Embedded Files
Cecil Henland's name appears on the title page of some of the earliest versions of Ghosts (though the first few years carried no name) published by both the Frederick A. Stokes Co. (NY) and Dow and Lester (London). She is credited with several other books as well, but information about her is otherwise sparse. Perhaps the only other thing you may run across is her marriage to Arthur Jex Blake Percival and her being credited for founding the National Society of Day Nurseries and establishing the Princess Christian Hammersmith Day Nursery.
Her life is filled with triumph and tragedy, and all of it seen through a fractured lens of what records are available. But let's start at the beginning.
Family and Youth
Family and Youth
Cecil was born in London on 28 January 1870 to Alice Frances Henland and Charles Henry Henland about a year after her sister, Alice, was born. Charles is somewhat of a ghost, only coming up in a few documents. When sister Alice was married in 1888, the marriage bond states,
"...Alice Henland of La Hague in the parish of Saint Peter's in the Island of Jersey, spinster and minor of the age of nineteen years and upwards in number the age of twenty one years.....and he [George Lake Talbot Denniss Esquire, the fiancé] lastly made oath that the said minor hath no father living nor any testamentary guardian to her lawfully appointed or guardian appointed by her majesty's High Court of Justice (Chancery Division) and that the consent of Alice Edlin* Widow the natural and lawful mother of her the said."
*Alice Frances remarried in 1876 to William John Edlin.
Charles is named on Cecil's marriage bann (1907) as her father and his profession identified as "civil engineer". He's also identified on a couple of records from when Alice (sister) attended Cheltenham College. The 1883 enrollment document identifies Charles's profession as I.C.S. and his address as Paris. In the 1888 college newsletter, it announces Alice's wedding to George Talbot, identifying Alice as the "elder daughter of the late C.H. Monk Henland, Esq., of Quebec, and Boston, Linconshire."
It's unclear when Charles died, but Alice (mother) remarried in 1876 to William John Edlin. Edlin dies a few years later in 1880 "suddenly, at Aries south of France".
The 1881 census shows Alice Francis Edlin and Alice Henland staying withe Alice Francis' sister, Mary Webbster, in Yorkshire. It is unclear where Cecil is at this time. The earliest census with Cecil has her and Alice Francis in St. Heller, Jersey, Channel Islands in 1891. Cecil would have been 20 years old by that point.
One further wrinkle in determining Cecil's parentage is a Wikipedia article on Sir Henry James citing Alice Frances as his mistress and the father of her first daughter, Alice. The article identifies Alice Frances's father as Robert Hardwicke. Evidence doesn't seem to support this. On Alice Frances' 1876 marriage bann with William John Edlin, it lists her father as Charles Hardwicke, solicitor.
The rest of Cecil's early years are relatively vague.
Books
Books
Cecil's known literary career must have taken place before her marriage in 1907. According to the title page of The Ghosts of My Friends as early as 1906, she has several books to her name. Most would likely be parlor game books like The Ghosts of My Friends:
The Mind of a Friend
The Book of Butterflies
The Book of the Hostess
The Christmas Book: Lest We Forget
Mentioned as Published by George W. Jacobs, Philadelphia in the 23 October 1908 New York Times.
Hand 'O Graphs
The Bridge Companion
The Ghosts of my Friends
1907 Dow & Lester Edition listing other books by Cecil Henland
The only of those books I have been able to find is The Mind of a Friend. in this book, Henland presents quotations and invites friends of the book owner to sign their names next to the quotes that most appeal to them, thus gaining insight into the minds of friends.
Interestingly, this book contains another poem by Gerald Villiers-Stuart. Only two of these books have hit the open market in the last five years, and archival searching does not show others often.
National Society of Day Nurseries
National Society of Day Nurseries
Outside of Ghosts, Cecil is most known for founding the National Society of Day Nurseries. According to The British Journal of Nursing (March 30, 1907), the society was already operating the Princess Christian Day Nursery at Hammersmith and on May 2, 1907, they would formally found the National Society of Day Nurseries with Miss. Cecil Henland as the honorary secretary.
According to Truth (Vol. 62, pg 174), the society was formed by "Miss Cecil Henland with the idea of forming a Central bureau where information can be had as to the best methods of opening and managing a crèche." The other goals of the society were to:
Have an Act of Parliament passed to enforce the registration of day nurseries
Affiliate all existing crèches
Arrange for inspections by health officials
Award financial grants to nurseries meeting society guidelines
Use crèches as training facilities for young women to learn how to care for children
By 1910, the society is active and doing good work. The December 17, 1910, issue of The British Journal of Nursing Supplement gives an update on the society's work, saying "The National Society of Day Nurseries was one of the many societies endeavouring to meet a great want, to provide care for thousands of poor children, and to give them a good start in the race for life when it was impossible for the proper guardians or friends to do so."
