD HUGH RICHARD HEATHCOTE CECIL, M.A 12
HON. ALFRED CHETWYND-TALBOT, M.A 22
SIR WILLIAM SELBY CHURCH, BT., KCB., LL.D., D.Ss., Se. D., M.D., JP. 29
LIEUT.-COL. HENRY WILLIAM COYNE 62
SIR HENRY CRAIK, KCB., LL.D., M.P. 40
CAPTAIN RICHARD PAGE CROFT, JP. 65
HENRY PAGE CROFT, ESQ., JP. 66
LIEUT. RICHARD BENYON CROFT, late RN., D.L., C.A. 64
SPENCER HENRY CURTIS, ESQ., JP. 54
THE REV. HENRY GEORGE CONSTABLE CURTIS, M.A. 78
COL. PHILIP HUGH DALBIAC. 98
LIEUT.-COL. HENRY SMITH DANIELL. 61
THE LATE REV. THE HON. LEWIS WILLIAM DENMAN, M.A 19
BARON CHAS. S. DIMSDALE, RA., J.P. 59
CHARLES DRAGE, ESQ., M.D. 86
LEWIS EVANS, ESQ., F.S.A., F.RA.S., JP., CA. 82
SIR JOHN EVANS, KCB. 32
ADMIRAL SIR JOHN FELLOWES, KCB. 30
COLONEL ROBERT BRUCE FELLOWS, CB. 44
FRANCIS FISHER, ESQ. 104
EDWARD SNOW FORDHAM, ESQ., M.A., LL.M., JP., D.L. 48
FRANCIS JOHN FORDHAM, ESQ., JP., D.L. 47
MR. WOLVERLEY ATTWOOD FORDHAM, J.P. 74
DR GEORGE CAREY FOSTER, RA, LL.D., D.Se., F.C.S., F.R.S., JP. 88
ARTHUR WILSON FOX, ESQ., CB. 79
CHARLES KING FRANCIS, ESQ., RA, JP 96
REV. THE LORD WILLIAM GASCOYNE-CECIL, M.A 11
CASMAJOR WILLIAM GAUSSEN, ESQ. J.P. 108
REV. GEORGE HENRY POWNALL GLOSSOP, M.A. 75
CHARLES HENRY ARTHUR GORE-BROWNE, ESQ. 106
SIR HENRY JOHN LOWNDES GRAHAM, KCB. 33
STUART COLQUHOUN GRANT, ESQ. 91
SEYMOUR WALTER GREVES, ESQ. 55
THE REV. & HON. ROBERT GRIMSTON, M.A 23
CORNELIUS HANBURY, ESQ. 53
THOMAS FENWICK HARRISON, ESQ., M.F.H., JP., CC 80
COL. HENRY TEMPEST HICKS, CB., JP 43
DR. ALFRED PETER HILLIER, B.A. 76
THE HON. ARTHUR HENRY HOLLAND-HIBBERT, D.L., J.P., C.A 20
REV. FREDERICKEDWARD HORNE, B.D., M.A 105
ALDERMAN WILLIAM HURLOCK 102
COLONEL CUTHBERT LARKING, JP 45
SIR CHARLES BENNET LAWES-WITTEWRONGE, BT. 28
THE VERY REV. WALTER J LAWRANCE, D.D. 57
CAPTAIN JAMES DOUGLAS LILLEY. 67
WILLIAM LOVE, ESQ., L.RC.S.I. 112
MJOR SIR ARTHUR PATRICK DOUGLAS LUSHINGTON, BT. 26
FREDERICK VAVASOUR McCONNELL, ESQ 89
JOHN MEAD, ESQ., C.C 95
JOSEPH TRUEMAN MILLS, ESQ., F.R.G.S., J.P., D.L 50
THE RIGHT HON. LORD MOUNTSTEPHEN, G.C.V.O., D.L. 15
WILLIAM THOMAS NASH, ESQ. C.C. 69
ADMIRAL SIR HENRY FREDERICK NICHOLSON, KCB. 31
WILLIAM NORVELL, ESQ. 92
COMMANDER ROBERT ORME ORME-WEBB, RN., J.P. 73
JOHN LOVELL PANK, ESQ.. JP. 70
CHARLES THOMAS PART, ESQ. 56
THE HON, ROBT. WELLESLEY PEEL, RA, J.P 21
ARTHUR FREDERICK PHILLIPS, ESQ., M.Inst.C.E., JP. 93
THE HON. ERNEST ARTHUR GEORGE POMEROY 18
FREDERICK CHARLES PORTER, ESQ., J.P., C.A 99
MONTAGUE WHITTINGHAM PRICE, ESQ., D.L. 46
EDWARD STANLEY ROSCOE, ESQ. 109
THE RIGHT HON. LORD ROTHSCHILD, P.C., K.C., V.O. 14
LIEUT.-COL. DUDLEY GRANVILLE RYDER. J.P. 60
SIR EDGAR REGINALD SAUND~RS SEBRIGHT, BT., J.P., D.L. 27
EDWARD JOHN SLINN, ESQ., JP. 107
ABEL HENRY SMITH, ESQ., M.A., M.P., J.P. 37
THE RIGHT HON. SIR CECIL CLEMENTI SMITH, M.A., G.CM.G. 41
EDWARD SPEYER, ESQ. 111
COLIN TAYLOR, ESQ., C.C. 90
HENRY J  TOULMIN, ESQ., J.P. D.L. 52
ARTHUR COLLINGS WELLS. ESQ., JP., C.C. 83
JAMES BARRINGTON WHITE, ESQ., J.P. 77
REV. LANCELOT WHITE-ATKINS 113
CHARLES EDWARD WODEHOUSE, ESQ., M.A.; JP., C.C. 58

You may be able to help

It would seem that virtually all the books mentioned on this page were printed in small numbers on a subscription basis and it could well be that there are books for other counties for which no copies exist in the copyright libraries. If you know of any such "missing" volumes please tell me.

Short Sample Entry

Montague Whittingham Price, Esq., D. L.

FEW gentlemen are better known in the County of Hertford than Mr. Montague Whittingham Price, of The Node, Codicote. Born in London in 1854, he is the fourth son of the late F. W. Price, Esq., Banker. He was educated privately.

Few pursuits in life are more interesting or elevating than horticulture, for what can be more lovely than Nature's finest and most beautiful work ­ a flower? A garden beautified by clusters of rare and lovely blooms can be nothing but a perpetual delight to the lover of Nature, there must indeed be something seriously lacking in the character of a man who can pass through such a spot without feeling that it is good to be alive, and to be able to gaze upon God's handiwork.

To horticulture Mr. Price has always devoted a good deal of time. Though fond of sport, Mr. Price by no means loses sight of the stern realities of life, nor shirks his share in the work of the County. He is a Deputy-Lieutenant for the County of Hertford, whilst since the day of its foundation he has filled the chair at the meetings of the Knebworth Parish Council. He is also Chairman of the Codicote Schools; Churchwarden at Knebworth Parish Church; a Governor of the Hertfordshire Convalescent Homes.

A staunch Conservative, Chairman of the Knebworth Division of the Conservative and Liberal Unionist Association, he is a member of the Wellington Club, London. Mr. Price married in 1892 Miss Clementina Villiers, the daughter of Colonel Ernest Villiers, A.D.C.

Locating Books
Second hand copies of any books by Ernest Gaskell and Charles A Manning Press are very hard to find.
     
July 2010   Page Created