Norman Watney

Norman Watney JP DL (27 May 1834 - 3 December 1911) was a prominent member of the Watney family and a brewer, and a prominent citizen in Kent as justice of the peace and land owner.

Born in 1834 in Wandsworth, Surrey, Watney was the second son of the brewer James Watney and his wife Rebecca Spurrell.^[1] His youngest brother was the physician Herbert Watney.

He was educated at Harrow School where he was in the Headmaster's house from January 1848 to summer 1851.^[2] He was there at the time of the 1851 census.^[3] At the time of the 1861 census he was at Haling Park, Croydon with his parents and five sisters. His profession was entered as brewer.^[4]

Watney married Matilda Jane Robinson, daughter of Dixon Robinson (1795-1878), on 26 April 1866 at St Mary's, Clitheroe, Lancashire.^[5][6] Matilda was born on 14th July 1841 at Clitheroe Castle, Lancashire.

Watney started as a partner in Stag Brewery with his brothers and father for a few years from 1855. He was admitted to the Court of Assistants Brewers Company on 14 January 1859. Like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather before him, he was master of the Mercers’ Co in 1880.^[7] He seems, however, to be far more focused on his land and property than brewing as he left the business in the hands of his father and brother.

Upon retirement as director of the Watney Brewery Company, Watney became a J.P. on the Sevenoaks bench and Deputy Lieutenant for Kent, positions he held until his death.^[8]

On 25 October 1866, Watney purchased Queenswood in Beddington, Surrey from Edward Henry Moses, Maurice Moses and Hyam Leopold Moses. He was living there with his wife and children Lucy, Charles and Katherine at the time of the 1871 census and his occupation was given as brewer and landowner.^[9] He is described in the 1881 Census only as a Landowner. Mr Watney is said to have built a cottage for his gamekeeper at Beddington sometime between 1864 and 1876.^[10] And in 1873 he was the owner of 23 acres with a gross estimated rental of £350 p.a.

In 1884 he bought the Valence estate in Westerham and 231 acres of land for £47,213 with a mortgage of £20,000, including £5,000 for standing timber. A year later he bought Mannings Wood, Pipers Wood and Cutmill comprising 60 acres for £2,000, finally completing the acquistitions with Dunsdale and 147 acres for £40,500 in 1890. The existing building although convenient to the main road for coach and horse transport was in a damp hollow by the lake and in the path of cold air and frost coming down the valley. Watney commissioned his brother-in-law Frederick J Robinson to design a new mansion on higher ground which though more exposed to north east winds is sheltered from the west by nestling under the crest of the hill. It was built by the local firm Burnells between 1885 and 1887.^[11] The style is revival Tudor Elizabethan, built in red brick with stone dressing and tiling, half timbered gables and Cumberland slate roof complete with two towers. It had commanding views both east over the old parkland and west to the town of Westerham.

Watney had gone to considerable expense not just on his new mansion and its interior but on the estate as a whole. With three carriage driveways he built several new lodges, one to the east entrance, now Valence Lodge, one on the western entrance, now West Lodge, and one called Home Lodge, now Dunsdale Cottage. He also built a new bailiff's house and a coachman's house. Alterations were undertaken to Dunsdale Mansion to both Valence and Dunsdale farm buildings, including a new model cowshed. There was also an additional ram pump installed.

The east window in Emmanuel Church, Croydon was given by him in 1899 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of his parents James and Rebecca Watney. It was destroyed by enemy action in 1944 and replaced in 1954. He was at Valance, Westerham, Kent at time of the 1901 Census. The 1901 census included 10 servants in the household at Valence – Scullery Maid, Sewing maid, Nurse, Kitchenmaid, 4 X housemaid, Footman and Cook.^[12]

Norman and Matilda had nine children:

I Charles Norman: born September 1868

II Arthur Norman: born September 1871, married Josephine Simpson

III Gerard Norman born December 1872, married Sylvia Maude

I Lucy Matilda: born June 1867, married William Morrow

II Katherine: born March 1870

III Maud: born July 1875

IV Constance: born June 1878

V Ethel: born March 1881

VI Joyce: born December 1886

In the 1911 census they were living at Valence and Watney was recorded as being blind and the census was signed by his wife. They had 11 live in servants; 3 valets, a maid, 4 housemaids, a kitchen maid, a scullery maid and a footman.^[13]

Watney died at Valence on 3 December 1911^[14] from paralysis agitans (Parkinson's Disease) and was buried in Westerham churchyard. Probate was granted in London to Arthur Norman Watney merchant, and Gerard Norman Watney, civil engineer - £728,405 6s. 8d.