Into the 1930s, Cecil is still very much involved in the society and children's welfare. At a gathering at the Children's Nursery Shelter in Battersea Park in 1935, she advocates for such shelters being opened in more parks throughout London.
The society continued with great success, and is still active today.
Founded in 1906, the National Society of Day Nurseries (NSDN) advocated for better regulations of day nurseries and the registration of all nurseries into a national system.
Until 1928 it was closely linked with the National League for Physical Education and Improvement (known from 1918 until its dissolution in 1928 as the National League for Health, Maternity and Child Welfare).
In 1973, the Nursery School Association of Great Britain and Ireland (NSA), founded in 1923, merged with the NSCN to form the British Association for Early Childhood Education (BAECE).
in 1942, the name was changed to the National Society of Children's Nurseries (NSCN)
Marriage
Marriage
On 12 December 1907, Cecil married Arthur Jex Blake Percival at St. George Hanover Square, London. From all accounts of the marriage, it was a major event.
The Queen, The Lady's Newspaper describes the wedding in their December 21, 1907, issue as such:
"Even the dismal weather that prevailed on Dec. 12 could not prevent Miss Cecil Henland's wedding being an extremely pretty affair, for the church of All Saints, Ennismore-gardens, was delightfully decked with flowers and palms, and the music of the 5th Fusilliers' band gave a welcome touch of brightness to the service. A great many well-known people were present, for the bridegroom, Capt. Arthur Percival, D.S.O., 5th Fusilliers, is son of the Bishop of Hereford, and the bride is the daughter of the late Mr. C. Henland and of Mrs. W.J. Edlin. The Bishop of Hereford tied the nuptial knot, and an impressive address was given by the Bishop of London. The bride, leaning on the arm of her cousin, Mr. A. Emberson, looked lovely in a gown of softest white satin made with a picturesque three-quarter length coat of fine spotted net, bordered with dull silver lace and embroidery. The sleeves and vest of lace were studded with silver, and similar embroidery so that on the coat enriched the skirt above its deep hem. In pace of a bouquet she carried an ivory and silver-bound prayer-book. The duties of page were smartly carried out by Master Jack Percival, who wore a pale blue suit, and of the four maids in attendance two were quite small. Their frocks of white satin were made after the fashion of the days of Charles I., and on their heads they wore white lace caps. The two elder bridesmaids looked very well in soft dresses of ivory-white ninon, with boleros of coarse Cluny lace edged with narrow gold embroidery. the deep waistbands of chiné silk (which was again repeated in the trimming of their white silk picture hats), lent a welcome touch of colour. Pretty diamond and ruby grenade brooches, the badge of his regiment, were the gifts of the bridegroom. Capt. Braithwaite, 54th Fusiliers, was best man. A crowd of relatives and guests went on to the reception held by Mrs. Edlin at 2, Cromwell Houses, lent for the occasion by Mrs. Bruce, and later in the day the bride and bridegroom left for Switzerland, the former looking radiant in a going-away gown of brown [stringed] velvet, the cut-away coat having collar and cuffs of black satin piped with emerald green, a brown velvet picture hat and sable furs."
Arthur and Cecil's Marriage Bann
In The Gentlewoman, December 12, 1907, a similar description appears in the Weddings of the Week section, though goes into more detail on who was present and their roles.
"Capt. A. Percival, D.S.O. (5th Fusiliers),
to Miss Cecil Henland.
