Herald - Issue 417

6th January 2022 • The HERALD • Page 27 v INDEPENDENT, LOCAL AND PROUD v WARHAMMER This is new to our shop - we have a range of kits, paint, brushes and dice PLUS White Dwarf Magazine THE SUPPLY SGT 43 Rumbridge Street, Totton, Southampton. SO40 9DR Tel: 023 8178 1324 Eastleigh & Chanders Ford, Southampton, New Forest Area Tel: 023 8019 3007 • Mobile: 07710 464093 Email: mark@markparsonsdecorating.co.uk Web: www.markparsonsdecorating.co.uk All aspects of Domestic and Commercial Painting & Decorating Services ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL WORK UNDERTAKEN • Full Rewires • New Circuits • Consumer Unit Replacements • Test and Inspection • Landlord Certification • Smart Homes • Central Heating Controls 023 8089 0932 or 07534 343631 www.alnelectrical.co.uk info@alnelectrical.co.uk TALES FROM THE GRAVEYARD OF ALL SAINTS CHURCH, FAWLEY Written by Patricia Hedley-Goddard, Churchyard Archivist for the ancient parish church of All Saints’, Fawley To nish my o erings regarding persons laid to rest in this ancient churchyard, I thought I would write a short article on a much loved and locally famous gentleman called Edward Mudge. Many words have been written about this gentleman, but probably it is the memories of his photographs that most people will recall. I am certain that many of you can remember this gentleman, or have family photos in your collection that he has taken. Edwardwas born in Southampton on 17thNovember 1881. His parents were Edward, who originated from Jersey in the Channel Islands, and Isabel (née Frater) who originated from Bermondsey in London, and they lived at 10 West Street, Southampton. e household consisted of Edward, his parents and sister Mabel, plus his father’s step sister and step brother who had both been born in Jersey. By 1901 the men of the family were recorded as being tinsmiths, including Edward, who was 20 years old by then. By that time they were living in Millbrook in Southampton. In 1904 Edwardmoved to Ashlett Creek inWaterside and, initially, lived in a houseboat. By then he had started to take photographs, and he rented the top oor of the tide mill at Ashlett Creek in which to perform his business. He used to travel around on a bicycle, with his camera in a wooden box strapped on the back, until later in his life, he bought a car. Edward was also a recognised wild fowler. Gervase Gregory said that Edward was a very kind and pleasant man. He (Edward) used to have a punt down on Ashlett Creek, with a punt gun attached to it. He used to be a crack shot at shooting the wild fowl, which he sold to one of the local ‘game butchers’. He kept diaries of his wild fowl sorties and in those 5 diaries are sketches and information of those times. e diaries are in the private hands of the family. By 1911 Edward had moved from his houseboat to a cottage in Ashlett Creek. When World War 1 started, Edward was 33 years, but he volunteered and served as a private in a Hampshire Regiment. He was a member of the Labour Corps military number 2856128. On leaving the army he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory medal. (I was unable to nd a record of him being commissioned as a war time photographer.) In July 1922 he married Ellen Amelia Tibot. Edward took his photographs on glass plate, and he stayed with this photographic method until he died. He refused to use the more modern methods, much to the regret of his sons. At one time he was located in what is now ‘Charisma’ in Fawley village. e shop front was his ‘reception’ area, but when you sat to have your photo taken, you were taken through the back of the shop to a ‘shed like’ structure, and outside their dwellings on the dirt roads (no tarmac in those days), artisans going about their business by horse and cart, Lepe Beach in the summer, Beaulieu and its pond, etc. Joan Kerley told me that Edward used to come to the Nationwide Bank in Black eld, once a month, sat in the ‘Mudge Seat’. Many local families have photos where they are sitting in that seat. June Barnes recalled her 14 year old brother taking his 6 year old sister and 3 year old younger brother to this photographic studio, to spend his rst ever wages, on having their photo taken. ey had to enter by the front reception but to have the actual photo taken; they went through to the hut at the back. One day, Edward visited June’s mother when she happened to be bathing one of the young boys. Edward persuaded her to take the boy out of the bath, sit him on her knee, and Edward photographed the nude boy. No doubt in later years the young lad did not appreciate this spontaneous piece of photography! By 1950, the Esso re nery had grown signi cantly, and Edward was requested to take the photograph of every employee, to be used for security recognition. is must have been a lucrative commission for him. However, a great debt of gratitude should be shown towards his extensive photo collection. He was a superb local ‘historian’ in as much as he took photos of all walks of life as it was in the early 1900’s. His subjects were vast. He has le a legacy of the surrounding Waterside area as it was at that time. ere is one glorious photo, sadly in black and white, of the beautiful mural over the central archway inside All Saint’s Church, Fawley, before it was painted over (sacrilege), plus a view of the old oak pews. ere are images of families or individuals standing where she worked. She recalled that he always arrived with a little white ‘sweetie’ bag full of fudge for her. She said he was a true gentleman. At the end of his life he lived in a care home in Fawley, and eventually died in Hythe hospital in December 1964. However, his legacy lives on in the archive at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst who have thousands of his Photographs and of his postcard images. ank you Mr Edward Mudge for such a valuable photographic local history of the rst half of the 20th century. My thanks, as always, to the generosity of the kind people willing to share with me their memories. This ‘Tale’ the seventeenth, will be the last one in the series. I am now, by requests, going to have them published in a small booklet which hopefully will be on sale early next year (profits to be made to local charities). I will then continue to write ‘Tales from the Graveyard of All Saint’s Church, Fawley’, for The Herald, but possibly not for every edition, as 3 weeks is a very short time to research, write, and submit each ‘Tale’ for publication. Thank you to everyone who has helped or encouraged me in this venture, especially to my husband David who has been unfailing in his help and encouragement . Striking mural painted inside All Saints Church, Fawley, captured by Edward Mudge before being ‘lost’ forever