Miss Cecil Henland, daughter of the late Mr. Charles Henland, and Mrs. Edlin, 11, Kensington Court Mansions, was married to Captain Arthur Percival (5th Fusiliers), youngest son of the Bishop of Hereford, at All Saints' Church, Ennismore Gardens, on December 12th at 2.30. The officiating clergymen were the Bishop of Hereford, and the Bishop of London who gave an address, assisted by the Rev. L. Percival, and the Band of the 5th Fusiliers came from Dover on purpose for the wedding. The bride, who was given away by her cousin, Mr. Alfred Emberson, wore white satin embroidered with silver, and carried an ivory and silver Prayer-book. The bridesmaids were Miss Effie and Miss Angela Denniss (nieces) and Miss Peggy Percival (niece of the bridegroom), and Miss Norah Bruce; the page was Master Jack Percival. The bridegroom's presents to the maids were ruby and diamond brooches, and he was supported by Captain Braithwaite (5th Fusiliers) as best man. After the ceremony, a reception was held by Mrs. W. Edlin at 2, Cromwell house (kindly lent by Mrs. Bruce), and later in the day the bride and bridegroom left for Switzerland for their honeymoon, the bride going away in brown velvet with a three-quarter coat and skirt, and sable furs, and a brown velvet picture hat. Those invited to the wedding and subsequent reception included the Bishop of Hereford and Mrs. Percival, Colonel and Mrs. Denniss, the Rev. L. Percival, Mr. and Mrs. W. Percival, the Dean of Hereford and Mrs. Leigh, Lord and Lady Methuen, Muriel Viscountess Helmsley, Duchess of Somerset, Hon. Mrs. St. John Mildmay, General Baden Powell, Baroness de Reuter, Lady Lacon, Sir Squire and Lady Bancroft., Lucy Countess of Egmont, Captain and Hon. Mrs. Wombwell, Sir Godffrey and Lady Clerk, Judge Harris Lea, Colonel Dashwood and officers of the 5th Fusiliers, officers of the Camel Corps, Mr. and Mrs. Basil Johnson, Captain and Mrs. Surtees, Lady Malet, Madame Antoniadi, Colonel and Lady Muriel Gore-Browne, Sir Home and Lady Gordon, and Many others."
The Percivals
The Percivals
Cecil married into a fairly well known and established family. The Percivals are no mystery. The patriarch, John Percival, had a long career as a headmaster (first at Clifton College for 17 years and then at Rugby) and then as Bishop of Hereford. John and his wife, Louisa Holland, had eight children, six that survived into adulthood. John's second oldest son was named Robert Hardwicke Percival. This name sounds familiar becasue in the claim that Sir Henry James is the father of Alice Henland (Cecil's sister), it identifies Robert Hardwicke as Cecil's mother Alice's father (Cecil's grandfather). This, of course, doesn't prove anything, but it brings the possibility that Cecil's family had some connection to Arthur's family.
The youngest of John's sons, Arthur Jex Blake Percival, took Cecil down the aisle on December 12, 1907. Arthur was a very decorated soldier and participated in several actions between 1890 and 1908 in Africa, for a time being employed by the Egyptian Army. From April, 1909 to August, 1911 he was Brigade Major, Northern Command and from October 1911 to March, 1913 served as a General Staff Officer at the War Office. In .January, 1914, he was raised to the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel while so employed at the Staff College.
Arthur was killed in action on October 31, 1914, when German artillery hit the Château de Hooge in Ypres, where the joint division headquarters of the 1st Division and 2nd Division were located. For more information on Arthur's military career, The Bond of Sacrifice, Volume I, Aug - Dec. 1914 has a very detailed recounting. His biography on the Rugby School website is also very informative.
Two years after Arthur's death, John wrote Cecil a letter that was preserved in a biography of John Percival. It's obvious in the letter that there is a sense of affection and family between them. The letter reads:
John Percival
Arthur Jex Blake Percival
To Mrs. Arthur Percival
The palace, Hereford,
Oct. 30, 1916
Dear Cecil — I do not remember, if I ever released, whether the 30th or the 31st was the day on which we lost Arthur. The only thing I know for certain is what a daily sorry the loss has been to me ever since. Every day my thoughts are with him; sometimes I try to be thankful that he had a life so congenial to him, and that he was happy, as I believe he was, in all the strenuous work and amidst all the perils of the last weeks of his life; and sometimes I wonder what he would have done as a General the last two years. But this is idle, and the sense of loss is the ever present thing, so that I can hardly bring myself to take interest in anything.
I am, however, thankful to have had him, and I hope you, being younger, are recovering from the sense of loss and able to enjoy the interests of life which you have within your reach. — With my love, I am, Ever yours affectionately,
J. Hereford.
Unfortunately, most of the information about Arthur, including many obituaries and testaments, give little more than the name of who he married so we do not get much about Arthur and Cecil's life together.
The one public record that gives the tiniest of hints at their life together is the 1911 census that shows them living together at Lincoln house in Shenstone, Staffordshire.
One person that stands out here that hasn't come up yet: Matilda Hobbs. Throughout Cecil's life, Matilda stays employed by Cecil.
Later in Life
Later in Life
A virtual ghost herself until the early 1900s when she comes onto the scene with the day nurseries, after the war she seems to fade back into the ether. She disappears from the papers and publishes no more books. Aside from continuing support for the National Society of Day Nurseries, the only other evidence of her activities is found in a census record and a notice in the paper about a closed business.
In the 1921 census, Cecil appears living with her niece, Angela Denniss, and domestic servant, Matilda Hobbs. Cecil's occupation is listed as "Dealer in Antiques" at a store called Merchant Adventurers located at 177 Sloane Street.
A year later, a business notice in the London Gazette announces the dissolution of the partnership between Cecil and Winifride Wrench. The reason given is Cecil retiring with Wrench taking on the duties of the business. No other evidence exists about the partnership or the relationship between these two women, but their interests in child welfare are seemingly very aligned.
The Women's Library holds some of Wrench's papers. Their short biography states, "[Wrench] was interested in child welfare throughout her life and was the organiser of the first National Baby Week as well as being the founder of the Mothercraft Training Society."
In another short biography, it mentions a monthly journal produced by the Merchant Adventurers of London Ltd. called The Town Crier begun in 1922 that featured craft-related articles and advertisements. Though there's no evidence of a specific connection, it's interesting that a business Cecil was involved in would produce such a publication.
2274 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 17 MARCH, 1922.
NOTICE is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us, the undersigned, Winifride Wrench and Cecil Henrietta Percival, carrying on business as Dealers in Antiques and Bric-a-brac, under the style of the MERCHANT ADVENTURERS, at 177, Sloane-street, in the county of London, has been dissolved by mutual consent as from the first day of January last, so far as regards the said Cecil Henrietta Percival, who retires from the business. All debts due to or owning by the late firm will be received and paid by the said Winifride Wrench, who will continue to carry on the business as before -- Dated this tenth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two.
CECIL H. PERCIVAL
WINIFRIDE WRENCH
Death
Death
On 5 April 1960, Cecil passed away in her home at Witwood in Camberley of atherosclerosis and hypertension (likely a heart attack). The death record also lists senility as a cause of death.
Cecil outlived all direct blood relatives, but Matilda Hobbs, who had been with her since at least 1911, was present at the time of death.
No obituary has been found to date and her burial site is unknown.
Her sister, Alice, and niece, Effie, who had both lived with Cecil until their deaths, were both cremated, as well as Alice's husband and other daughter.
Cecil's probate record shows her effects left to the bank.
At Home with Cecil
At Home with Cecil
Electoral Registers in England provide several interesting pieces of information. Addresses, obviously, but also who she was living with and if she was registered to vote, which would imply property ownership. For a much more detailed look at what these records mean, read the analysis of her electoral register records.
Cecil lived at the following addresses, based on electoral register records, censuses, and other documents.
1907: 11 Kensington Place, Kensington Court Mansions
1911: Lincoln House, Shenstone, Lichfield, Staffordshire, England
Note: Google Maps may have the exact position incorrect.
This is the only record that shows Cecil and Arthur together, as they were married in 1907 and he was killed in 1914. This is also the first record that lists Matilda Hobbs as a servant in the house. Matilda stays with Cecil through the rest of her life and is one of the few people in her life that outlives her.
1914 - 1924: 57 Ovington St., London
Cecil may have moved to this address before 1914, but the first record of her living here is in Arthur's cemetery record. (Index No. B. 58, Ypres Town Cemetery record). In 1919, with women newly allowed to vote if they owned property, Cecil begins to show up in the Electoral Register.
In at least 1921, Cecil's niece Angela Blanche Denniss lives with her.
In 1924, and maybe 25 and 26 (there's no record for those years), Cecil's sister Alice Denniss lives with her. Alice's husband, George L. T. Denniss died in 1922.
1927-1929: Braemore, London Road (Park Road), Parish of Frimley (Parish Map/Search)
In 1929, the register shows Alice Denniss (sister) and Matilda Hobbs living with her again.
1930-1939: Dullatur, London Road, Parish of Frimley
Dullatur was a private hotel in Camberley. Dullatur as a structure no longer exists. According to an article in the BBC, it was torn down sometime in the 1990s.
Alice Denniss lives with Cecil at Dullatur until Alice's death in 1936. In 1932, Effie Cicely Denniss, Alice's daughter and Cecil's niece, moves in with Cecil and Alice. And in 1932, Matilda Hobbs returns to live with Cecil. She may have never left, but she is not on any register or record with Cecil since 1929.
Note: No electoral register 1940-1945, WWII.
1945-1960: Witwood, Park Street, Surrey
In 1953, Effie Denniss dies while living here, the last of Cecil's blood relatives.
The house was built in 1898 by architect Edwin Lutyens. For a bit more information about the house and architect, see the Witwood entry in the Lutyens Gazetteer.
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